Tag Archives: Brian Freeman Wheelchair

Epi 87 Brian Freeman, He is No Ordinary Blue Belt

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Brian Freeman is back on the BjjBrick Podcast! His last appearance was episode 16. Brian is a disabled vet with a T4 spinal cord injury with Brown-Sequard syndrome. He is from Rockingham, North Carolina. Brian is now a blue belt under Renzo Gracie.

Brian Freeman and Xande Ribeiro at IBJJF PAN 2015

Brian Freeman and Xande Ribeiro at IBJJF PAN 2015

We talk about:

  • What caused his injury
  • Getting started in BJJ
  • Doing some techniques in his chair, and training to not get separated from his chair in a self defense situation
  • What it is like to be part of a BJJ team
  • Competing with able bodied competition
  • His game and strategies that he uses
  • Why some techniques are difficult for him to defend, and how he deals with them
  • His experience at IBJJF Pan 2015
  • How everyone adapts Jiu-Jitsu to their bodies
  • How he moves around differently off the mat because of Jiu-Jitsu
  • His story of getting his blue belt
  • Competing two weeks after getting his blue belt
  • His goals when he competes
  • Competing in the expert division
  • His plans of teaching motivational and educational seminars
Brian Freeman getting his blue belt from Renzo Gracie

Brian Freeman getting his blue belt from Renzo Gracie

Links:

Quote of the week: “You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room” Dr. Seuss

Article of the week: “Injury Prevention in BJJ: Put the Odds in Your Favor“

First year of BJJ

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

Episode 16 Brian Freeman- Training BJJ with a T4 spinal cord injury

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This episode is in iTunes, and stitcher radio

This week we are very lucky to have a interview with the very inspirational Brian Freeman.
Brian is a disabled vet with a T4 spinal cord injury with Brown-Sequard syndrome. He is brian freeman bjjfrom Rockingham, North Carolina. Brian enjoys training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, his 8 year old daughter convenced him to get on the mat. He started by taking private lessons first then transitiond into the regular BJJ class.
Brian shares with us how BJJ has changed his life. BJJ has caused Brian to be more active then he was and also helped him with his lack of appatite. Jiu-jitsu has also given him more confidence.
we also talk about Brian’s:
-First UFC experence
-Favorite techniques
-Unique challanges
-Goals
-Rwards that BJJ gives
We thought it would be ineresting to talk to Brian’s coach BJJ Black Belt Roy Marsh (Team R.O.C.). Roy is co-owner of the Martial Arts Academy of Southern pines and he is the head instrctor of the BJJ program. Roy was kind enough to talk to us about training with Brian. Roy is a firm beliver that BJJ is for everyone. When Brian showed interest in learing BJJ Roy was happy to help.

Brian's Tattoo of Royce Gracie logo with wheelchair inside. Ossss

Brian’s Tattoo of Royce Gracie logo with wheelchair inside. Ossss

Quote of the week “Pratice does not make perfect, prartice makes myelin, and myelin makes perfect” Daniel Coyle. This quote make not make since at first but we break it down. As you pratice it actually makes small changes in your brain that makes things easier for you to perform.
Article of the week:

Freakoutandshutdown.blogspot.com “Getting Tough”

Links
Daniel Coyle’s website
Teamrock.net
Sandhillsjiujitsu.com
Brian on twitter @wheelchairjitsu