Here’s my review:
The camp was amazing! Absolutely zero egos….a complete lack of douche-baggery, everyone was too awesome. I had previously been to two of Brandon’s seminars, but never to a training camp so I didn’t really know what to expect. As soon as we stepped on the mats there were folks introducing themselves, striking up conversations about how long everyone had been doing jj under 10P…nice and cordial. I kept hearing people talk about this Bobby Rivers guy and how awesome he is. When I asked where he was, they just said, “He’s not here yet…but you’ll know who he is when he gets here”. Ten of fifteen minutes later this tall dude come in smiling all big, randomly turning summersaults that ended up with him on someone’s back with both hooks in (reverse gangtsa hug style) followed by, “hey man, how you been?”, then back on his feet and off to greet someone else. Full of energy. I turned to my coach and asked if that was Bobby, and he replied, “I told you”. Indeed.
Training time, certainly no trouble finding a variety of partners with 40 people in the room. I think I had a different partner for each session, each day…who gets that opportunity anywhere else? Dead zone warm-ups were sick, rolling time was great…tight quarters (considering there were so many people) and people were very conscious of where other people were rolling…no smashed ankles
I don’t know about the rest of the people who took advantage of the free housing, but for the folks out of Cookeville TN, our experience was top notch. Jorge put us up in his place, his wife cooked awesome Costa Rican quinine, they hooked us up with coffee in the morning plus a generous side of great conversation. There is absolutely no way in hell that we could ever repay such a huge favor. We packed bread, peanut-butter, jelly, canned soups, etc…but we barely broke into any of it because we were treated so well (way better than we deserved). There aren’t enough words to express how great Jorge and his family are…some great souls man!
Every day was full of surprises. Every instructor had a unique style, and each style was so easily assimilated because they each had a passion to teach this information. Everything made sense! I was able to take so much from everyone, and I think this was the case for all attendees. Everything tied in together. The sports psychology session taking about immediate feedback (the ding) tied into Brandon’s pressure passing (the “urmmph” groan of a soul being sucked out through a straw). Just awesome.
In the middle of next month I will have a year of J.J. under my belt, 11 months of which has been with 10th planet. This weekend validated everything I love about the system from the fundamental ideas behind the process (system) to the people (family) who prescribe to it’s theories and methodologies. My game will be better for it, my performance in tournaments will be better for it, my performance anxiety in tournaments will be better now, and I have a ton of more resources when I have questions now. Not to mention I travel a lot with work, there’s a chance I can have some gyms to train at where I actually no some folks + be able to train 10P while on a work trip.
In short: F-ing unbelievable weekend! Thanks to all the organizers and attendees.