NWMA Holds Winter Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Seminar

Ryan Clark (left) and Omar Santiago (right) pose after competition victories.

NWMA Holds Winter Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Seminar

Harold Utterback (left) post victory

  Eugene, Ore - Northwest Martial Arts, affiliated under Megaton Dias in their Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Program, will host their first winter seminar featuring six of their black belts.

One of the gym co-owners, Ryan Clark, plans to host four camps a year for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. After organizing the first BJJ camp, his Muay Thai students wanted camps for their respective sport.
If Jeet Kune Do follows suit, there could be up to 12 seminars a year, potentially.




The seminar will also serve as the setting for a video shoot that Clark plans to use as a promotional tool. Martial Artists from several other schools, including Portland, are registered for the event.

Ryan Kelly at the NWMA Eugene gym.

The various black belts each have their own advice to share when it comes to getting the most out of a seminar experience. Clark likes to take notes when possible so he can refer back to them to jog his memory. Harold Utterback takes notes and has been taking photos to remind him of positional details. MMA phenom, Brent Primus is mostly a visual learner, and tends to retain techniques just by watching them.

"This is the first seminar that the NWMA Brazilian Jiu Jistu black belts have held using six instructors to  teach their favorite high-percentage techniques to the general public," said Utterback.

Brent Primus basks in glory

Primus recommends coming into a seminar with an open mind and a willingness to experiment. Brent attends seminars to expose himself to several techniques, then focuses on the ones that he thinks will compliment his game. "You're bound to learn something with six black belts teaching you their game," Primus said.

Out of the NWMA black belts teaching at the seminar, Brent is the newest after seven years of training.

"You've got six different black belts sharing their high percentage moves," Clark said. "You get this shot in the arm with all of the different focuses, different styles and different techniques."

NWMA Corvallis instructor, Josh Macnamara

When asked, Clark recalls being impressed with a seminar conducted by Andre Galvao. "...I think that one changed my game the most," reflected Clark. "That was three hours that really changed my game."

Harold recalls a similar experience with Megaton Dias and Rickson Gracie. He recommends even to white and blue belts to roll with a such high level of talent if the opportunity arises. "It's not so much  the techniques that you learn as much as the energy, the feel," Harold said. "As soon as you slap hands, it's a totally different energy.

The first of many anticipated seminars will be held at the
Eugene Northwest Martial Arts academy on 8th and Charnelton streets in Eugene on Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9. The lesson begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. on both days.

For more information, call 541-912-9099.