I've been training at Renzo Gracie UWS for a year, and it is no overstatement to say that it has changed my life. I shopped around a bit for a gym that felt professional, open, and committed to excellence. That is Renzo Gracie UWS. When I took my trial class a year ago, I was overweight, overworked, depressed, and exhausted. Over the past year, I've lost nearly 60 lbs, learned to seek out challenges instead of run the other way, and discovered how much more my body is capable of, with just a little consistency of effort. Not every gym is the same. At Renzo Gracie UWS, their highest goal is to help you improve yourself. They've built an atmosphere of trust and challenge, based on deep knowledge and an unrivaled mastery of Brazilian Jiujtsu. World Champion Headmaster Professor Luca Atella has an unparalleled capacity to explain the insights and principles behind the movements, as well as the pitfalls and obstacles to improvement. He emphasizes a measured, consistent, and unagressive approach to improvement that produces calm and effective technique on the mats. A hidden treasure at Renzo Gracie UWS is the Jiujitsu Flow (formerly known as Gymnastica) series of classes taught remotely by Professor Raphael Romano. A world-renowned trainer for jiujitsu martial artists, surfers, and other professional athletes, Professor Raphael's class is an amazing way to internalize the movements of jiujitus, build strength and cardiovascular endurance, and develop a sense of agility and balance. The fact that Renzo Gracie UWS provides this service alone singles it out as a place of incredible opportunities for training. Finally, I can't recommend Professor Thiago Saldanha and his morning class highly enough. Professor Thiago is deeply dedicated to the improvement of his students, physically, mentally, and spiritually. He drives his students hard, but with love, and a deep desire to bring out the best in each of us. His knowledge of the match is profound and comprehensive, and he has an uncanny ability to intuit where and how each of us might be struggling. He has created an amazing atmosphere of trust, friendship, and camaraderie, and his morning crew is a community I feel honored to participate in. While I have not worked as much with the other professors Sabo and Matthaus, my experiences with them have also been amazing. Professor Sabo's sense of practical combat is incredible, as is his welcoming demeanor and patience. Professor Matthaus is a jiujitsu prodigy, and an inspiring embodiment of the principles of the art. I only wish I could train more, and to learn more from all of the excellence gathered at this gym. Renzo Gracie UWS embodies the best of Brazilian Jiujitsu: physical excellence, deep technique, practical applicability, and an atmosphere that unites every type of person, no matter who they are, where they come from, or what they believe, in the pursuit of self-improvement. Don't hesitate: as they say, the best time to start training is yesterday.
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Posted 4 years ago