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Welcome To The Team.

Terra Firma is a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu team of white belt ruffians. This group was founded by brothers Hiram, Nabor, and Kareem Navarrete, along with long time friend Emmanuel Silva with the hopes and dreams of one day opening up there very own academy. This site is meant to keep track of "the brothers" and there team as they journey down the road of the smooth art. These boys don't know what's in store for them but there prepared to do whatever it takes to succeed and have fun along the way. So slap on that gi, tighten up your belt, and let's roll!!

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@terrafirmabjj
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Visitors

Sep 28, 2011

On The Roll Again

By: Hiram "Tortuga" Navarrete

How many teenagers have you known that have promised themselves to one day hit the road and see the world?  Heck, how many adults have you met that have done the same?  You might as well come out with it already, I caught you.  There's not a single man, women, or child, that hasn't at one time or another, wanted to go on one epic, momentous trek across the globe.  Well, maybe not a child, but you get my drift.  If your anything like me (god forbid) then you ultimately, and unfortunately never got around to putting your feet to the pavement, and just going for it.  But say you were presented an opportunity, that as a BJJ practitioner you just couldn't pass up.  The chance to embark on a jiu-jitsu-fied, globetrotting journey, an opportunity to roll in uncharted mat space around the world.  Now the only question is, where would you go on the road to the flow?

On the roll again
Just can't wait to get on the flow again.
The life I love is tapping out to all my friends 
And I can't wait to get on the roll again.
-Sorry Mr. Nelson

Sep 20, 2011

Mat Burn

By:  Nabor "Leon" Navarrete

It goes without saying that work and relationships don't exactly go hand in hand. It's all fun and games until someone get's hurt. I mean, do you really want to try running a business with your "better" half breathing down your neck? Sounds pretty bad, right? So you can only imagine the possibilities (or problems) once you and your partner hit the mats. Tell her the pot roast was undercooked, and good luck getting her off your back, literally. Let em know he's not bringing home the bacon, well have fun stopping his HULK smash pass. Passions run high in relationships, and passion can spoil and turn into tension on a dime. There's an old saying "check your ego at the door" and I'd like to add to that by saying this, "leave your passion on the mattress, not the mat". After all, just because someone is easy to mount, doesn't mean there guards worth passing. You can quote me on that one.

Sep 18, 2011

The Bedazzled Grappler

By:  Hiram "Tortuga" Navarrete


Now I know that there are many of you out there that enjoy a brightly colored gi, or some nice patch work/embroidery, and that's fine (I enjoy the occasional romp through a tie dye kimono myself).  And though some may think it's a good idea to bedazzle there gi (though personally I shudder just thinking of the outcome to that experiment) know that while your sprinkling your gi with designs and doodads, your also painting a rather large target on your back.  As the old saying goes, "the nail that sticks out farthest, gets hammered hardest".  There are some who favor a more traditional approach to the martial art, and may frown on contrast stitching, or camo pants.  I'll be the first to say that it sounds judgmental, but everyone is entitled to there own opinion.  Some see a tricked out or expensive gi as a sign of experience, which of course isn't always the case.  I recall myself, as a fresh faced white belt (still a white belt btw just dirty faced with experience now) seeing a man wearing a blue gi and mistaking him for the instructor.  Which just goes to show you that anyone, even a rough and tumble veteran like myself can be confused..right? Well it at least shows you that people will judge a book by it's cover, because the cover is all they can see.  Those that mistake you for a high level grappler may just look to "take your head off" to prove there manly toughness.

It all sounds rather unfair, but that's just how some people are built.  In no way is this post meant to discourage you pink and purple gi lovers out there, just to warn you of possible setbacks.  Personally I hope to look into a future where white gi's, black gi's, blue gi's, purple, red, yellow, and even rainbow kimono's can all share a mat in this crazy world that we call Jiu Jitsu.

Sep 16, 2011

BJJHQ

As you may or may not have noticed (hopefully you have) the boys of Terra Firma now support BJJHQ.  If your looking for a daily deal on any and every Brazilian Jiu Jitsu related gear and apparel then look no further.  BJJHQ has one great item on sale everyday of the week with minimal shipping costs.  So if your on the hunt for that ever elusive kimono or snazzy rash guard, then I strongly recommend you tune in to BJJHQ's page early and often.  Who knows, you may just find exactly what your looking for...and on sale!

Sep 2, 2011

BJJ Eden

By:  Hiram "Tortuga" Navarrete

So today on my bus ride to downtown Los Angeles, I met a very sweet older women handing out pamphlets concerning religion.  We chatted for a bit and we parted ways, but not before I managed to snag some literature.  I chose to read up on the fabled "Garden of Eden".  That fantastical garden where man was said to have lived in peace and perfect harmony.  Well it got me to thinking, is there a Brazilian jiu jitsu eden?  A "garden" for grapplers?  A paradise for guard players?  Where the mats are always clean, and our gi's are always crisp.  A space, where there are no distractions, no chaos of the outside world.  The mat is vast, and your mind is clear of all non-jits thoughts, while your body is free from all soreness and injury.  This is a place where mat burn is nonexistent, where people don't know the meaning of "spazzing out", and every student has his/her own personal black belt instructor.  Walking in you feast your eyes on an endless multitude of gi's, every hue and tone imaginable.  And you ask yourself if such a place can exist?  We may never find out, but in the meantime I'll continue to train, mat burn or not, and rest assured, if I ever find the fabled Jiu Jitsu Garden of Eden, you'll be the first to hear about it.

Aug 30, 2011

Passing Of The "Old" Guard

By: Hiram "Tortuga" Navarrete

The winds of change. The passing of the torch. The changing of the guard.
These are only a few ways of saying the same thing, and that's the age old lesson of the young, hungry, lion besting the old shark.
Image By: Animal Kaiser http://ak-sg.blogspot.com/

In recent years it's become apparent that the ways have changed when it comes to competition in Brazilian jiu jitsu.  The glory days of old school jiu jitsu power houses such as Saulo Ribeiro and Fabio Gurgel are said to have come to an end, while the rise of names such as Rodolfo Vieira, and Jao Assis, have made it apparent that times are changing.  The new generation of competitors and fighters are not only skilled technically but show an amazing array of athletic ability.  What I see today are people flying all over the place, exploding into submissions but still staying precise and technical with there attack.  While the classic grappler was more focused on a steady pace, keeping controlled and finishing  We've seen many examples of youth overcoming experience and guile but what were all forgetting is that if you swim with the shark, old or not, YOU WILL GET BIT.  These men are members of the old guard for a reason, and we need to show them the respect that they have earned.  So when these legends ride off into the sunset, as they pass the torch on to you, don't be surprised if you get burned along the way.

Aug 29, 2011

A day off Jiu-Jitsu

By: Hiram "Tortuga" Navarrete

Have you ever wondered what happens on those days off of jiu jitsu practice?  Well after this your gonna wish you hadn't.  Witness the complete depersonalization of these young men, as one by one they strike a pose for no available reason!

This is what we do behind closed doors..
No, in all actuality our friend and team mate Emmanuel "Macaco" Silva asked us to help him on a little contest he was in. "Apparently" each entry had to have a picture showing you with the words "I have Gameness" (gameness gi contest).  So it's safe to say that creative control was out of control. In the end Macaco decided to go with a street fighter inspired look.  OK he completely ripped it off but hey it won him a new gi so eh.  Here's the finished product, in all it's nerdy glory.

Guard work? Forget that! I'm talking hadouken !!

I feel like I have to end this first post with something insightful and deep.  So of course I bid you adieu and leave you all with...this..

Because you knew this was coming..