One of the common things you here a lot in Jiujitsu is how it becomes a lifestyle.  More than just a work out or a class. Drilling, techniques, rolling, watching videos, dreams. If you let it, Jiujitsu can be more than you ever imagined.
  Being a Martial Arts  school owner (DAVIS MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY HUMBLE TEXAS) does have its perks.  I can train whenever I want. I can feed my addiction. Luckily, my addiction is Jiujitsu.  
  I had trained martial arts since I was 14. I was always excited to go to class, but Karate and Taekwondo never filled my dreams. The passion I feel for this art is hard to explain to people. Why does it consume me the way it does? Why do I think of ways to escape side control when I should be concentrating at work? Why am I awakened at night trying to escape back control? Why? Why is it when I dream, the ones I remember, are about Jiujitsu? I know, maybe I am a little obsessed. But, is this a bad thing?  People go a lifetime never finding a love. Something to keep them going. Something to live for. Something to die for. Something that lets you know, YOU ARE ALIVE!!!! JIUJITSU...
  When I am on the mats, there is nothing else in the world. Nothing. No work. No worries. No anger. No hate. Nothing except the roll matters. Its hard to conceive. Its hard to believe. Its hard to understand, even for me. Its even harder to explain. Jiujitsu... Why do you torment me?
  Its crazy when I hug my wife, I get my under hook and GABLE GRIP. When I roll out of bed, its with a whale walk. When I stand up, its technical. When I shake a persons hand I have never met, they get arm dragged.  HAHA....
  Part of the lifestyle is the commitment. At Davis Martial Arts in Humble, there are no short cuts. The road from white belt to Black belt is a steep, obstacle filled mountain pass. No easy way to put it. But man I promise you, if you commit to it Jiujitsu is for everyone. Mat time. Learning the techniques. Letting go of your ego. And a willingness to empty your cup, and grow as a student and a person. I know for a fact, Jiujitsu can take ordinary people, and make them extraordinary. Heroes. Someone you look up to. Someone you are inspired to be. BLACKBELT...  
  The way you carry yourself, confident and secure. From what you eat and drink, to the clothes you wear, your life will be changed forever.
  Jiujitsu is for everyone. Take a step torwards a newer and better you. Live The Dream. I tell people that all the time. They ask me how I am doing, or whats going on?  My response always is, Living The Dream.
  If your looking for something different, something new and exciting. Then look no further than your local BJJ schools.  I promise, your life will be changed forever.
              Davis Martial Arts Academy (Humble Texas)
                                          Grounddwellers (Spring Texas)
                                         Combat Nation (Houston Texas)
                                          Iron Mantis BJJ (Conroe Texas)
                                             Casillas BJJ (Victoria Texas)
                                 Practice Makes Permanent
   

 

  Becoming the head instructor of a Martial Arts Academy is definitely a challenge. Trying to make your mark and brand is difficult at best. Luckily at Davis Martial Arts we started with an excellent core group. So at least I didn't have to start from scratch.
  Coming up through our old system there were things we did and didn't do. I never questioned it or challenged the ideas or philosophies that were set in front of me. I was the student, they were the teachers. For examples, leg attacks were looked down on at the school. For various reasons I can understand the stance on no leg attacks. Wrist locks were deemed as "cheesy". These attacks were not student friendly, and could easily set one of your guys training back for awhile.
  When I took over, that way of thinking and teaching was somewhat engrained in my own teaching. However, like all things Jiujitsu, things change. I had always enjoyed the wrist lock. I was good at them. But, I never really applied them in training. I can remember times when we were not allowed to touch the face or really apply shoulder pressure in side control. You were a brute and not being technical. That evolved along with a lot of things due in part to the facts that everyone was using more and more pressure type controls to pin guys. Plus everyone was getting better at escaping, so we had to change.
  Jiujitsu is a never ending game of change. But, at the same time you don't want to forget or lose parts or pieces from the past that made it so great.
  I feel that in Jiujitsu, there are no SECRET moves. No mysterious techniques that separate us from them. The only differences I have really seen are how the techniques are drilled and applied in everyday training. If you want your guys to be better at triangles, you train triangles. If you want them good at foot locks, you train foot locks. Its that simple. DRILL. DRILL. DRILL. Mystery revealed. Put in the work.
  On the subject of legs, ankles and feet. I feel that the leg attack  game gets a bad wrap. Especially when it comes to sport Jiujitsu. There are more rules governing the attack on legs than any other attacks. I can understand, a little, why the rules are the way they are. But how about rather than creating more rules against something, we as practitioners of the sport do a better job of teaching the ends and outs of leg attacks and defense. Instead of making or creating rules against, create a level of awareness and understanding that allows our students to defend or attack this game. Don't get me wrong, I hate tapping to an ankle lock as much as anyone, along with an arm, triangle kimura, but I feel if I leave my ankle dangling out there take it. Its part of the game.  Knowing when to tap, is the key. These rules I feel are why more and more schools are going away from leg attacks.
  Awareness with in the ranks of your students. The tap. Knowing when enough is enough. Teaching your students how to be good training partners is crucial in the growth of a school. 
  Trying to unteach whats been taught for so long is tough. Starting over in a mind set of, "its ok to attack the legs. Wrist locks are a valid submission." No when to say when....That's the key. Teach your students about the TAP. Don't push a submission to pad your ego. Of course, we always want to try and escape, but at what costs. Let go of the ego. TAP.
  When it comes to my white belts. I like to teach them the basics of an ankle lock submission and escapes. Wrist locks are a staple of my own attacks, so we always throw those in. TAP.TAP.TAP. Its all part of your training.
  For those guys that compete, I tell them, "KNOW THE RULES".  Its that simple. If you compete, every tournament circuit has its own set of standards and rules. Know what can and cant be done. Know the point scheme. Know the legal and illegal subs, takedowns, etc...Its the competitors responsibility to be informed about what they may be getting themselves into. We also discuss this before hand but ultimately, its on the competitors themselves.
  Start your students out with all the facts, knowledge and training, and your Jiujitsu will be all the better for it. Teaching our guys everything at Davis Martial Arts is very important me. I don't want to lose a part of the Art, because tournaments don't allow this, that, or the other. An all around student that knows how to escape an ankle lock, who knows what a heel hook is, has felt a wrist lock,  can at least have the concept to know they are in danger and need to tap or can escape. Knowledge is the key. Not more rules.

                                             Davis Martial Arts Academy 
                                              Practice Makes Permanent
   
 

   Trying to separate my every day life from my Jiujitsu life has been a serious struggle.  When the opportunity was put to me to take over as Head instructor/owner of Davis Martial Arts Academy, I guess I didn't know what I was in for.
   I have spent my entire life working as a mechanic.  Since I can remember I have been working or cars, boats, equipment. You name it, I fixed it. To say the least being a mechanic has taken care of me and my family for a long time. The time and investment I have put into to getting to where I am now has been a 20 year struggle.  I started in a washrack when I was 18, right out of high school. needless to say, I have paid my dues.  I have always wanted more out of every job I ever worked.  Wanted to be the best. Would do whatever I thought it would take. Come in early, stay late, not take lunches, work weekends. I gave up a lot in the pursuit of getting ahead, but I thought that's what your supposed to do as a husband and a father. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change the way my life has gone, its just maybe I would have tried to give or get a little more pleasure out of it.
  When I started training Jiujitsu 16 years ago I had no aspirations to own my own school or coach a Team. I just wanted to TRAIN. The feelings and emotions that come along with training Jiujitsu drove me to where I am now. The love of the Art. Take downs, sweeps, reversals, submissions. I love it all. I love the life. But, trying to make it as a school owner, is tough.
  My family depends on me to lead the way. I have never been big on taking risks. So, right now I live a double life.  During the day I am the service manger for an equipment rental company (BLUELINE RENTAL). At night, Jiujitsu coach. My days start at 430 am and do not end usually til 1030-1100 at night. For the first couple of months it was a struggle. Now, I have gotten used to the long hours. Trying to maintain a Jiujitsu school and run a very demanding service department, tricky to say the least. 
  Right now I am not comfortable enough with the growth of the school to leave my current job. I think about the what if's??? My main goal for the school is to increase enrollment. We have been steady with some minor ups and downs. For the most part, we are headed in the right direction. I know we probably could be doing better if I said screw it and went all in. Quit my job and just go for it. Adversity pushes me to succeed. But still in the back of my mind is the what if's... What if I fail?  That's a question I ask my self daily. There are a lot of people depending on me. Not only my wife and kids, but now MY STUDENTS.
  I am not into failure either. Am I putting too much on myself or is this the way it is for all school owners? I dont usually even let failing enter my mind. Man, but there is a lot riding on my success or failure.
  Becoming a Jiujitsu coach and instructor/school owner for most is a dream come true. For me as well.  Little by little I know I will get there. With the help of our current students, and our advertising I hope to grow Davis Martial Arts into something special.  A place where you want to bring your friends and family.  A place not only to train, but a place where you can come to grow physically and mentally. A place where champions are made. A place everyone talks about. A place where everyone wants to come and train.
  My name is Roy Davis... trying to live my dream.
                                             DAVIS MARTIAL ARTS
                                          Practice Makes Permanent  

  You have got to be careful out there today. Training can be more hazardous to your health than you think...
  Training Jiujitsu for as long as I have, you tend to see some crazy things. Guys leaving their gi's in their cars or at the school to "DRY OUT" so they can wear it later that evening. Folks walking around barefoot inside and out, in the bathrooms and then coming into the training areas. This can be very unsafe for you and your TEAM. Taking precautions and making everyone at the gym aware of the dangers is vital to keeping a clean safe training environment.
  At Davis Martial Arts in Humble, we do everything we can to prevent the spread of staph or ringworm thru awareness and preventive awareness. We have brought in the services of DIS-IN-FX.  This is a company that comes in regularly to spray and sanitize the mats and gear. They run regular analysis of the training area, mats, gear and entire school. They spray and disinfect the everything. In between their visits we sweep, scrub, mop, etc.. everything we need to do in order to maintain a standard of cleanliness we all enjoy. Keeping the school clean and presentable to the public and our students is very important to us.
  Jiujitsu is a close contact sport. Its easy to transfer anything from one student to the next. Flu, ringworm, and staph are some examples of what can bring our type of Art to a stand still.
  Some examples of some easy ways to help fight off an in-house epidemic:
1. Keep your gi/training gear washed and clean.
2. Keep yourself washed and clean(remember soap is your friend)
3. If you see signs of infection, notify your instructor immediately(DO NOT COME IN TO TRAIN WITH TAPE ON A RINGWORM OR STAPH INFECTION: I WILL SEND YOU HOME!)   
4. Flu season-If your coughing, or have a fever, STAY HOME!
  Ringworm is a skin infection due to a fungus. Often, there are several patches of ringworm on your skin at once. Ringworm occurs when a type of fungus called tinea grows and multiplies on your skin. Ringworm can spread easily from one person to another. You can catch ringworm if you touch someone who has the infection, or if you come into contact with items contaminated by the fungus, such as combs, unwashed clothing, and shower or pool surfaces. You can also catch ringworm from pets that carry the fungus. The fungus that causes ringworm thrive in warm, moist areas. Ringworm is more likely to occur when you are wet (such as from sweating) and from minor injuries to your skin, scalp, or nails.
To care for ringworm: Keep your skin clean and dry. Apply over-the-counter antifungal or drying powders, lotions, or creams that contain miconazole, clotrimazole, or similar ingredients.
  A staph infection is caused by a Staphylococcus (or "staph") bacteria. Actually, about 25% of people normally carry staph in the nose, mouth, genitals, or anal area, and don’t have symptoms of an infection. The foot is also very prone to picking up bacteria from the floor. The infection often begins with a little cut, which gets infected with bacteria. This can look like honey-yellow crusting on the skin. These staph infections range from a simple boil to antibiotic-resistant infections to flesh-eating infections. The difference between all these is the strength of the infection, how deep it goes, how fast it spreads, and how treatable it is with antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat staph infections. But there's been a gradual change in how well these antibiotics work. While most staph infections used to be treatable with penicillin, stronger antibiotics are now used.
  The bottom line is that there is a fine line between dedicated, and disrespectful. Keep yourself clean and safe and always try and remember the other guys and girls that train with you.
  Jiujitsu is a growing sport. With more and more people joining academies, the need for awareness grows. Keeping a clean, safe training environment is essential for a successful school.  Take care of yourself and the others around will do the same
                                    Davis Martial Arts Academy 
                         Where Champions are made!

 I had the opportunity to train and learn from one of, if not the BEST, instructors out there this past weekend. And to say the least, the attention to details was more than I expected.
 Carlos Machado. 
  This was a 2 hour scheduled seminar so I expected a quick in and out, 3 or 4 techniques, and see you later thanks for coming. This was far from it. The way the seminar began was completely different from what I had experienced prior to Saturday.  The dry erase board was soon full of the ideas that rattles around in mind of  a JIUJITSU WIZARDS brain. The concepts that filled the board were unique to say the least. Simple to grasp, but advanced in the way of any Jiujitsu instruction I had experienced.  My previous encounters with Jiujitsu seminars was not that great. Some were hit and miss on content, functionality, uniqueness. This was all that in a nut shell. Basic techniques, but attention to details that were eye opening.
  We started out with guard pulling concepts with step by step movements. Carlos Machado made sure that everyone paid attention to foot positioning, head position, hand position. Walking around answering questions and filling in the blanks. The details alone were almost overwhelming. Not only the how behind the technique, but the WHY is what stood out in my mind most of all. Being a 6 year Blackbelt,, you would think the basics would not be that awe inspiring. THINK AGAIN...
  We moved on to shoulder control within the triangle position. I don't want to just give away everything we all just paid for, so the concept here was a break through. My triangle game will now be a lot more difficult to defend. Prepare yourselves guys.
  Carlos Machado then moved on to guard passing concepts with very applicable drills, that we will definitely be working from here on out. Next was some knee on belly escapes (***** rating) along with following through on your recovery.
  All the minor details from head and hand positioning, shoulder and elbow control, hip angle and pressure, all went into to the teaching process. A lot of information to try and absorb.
  Carlos Machado  made sure to walk around and engage the entire room. If you weren't getting it, he would get down on mats and work it with you. Not only expressing his ideas verbally, but allowing us to fill it in action was great. This helped me put the techniques into a perspective I could understand. Fast on the draw with any answers, thought out and decisive. He had been there 10,000 times before. No hesitation. No looks of confusion. 
  Carlos Machado is the most technical instructor I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. Most definitely a living legend. DETAILS. Sometimes its about the little details.
                                       PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT
                                          Davis Martial Arts Academy
                                                     Train for Life
    

   For as long as I have been training Brazilian Jiujitsu (16years), I have come to realize how lucky I really am. Having a wife and a family its not always easy to find the time to train. Luckily, I have a wife that made it very easy on me.
   I started training Jiujitsu in Humble Texas, after watching the first few UFC fights.  A long time friend introduced me to my only addiction, and I was hooked.  My two boys were 4 and 5 at the time and I was lucky enough that Alvis took us in and we never looked back.
   After a few months of training, my wife (Sarah), decided she wanted to try the kickboxing class.  One reason was a way for us to be together, the other was to get into shape. For the the next 4 or 5 months we all tried talking her into training Jiujitsu. But like a lot of women, it was a hard sell. Rolling around on the ground with a bunch of sweaty dudes trying to choke you out, didn't and doesn't appeal to most women.  Finally she started training. My boys as well. This was to become our family time.
   My boys started training and like most parents, we tried to encourage them and push them to be the best. I came to realize later that I may have pushed them a little too hard which lead to my oldest son not training anymore. My youngest had went back and forth and has now really put in a lot of effort and work is getting really good. For my self and my wife, we are dedicated.
   Over the years I have had to modify my training schedule to fit what was ever going on at the time. School, football, basketball, baseball, work, family. There was always a reason or excuse not to train. I would however, always manage to find at least 2 days a week to hit the mats. Once its in your blood, its there for life.
   In 2005 I had a major set back. Torn ACL. The doctors told me at the time that I could just leave it as is.  As long as I didn't want to do any kinda sport activities I could live with it. I had just started a new job and really couldn't afford to take off. Well, I was still young, felt really great, except for the knee, and my boys were still young as well. I had some running, jumping and rolling still left me. So of course I went ahead with the surgery. Under the knife on Thursday. Back to work on Monday limping around. One legged squats everywhere I went.  There was a lot of up and down at this new job and it was a good opportunity for me, so one leg or not I was there.
   Training Jiujitsu now seemed obsolete. Out of the question.  Or was it?? After about a week of not training, my wife was still dedicated to the cause. So, I would come to class, observe, stretch, wiggle around. The itch was too great. I started therapy like a mad man.  Within 3 months I was back at techniques. Within 6 months I was back to rolling (LIGHT). Like I said when its in your blood, Jiujitsu can be more addictive than any drug. 
   Without the support of my wife, there is no way I could have trained as hard and as much as I have over the years. We are now both Blackbelts and run our own school (Davis Martial Arts Academy in Humble Texas)
   .All the time I hear I don't have time, I am too old, I am too fat, I am not flexible enough I don't have the money. Believe me when I say there are plenty of good reasons why not to train. Life gets in the way sometimes. But if you can dedicate yourself to training, the rewards out way the costs. Life time friends. Peace of mind. Self-confidence beyond your dreams. Getting in the best shape of your life. Being able to defend yourself.  An ALL AROUND SENSE OF WELL BEING comes over you. Sounds too good to be true right?  For those that have never experienced the "Jiujitsu serenity" after a hard nights training session, you don't know what your missing. Its hard to explain, but its true and  its best experienced.
   For those out there that don't believe Jiujitsu is for you. My response to that is until you step on the mats, you have no idea what you can and cant do. 
  My name is Roy Davis I am 42 years old. And I train Jiujitsu.... 

      Practice Makes Permanent
      Davis Martial Arts Academy

  The Jiujitsu belt ranking system was hard for me to understand in the beginning. There were no real set times, dates, or a specific set of moves for me to know in order to proceed to the next level. Coming from a traditional Martial Arts background (KARATE/Taekwondo) there was always a certain set of moves, katas, and time frame that came with ranking up. One thing I found out first hand in Jiujitsu in Humble Texas, Receiving your next rank is earned not bought or given easily.
  I started training in 2000. It wasn't until 2009-2010 I received my Blackbelt. When I started training, I never really thought about my next rank or stripe or what I needed to do to get there. Alvis always instilled in all his students a since of humility. There is always one or two guys that might get upset or question theirs or others rank. For me, Jiujitsu has always been fun. It was and is a game. I have never really thought of it as fighting as I did when I trained Karate. I guess because there is no kicking and punching. Don't get me wrong, I feel that through Jiujitsu,  I am more capable of defending myself today than I ever was strictly training stand up.
  I have personally seen guys go from white to black in under 6 years of training.  The thing about that is, they have what we didn't have at the time, a skilled abundance of students and coaches to push them along.  Training has improved. Techniques have improved. The amount of students training in Jiujitsu has increased. All of these are factors in how fast or slow you may or may not progress in Jiujitsu.
   At my academy (DAVIS MARTIAL ARTS) as it was previously, your rank is based on a skill set. If you put in the time, effort, and retain the knowledge given by our instructors, your rank will come. I personally take roll each and every class. The more classes you attend has a drastic affect on your rank. The more mat time you put in, naturally the higher your performance and ability to apply techniques. Working the new techniques into your existing game, the willingness to adjust and grow, not sticking with "WHAT WORKS FOR YOU" is a HUGE part of how I judge a students growth. Trainability, coachability, helping and instructing fellow students.  All of this plays into a student ranking up.
   I have seen and heard of guys jumping from school to school chasing rank. "This guy was holding me back"??? Things like this, I feel, are bad for the sport and for the art itself. If your instructor doesn't feel your ready, then take alook at why.  Not just jump to conclusions, leave, and then tell the next place yeah I am a purple belt when in reality your a blue.  I tell my guys to ask why or why not.  They are free to consult me at any time.
   I explain to all my new students, Jiujitsu, like most things in life, is a constant work in progress. Its a marathon. Not a sprint. There is no magical wand to wave to help speed up the process. Its all on the student. Of course the instructor and instruction is key as well. If you get to the point where you don't feel your learning anything or growing, its not always the instruction or instructor. You get out what you put in. 
  From white to blue is an average of 1 1/2-2 years. Blue to purple 2-3 years. Purple to brown is about the same give or take. But, keep in mind its about the knowledge. At Humble Jiujitsu, just because you have been here 2 years as a whitebelt, you may not have put in the mat time to move up in rank.  You need to train.
   On the flip side of that, I have seen guys that just get it!! They move up the ladder faster. They put in the time, train the techniques and apply them in training. So, naturally these guys rank up quicker. PUT IN THE WORK!!!!
   Receiving my Blackbelt was one of the best days of my life. I felt a great since of pride and accomplishment. I finally got there. Then a took a look back, thought for a moment about what it really meant, and realized it was just the beginning.
   Blackbelt or whitebelt, always be open to learn, train, and grow. There is always room for improvement. My journey may have started 16 years ago, but the path I am on has no end.
                                    DAVIS MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY 
                                     PRACTICE MAKE PERMANENT               
                             
   
          

   I have been training Jiujitsu in Humble now for over 16years.  I have been asked several times over the years if women train with the men and if I train with women. My answer is always the same "HECK YEAH".
  I have heard of different gyms and schools where the instructor has the women train strictly with women and men with men. And I have heard of instructors that do not train with the women either. I find this strange and contradicting to the idea that Jiujitsu is for everyone.
  I feel by not having the women train with the men that they both (men and women) miss out on some important aspects of the game.
   Women definitely roll different than men. I'm not just talking about the strength difference either. The way they move their hips and body position is very different from men. From their sweeps to their submissions, women feel different. This alone should make you want to train with them.
  When I first started training Jiujitsu there were not many women training at all in the Houston area. We were lucky and had one of the best at the time training with us, Siggi Schoen. To tell the truth, I feel she had the greatest impact on my training and the game I developed.
  Siggi was an excellent training partner. She was full of knowledge and was more than willing to share it. She only weighed may 110-120lbs  wet, but man could she lay down the pressure. Her technique was top notch. You had to roll technical with her or you didn't get another chance for a long time. She was/is a true martial artist. She studied techniques and would break them down. She knew the ends and outs of a position. She was also an excellent competition coach as well.
   Siggi had a tremendous effect on me. Her influence through our Jiujitsu training is still with me today. She taught me how to roll with strictly technique and finesse. Rather than the smash and pass game I was playing at the time.  She showed me how to slow down a roll and take control. You could not go hard or fast with her, she would not allow it. Technique or go away. If you got her in an armbar, it was legit. And we she got you, you knew it and it wasn't from someone crushing your head, it was TECHNIQUE.
   Siggi is still around and I hope she reads this and decide4s to come back in and start training again.  The offer is always out there. 
  Jiujitsu and especially, Roy Davis Jiujitsu, owes a lot to training with women. I train with my wife daily.  We have some great women that train with us; Amy, Marlana and Monica to name a few. Tough ladies, great rolls, great training partners. I am proud to call them TEAM MATES and equals on the and off the mats. 
  Humble Jiujitsu and Davis Martial Arts offers classes strictly for women in an attempt to bring more women into our world.  Women are free to come in any night and train just like everyone else.  Jiujitsu is for everyone.  
   Practice Makes Permanent.
 

   For the first 7-8 years of my Jiujitsu journey, I was strictly a gi player.  Training at SMAA/Humble Jiujitsu for me was a more traditional approach. Honestly, I felt it was literally a waste of time to train without the gi.  
   I came from a traditional Martial Arts background.  I began my martial arts journey, like most, coming up through a really strict Taekwondo/Karate school that had instructors that were very serious.  You bowed in and out, you learned traditional Korean and Japanese forms and techniques.  You recited honor codes and phrases in Korean and Japanese.  There was no point sparring.  It was tough.  A lot of tough guys, serious but humble.   
   So, when I started training Jiujiitsu, it was a little difficult at first. The guys and instructors were so laid back. No bowing in or out. No "Master SOLIS" or Sensei...   No freakin KIAI"S.  WTH!!! 
   I soon came to realize that the laid back approach was nice.  No one yelling or screaming at me. It was good. The training was still tough.  The guys were seriously tough. And Alvis new his sh@!!! So on we went.
   I still had my traditional ways though. No way I was training without the gi. Humble Jiujitsu/SMAA had no-gi training usually on Wednesdays so I avoided training on that day naturally. At that time Robert Soliz was running the no-gi program and I knew from the gi classes, this guy was legit. So out of the blue, I decided to hit his class, and man were my eyes opened. Being a bluebelt at the time, I really didn't know any leg attacks, and this is Roberts specialty.  From that day forward, myself and no-gi will forever be intertwined.  
   From the change in grips, to the faster pace of the training without the gi, I loved it all. This now opened my game to leg attacks, arm triangles, darce, anacondas, banana split, calf cutter, bicep slicer, twister...The list goes on.  For this, I am truly thankful to Robert. 
   People always ask which I prefer more Gi or No-Gi.  The answer is simple.  Both. From my prospective and training, both games tend to compliment each other.  You definitely get a more traditional and technical side of Jiujitsu with the gi.  The fast pace wrestling application of no-gi only adds to your array of weapons. And there is a serious technical side to no-gi as well. 
   Of course, this is all my own personal opinions and views from training at SMAA/Davis Martial Arts/Humble Jiujitsu.  But both the gi and no-gi training definitely have influenced me over the years. (16). So, in my opinion which is better...???
  Come in and train and ask yourself the same question!
             Train hard. Train for life.
   Remember-"Practice Makes Permanent"
    Davis Martial Arts Academy