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Axis Jiu Jitsu Academy
Jason Roebig - Academy Director, Official Rickson Gracie representative
Jason Roebig has been involved in the field of Martial Arts for over twenty years and is the Australian representative for Axis Jiu-Jitsu Academy Japan, 4 x All Japan Champions and representatives of Rickson Gracie International Jiu-Jitsu Association. Jason also coaches the Gold Coast Titans in grappling techniques.
Jason is one of those individuals who radiates strength and is renowned world wide. Nick recently interviewed him to gain an insight in what it takes to reach this level of excellence...
You've been involved in Martial Arts for a long time... Can you give a short overview of your career?
I have been training since I was a teenager and was very lucky to meet a family that offered me a lot of support to train freely on and off from the age of 18. At that time I had completely immersed myself in training. Japan was like a sanctuary to me and I thrived in that environment of hard training.
In 2001 my girlfriend and I (now wife) decided that we would go to Japan to live for a couple of years for me to continue training without the constant back and forth travel.
About 3 months into our trip I received a call from a Judo friend of mine who was studying on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He told me to go and meet a friend of his and he would take me to a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Dojo. This meeting would unbeknownst to me at the time change my whole life and outlook on martial arts in general. The coach, Takamasa Watanabe, Head of Axis Jiu-Jitsu Academy at the time was a brown belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the most amazing teacher I'd ever had the pleasure of training with. Not long after he received his Black Belt under Rickson Gracie, a living legend and the Gracie family champion. This made an impact on me and gave me the drive to dream of the same goal. During my 2 year stay at this academy I trained every morning and often went back for the evening sessions as well. On leaving to come back to the Gold Coast, I received my purple belt which is the coaching level in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Taka gave me him blessing to open the first international division of Axis in Australia. 9 Years on and competing at the Rickson Gracie Cup in Japan, I walked off the mat after my fight in the finals and was awarded the Black belt in the presence of my 3 coaches, Rickson Gracie, Kron Gracie and Takamasa Watanabe. A very big moment for me.
What are your three greatest acheivements?
Running a successful business from doing what I love....which, not many people believed possible during the early days. Receiving my black belt directly from a second and third generation Gracie. Rickson Gracie and his son Kron Gracie and the absolutely pleasurable job of raising a family. They have made me a better man.
What are your passions?
Family, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and surfing.
The three most important attributes in a person are:
Honesty, Kindness and a determination to be the best they can be with what they have been given in life.
Lifestyle tips?
1. Be good to others, speak less and listen more. I genuinely believe what goes around, comes around. I have been lucky enough to achieve most of my dreams as a child. I credit that to searching for positive people that have had a positive impact in my life. Very early in my Martial Arts career one of my mentors said to me "Don't ever settle for mediocre. Get acquainted with people that are driven and successful." The saying of 'What you hang around, is what you become.' This sits very true with me.
2. If you have a beautiful possession like a new car, you wash it and care for it and check that you didn't just scratch it with those shopping bags. You put the best fuel in it so that it runs at its optimum and lasts a long time.....now having said that, just check for me your lifestyle and your diet...be good to yourself too by putting in the correct mix of food for fuel. No good having that car if you're not around to enjoy it :-)
Do you incorporate nutrition and healing therapies into your practice?
Absolutely...If I didn't, and with the punishment I've put my body through, I'm sure I'd be a mess. I have a weekly routine of therapy through massage, stretching and even meditation. My advice is to keep up some level of exercise no matter what, even walking is great but if you happen to be an exercise junkie, make sure you take some time out for your mind and body. Balance is a very good thing.
How does training improve Health and Wellbeing?
For me personally, one can't exist without the other. For some of your readers, that may sound a little lopsided because naturally it's my job, but if you could just feel what I feel, you would understand.
Without going all scientific on you, training releases 'feel good' endorphins into your body. It's like a natural high. I'd challenge anyone to get up early, go for a brisk 15min walk, come home, have a nice cool shower followed by a good healthy breakfast and tell me they didn't feel good for the rest of the day. If you don't have good health and general well-being then you just can't operate at your full potential. Just late last year I was talking to a friend of mine that has a very powerful position in his company and we were talking about certain goals and achievable milestones and at one stage through this conversation I said to him, "I just don't have the time." He said to me "Jay, you have the exact same 24 hours in the day as Barack Obama."......SLAP!! I'm never saying that sentence ever again...ha ha
What are your plans for the future?
To be the best I can be. To find the time always to enjoy my children as the grow and make as much of a positive impact on them and my students. To say YES more and NO less. If there is one thing I've realised, love stretches way further than your immediate family. I see this not sometimes but every single day in my academy and I'm truly blessed to have them in my life.
Thank you very much Professor for taking the time!
Visit the Australian Axis Jiu Jitsu Academy website here...