
(‘Crank my neck all you want…I still say…a strategy that involves nationalizing banks…is untenable…over a long period of time.’)
Now here’s a rare positive story coming out of the strange place where economic disaster and martial arts training meet. The Gracie Barra gym in Clearwater, Florida is offering free classes to people who have recently lost their jobs. As a way to ease the stress of the unemployed and keep them from killing themselves and their families, owner Eduardo de Lima will let you train for free for six months or until you get a job, whichever comes first:
"I always said to my students, ‘If you lose your job, just come in anyway.’ It’s more important for them to work out, because it releases the stress of life," said De Lima, 40, who’s been teaching jiu-jitsu for 16 years. "When (people) get stressed from money problems, they do dumb things," he said, citing the Los Angeles man who recently shot his family and then himself after losing his job.
Stress relief, huh? I guess that’s one explanation behind this free jiu-jitsu offer. Another explanation might be that de Lima is training an army of the economically disenfranchised. Think about it: they’re desperate, angry, and have nothing to lose. They also don’t have to go to work, so they can train pretty much all day.
Sure, it sounds crazy now. But we’ll see whose crazy in six months when de Lima and his legions sweep through Washington D.C. and then Wall Street, taking over the country and its financial institutions via armbars and rear naked chokes. Viva la jiu-jitsu revolution! Free gi’s for everyone!








Post your comment
Showing 1-25 of comments
commentsI still love you, cagepotato. Still love ya...unfunfunf
It's a real life version of Fight Club.
Personally, I think this sort of thing would help people find jobs more than it would encourage them to become lazy. Why?
1. A bunch of lazy slobs who don't work out start training, get energy and feel good about themselves, and work up the self esteem to go and put themselves out there for a job. When I started my MMA training, I just had energy all day from the exercising I was doing.
2. If you really love it, you're gonna work all that much harder to find a job so when that 6 months comes up you can still train. Though I'm currently employed, I'd be damn sure to work my butt off finding replacement work if it meant I couldn't train due to lack of funds.
...not to mention that as people train... they'll start going to gyms, eat more, etc., and channel more $$$ into places that might be suffering in this crisis. Gracie Barra's probably helping the economy a hell of a lot more than you, bud.
First off, I doubt half of the unemployed are going to go train BJJ all day. In fact, I highly doubt that ANYONE who is not a professional fighter is going to train ANYTHING all day. So, right off the bat, you're exaggerating a bit, don't you think? I highly doubt that the availability of free BJJ lessons is going to be a major disincentive to seek employment. I suspect that if you stop to think about it rationally for about fifteen seconds you will, too.
Additionally, high unemployment typically implies a relative lack of jobs and not some sudden, random decision by many people to stop working. So, regarding your hypothetical with the ten guys, five of whom are superhuman physical specimens and training all day, the other five of whom are looking for jobs: how many jobs are available in this situation? Ten? If there were jobs available for each of these men, I highly doubt they'd be unemployed.
I can't believe I'm having an economic discussion on CagePotato. Jesus.
Thanks for the well wishes dude. I'm glad to hear that this F'ed up economy hasn't swallowed up everyone. Continued success to you, and.................... are you hiring (kidding).
So basically, you like the glass half empty way of thinking? Where it sounds like a lot of other people like the glass half full theory. Hey, it's your opinion.....no one can knock you for that, but just out of curiosity, when you started your business, where did you get the money to start it? Not just any old "Joe Blow" has cash sitting around to start a business worth 3 mil a year.
Is it a nice offer from the owners? Yes it is.. lets just hope one of those unemployed guys training for free doesnt bring some ringworm and/or staph to the mats for the paying guys who still have jobs.
Think of it this way. 10 people get laid off from XYZ, Inc. 5 of them train free BJJ, 5 of them spend that same amount of time calling potential employers, sending resumes, etc etc.. who will get a job quicker, the guys training BJJ or the guys spending more time trying to find a job?
Your right, I am wrong. I guess I shouldnt look down upon people, its a character flaw I suppose.
I was laid off 4 years ago. What did I do? Start my own business and stop relying on other individuals' bad decisions to affect the outcome of my life. Not every business and industry is hurting. Where business falter, others thrive. Its your duty as a person seeking employment to find those businesses that are thriving and go to work. You have to do what you have to do in this day in age until things get better. I may have made almost $3m last year, but who knows what will happen in 5 years.. 10 years. -I- would work at Taco Bell if I had to... I -have- worked fast food before in order to make ends meet... so I am not someone to listen to an individual complaining about working a shift at Taco Bell. Say what you want about me, but I am living proof of a guy who gets off his ass and makes things happen. If I was someone just recently laid off, I wouldnt be training BJJ until some other person's business gives me a call to fill a position I would probably lose down the road anyway- I would be investing in my future and getting on with my life and not wait for the government to decide when I will be working again.
Ignorant? No. Smart? Yes.
Either way, Apt Ninja, now you've got something to do with your time.
Sign in
Register | Lost your password?
Register For This Site
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Log in | Lost your password?