RONIN ACADEMY
Authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
HISTORY | MISSION | TRAINING | ATTITUDE | INSTRUCTION | RANKING | GUIDELINES
The Teacher
Nathan Snukst was originally trained by his mother in jiu-jitsu starting at a very young age. He has trained in other martial art styles throughout his life but has always returned to jiu-jitsu. He was recruited in his teens by the Gracie family to train and compete in jiu-jitsu. This eventually led him to begin instructing other students beginning in 1995. The students he has taught vary in professions and experiences, ranging from military soldiers to professional fighters to secretaries and nurses.
Ronin Academy was established in July 1999 when he decided to part from the Gracies and establish his own academy. Nathan has also trained with several great fighters and instructors in mixed martial arts and other forms of martial arts training.
Nathan also has an extensive career as a fighter. His professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) record stands at 13-0 and has fought hundreds of challenge matches representing jiu-jitsu. He holds black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Aikido, Judo, and Kendo and has an amateur record of 31-0 in kickboxing.
Quotes from Nathan about teaching and his academy:
"Something you'll see that is different with my academy, is that I don't let ego get in the way of learning. I like to be different and creative. There is a formula that I follow when teaching that produces top-notch fighters. Each person learns differently and trains differently. I'm very good at helping each person find their own style while still representing my style and the academy."
"The only person allowed to have an bad attitude at the academy is me."
"My academy is more of a university than an academy. I show lots of different techniques and styles."
"I'm more concerned with where I am now and what I'm doing now, than past accomplishments."
Quotes from Nathan about students and training:
"In competitions, my fighters have a winning record. Even if my fighters lose, people watching the match are very impressed by my fighters."
"My fighters are known for being extremely technical."
"I can train anyone regardless of how coordinated or physically fit they are; as long as they have a good attitude and want to learn I can make them good."
"I expect all of my students to act as professionals."
"In the past, Ronin jiu-jitsu students won fights training only 3 times a week, where as other places train every day. Now that students can train every day, watch out!"
"Not everyone gets along but everyone in my academy acts professionally and has mutual respect for one another."
"Our tudent body is extremely diverse, people you'd probably never meet or talk to you'll meet in our class and you'll be very surprised by the friends you make."
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HISTORY:
Jiu-Jitsu began in Japan during the feudal era, when shoguns and samurais ruled the villages. During this time, jiu-jitsu was taught to the nobility and to samurais. jiu-jitsu was for the upper, educated class and therefore was more strategic and involved more thinking. The lower class created their own method of martial arts such as karate. jiu-jitsu is considered the "father of all martial arts" and takes its method from observing how animals attack and defend in the wild. jiu-jitsu is hand-to-hand fighting that concentrates on attacking the joints (elbows, knees, and so on) and the neck because these areas were exposed when the samurai wore armor. When Japan opened up to the West, instead of showing the foreigners how to do jiu-jitsu, they created judo, which is only for sport, not for fighting. The Japanese, at the time, did not want to reveal the secrets of jiu-jitsu to foreigners. After a period of time, jiu-jitsu became forgotten in many parts of Japan. However, during the early part of the twentieth century, a Japanese diplomat stationed in Brazil began to teach Brazilians jiu-jitsu. The Brazilians had the same mentality as in feudal Japan. The Brazilians always challenged each other to fights. These challenges sprung forth an entirely new genre called "No Rules Fighting." As the title suggests, there are no rules. Any type of fighting can be used in the ring: boxing versus karate, kickboxing versus tae kwon do, jiu-jitsu versus wrestling. These fights soon gained media attention and now annual events such as Pride and the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) are regularly sponsored events. During these contemporary fights, jiu-jitsu has dominated in this arena. jiu-jitsu does not rely on punching or kicking, rather jiu-jitsu teaches the student to take his or her opponent to the ground and use a choke or joint lock to submit their opponent. jiu-jitsu involves strategy and knowledge. The more techniques you know and practice, the better fighter you become.Owner/founder and chief instructor Nathan Snukst established Ronin Academy in 1999. Nathan's vast background and experience in mixed martial art contests, vale-tudo, and the sport of jiu-jitsu helped him formulate what constitutes the essence of Ronin Academy: openness. An open mind is the best milieu for learning. His goal for the academy is to create an environment made successful by the best academies in Brazil - academies that both reflect the spirit of the student and win competitions.
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MISSION
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TRAINING
Jiu-jitsu is much like learning a language, if you don't practice frequently you won't improve.The keys to improving in this sport are proper instruction and experience. Classes will provide the instruction that one will need to learn valuable techniques. Experience will come only if the individual puts in the time to grapple. Students will find that they will learn from each other, not just their instructor. Experience also comes from spending time with more experienced students who will help refine and practice techniques.back up
ATTITUDE
The right attitude of the individual student as well as the group is very important. Not everyone in the group needs to compete to participate at the academy or fit in. Our student body is extremely diverse on all levels. The academy offers a very distinct and safe training environment. Ronin Academy states it's right to train or not to train based on each student's attitude.back up
INSTRUCTION
Something very important in training is an accessible chief instructor. Nathan says, "I like to be bothered! Ask me questions. Keep on me or I can't make you better." From Nathan's experience, he believes that the chief instructor's presence be felt in the academy as much as possible, therefore Nathan teaches most classes. Beginners complete a number of introductory classes, then each student is assessed and taught his or her own personal style. To make this possible and to keep people motivated as a team, each higher-ranking student is given the personal responsibility to help out specific sets of individual students. This ensures that there is always someone to answer a student's individual needs. Advanced students often schedule private classes to work on specific goals and needs.back up
RANKING
Ronin Academy uses the traditional Brazilian belt ranking system of white, blue, purple, brown, and black. There are no tests. Each student progresses at his or her own pace. Each belt is harder to get than prior belt. You and the color of your belt will represent Ronin; therefore no belt is given before it is earned and can be defended.back up
ACADEMY GUIDELINES
Follow these basic guidelines to show respect for the Academy, Instructor, Fellow Students and Yourself.Instruction
- Do not shout loudly in the academy.
- Refrain from horseplay, talking, and interrupting while your instructor is teaching. It distracts those who are trying to learn and is disrespectful to the teacher, as well as other students.
- Stand, sit with your legs crossed, or kneel during class. No lounging. Studies show that people learn more effectively when seated in upright postures.
- If the instructor has not changed the task, then continue doing the task he or she has given (i.e., don't sit around talking because you feel you have done a technique enough times). You can NEVER do a technique too many times.
- Never challenge an instructor to a fight. (Ask politely for help.)
- Be on time for class or let the instructor know if you are going to be late or leaving early.
- Call your instructor if you will be absent for a length of time.
- Please wear your gi, a T-shirt, or a tank top while in public areas of the Academy. No bare backs!
- Keep yourself properly groomed. Maintain good hygiene (i.e., shower and brush your teeth regularly). As you can imagine, it is difficult to concentrate on technique when you find your partner's smells distracting!
- Keep finger and toe nails short and clean to prevent injury to yourself and others.
- Keep your uniform clean. Bring a clean, dry GI to each class. Also, always keep a rash guard or T-shirt in your gym bag for no-GI classes.
- Keep shoes off the mat, so that we can keep the mats clean and sanitary.
- Do not walk outside with bare feet. If you have to go outside, wear sandals or shoes. This is especially important to prevent the spread of skin conditions such as ringworm.
- Do not train if you are intoxicated on legal/illegal substances.
- Do not seek to harm fellow students physically (e.g., by cranking a submission harder than necessary to make them tap) or emotionally (i.e., by calling them names or making jokes about hurting them).
- Respect also means that you must train seriously and hard enough for you and your partner to improve his or her skills, conditioning, and fighting spirit. Not giving your best during training detracts from both you and your partner's experience.
- Always bow or shake hands before grappling.
- NEVER get too aggressive while grappling, you should relax and go easy - don't grind away, or go too hard trying to tap people out.
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