By: Carl Stevens
At the heart of any great practice is the dedication to its core tenets. If you start with a strong base, you can build anything on top of it. This is especially true in the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), where respect, discipline, and focus reign supreme. Essential to the practice of the art are the teachers who pass along the skills, only after years of considerable training themselves.
One such trainer is Rodrigo Stanisci, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who has taken his teaching to the next level. Having practiced by himself for many years, Stanisci received his black belt from the acclaimed master Gordo. While currently teaching all levels from beginner to athlete, he also held a position training the Qatar Armed Forces.
With over 14 years of experience, Stanisci looks to the basics when teaching. “Developing a good base is so crucial,” he says when referring to how he starts his students’ training. “From there they can go on and develop their own style, but first, they must grasp the basic fundamentals.” By starting with concepts every practitioner should know, he aims to build their confidence and help them progress.
This confidence can help his students to grow in the training sessions and evolve over time. While the martial art is based around self-defense, the effects of its teachings often go beyond that for many students. “I help my students to develop character, which may enhance their confidence in their everyday life.”
By adhering to the core tenets of respect, discipline, and focus, Stanisci’s lessons might have positive mental health benefits for his students. “By focusing on the basics, I not only make sure my students have a good base, but they also leave with a sense of accomplishment,” he explains. For many students, this sense of accomplishment can translate into personal growth beyond the mats.
Despite teaching at all levels, the Brazilian-born trainer is a stickler for the fundamentals. He believes that confidence in knowing what you are going to do in specific situations can help students react more naturally when they find themselves in one. He likens his focus to that of building a house. “You start with a good base before you start to build up,” he says, before admitting, “and the base isn’t always the prettiest, but it is effective.”
This ground-up approach (quite literally) has allowed Stanisci to be an effective trainer on all levels. Whether approached by a youth looking to try the martial art for the first time, or a trained combat veteran, he strives to connect with them individually. “I like to train all levels; you get to see different changes in the students,” states the black belt.
While BJJ is often looked at as a fight sport, for those like Rodrigo Stanisci, it holds true to be a martial art. It is one that takes many years to come close to but never master, as it is ever-evolving and new techniques are being created regularly. Especially now, while not quite the peak of the BJJ craze internationally, there are gyms worldwide. Thanks to the proliferation of the art through the expansion of the UFC, BJJ is practiced on almost every continent.
With that being said, the art itself is designed to be safe when practiced correctly. This is thanks to practitioners who stay true to the core values and continue to preach the fundamentals. “What I care about most is instilling a sense of self-worth into my students and helping them to respect others, but most importantly, themselves.”
Rodrigo Stanisci has dedicated a large portion of his life to the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and it has taken him around the world. From his home country of Brazil to training in the Qatar Armed Forces, BJJ has opened many doors for Stanisci. He is grateful for his many opportunities and looks to pass on his love for the art to as many people as possible. After all, he believes that on the mats, everyone should be treated with respect and fairness.
Published by: Annie P.
