RocknRoll BJJ

**demos83** · Posted On: 5/06/2013 2:10pm

So there I was, browsing craigslist for some new mats, and this add came up.

orangecounty.craigslist.org/bar/3786053934.html

I thought it seemed a bit odd, so I checked out their website rocknrollbjj.com

This makes no mention of who teaches, how they are certified, or what credentials they have. They do mention they're training out of a house.

Here are some of their selling points:

Detailed, one-on-one instruction from an experienced, certified Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor and NASM Personal Trainer!
Cutting edge Brazilian jiu jitsu techniques, drills and exercises as taught to us by legends Rickson Gracie, Rigan Machado, Master Joe Moreira and Master Julio Cesar Pereira!

Their facebook page shows a bunch of 'sorry that class was canceled' messages, facebook.com/rocknrollbjj

I'm up north of LA with a sprained ankle, so I can't really go down and try their 'open mat'. (I'm also a bjj white belt, so I'm not qualified to judge a more skilled practitioner).

Does anyone have any more info on them? I've sent an email asking for clarification on their instructor(s?). It screams scam to me, but I could be wrong. Before I resort to any extreme tactics such as writing negative yelp reviews I was hoping that someone here could either provide me with more information about the studio, or tell me what else I need to do to get more information myself.

Thanks.

**AKRhino** · Posted On: 5/06/2013 3:26pm

I'm not seeing anything suspect. The only thing that might be odd is that it was difficult finding the instructors name (on their web page anyway, a bit of google-fu fixed that). It appears to be Rich Zaydel who is pictured on the rnrbjj facebook wearing a brown belt with Joe Moreira, and on his personal FB here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

He seems to have a blog and a few youtube videos as well. Is there something specific you're questioning? If not, I'm not seeing anything. He doesn't list his lineage anywhere I could find, but he seems he trains under Moriera...

**demos83** · Posted On: 5/06/2013 3:35pm

I was specifically questioning his lineage. Every other BJJ school I've ever looked at until now prominently displays who their instructors are, and who they're certified under. Nowhere on his website (that I found) does he display his name or lineage. I hadn't gone through his facebook pictures and I missed that link you found-thanks.

If he's a brown belt under Moreira then I'd consider this a non-issue, though I wonder why it's not on his site.

**AKRhino** · Posted On: 5/06/2013 3:46pm

Who knows why that is, he has a youtube channel with videos from 2011 where he appears to be a purple belt at a Marcelo Carvalho Global Jiu Jitsu Academy. 2 years later he's wearing a brown next to Moreira. You'll have to ask him why he doesn't list his lineage.

**demos83** · Posted On: 5/06/2013 4:20pm

I emailed him. I'll see what I get back. I'll mention the lack of credentials on the site also.

Presuming it matches up with what you found, I'll probably drop in for an open mat sometime once my ankle heals.

Back to trolling craiglist for mats then (it's incredible how expensive they are new...)

Thanks for your help.