Gracie Barra tampa or RGJJ tampa

[natty2125]

Moving to tampa in a week and going to start bjj after the start of the new year. Looking for a little info about these places. Eduardo de lima is the instructor at gracie barra and rob kahn instructs RGJJ. Both comparable price wise and distance wise both black belts rob under royce gracie and eduardo under carlos gracie jr. JUst wondering if anyone has trained at either location and which would be a better starting school. Any one's experience's would be greatly apperciated thanks ahead of time from the dumb noob.....

[Aesopian]

Try both and see which one you like more in terms of the instructor's personality and instruction, the vibe of the school and what kind of training they have to offer.

My sister and I have been training at Gracie Barra Tampa for just over 1½ years now and love it. Eduardo is a great instructor and I've made more friends in a shorter amount of than I've made anywhere else. The quality of instruction is very high and there are a lot of experience guys to train and roll with.

As for Gracie Tampa, I've met Rob Kahn and he's a great guy too. I've heard nothing but praise for his school.

My personal bias is of course for Gracie Barra Tampa, so you should just take a trial class at both and see what you like.

[Aesopian]

As for the vibe at Gracie Barra Tampa, here's an e-mail I received at the www.TampaBJJ.com website today. It's from a Marine that trained with us for a single night when Eduardo happened to be away from the school.

Subject: Thanks for the hospitality

Hey guys,

I came down a few weeks ago after flying in to attend a fellow Marine's funeral. I really missed training BJJ and decided to stop by and watch. I was overwhelmed by friendly fellow practitioners who welcomed me in and on the mat, going so far as to throw their training clothes at me (a complete stranger) in order to include me in training. I felt like I was home among friends and that must be a direct reflection of Eduardo, who I didn't get meet. I'm actually looking into moving there with my wife and 2yr old son at the end of my enlistment (next year). We might even come down in February to check out the area in detail and see if there's anything I can do for a living eventhough all I'm really gonna WANT to do is train. I hope all is well and I can't wait to return.

God Bless - Ben

Me and a friend took Ben to dinner after training and he was a very cool guy. It'll be great to get to train with him regularly once he has moved down here.

[leiff]

Rob Kahn kicks ass. I took a seminar with him and learned so many cool moves that I've implemented into my game. This guy really knows his jiu jitsu. I train with one of his top students, Brian McLaughlin, so I see a lot of his new innovative jiu jitsu moves in practice. I have a video of Rob tapping my instructor like 4 times in 45 seconds, and they were all moves that he had just taught too.

I also had the privelege to watch Rob's debut fight where he armbarred a dude in under 2 minutes.

I may be biased because of my instructor, but Rob Kahn is the real deal.

[Brian McLaughlin]

I'm alsop biased since I'm one of Rob's students

Rob Kahn is incredible, his Jiu-Jitsu is on another level. When I started training with him my game took off, he will make you reach your highest potential. His techniques are very innovative too, you will learn things that you won't see anywhere else, I guarantee it.

Also, I've been to his place in Tampa many times (I live in New York - rob used to teach in Westchester before moving to Florida) and his students are very skilled and helpfull training partners. Some of his purple belts have even defeated black belts in competition.

Rob just made his MMA debut this weekend, he won via armbar after 1 minute 30 seconds (guy wouldn't tap so he had to break it). Rob's top student, Justin Garcia (abu Dahbi veteran) fought on the same card and won via rear naked choke in 40 seconds (put the guy to sleep).

If you want your Jiu-Jitsu to take off then get over to Rob Kahn's

www.Gracie-tampa.com

[Brian McLaughlin]

I have a video of Rob tapping my instructor like 4 times in 45 seconds, and they were all moves that he had just taught too.

Man that was embarassing.....Rob owns me on the mat, he once tapped me out 3 times with one arm tied to his side (no joke)

[LuNoTiCK]

I'm a student of Brian McLaughlin's and I have been to Rob's seminars and have to say he's amazing. The teaches some great moves, his students show very fast progress. If you want to get your Jiu Jitsu game up to another level, I say go to Rob's school.

[Gsoares2]

Ive trained at both places and it depends on your goals and wants.

Gracie Barra is the traditional Jiujitsu from Brazil. Eduardo teaches the gi and is very passionate about Jiujitsu as a life style and not just a martial art. He has more than just jiujitsu to teach. Very culturaly rich guy with good morals. I respect the guy alot and since i am training the gi i wouldn’t pick another place. He came from the originals in Rio learning from Carlos Gracie Jr. and Jean Jacques Machado. He has produced multiple Pan-American gold medalist at blue/purple/brown belt level. As well as winning the panamericans him self 3 times as a blackbelt. He teaches a weekly topic. For instance this week we are training 3 de la riva sweeps and we will practice those sweeps all week long before switching to something new. We practice moves norm 10 times and then switch. Which is good for me, because i get a better feel for the sweep and im able to pull it off in practice more often.
I also like the Gracie barra gym better because it has two huge garage doors. You can see trees out of one side, and fresh air is circulating through the place the entire time. Some of the guys at gracie barra have fought vale tudo but its not concentrated on at all by Eduardo. He teaches strictly jiu-jitsu with the gi and has one no-gi night a week.
Eduardo also has a lot of experienced brown belts, 5 that I can think of at the school. They also have a lot to offer and teach.

Rob Kahn is very good and focuses more on the nogi aspects of things. He plays more of the new/innovative style of jiujitsu. Most of the guys i rolled with there, had a real good top game and were aggressive which is good for competition. If you were focusing more on No-gi i would suggest his school. Rob is the laid back American style gym. Plays music while rolling and kind of walks around giving tips. At robs class they train more techniques. Every day you come in you do a different set of techniques for that day. For instance one day they will show three setups for a choke(s) and then the next day three ways to pass the butterfly guard. You probably practice 3 times each side before they switch to a new technique. Robs gym is smaller and in the back of a Workout gym.. So not much airflow, But they have the added plus of a full boxing studio with ring and all bags. Like was said before rob does vale tudo as well. If your interested in vale tudo at all youll know the teacher has had experience, and has punching ability as well. Rob is also in amazing shape, the guy is shredded and good strength to. He will get you motivated to push your body to the next level. All beginners must wear a gi at robs place, which is a great idea.
Rob has a couple of purples there. There is one named Travis who is a real nice guy with great ability. They can definetly show you a lot; and have a mean ten finger guillotine.


I trained with Eduardo for 9 months
and trained with rob for 2 weeks when Eduardo moved his school out of tampa.
Im most interested in the gi so now i travel to clearwater to learn from the master himself.

Short answer
if you like the gi and want the brazilian attitude go to Eduardo - Gracie Barra
If you like nogi go to Rob - GracieTampa

Either guy could lead you to be a champion.
You cant go wrong no matter where you pick.
But you could always try both and decide for your self.

Congradulations to rob and his victory this weekend..

[Aesopian]

Just try both and see which suits you best. You can't go wrong at either place, and Tampa is lucky to have so much talent.

[natty2125]

Thanks for the info fellers. I actually have stopped in and watched a class instructed by both of these guys. I just wanted to hear some outside opinions ya know. Any ways thanks yinz guys... for sure will take a free beee from both dudes... good to hear rob won i stopped in his place the tues.day before his fight cool cool lates