Roy Dean
Roy Dean is a widely-respected 3rd degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt
Inspiring Interview with a BJJ Black Belt Roy Dean
Roy, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Could you please give the readers a brief bio on yourself?
Certainly. I began formally training in martial arts at age 16 when I was sent to Japan as an exchange student. During the year I studied Judo intensively, and returned to the United States with my shodan (first degree black belt). I was hooked on martial arts and continued to delve into other forms of Japanese Budo, starting with Aikido. When I turned 21, I decided to get serious about my training and became an uchideshi, or live in student, under Julio Toribio, an Aikido and Japanese Jujutsu master in Monterey, California. During that stay, I also began training in BJJ under Claudio Franca, who had just opened a school in Santa Cruz. By age 26, I had received black belts in Seibukan Jujutsu, Aikikai Aikido, Enshin Itto Ryu Batto Jutsu (Iaido), as well as having received my blue belt from Claudio Franca. I moved to San Diego to finish university and began training under Professor Roy Harris, who eventually graduated me to black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
You have a background in several “traditional” martial arts. Can you talk a little bit about what drew you to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
The main draw to BJJ was the repeatability of the smaller man beating the larger man. So many arts discuss it, and even advertise with that premise, but only back it with anecdotes. BJJ would demonstrate it. It also struck me as a thinking man’s art, that didn’t require acrobatic skills or athleticism. Royce Gracie and I have similar builds, and his brave display of his jiu jitsu in UFC 2 was an epiphany. The tactical and technical superiority of jiu jitsu was a body of knowledge I had to learn, and I continue to deepen my understanding of the art every day.
How did your relationship with Roy Harris come about?
I heard about Roy Harris from Garth Taylor, who was the top American student of Claudio Franca. I knew I was going to be moving to San Diego and I asked him to recommend an instructor. He mentioned a few people, including Mr. Harris, and described him as having an “intellectual” approach. I was intrigued, researched him on the internet, and had a long phone chat with Michael Jen on how Mr. Harris was able to lay out a path to guide students from one level to the next. I signed up at his Academy on my birthday, December 4th, 1999 and have been with him ever since. His ability to verbalize exactly what I needed work on was the right teaching style for me.
How would you describe Roy Harris as an instructor?
Honorable. Trustworthy. Analytical. Highly effective in the realistic application of techniques in all the arts he’s learned. Very well rounded (i.e. striking, grappling, sticks, knives, street tactics, and even surveillance skills). I have always felt that he is an instructor’s instructor. He can go so deep in his discussion of the details that you’re begging to come up for air. It’s not a normal level of analysis. For example, Mr. Harris once wrote down over 1000 areas you can train in BJJ, just for his own amusement, before deciding to stop. He is a man of great knowledge, and has paid the price to learn that knowledge, on all levels.
Roy Harris has taken some criticism for the way he incorporates traditional martial arts business practices in BJJ. There has been a lot of uproar about his belt testing and the fact that he charges for it. What are your thoughts on this?
I’m glad this question came up, because Mr. Harris’ Academy is one of the least commercial studios I have ever trained in, and he’s one of the most non-financially motivated people I’ve ever known.
As I understand, he began charging a nominal fee ($50) for belt testing to make sure that people were committed to the process. During his international seminars (he has done over 350 at this point in time), people would show up wanting to be ranked under him, but completely unprepared for the blue belt test. High level Judoka, wrestlers, and assorted other tough guys would show up and want to spar and throw people around, but didn’t know a mount or sidemount escape, or even who Helio Gracie was! Attaching a small price to the process was the first way to filter out those that weren’t prepared.
Some may also not realize how many people have not passed these tests. His standards are top notch, not for sale, and he’s even failed individuals as high as brown belt level. His tests are long, arduous, and not for those lacking in heart. Mr. Harris’ time and attention are valuable, and well worth whatever he may be charging.There are other arts that he’s been taught, where the instructor has made him promise to not share his knowledge. Even when there were obvious and direct opportunities to cash in on that knowledge, he has refused. His word is more important than that. His word is most important. That is the character of Mr. Roy C. Harris.
You’ve released several instructionals in the past (including Blue Belt Requirements, Purple Belt Requirements, and Art of the Wristlock). What are your thoughts in general about students using instructionals to learn BJJ?
I think that the media wave that has swept through the martial arts community has changed it forever. For years, books were the closest thing you could get to exotic martial arts instruction, unless you were very fortunate to live and train near a master. Now the top instructors and competitors are available on DVD, to be played back and digested at the student’s own pace. This is unbelievably beneficial.
When I was a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I would either record or borrow tournament footage and cobble together the highlights, editing from one VCR to another. Crude by today’s standards, but that was an effective learning tool for me. DVDs have changed the landscape of training options for modern martial artists.
One must be careful though, not to get trapped in a state of information overload, and divorce yourself from the rigors of training. Philosophical knowledge and a long list of details on the techniques do not equate to muscle memory or executable skill.
The right DVD can open a new door for you mentally and expand your perspective, especially when you need a bump in your game. DVDs are an incredible training tool, but like any tool it must be used properly.
Blue Belt Requirements and Purple Belt Requirements were both very well-received in the BJJ community. How did you come up with the idea and how did you decide what to include?
After putting some blue belt demonstrations on YouTube, I was inundated with mail asking for a list of the techniques. I basically took Mr. Harris’ blue belt requirements and structured it into a 45 minute demonstration of skill, beginning with a technical, non-resistant portion, and finishing with 4 rounds of sparring. The techniques shown in BlueBeltRequirements are the absolute fundamentals, heavily emphasizing positional escapes to lay a solid foundation.
Purple Belt Requirements is a very different DVD, as the BJJ experience changes dramatically as you move from white to blue. The emphasis is not on building a foundation, but building a complete game. The instruction is much faster paced, and more territory is covered. At blue belt you’re learning words, and at purple you’re linking those words together to form sentences. In the DVD, I showcase the sentences that I use all the time, and encourage the viewer to find their own combinations.
Do you have any favorite BJJ instructional DVD’s?
Certain DVD’s have special relevance for me because they were able to give guidance when I needed it. Roy Harris’ “Armlocks Volume 1” taught me about mechanics, and forever changed the way I perform juji-gatame. Paragon Jiu Jitsu’s “Secrets of our Success” is fantastic DVD, with nuggets of gold throughout. I also find Andre Galvao’s “Gamplan” DVDs valuable, to see where he grips and the way that he moves. Jeff Glover’s “Deep Half Guard” DVD is also top notch, with clear explanations on the position, great production, and a little bit of humor thrown in. I love DVDs that showcase personality as well as techniques.
There is a clip floating around on Youtube of you training with Saulo Ribeiro. Is there a DVD that you will be releasing?
We should be finishing a DVD of the project next year, which is currently titled “The Purple Belt”. One of my students, Rick Ellis, is doing a jiu jitsu documentary on his journey to the middle belt in BJJ. The YouTube clip is a small module within the film that allows a glance into Saulo Ribeiro’s personality and approach to the art. Rick’s project will showcase a variety of experiences possible within Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (training, testing, plus competition), and share the personal stories of others involved on the journey.
Who are some of the other guys that you have trained with that impressed you the most?
Daniel and David Camarillo have huge influences on my game. They were aggressive, technical, and very precise, so I studied them carefully. Jason Lambert (UFC veteran) is also ranked under Mr. Harris and he’s an absolute crusher. Clem Shields (brother of Jake Shields) has come by the Academy and is a very talented player. There are some new black belts out of Impact Jiu Jitsu in Portland that have wicked games, like Keisuke Andrew and Armand Debruge. Sheila Bird, FILA World Grappling Champion, and her husband Brian Bird are both Harris International black belts and a powerful duo. There are amazing jiu jitsu players from all corners of the globe and I look forward to training with more of them!
You have a very smooth style and flow from one position to the next effortlessly, is this something that you have always done or did you develop this style with mat time?
It’s definitely a by product of the arts that I’ve trained in, and the different ways I’ve learned to control my body, specifically in ukemi (receiving techniques). Judo teaches one method of ukemi, Aikido teaches another, but both educate your body to movement possibilities. BJJ has it’s own stylistic flair in regards to movement. The key to a smooth game is learning how to move. Don’t just learn offensive techniques. Also include defensive movements, where and how to catch your balance, how to snap your hips, how to pivot, and how to transfer your weight (i.e. transferring weight to your hands to perform spinning arm lock from mount, making your legs light and mobile).
Aikido also emphasizes the development of sensitivity to your partner, so when you’re rolling with someone and a doorway opens that allows you to advance position, you can feel it happening and move through the space immediately. That’s the illusion of speed that comes through good timing and sensitivity. There are tons of people out there that are much stronger than I am, so I’ve always sought to go around a person’s power and redirect their force. The secret to doing this is learning to control yourself, move yourself, so that you can be in the right position to affect the other person. Always move you. If you’re not in a position of leverage, then it’s force on force, an athletic endeavor, and not the art of jiu jitsu.
Outside of the gym, what are some things that you have found to help your BJJ?
Ashtanga Yoga is a new love of mine, though I’m definitely white belt status in that art. I have played around with some other yoga styles (Bikram, Iyengar, Vinyasa Flow, etc.), but nothing really captured me like Ashtanga did. It was straightforward, serious, and very technical. It was not yoga as entertainment, it was yoga as a discipline. It actually reminded me quite a bit of jiu jitsu.
Yoga is allowing me to rebalance my body, top to bottom, side to side. I’ve actually backed off on weight training a bit so I can lengthen some of my muscles and address a few of the injuries that accrued over the years. As a male, I tended to train over injuries rather than let them fully heal. Massage and chiropractic are also modalities I endorse. I wouldn’t be training today if it weren’t for the efforts of many healers over the years. Aim for longevity, and take care of your body! No one deserves it more than you.
Can you talk a little bit about your academy in Bend, Oregon?
I opened the Academy in 2006, hoping to share my skills with the town of Bend, and showcase the process for those that may be far away. Bend attracts people year round through outdoor recreational activities available. It’s a mecca for mountain bikers, cross-country and downhill skiers, trail runners, climbers, and more. It’s a beautiful area, and felt like the right place to settle down and devote myself to the teaching process.
The Academy itself is very clean and minimalist. I bring a touch of Japanese traditionalism to BJJ, with bowing and a structured approach in all classes. I’ve been fortunate to attract some great people to the Academy, and we host visitors from around the world. Some are in town for the weekend, and others come for weeks at a time. We welcome everyone with the sincere desire to learn.
What is your main goal for your academy?
The goal for my Academy is to create one generation of BJJ black belts, and document that process for future practitioners to see, so they in turn can launch their own academies and continue the cycle. Each belt requirement DVD is a reflection of transmitting the right information for my students at that point in their development. What do white belts need to know? Blue Belt Requirements was my response. Every DVD has to be different, and adapt to the new demands of the student. Purple is more conceptual. Brown will bring it back to basics. Black is about specialization. The teaching evolves as the needs of the student evolve.
At every belt level at my academy, the student is given the opportunity to do a demonstration of skill. These can be powerful moments. Not quite as intense as a competition match, but much more prolonged, it allows the individual to showcase their technical ability, conditioning, and heart to their friends, family, and fellow students. They are rites of passage, and I don’t feel there are enough rites of passage available to people in modern society.
You have competed in a few IBJJF events in the past; do you have any plans on competing in the future?
I may compete in the future, but for right now, I don’t feel competition is my best contribution to the art. I believe I have enough competitions experience to assist my students when they would like to compete, without pushing it or over-emphasizing the sportive aspects of BJJ. Personally, I would much rather attend a high level training camp preparing for the World Championships than actually compete in the event itself!
What are your thoughts in general about competition jiu-jitsu?
It’s a game, with both realistic aspects and unrealistic aspects. It’s also another form of expression for the martial artist. Some people are point strategists, and others are submission machines. But it’s the INTENSITY of the competition experience that continues to give the art of jiu jitsu its teeth, increases the confidence of the competitor, and allows the art to evolve. I think it’s most important that jiu jitsu players have the option of competing. Many Aikido styles have no competitive outlet, and frown upon competition. This isn’t wrong, it’s just another perspective. Competition is one tool to gauge your development. The medal you win only contains the meaning you attach to it.
What else can we expect from you in the future?
I’ll be releasing Brown and Black Belt Requirements over the next several years, and I’m also launching an affiliate program for those that resonate with my approach to jiu jitsu. So many people have written me asking if there was a school like mine in their area, I realized the best course of action was to assist individuals in creating that environment in their own hometowns. I want to draw the right people to me to spread the art, enhance their skills, develop their students, and ultimately change lives in a positive direction.
Where can readers learn more about you?
They can go to my website, check out my YouTube channel
Any last comments?
Thanks to my all my teachers, and those that have supported this vision of BJJ. The gentle art can improve the way you approach everything in life. Honor the art, and give it a chance to change you.
Quick Hits
Favorite Takedown: Uchimata
Favorite Submission: Triangle/Armlock
How many days a week do you train? 4
Favorite music to train to: Tribal percussion
Ratio of drilling to sparring you recommend? 2 to 1 initially, 1 to 1 at higher ranks
Favorite thing to do outside of grappling: Music composition
Favorite jiu-jitsu guys to watch: Andre Galvao, Jeff Glover, JT Torres, and the Camarillo brothers.
Biggest mistake that new grapplers make: Sparring with too much intensity and strength. You can’t feel what the other person is doing if you’re too tight and struggling for control with everything you’ve got. Relax, my friend!
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