SUGAR LAND, TX, October 21, 2011 – Professor Leonardo Xavier and students held the grand opening of their brand-new Leonardo Xavier Gracie Jiu-Jitsu School of Self-Defense this past Wednesday night in Sugar Land, TX. A very special guest was in the house to help bless the occasion in the form of Master Rickson Gracie, a legendary figure of the sport and standard bearer for the art of Jiu Jitsu developed by his father, Hélio Gracie.
“Me and Leo have a long history,” Master Rickson told TXMMA.com. “I know he’s been doing a hard job here in Texas and I’m happy to come bless his outstanding work here. He’s doing an outstanding job and he’s always been a great guy, tough competitor, and loyal student. A guy like that is not exactly one you find in trees. I’m more than happy to come here and support his cause.”
To commemorate the occasion, Mr. Gracie held a two-hour seminar for a limited crowd in attendance including LX association students and visiting attendees was deemed a “priceless opportunity” by many present for the event; enabling them to learn more about the flow and philosophy behind Jiu-Jitsu’s practical applications above and beyond just learning about the techniques themselves.
A very humbling experience was how the occasion was best described.
Perhaps none were more humbled than the school’s head instructor himself, Professor Leonardo Xavier. First introduced to the Gracie Family at the age of fifteen, Xavier has long looked up to his Master Rickson as a beacon for his own quest to carry on the art.
At the conclusion of the seminar, the longtime student of Gracie Humaita honored his master with a speech and presented him with a plaque honoring his achievements and continued mission of teaching the inner virtues of Jiu Jitsu to practitioners all around the world.
“For me, this is the highest point of my career to have my idol, my mentor, and my friend able to come to the school to bless my work and help me become a better teacher. It’s an honor to have him here to teach my students together. When I was fifteen years old, he inspired me and mentored in so many ways. Now it’s a dream for me to have him here for this grand opening. We’re very fortunate and honored to have him here.”
Adding to that, Xavier was more than pleased with empowering his students to have the time with someone he feels was instrumental to his success.
“This is priceless time,” he said about the seminar. “I always believe it is important to stay in contact with my own teachers so I can refine my own technique and bring back what I can. Just like my students look to get better, my job as a teacher is to improve every day. With those things in mind, I know my students learn a lot from him like I did and continue to do. Master Rickson doesn’t teach only techniques, but also his philosophy, his concepts, his ideas… These things become a lifelong inspiration.
LX Jiu Jitsu is going to continue to work with Master Rickson and bring him back as often as we can so he can offer this service not just to our academy here but also to the entire Texas community; with a bigger venue and room for larger number of attendees, that way everyone can benefit from his knowledge. LX Jiu Jitsu is going to keep working with the community and build up Jiu Jitsu starting with the kids program and also by working directly with great organizations like the Sugar Land Police Department and others so we can all grow together, become better, and improve the lives of everyone around us with Jiu-Jitsu at the forefront.”
For more on Leonardo Xavier Jiu-Jitsu or to contact, please visit www.lxbjj.com.
Rickson Gracie at LX Jiu-Jitsu – Seminar Photos
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