Mass BJJ

[01/12/21]   Hi Guys,

I wanted to let you know that Scott tested positive this morning for covid. He found out he was exposed over the weekend. Scott wasn't feeling symptomatic on Monday (Jan 11th) and he had his mask on the whole time he was in the school.

This is what we are going to do with the schedule this week:

Adult Classes - I rolled with Scott all day so I am going to take the week off of teaching. I will have people sub in to teach my classes for me for the remainder of the week. I will get tested later in the week and if I remain asymptotic and my tests come back negative I will start teaching again next week. But all of the Adult BJJ and Kickboxing classes are still going on.

Kids classes - Because Claudine, Tom and I all had some degree of contact with Scott on Monday we are going to cancel the kids BJJ and Kickboxing classes for the remainder of this week. If we remain symptom free, we will run classes as usual starting next Monday.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns you can reach me at [email protected].

[01/07/21]   Its No Gi tonight dont forget. 715-815 don't be late. New years resolution submit more people. Thanks Bill

Thank you.

As we begin a new year, I have been thinking over the last one. Each year, I like to stop and reflect on where Mass BJJ is, the direction it is going and the path it has been on. This year, it has obviously been quite a different experience.

We closed out doors on March 13th without any idea of what was going to happen moving forward. After months of being closed we were able to start outdoor solo classes. We were then able to slowly move inside. And then in the fall we were able to set up training groups so we could get back to wrestling.

It’s been a tough year for so many members of our community. We’ve had people lose family members, lose their jobs, struggle to keep their business going and so much more than I could write here. Throughout all of this, I have been amazed and inspired by how the community has rallied around one another. There are so many times that I hear of a hardship that someone is going through and then I find out that people at the school are already helping that person out.
We have been able to keep our doors open because so many of you have asked to keep your accounts going while our doors were closed.

Although we are still in a tough spot, I am inspired and hopeful that this next year will not be just a good one but a great one. I’ve watched the students within the training groups bond in such a way that would probably not have happened if we weren’t forced in this situation. I’ve seen the kids develop a sense of empathy for one another that was not there before. Perhaps they know that they are isolated much of the time and that is sucks but they are all in the same boat together.

We’re going to keep on moving forward because as a great fighter once said, “It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward” (Sorry, I had to throw a movie reference in there.)

I really just wanted to write this out to say thank you. Thank you for the support you’ve given and continue to give to Mass BJJ and to one another.

Happy New Year from the Mass BJJ Team!
✨
Thanks for your support throughout 2020.

Congrats to Scott on earning his black belt! Scott walked into Mass BJJ as a 16 year old kid asking if he could take every class. I said that he could only attend the beginners classes until he earned his blue belt. He took the beginners class, asked a million questions and then asked if he could stay and watch the intermediate class. I replied, that would be fine and he sat on the side of the mat to watch. I taught a technique and asked if anyone had any questions, from off the side of the mat, Scott started asking more questions. I told him that if he stayed to watch, he wasn’t allowed to talk… He hasn’t stopped talking since then.

Scott has been a staple at Mass BJJ since that point. He has been quick to help out and jump in to do rounds with every one of our MMA fighters getting ready for a fight, every competitor preparing for a BJJ tournament. He stepped up and put together a very successful MMA career of his own going 8-1.

He has taken the kids BJJ/kickboxing classes and grown it into a large and successful program where he has personally had such a positive impact on so many kid’s lives over the years.

Patric and I talk a lot, over a long period of time about when we are thinking of giving a black belt to someone. They obviously need to have the technical knowledge and skill to be promoted, but we think a lot of how that person will represent us in wearing that belt. Do they have the humility, the patience and the character that we want to see in one of our black belts. For anyone that knows Scott, you would know that this was an easy part of the conversation. Scott has been training hard for over a decade. He is a complete martial artist. His Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Striking and the combination of those arts are at a very high level. But just as importantly, he has always been a great training partner. He can go hard with people needing a tough roll and he can slow down and ease a new person that is nervously stepping on the mat for the first time. When we are rolling and I hear him laugh, I never know if he is laughing because he just hit a great move or his opponent hit him with a great move. He genuinely finds the joy in the art and the people that he is training with.

Scott truly represents what it means to be a black belt in BJJ and I am very proud to be able to put the belt around his waist. Congrats!

(I know there are a lot of people that would have liked to have been there for Scott. Unfortunately, we had a limit to how many people could be there. We just picked a day and made sure Hannah and several of his close friends and family to be there.)

Happy Holidays from the MassBJJ Team!

Here are our adjusted holiday hours:

Need a last minute gift for someone special? Getting too cold with all the snow? Want to look as handsome as Phil? Want Scott to photobomb you as you try to look handsome? Grab a new Mass BJJ embroidered Zip Up hoodie at the front desk! $50 for adults $30 for kids!

[12/17/20]   Kids/Adult BJJ and kickboxing classes are on this afternoon/evening!

[12/17/20]   We are canceling the Noon BJJ class and the 1:15 open mat due to the snowstorm. We will update on kids and evening classes tomorrow.

Congrats to Max on earning his blue belt! Covid has been a tough time for the BJJ community and it has had many drawbacks. There have been some positives that I’ve seen on the mat. Max has been both the upper belt and the lower belt in his training group. I’ve watched him wrestle hard get smashed and compete with the upper belts as well as guide and help a new student in his group. Both experiences have helped shape his jiu-jitsu into a more complete version of what he started with. Great job Max!

Flying high!

As Massachusetts rolls back to Stage 3 phase 1 there is only one change we will have to make, and that is that people will have to keep their masks on during BJJ classes. The way we set up the training partners, we are already under the limit for how many people we are allowed to have on the mat so that won’t change.

I always look to the lessons on the mat to help frame my approach with situations off the mat. This is basic Jiu-Jitsu for me. Jiu-Jitsu is learning to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations. If you haven’t tried rolling with a mask, you can do it. You may have to pace yourself differently. It may take more time to recover. As with Jiu-Jitsu, find a way to adapt to the challenges in front of you.

See you on the mat!

It took a few years to get his Fiancé on the mat, but being quarantined with Scott for the past few months must have made her realize just how much she wants to hit him!

Great having you on the mat with us Hannah! @ Mass BJJ

Who wore it worse???

[11/26/20]   Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

There is class today (Thursday) at 10am - no classes Friday.
Regular classes Saturday & Sunday!

[11/23/20]   We will be closed for regular classes on Thursday and Friday.

Pat will be running a class at 10:00am on thanksgiving. (We will get the sign in set up shortly)

Move with purpose. Opportunities will present themselves.

Focus

The Ninja craze of the 80’s returns!

Always looking to improve.

Congrats to Bill on earning his a Brown belt! For the past few years Bill would come in every day around 4:30 and ask if there was anything he could do to help out. 4:00-5:00 at open mat you would usually find him grabbing the new white belts and helping them out. 6:00-7:00 he’d do the fundamentals BJJ class and then do the 7:00-8:30pm advanced class. Bill is also 55 years old and would be working as hard as every young guy on the mat. Many of you guys inspire me so much with you’re approach to training. Bill gives me hope that I’ll be ending my nights laying on the mat in a pool of sweat trying to catch my breath 10 years from now! Great job Bill!

Congrats to William and Bryce on earning their Yellow belts! It’s been a tough several months for BJJ but they’ve been doing everything possible to stay sharp! @ Mass BJJ

Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. Some days you’re both...

Our first belt promotion since shutdown! Congrats to Rowan, one of the hardest working little kids out there! I forgot to take a picture with him inside and ran outside and got one before he got in the car!

Teaching the kids about “The Wall of Handsomeness”... #lastplace

4 years old and this is his first day of BJJ. The future looks bright!

Lelia will begin teaching her early morning yoga classes on Tuesdays at Mass BJJ.

5:45-6:45 am Ashtanga
7:00-8:00 am Vinyasa Flow

Ashtanga is a set sequence of dynamic movements designed to stretch and strengthen.

Vinyasa Flow is a practice linking movements with breath. Vinyasa also focuses on stretching and strengthening but offers more variety of postures and movements.

All levels welcome for both!

Just a reminder that all Nate’s classes this week will be No-Gi. Dress appropriately! @pesqimon

Lauzon Mixed Martial Arts

Then they walk out never to be seen again

#LauzonMMA #TeamLauzon #LauzonMemes

For all adult BJJ classes, we are now asking that only *one person per group* reserve the class you'll be attending. Class reservations will be limited to 7 people (one person per training area).

Please be sure to connect with your group (i.e. exchange phone numbers, emails, or message each other through facebook) prior to booking a class so you can be sure you're planning to attend the same classes.

Contact [email protected] or [email protected] with any questions about reserving a class.

Bill will be teaching the Thursday night BJJ class once again from 7:15-8:15pm. I asked him to pose so I could get a picture of him and Corn looking at the camera for this post and Bill just started trying to cross collar choke him from the bottom of side control. Maybe if you’re lucky Bill will teach this move in class that has his opponent throwing his hands up in frustration and disbelief...

We are *open* for classes Saturday, Sunday, and Monday this weekend!

Please remember to reserve a space through the ZenPlanner mobile app or our online calendar prior to attending. If you and a buddy are attending a jiu-jitsu class, make sure two people reserve a spot (but no more than two if you are a trio or family). Any questions, please email [email protected] or [email protected].

Feels great to see people coming back on the mat, even their belts are smiling!

Adding kickboxing to the kids program has been one of the silver linings to this pandemic. The kids are having fun, getting a good workout and learning new skills!

Just keep moving!