>August 6, 2010

August 6th, we lost a great friend in Boone High. Boone was an avid athlete who had played football, lacrosse, wrestling, and had been training in jiu-jitsu with us several years. He was very dedicated to Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Zanshin Dojo, his family and friends. He was very respectful person, with a great sense of humor. He was currently attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville studying sports medicine.

Boone was always kind and genuinely interested in others. He was very humble and incredibly passionate about life, especially when it came to metal bands and pro-wrestling. He always had a fighting/team spirit and brought smiles to our faces when he was around. He dealt with some serious health problems at a young age, but we never heard him complain. He loved life and preferred to "rock on!"

His Facebook statement said, "Love makes the world go around and I seek to help it keep spinning." At a time of life where many young people can be self-centered, he truly cared about his fellow man and wanted to spread good vibes and love. He was definitely a black-belt in that regard.

Through martial arts we try to learn to face difficult situations and handle them intelligently and with finesse. When we spar, compete or test for a belt, we have to face the unknown, the knowledge that it will be tough, with an unknown outcome. We try to breathe, think, feel and head things in the direction we'd like them to go, hopefully with an outcome in our favor. Likewise, as we train, we try to learn to make the best use of our time and energy, and to try to steer our lives towards a fulfilling experience with as much grace as possible. With Boone's passing, we are reminded that each moment we have is a gift, and that we should be giving, passionate and grateful as Boone was during his short time here.

In memory of Boone, we will annually be awarding a special, Boone High Achievement Award, to a student who demonstrates a high level of dedication to the dojo, martial arts and demonstrates outstanding attitude. Boone will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

I hope I can emulate the shining attitude and energy he gave us all.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Epilepsy Foundation of Middle and West Tennessee, 2000 Richard Jones Rd., Suite C-202, Nashville, TN 37215.

Eric Silver

Boone High with Rickson Gracie

> July 17, 2010

Congratulations to Eddie, Wes and Chris, who all placed in the EGO Tournament, July 17th in Nashville.

> July 12, 2010

Congratulations to the following students on their recent promotions!

• In jiu-jitsu: Hank Quillen was promoted to brown belt and Andy Workman to blue belt.
• In the kids class: Brayden Grogan and Isabel Pregont received their second yellow stripes, and Jacob, Clive and Hudson Pregont their first yellow stripes.
• In karate: Rusty Miles and Alvin Roland, Jr. were promoted to 2nd degree brown belt, Ian Reynolds to blue belt, Isabel Pregont to second orange stripe and Silas Whinnery to yellow belt.
• Worthy of mention, Eddie Detvongsa was downgraded to blue belt size 5 due to his recent success with weight loss!
  
  Good work everyone!

On April 3rd we had a second visit from master, Rickson Gracie. Happily, Profesor Gracie’s visit coincided with the opening of our new school on Church Street, which definitely merited a grand opening.

After training with Rickson Gracie for over 16 years now, I’m still amazed each time we’re on the mat. Every time I learn new details and intricacies of the positions. I also enjoy watching those who haven’t had much or any time with him as their eyes open wide, seeing jiu-jitsu done by the best. They see how one small detail with a grip, hip movement or head position can change your whole game, your strategy, increase your submission effectiveness or prevent injuries.

I am always happy to see how Rickson’s presence unites people, as students from many schools and associations come to train and grow together. He commented that if we train properly and learn to do things with less effort and more effectiveness, that we can accomplish much more in life, and overall, be much more useful people to society. Agreed.

-Eric Silver

Here are some photos from Rickson Gracie's latest visit:

Click for a larger version

> May 8, 2010

NASHVILLE FLOODING - THE WORST IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY!

This past weekend, May 1st and 2nd, Nashville was hit by the worst rain and flooding in its history. In less than two days we received more than fifteen inches of rain and the Cumberland River, which runs through the city, crested at almost 52 feet, about 12 feet above normal.

Scores of vehicles were trapped on the interstates and city streets. Some cars, even houses floated away. Boats were mobilized to rescue people from roads, houses and stores where they were stranded. The Red Cross set up shelters for people who had nowhere to go. At least thirty people perished and many are still missing. Historic landmarks were under water, causing irreparable damage. Damage and loss so far is estimated at a billion and a half dollars. Many of our counties have been declared disaster areas and as you drive around now you see cars buried in debris and homes with all the contents laid outside to dry or be disposed of.

I have been touched by the kindness of our martial arts brothers. One of my best friends and brown-belt students, Bob Hillis, drove 350 miles from Georgia as soon as the highways were passable to bring equipment from his Servpro company to help dry out my office which flooded as well as our dojo. The students helped out and now our floors and mats are dry enough to resume regular classes. I received offers of assistance from BJJ friends in Memphis, Knoxville and Alabama, which was very, very much appreciated.

Such generous offers of help from students and friends have been almost as humbling as the power of the storm itself. We are blessed to share our martial arts training because it gives us the strength of body and mind to face lifes challenges and gives us a bond few can understand. And as weve seen here lately, at the end of the day, what matters is not what gets taken away from you, but what you give back. Thank you Bob and everyone who has helped us out.

If you wish to contribute to our relief efforts you can do so via www.redcross.org or www.hon.org.

> April 3, 2010

Rickson Gracie's Nashville Seminar, 2010 (link to article on adcombat.com) | Adobe PDF

> March 14, 2010

Zanshin Dojo has a new Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black-belt! Longtime student and instructor Derrick Reynolds was awarded his black-belt from Mr. Silver after fifteen great years of dedicated training. Since 1994, seven black-belts were awarded to previous Zanshin Dojo students but none within the school until Mr. Silver's promotion by Rickson Gracie in 2009. Derrick has always been the patient type, waiting five years just to test for his blue belt. He is, thankfully, our gentle "giant", has a passion for the Gracie self-defense methods and is a full time instructor in the school. He likes to recall that his baptism in BJJ was getting choked unconscious by a 150 pound student. This "religious" experience made him a believer in the effectiveness of jiu-jitsu and he's been hooked ever since. We are very, very proud of him and no one deserves this promotion more than him.

Our open house was this weekend and the school was full of special guests. Longtime Wado-Ryu karate instructor/competitor, Wayne Tyler, stopped by and BJJ black-belts Shawn Hammonds, Ray Cassius, Spencer Scrivner and members of their team dropped in to train. Jack Frost received a surprise promotion to his orange belt in karate, Bill Schultz received his blue-belt/purple stripe in jiu-jitsu and Hank Quillen was promoted to purple belt/brown stripe. We were also introduced to Brad and Amy Meyers new addition (and upcoming gold medalist), Gabriella Meyers. Don McIlhiney and Alvin Roland Jr. were given appreciation awards for their contributions to the school.

Mr. Silver place his tattered brown belt on permanent display along with the keys to his original karate school, the now demolished Bushido school and a pair of gloves from the first Pride MMA fight in Japan, a gift from Rickson Gracie. He explained that the belt he wore for seven years, is a reminder to focus on training, not on awards and promotions. The keys represent the door which he passed through to train thirty years ago, as the new students are doing now. The gloves are a reminder that Zanshin Dojo was practicing MMA (Vale Tudo) style fighting since the early days of it's appearance in the martial arts world.

Congratulations to everyone on their promotions and thanks to everyone who came and joined us for a momentous day!

Eric Silver talks to the students about the history of Zanshin Dojo...

...and his philosophies about teaching and carrying on martial arts traditions.


Alvin "The Beast" Roland accepts the gift of classic Wado-Ryu karate books.


A shocked Derrick Reynolds received his faixa preta (black-belt)!

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Introducing our fiercest new competitor, Isabel "Lightning" Pregont.

Imani Reynolds is proud of her daddy...

Who, after fifteen years of training is still no match for Mrs. Reynolds!

First night of class in the new dojo

After more than a year of searching for the right place, we have finally moved into our new school and for the first time in over ten years, our jiu-jitsu and karate classes are back under one roof. At our new home at Next Level Fitness, we have and new Swain tatame mats, a warm-up room with weights and heavy bag and showers. We owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who has assisted in getting the new school ready to open. I would particularly like to thank David Powell who went far beyond the call of duty in the personal time he's given.

Our schedule has expanded from four to nine classes per week. In addition to the regular karate and jiu-jitsu classes, we now have weekly self-defense and fitness classes. Derrick Reynolds and Hank Quillen will be assisting in teaching jiu-jitsu and Gary Townes, Don McIlhiney and Rusty Miles will be helping lead the karate classes.

This weekend (3/13/10), we’ll be having our GRAND OPENING PARTY and everyone is invited, friends and family included. Most exciting of all, Rickson Gracie has announced that he will stop in and do a class in our new facility on his way from Rio to LA where he will be coaching his son Kron in the Pan-Am Jiu-Jitsu tournament.

For those of us who have been part of Zanshin Dojo for many years, myself, Gary Townes and Derrick Reynolds, this has been a long awaited goal, to have our own school with full time access which Next Level Fitness has provided. Mr. Townes and I have trained together for twenty-nine years and Mr. Reynolds and I for fifteen. We have held classes in basements, backyards, parks, rooftops and garages. Of course, a dojo can be anywhere, even in your mind, but I'm very happy that we now have our own place to train and grow together.

-Eric Silver

Isabel 'Lightning' Pregont sparring...

> On October 3rd, Jordan Ballard took second place in the Louisville tournament. Hank Quillen won second place in the purple belt lightweight gi and master no gi in Knoxville on Saturday, October 17, 2009. Wesley Grogan won second place in the white belt middleweight division.

Congratulations guys!

YOU CAN NOW FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! www.twitter.com/zanshindojo

> Summer 2009 News:
This has been a very busy summer for everyone at Zanshin Dojo. The karate group has moved into our new beautiful room at the downtown YMCA and due to a large number of new members, we have added a children's class starring our new youngest, karateka, "Queen" Isabel Pregont (5). Recently Alvin "The Beast" Roland and Rusty Miles successfully completed their examinations for San-kyu (first level brown belt).

In jiu-jitsu we recently held belt tests for our Nashville dojo as well as affiliates from Georgia, Maryland and Ohio. There was a four hour review on Friday night followed by thirteen hours of tests on Saturday and two hours of rolling on Sunday. Everyone was had a great time and was adequately worn out.

Travis Powell was promoted to yellow belt. Andrew Workman, Jordan Ballard, Eddie Detvongsa, David Powell and Kenton Boutwell all received their promotions to blue stripe. Nick Johnson, Jason Massey and John Gilbert were promoted to blue belt. Instructors Bob Hillis and Scott Naugle from Georgia and Maryland respectively, were deservedly promoted to brown belt. Mr. Hillis and Naugle both run their own schools and are two of the oldest Zanshin Dojo students. In special mention, Derrick "Tiny" Reynolds, was promoted to black stripe (one level below black belt). Mr. Reynolds has been with the dojo now almost fifteen years and is as faithful and dedicated as one could hope to be. Professor Pedro Sauer once commented about him, "Thank God he's a nice guy!"

Congratulations to everyone and keep up the great work.

Finally, our Zanshin jiu-jitsu gi's have arrived and are available.

> Eric Silver receives his black-belt from Rickson Gracie!- After training with the legendary Rickson Gracie since 1994, Eric Silver was awarded his black-belt last week in Nashville. He is now the sixth American (the only one outside of California) who has been awarded this rank directly from Rickson. Worldwide there are about twelve first generation Rickson black-belts.

Rickson Gracie was in Nashville doing his first open seminar in over ten years. The seminar was a huge success and had to be capped at just over two hundred students! READ ARTICLE BY Kid Peligro in Adcombat News