Gen Thomas

genevieve.thomas@sunmedia.ca

Kapuskasing natives Kris Ratté and Jonelle Larouche are once again raising the bar for jiu jitsu players in Northern Ontario by brining a world-class seminar to their school in Timmins.

Timmins Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, the second Gracie Academy Certified Training Centre in Canada, will be hosting a seminar on Saturday, August 18th , with black belt and Gracie Academy head instructor, Ricardo Bayona.

"Ricardo Bayona was promoted to black belt in December 2011," explained Kris Ratté. "He is one of the head instructors at the Gracie Academy, and has been doing most of the

teaching at the new Gracie Academy in Beverly Hills."

Ratté said Timmins Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is excited to be hosting their second seminar with a Gracie Academy black belt before reaching its first anniversary, having previously hosted Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Professor/Second Degree Black Belt and undefeated MMA fighter Ralek Gracie back in November.

Ratté described the content of the seminar.

"Ricardo Bayona will be here on August 16th and conducting five hours of seminars on August 18th. He will be available for private lessons and testing if people choose to test with him."

"The focus will be Open Guard Strategies. ?We will work on sweeps, submissions and guard passes.?? Seminar 1: Open Guard and Butterfly Guard 1 (?at 10am). Seminar 2: Butterfly Guard 2 and X Guard (at 2:30pm).?? Each seminar will be 2.5 hours long," said GJJ black belt, Ricardo Bayona. "?We hope to see everyone there."

The cost for one seminar is $85 or $135 for both,. No experience is necessary, however a GI (kimono) is required. Timmins Gracie Jiu-Jitsu does have rental GI's. Call 705-264-ROLL (7655) for more information.