Greetings and salutations 10thplanetJJ...
Apologies for the delay response. I come in here to set the record straight. I refrain from doing that earlier because of fear that my words and meanings will get twisted and stretch out of context like it has. But now it seems like this thing will not die and go away without me clearing it up.
I haven't been a member on here a year yet, but this site and the people in here have made me feel like I am a part of the family. I love that you open and willing to help a guy to better his daughter, even though I hold no ties to 10thplanet other than my MTS subscription. In this past year, I shared many things with this forum, mostly things about my daughter and her journey through this sport. Before I even posted a single thing on this forum, I have done my research to even get here. I found Ari and his sub101, and shinya Aoki, which led me to Master Eddie Bravo, which led me here to 10thplanetJJ. All of this research make me truly value the system more than ever. I am a student of this system, although I don't even go to any of your gym. Being a student, I mean I study it, even if I don't roll with grown men. I UNDERSTAND Master Eddie's vision of the system. I work in a business that has a system so I can appreciate and understand that with a system, anyone can learn this. You want everyone to learn and know your Jits, put it in a system. With the books, CDs, and MTS, I trust in his vision and I am confident that I can Master it. That is how powerful this system is, that a person like me who is willing to study the system via books, CDs, and MTS, can master the system without having a live instructor. YES, it would be best to have a live instructor. But not everyone can afford gym fees, or is fortunate to have a 10thplanet gym in their city. Sure people like me will not succeed in the system as those that go to a gym, but knowing the system can make us walk with more confidence than the regular Joe. But for me, sure it would be BEST that I train, but as stated many times over, I am not able, due to physical limitation, time, and money.
Physical, I have an abnormal should joint. Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint which gives you range of motion. Since JJ is all about range of motion and leverage, this is almost impossible for me. I play basketball for over 30 years and even with that, it doesn't use as much range of motion as JJ will. Not to mention that I won't have a grown man trying to rip my shoulder off. Having this kind of limb, is worst than not having any when it comes to this sport. And I am not going to risk injuries, I have family to feed.
Time, I am trying to balance my time between building a business and family. At this point in my life, its more about family than Bruce. I have a 1.5 yr old son and 10 yr old daughter. Here is my schedule, 7am take Cora to school, 8am drop Kato off with grandma, I go to the office. At 3pm I rush to pick Cora from school. At 3:30pm I cook for Cora while she does her homework. At 4:30 we drill at home. At 6pm we at the gym (Team Tooke). We don't get home until 8pm where wife cooks and I take off to go see clients and/or train my agents. I usually don't get home until 10-11pm. This is 5 days a week. On the weekend, I tried to sneak in family time and Cora's training in between my business. As the weekend is the time I really go out and help families since they will be home.
Money- per MONTH, I spent $167 on gym fee, $100-200 gas to gym, $120 tournament fees, $100-200 hotel (if tourney is out of town) so each month i'm looking at $300-500 for Cora's JJ. Now like I said many times over, I and my agents build our business by helping family save for their future, whether it be for their retirement or kids college, and protect their family assets. With that being said, some don't even have $50 a month to do any of that. So how can I justify myself spending more than what I already have? Especially for me.. its not about me anymore. Everything I do is for my daughter, I don't mind spending on my daughter because she loves what she does. But its NOT necessary for me to spend money on myself. Only a parent will understand what I am talking about. Deep down inside I just can't justify me spending anymore money on JJ other than that for Cora. I hope this clears things up.
AS for the PREDATOR / Pedophile thing, I have NEVER been so disappointed in my life than the day I read this. Its beyond words. Everything I have done this far in my life has always been to this motto " do the right thing". I'm not a religious man, I have never force my views upon anyone. I always believe that if I am a good man and do the right thing and don't hurt anyone, then I have a good place to be in this world. So to hear someone accuse me of such thing is beyond words, especially coming from a place where I regard as my "friends", a place where I have done nothing but share and share some more. Perhaps my problem is that I share too much, sorry its just my nature. When I really like something, I want to share it. It goes back to what I do for a living. I share information everyday. Having kids myself, all I ever wanted is to help kids. I just had an idea of wanting to help kids, but for that I am being called a predator. I know I haven't been here long, but come on, at least give me the benefit of a doubt. I've gone to many gym and everyone of those gym have parents sitting there watching their kids practice. I have yet to find a gym where there is absolutely no parents around while the kids are with the coaches. So with that being said, I just thought that you folks will understand and it not need to be detailed out in my posting. With crazy things that are being said online and in the forum these days, calling someone a predator should not be taken lightly. It could really ruin someone's reputation on and off line. Remember I do meet people from online at tournaments and such.
As far as me being overzealous with my daughter's training. Sure why not??? She's my pride and joy. When yall have kids, you will know what I am talking about, especially when she is good at what she does....
Cora has always been online like Drago since she was a baby...
All joking aside, that is not my intention. The reason why I post so much of Cora's video win or lose, its going up. Why???? its because when I was researching rubber guard in tournaments back a year or so ago, I couldn't find anything for kids. All I found was Denny's video which I've studied over and over like 100 times. I wanted that edge for Cora in the tournament, so I was searching for anything related to rubber guard in tournament. But I didn't find anything else other than Denny's which I've already told him. So I feel there is a need for it, that is why I want Cora to get really good at rubber guard and I will post everything out there, win or lose. I believe that if I had trouble finding kids doing rubber guard, maybe there are others like me that are looking for them also. So that is why I post everything up. Not to brag, not to insult the boys, just to get it out there. Like watching a great movie, if you love it, you want to share it right?? That is my way of sharing what I love. You might think I'm over doing it, but when I read all the bad things about what people say about the rubber guard, make me want to put it out there more and more. With this sharing come a price to pay, master eddie was on the money when he say that Cora will have a hard time getting kids in her guard because the word is out on her and her guard game. I watched many videos of tournament where an opponent is able to get their guard game so easily just by pulling it and jealous of that fact. No not for Cora, she had to fight for her guard every time now. So in each tournament, she's already have a disadvantage with coaches knowing her game and preparing their kids. BUT that is OK with us, that will not stop us from sharing it to the world. That is how much we are into this. Since then I have seen an increase of tournament videos of the rubber guard.
So to say I am wanting to ruin the brand. NO SIR, we will rep 10th no matter what. I promise to do my best to my ability to transfer what I learn to my daughter who will execute the system. If you say I'm living through my daughter..ok I accept that. I'm actually jealous of her to be able to do what she loves to do. But that is still OK, she's my daughter and if I can leave something for her before I die, besides my insurance money.. it will be my love for 10thplanet jiu jitsu. At 10 yrs old she already have the desire to teach JJ. This is the goal for any parents, to help guide their children to something good that they love and they are able to use that to make a good living and able to take care of themselves.
For ALL the friends that still believe in me, I want to thank you for your kind words and well wishes. YOu know who you are. 10th4L!!!!
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