Deal with:
Final Health Evanston
823 Emerson St
Evanston, IL 60201
847-733-9478
Teacher(s):
Jeff Serafin- BJJ Black Belt (Jack McVicker / Megaton Dias)
Present Schedule:
Monday: 5:30pm Gi
Tuesday: 12:00pm Gi, 6:00 pm No-Gi
Wednesday: 7:30pm Gi
Thursday: 12:00pm Gi, 6:00 pm No-Gi
Friday: 5:30pm Open Mat
Saturday: 10:30am Gi
Sunday: Open Coaching
Facility:
Serafin BJJ is situated inside Final Health Evanston.
Parking: There may be ample parking throughout the constructing and on the road. Make certain to not park within the dry cleaner’s parking instantly in entrance of the constructing. They’re previous and cranky. Do not park there.
Jeff Serafin has an unbelievable area to coach in. There’s a cage, full boxing ring, heavy luggage, a LOT of mat area, weight gear (together with different coaching gear like ropes and two additional rooms with much more gear in them), lockers, and showers. There was numerous room on the mat with the 15 individuals coaching on a Saturday morning.
My expertise:
Visitors was very nice on my Saturday morning tour to Serafin BJJ in Evanston, IL. I arrived late regardless (form of my m.o.) so I missed what would’ve been the primary 10 minutes of a Ginastica Pure class. I needed to incorporate it within the evaluation in any case as a result of it is an superior addition to the lessons supplied at Serafin BJJ and it isn’t presently listed on their web site.
The nice and cozy-ups for sophistication have been transient and easy, however undoubtedly adequate. From there we moved straight into method.
Method for the day (and for the earlier lessons as properly) was engaged on the omoplata.
We went by way of entries into the omoplata and drilled these.
Then we mentioned a option to break down the opponent’s posture as soon as we lock it in and drilled it.
Subsequent have been two alternate shoulder locks from the omoplata (close to and much facet shoulders) and we drilled.
Final was a collar choke from the omoplata primarily based on whether or not the opponent offers you the far facet shoulder or not. This was drilled as properly.
I wrote this in a selected method to make a degree. Jeff teaches every transfer individually and does not overwhelm college students with instruction (as some instructors could do). I observed that almost all of scholars weren’t having nice issue when allowed to drill on their very own. He breaks issues down into comprehensible chunks.
Additionally, Jeff spent numerous time speaking about concept behind what we have been doing, why we have been doing it, and why it’s going to work. Should you’ve by no means learn Matt Thornton’s weblog in regards to the effectiveness of ‘Aliveness’ coaching, it’s best to. I do not know if Jeff has, however I consider that the strategy that Thornton and Serafin each use to show method is likely one of the only strategies for instructing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I cherished what Jeff needed to say in regards to the omoplata being a place / guard and never only a submission.
Alongside those self same strains, after method we sparred 50-60% with a associate with the omoplata already locked in. I will not go into a big diatribe about why that is important for understanding, however I used to be actually pleased that Jeff makes use of this technique to bolster what was simply taught. The issues that he taught that day have caught with me and instantly grew to become part of my recreation as a result of I used to be in a position to drill it on a evenly resisting associate. Excellent concept for constructing muscle reminiscence.
The category was made up of primarily blue and white belts, however I don’t consider this to be typical of Serafin BJJ. Most of Jeff’s larger belts have been taking a break as a result of the category I got here to was proper after a giant competitors and plenty of of them have been taking the day without work to recuperate or journey. Nonetheless, Jeff’s blue belts are nothing in need of superior. They’ve nearly all been with him from their starting in BJJ and it was apparent.
After the omoplata sparring, we went into free sparring the place I used to be paired with blue belts, and likewise had the chance to roll with Jeff. The blue belts all gave me an excessive amount of hassle and I can inform that the talent stage at Serafin BJJ could be very excessive. I have been to gyms up to now (previous to the inception of this enterprise), the place I used to be in a position to dominate all people aside from the teacher. That is NOT the case with Jeff’s college students. I used to be swept, mounted, tapped, and many others. by a really expert group of fellows.
The sparring was very intense, however managed. Each individual performed a novel recreation (it is a good factor as a result of some gyms have all people making an attempt to play the very same recreation) and each match was aggressive. Even the white belts that I noticed performed video games primarily based on strong fundamentals every with their very own particular person aptitude.
Rolling with Jeff was a unbelievable expertise. He pressured the significance of management and after I rolled with him, I felt that management. Jeff has his personal recreation and is excellent at it (be careful for these kimuras!), however he’s completely superb at shutting down your recreation. I attempted the whole lot:
De la riva? Nope.
Berimbolo roll? Nope.
Okay, closed guard? Nope
Half guard? Crap, I forgot he loves half guard. Nope.
Okay. He pulls guard. I get swept prefer it’s my first day.
When time was referred to as I used to be concurrently bummed and overjoyed. I did not need the roll to finish, however I’ve by no means felt management and endurance like Jeff had with me. I used to be completely different being managed, however not being smashed. Nice expertise.
Complete berimbolo fail.
Jeff was exceptionally hospitable and really welcoming to a customer. I used to be shocked to be taught that the extra I journey, the extra I uncover how everyone knows the identical individuals. Jeff has been part of the BJJ scene in Northwest Indiana, Illinois, and Chicago areas for over ten years. Jeff and I sat and talked for a very long time after class was over and I really feel that is fairly typical of Jeff. He was very prepared to present his time to profit his college students.
College students in Evanston are very lucky to have Jeff. His academy is massive, has nice coaching gear, and wonderful instruction. That being stated, I hope this evaluation has been an correct illustration of him and his academy. When selecting an teacher, usually instances it’s essential to have a look at their character. I’ll (hopefully) be doing an interview with him quickly.
Thanks for studying! A particular because of Jeff for opening up his academy to me!!
Once more, thanks for ready so many weeks for this evaluation!
I am going to have my evaluations of Mota Martial Arts and Gracie Barra Chicago up subsequent week so hold your eyes tuned for that!
Extra to return this summer season!