ROUGH GUIDE - Kron Gracie

ALEX REID, TIM LORD and GAZ RORRISTON go to Los Angeles to meet KRON GRACIE.

Not far away from Eddie Bravos is the Rickson Gracie Academy, home to Ricksons son - Kron Gracie.
The 2 gyms are fairly near on the map yet couldnt be further apart in style!

Where Bravos was doing all it could to be new school and anything but the normal way of doing things, The Rickson Gracie Academy was pure old school Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

We arrived at the gym with Kron due to take the class. Kron had just earned his Black Belt 2 weeks previous after many many tournaments winning as a brown belt. You knew that the man wore a true black belt...

We entered the gym in sunny yet smoggy LA and were greated by Kim, Kron\\\'s mother. Kim had invited us to the gym and was very welcoming on our arrival. The entrance to the gym was filled with trophies, medals and even a Rickson Gracie action figure on display!!!
Many of the trophies on display were part of MMA history such as the early PRIDE FC trophies, the infamous VALE TUDO trophies featured in the cult MMA film \\\'Choke\\\' and many many more! There was a real feeling of something primal to the existence of BJJ and MMA about this place... historic even.

We were told a regular class was about to start and that we would be able to film which normaly was normaly strictly forbidden!
Alex and Gaz were given a Gi each to train in and everyone went off to get changed.

After a while, the whole class was lined up against the back wall with Kron standing centre of the mat all waiting...

After what felt like an eternity of silence, Alex casualy strolled out of the changing room, blissfully unaware that everyone was waiting for him! I left the camera rolling  ;-)

Kron welcomed everyone then went straight into class warm ups.
After a while warming up, drilling, Kron had everyone drill techniques.
The format of the class was much like many other BJJ classes, techniques, drills, focused sparring, then some free sparring at the end.

We managed to grab an interview with Kron as well as the other instructor who was present  - Shane Rice, a fellow black belt under Rickson.

Kron was realy friendly, willing to give allot of time to students and advice.
The class was very practical, informative, relaxed with a great sense of respect from all towards each other.
Maybe it was just me but it felt that the \\\'Gracie\\\' name over the gym, carried some sort of authenticity into the class!

The opposite end of the jiu jitsu scale to the previous gym we trained at - 10th Planet jiu jitsu!
Both had lots to offer and both are well worth the visit.
If you\\\'re in LA, the Rickson Gracie Academy is recomended :-)