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No Holds Barred

Inside the New G.A.R.D.® (Gracie Air Rage Defense) Program for Pilots

(FFDOs & non-FFDOs)

—Marcus Maryk

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the world famous Gracie family stands as a shining example of the proven methods they teach, through their amazing successes in the no-holds-barred arena and the introduction of ground fighting into the training regimen of nearly every major martial art, military unit and law enforcement organization worldwide. When it comes to Self-Defense, they are the "Trainer-to-the-Trainers". Their client list includes Federal Air Marshals, the Military (Special Forces, Army Rangers and Navy Seals), Federal Agencies (Secret Service, FBI and Dept. of Homeland Security), Law Enforcement and US allies around the world. For the past several months, APSA has been quietly working with Rorion Gracie, the leader of the Gracie Family and developer of the G.A.R.D.® (Gracie Air Rage Defense) Program, to offer this program to all Pilots on a mass scale,

The Gracie G.A.R.D.®  Self-Defense system was developed before 9/11 and due to extreme high demand will now be available in regularly scheduled classes for Pilots in October 2004, and for flight attendants in early 2005.  Look for a unique way of allowing crewmembers to receive course credit while training on layovers in Southern California (LAX).

APSA Security Consultant Marcus Maryk, who has spent several months training in the G.A.R.D.®  system, with Rorion (and his sons, Ryron, Rener and Ralek Gracie), interviewed Rorion on Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, the G.A.R.D.®  program and Self-Defense in the air…

Professor Ryron Gracie has just demonstrated and explained the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu version of an elbow escape from the mounted position. “Any questions guys?,” he asks. After scanning the room and a brief pause, “OK, let’s see some action!” My partner and I get into position, while about twenty other students do the same. Sweating but invigorated, I am ready to work on my new technique.        

“I’m confused,” a voice from the back of the class breaks the silence. Every face in the room turns. The speaker, tanned and relaxed leans back in his chair and locks eyes with Ryron. The speaker’s demeanor is calm but the tone of his voice is confident and sure. He is anything but confused.   

“What are you confused with, Dad,” Ryron asks Rorion Gracie. Although this is Ryron’s class, there is no doubt that this is the House that Rorion Gracie built. We are in the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California-USA. The worldwide Mecca of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

“Maybe you could explain it in a different way, so I’m sure I’ve got it right,” Rorion ventures. Ryron’s six foot four inch frame is on the mat in an instant. His movements are effortless and cat-like as he again explains the elbow escape.

“Hey, that sounds hard -- pushing and bending and then sliding your hips off the ground!  If I’m a beginner, what is that similar to…that I might practice every day?” Rorion’s focus has not wavered from his eldest son’s gaze for a moment.         

Ryron smiles. He finally understands where his father is going with this. “Think of this movement like stepping up in base,” he tells the class. Stepping up in base is one of the first techniques taught in a beginner class. I look around and many of the students are nodding.

Rorion nods as well, “Oh, OK, Stepping up in base. I can remember that.”

For me the banter between father and son is priceless.  To train under the watchful eyes of two generations of Gracies is what I have traveled all the way across the country for. As we set out to work on the now well-explained escape, Rorion addresses the class, “Remember guys, this should be easy. If it‘s hard, you are doing it wrong. If you have to strain, ask for your money back!” The class laughs and now we are ready. “One more thing…” We all look over expectantly to the master, “…Smile!”

After class, I’m sitting in Rorion’s office and I’m still smiling. The Little children are chasing each other and running in and out. Like the atmosphere of class, it’s relaxed and friendly. I feel like just another member of the family (a very big family). I try to count all the kids I see, before Rorion gently shoos them out of the office.

APSA: How many children do you have?

Rorion: Not enough! (laughs) I have six boys and three girls so nine all together.

APSA: That was a great moment between you and your son during class when you stopped Ryron and said that you were “just a little confused.”

Rorion: You see we’ve been doing this for so long that sometimes we take it for granted that everyone is on the same wave. There are some people who have not seen these moves before or are on different levels. And we try to teach in a way so that everyone gets it. We have upheld a tradition that my Dad, Helio Gracie, has created and perfected over the last almost eighty years on how to teach this correctly.  Number one, we’re the only place that teaches with this kind of format, and number two is our continuous high standards of how to teach the class. Either my sons Ryron, Rener or Ralek or I teach all the classes. So, quality control is not an issue for us. Our motto is - there is no such thing as a bad student. There are good teachers and bad teachers.  Since we are the best teachers in the world, if you come here, you will learn.

APSA: Your father was the equivalent of a Babe Ruth figure in Brazil. What was that like growing up with a father who was a national sport’s hero?

Rorion: For me he was always Dad. I am the first-born. I grew up and started to realize the popularity of the Gracie name and much of that was from my father’s success. It’s very convenient to have a father who is famous because it can really open doors.   My Dad has always been a wonderful example of a human being, someone who is always trying to help others out.  His positive influence affected people way beyond the boundaries of the mat.

APSA: Were you and your brothers expected to go into Jiu-Jitsu?

Rorion: To get into Jiu-Jitsu, it’s a natural consequence of being a part of the Gracie family.

I’ve been doing this stuff since before I could walk. I had a diaper under my first kimono (Gi). I can't think of a time in my life that I was not doing Jiu-jitsu.  As far as pressure, there was only the natural pressure that you might feel in any sport as you begin to compete in it. It was a pressure that we put on ourselves but not one placed upon us.

APSA: Tell us a little bit about how you came to the United States in the 70s and developed your school.

Rorion: When I first came to the U.S. my plane ticket back to Brazil got stolen and so I told my Dad that I was having such a good time that I’m going to stay for another six months. You know, I didn’t want my parents to worry. And that was a real eye opener, not being under the protective blanket of the Gracie prestige. Times got tough and I found myself panhandling for a couple of days. Eventually, I worked my way back to Brazil, where I went to Law School. After graduating in 1978, I came back to the US with the objective of establishing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu here.  I put some mats in my garage and every person that I met I would invite over for a free class, and that’s how the whole thing got started.

APSA: Was there skepticism at first for martial arts that did not originate from the Far East?

Rorion: Initially, yes there was some skepticism. You know, people didn’t expect that there is a martial art from Brazil. I had to explain that a Japanese instructor went to Brazil in the early 1900s as an aid to a Japanese immigration colony and that my grandfather helped him get settled in Brazil and that’s how the Gracie Family got involved.

APSA: And from there the Gracies really changed the way Jiu-Jitsu had been taught for centuries.

Rorion: That’s right. My uncle learned from the instructor Maeda in the traditional Japanese style and shared it with his brothers. Eventually my uncle started a school and my father, who was a very frail child growing up would sit and watch my uncles teach. Well, one day my uncle was late for one of his classes so my father who had been memorizing the moves but not practicing them, offered to teach the student until my uncle arrived. When my uncle got there he was very apologetic and the student said no problem as long as he could keep on training with my father. So my Dad was promoted to instructor on his first day…by a student! Well, he realized that the techniques he had watched my uncle teach required a certain amount of physical attributes, which my Dad didn’t have. So he began to modify the traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu to make it more reliant on leverage and technique.  In time, my father’s improvements put more emphasis on leverage and simplified the execution of the techniques.  That is what enables a small person to defeat a bigger opponent.  The system is so much more refined that we call it Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

APSA: So what are the differences between Judo, Karate etc. and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu?

Rorion: They are parts of Jiu-Jitsu. It’s like a finger is a part of a hand. Judo is about balance and throws. Karate is the kicks and the strikes.  Aikido has joint manipulations etc. Jiu-Jitsu is a combination of all those. Individually they can be effective but since they only address one aspect of a fight they are incomplete.  In the sport of Judo, once you throw the opponent on the ground, the match is over. That is not real for the street.  In Karate, if your opponent is stronger he can strike and kick harder than you etc.  Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is for self-defense.  That is the reason of why we teach and the main purpose of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. We are not teaching a sport for competition. So when you come here our objective is to prepare you for the eventualities that you might run into at work, in a parking lot or where ever.

APSA: Tell us how you developed and implemented the idea of Gracie Air Rage Defense (G.A.R.D.®).

Rorion: Prior to 9/11, I had some pilot and flight attendant friends who said “Rorion, we need to be able to address this problem of Air Rage and be able to defend ourselves.” Of course when 9/11 occurred we had all sorts of people asking about it. G.A.R.D.® is a program that we have created for pilots with a different version for flight attendants.  The objective is to prepare you to be able to control an unruly passenger at 30,000 feet in the confines of a cockpit or the aisles in the passenger area.

APSA: Can you tell us a little bit about the G.A.R.D.® CARD.

Rorion: The idea is to have a program, G.A.R.D.®, in which we feel it is important for flight crews (F.F.D.O.s, Non-F.F.D.O.s, and Flight Attendants) to have at least ten hours of training. After speaking to you and several others, as well as working with Federal Air Marshals for many years, we realized that based on your schedules of flying from city to city, that it was going to be difficult to get a pilot here for ten hours and two days of back to back training, so we came up with the concept of purchasing a G.A.R.D.® CARD for pilots. What happens is you buy the G.A.R.D.® CARD (program) upfront and get credit for 10 hours of training (Levels 1 through 4). You’ll have the schedule flexibility but you must take the four classes (complete the program) within a 6 month time period. When you show up at the Gracie Academy for training, we will check your G.A.R.D.® CARD and keep track of the classes you have taken. Also, the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy is conveniently located only 10 miles from LAX.

APSA: What type of skills do I need to bring with me to a G.A.R.D.® class to be successful? I mean do I need to be in Ultimate Fighting shape to do this?

Rorion: Absolutely not! As I told you before the reason this program is ideal for everyone is because it is not based on strength and power. It’s based on leverage and technique. So anyone can do it. You should be able to do it with ease and be highly effective with the techniques I’m going to show you. So you don’t have to be fast, strong or coordinated.  Anybody can do it.

APSA: What about conditioning? Can I be just in average shape and be successful?

Rorion: This program was designed for the average person. We are here to make your life easier! If you are in good condition and in good health and exercise regularly, it’s good for you regardless. It’s not, however, a necessary requirement that you get in shape to come here and train.

APSA: What do I need to bring with me for a class? Do I need a kimono/ Gi or athletic clothes?

Rorion: You can wear a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. We also have Gis for rent. ($5 for a full Gi; $2.50 for pants only) That way you don’t have to take wet clothing back on the plane with you.

Either type of attire is OK; it’s up to you.

APSA: When could a typical pilot/flight attendant expect to start seeing results from their G.A.R.D.® training?

Rorion: At every class, you are going to start seeing results and feeling more confident. The more experience you have after every class, the more confident and more prepared you are going to become. It’s like when you start to exercise, every time you do it, you are going to feel better about your capabilities.

APSA: You mentioned confidence…How will G.A.R.D.® make the typical pilot/flight attendant feel more confident during an encounter with a potential terrorist?  

Rorion: The biggest problem one has in a situation of danger is not knowing what to do. If you put me in the cockpit of an aircraft that is going down, I’m going to panic because I have no idea what to do with the flight controls. But for an experienced pilot he or she is going to have alternative ways to control that plane. So with experience and knowledge, that person can handle a difficult and dangerous situation. And the more experienced and knowledgeable you become, the more confidence you will have.

APSA: Some of our readers might think this style of fighting is overly aggressive, but like you mentioned it’s really self-defense oriented, isn’t it?

Rorion: Absolutely, it is self-defense oriented. The idea is not to rely on strikes, like Karate and boxing, where the focus is to strike and hit to win the fight. The techniques of the G.A.R.D.®  program are based on the Jiu-Jitsu principles that we have been working on for a long time.

Though the moves can certainly be offensive and aggressive, they are basically defensive moves.  So the person attacks you and you are going to defend yourself and then you can give the counter as intensively and as painfully as you want. But the moves in themselves are not violent moves at all. Which is one of the reasons law enforcement agencies have embraced our police program. It is humane and saves money on lawsuits!  Plus, the way we teach our class is very unique in that I show you the move and then in order to give you feedback on your execution, you apply the technique on me.

APSA: Is the program as applicable to women as it is for men?

Rorion: Yes. The G.A.R.D.®  moves are based on leverage and technique. Our moves can therefore be used effectively by women or men, of any age, size, strength or physical fitness level. Whether you are flying the plane or in the cabin, the G.A.R.D.®  program is tailor made for the unique environment of an airliner. We will ensure that everyone receives outstanding training.

APSA: What if a pilot is an F.F.D.O. (Federal Flight Deck Officer-Pilot authorized to carry a weapon), will the skills that a pilot gains help enhance their ability to defend the cockpit?

Rorion: Gun retention is one of the techniques in the G.A.R.D.®  for pilots program. It is one of the variables that we have considered but that we know that not all pilots will have. Regardless of whether a pilot is an F.F.D.O. or not, we will make that pilot a more effective deterrent against a terrorist.

APSA:  What abilities do you see as essential skills for aircrew to have during a deadly attack?

Rorion: Understand first that there is only so much you can learn and you can only reach a certain level of proficiency with ten hours of training in anything. So, after ten hours of training I would want people to have the basics of what to do during a potential encounter. What they will need and what they will receive through our training will be some very simple and effective techniques on how to deal with the most common attacks. I want to give you the basic elements of how to control and dominate that kind of situation. We train for and make the assumption that your opponent is going to be bigger, stronger and more aggressive than you and we give you the tools to defeat that person.

APSA: In your opinion do you still see the airlines as a desirable target for the terrorists? If so, give me a scenario that you see possible.

Rorion: Of course, there is a possibility of another attack against a commercial aircraft. Terrorists are determined individuals. They are willing to die for their cause, as long as they can kill as many innocent people as possible and cause harm to their target. They exist to inflict fear in us and change our way of life.

Think about 9/11…the relatively small financial costs these terrorists incurred gave them a massive return on their investment. They succeeded using low-tech measures and they are more determined than ever to strike us again. Look, airport security is tighter than it ever has been before but there still is a chance that a terrorist can slip through security with or without a weapon.

You and your fellow pilots, as well as flight attendants, are truly the last line of defense and you all must have some basic self-defense training to be able to respond (not react) to the potential nightmare of another terrorist attack.  It is possible that a small group of terrorists can pass the security screeners, enter the aircraft with no weapons and while in flight, physically overpower the flight crew while the cockpit door is open for a minute (because pilots have to go to the bathroom or need a refreshment), gain access to the cockpit and take over the aircraft. It is also possible that if there is an air marshal on board, that he or she can also get physically overpowered. In the real world, there are no guarantees.

The only thing you can do to decrease the chances of a terrorist succeeding is to be prepared. A little is better than nothing and a lot is better than a little. Our G.A.R.D.® program is the best place to start. I can tell you one thing, the terrorists are training all the time and if they have some self-defense training, as I would assume they do, then they will have an advantage over those flight crews that don’t.

But the good news is that the quality training you’ll receive at the Gracie Academy is not being taught to terrorists. Anyone who takes our G.A.R.D.® program must first show proof (and we verify through our own means) that they are pilots. If you go to our website you will see that we require a password before you can enter our secure server and learn about the details of our self-defense programs. We use due diligence to not let what we teach fall into the hands of terrorists.

G.A.R.D.® is based on some of the same techniques of our world-famous G.R.A.P.L.E.® program, which stands for Gracie Resisting Attack Procedures for Law Enforcement. Pilots and flight attendants will learn similar techniques that I have taught to the Navy Seals, Special Forces and Army Rangers, Federal Agents like the FBI, CIA and Secret Service, Federal Air Marshals and US Allies around the world. This is all we do. We live and breathe Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. We are doing what we can to make the world safer and keep the good guys at least 2-steps ahead of the bad guys.

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