Our Story
By Professor Tosh Cook
How It Started
Martial arts have always been an essential part of my life. As a youth, I could usually be found in front of a heavy bag, and (when not punching or kicking something) I read every book I could get my hands on that had anything to do with fighting or boxing.
Tosh and Royce.
The UFC Answered Questions I Didn’t Even Know I Had
As a senior in high school, I came across an advertisement in a magazine for a tournament to answer the oft-debated question of “What style wins in a fight?” The idea of seeing a Sumo Wrestler, Karateka, Grapplers, and Boxers duke it out in a steel cage seemed revolutionary but obvious. After spending the unheard-of amount of $19.95 to watch this pay-per-view live, I was astounded that this tournament of monsters concluded with an Ultimate Fighting Champion named Royce Gracie. He was very close to my stature of 6’1 and 175 lbs., and only a few years older. Watching this same outcome again a few months later in UFC 2 erased doubts that the result was a fluke, and I was determined to learn the art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Royce Gracie Versus Gerard Gordeau, UFC 1, 1993
Royce Gracie Choking Ken Shamrock, UFC 1, 1993
Keeping it real at the Gracie Academy
After moving to Southern California for school in 1997, I entered the Gracie Academy in Torrance on Carson Street and signed up for classes. White belts trained “downstairs” until an assistant instructor recommended them to move to the upstairs class taught by Royce or Rorian Gracie and “Caique” Elias. Occasionally, even Grand Master Helio Gracie would show up and lead a technique the instructors translated from Portuguese.
Helio & Royce Gracie
Before it was MMA, it was No Holds Barred
When Royce started fighting in PRIDE, it afforded the rare opportunity to see what it meant to use Jiu-Jitsu at the highest level of a fight. Sometimes it was hard to wrap my head around what we were seeing. In preparing for his epic battle against Sakaraba, Royce would line up ten students at a time and repeat the same words with each new opponent: “Take off your shirt. We are going to start on our feet. Keep going when it hits the ground. No gloves; I’m going to hit you as hard as you hit me.” Ten minutes later, when the round mercifully round came to an end, we would collapse in the corner while hearing Royce repeat the routine with a fresh body. At some point, a training partner (and eventual lifelong friend), Pat King, gave me a flyer for “NHB Fights” in neighboring San Pedro, which turned out to be a cage on the nightclub floor. We also sometimes fought in big warehouses and union halls. Over time the fledgling sport of MMA was eventually “legalized” in all 50 states, including California, and has become highly popular.
Royce Gracie versus Kazushi Sakuraba, Pride Fighting Championships (2000)
Tosh Cook and Pat King in a winning moment post-fight, (2000)
Representing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Returning to Fresno in early 2000, I was permitted to establish a school as a part of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy Training Association. When Royce founded his affiliation, we became a founding member of the Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Network. Our purpose is to preserve the training methods of Helio Gracie, which is why all students and black belts wear a blue bar on their belts instead of black or red. We also teach the ROYCE 360 curriculum, emphasizing the Five Elements of Gracie Jiiu-Jitsu: Grappling, Takedowns, Striking/Counter Striking, Standing Self Defense, and Philosophy. Getting to the coveted rank of blackbelt usually takes ten or more years. The only way to achieve a black belt in the Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Network is to be invited and successfully pass the infamous black belt examination, which is purposefully challenging to serve as an essential quality assurance method.
Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Annual Network Gathering
Original GJJ Training Association Certification, Signed by Helio and Rorian Gracie
“Culture is a shared way of doing something with passion.”
The story of our academy concludes with culture since how we practice is as important as what we practice. We pride our role as the “defenders of the old school of Jiu-Jitsu.” Some artifacts of our culture can be seen, such as how all students only wear white kimonos (gis) and practice many of the techniques studied at the original Acadamia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil. Other elements of our culture are more subtle but essential, such as the respect we show our training partners regardless of experience.
I have lost count of how many times someone said they wish they had started training years ago. I always respond that the two best times to begin learning Jiu-Jitsu are as a young child and today! The path is never easy but always worth it regardless of physical attributes.
I look forward to seeing you on the mat!