In an attempt to begin the building of The Freak Show documentary, a monstrous BBOY/Dance crew based out of southern California, we were informed they had a busy schedule this particular weekend, citing that the Master Trainer of the gym where they teach was hosting a jiu jitsu seminar. They told us they “…have been training for a few years with 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu” in Vista, Ca under the guidance of Ryan Fortin through legendary jiu jitsu practitioner and trainer Eddie Bravo. Since TheLIEshow family has a true love for the art of jiu jitsu and the sport of MMA this seemed too good to be true. We have worked with The Freak Show throughout the years we have always known them to deliver and that they did, as usual. This time it wasn’t in the form of street dance, it was another art form. A crafty, skillful, elusive technique used in combat, competition, protection, and immortalized in one of the fastest growing sports of all time, MMA. They told us how they stumbled upon a guy looking to show his kid some break dancers. This is where we meet Ryan Fortin, owner and operator at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu’s Vista location. While mobbing up to the gym with HD cameras in hand, we are geared up with tripods, extra memory cards, extra batteries, computers, interfaces and other gear to insure we come correct on our invitation to film. At the back door we are greeted by a smile and a hand dap, “Boogeyman” Richie Martinez whispers to us “the seminar has just started and you are right on time.” Center gym is the sleeved up Eddie Bravo. For those that don’t know anything about Eddie, we can assure you this – this man is true to himself. He wears his tattoos proud and makes and plays his music loud. From the outside looking in nobody would know anything about his accomplished career in Martial Arts. His first love, creating music, would seem just right for his persona. He looks like a front man, and he is. In many ways Eddie carries the front man role, in his band and in his gym but the funny thing is he steers clear of the title. Eddie believes in equals, originality, and most of all “what works”. A pharse you will hear him say often, “Shit, I don’t care who invented it, if it works it works, he could be a guy talking trash about my style, if he has something that works, I’m gonna use that shit.” 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu has created a system, this system is becoming more and more popular but has been frowned upon by a few traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu masters. The only thing is, they cannot prove that it is not effective. It has won several matches and is rarely stifled. The techniques have been used to defeat legends in the Jiu Jitsu world, including members of the coveted Gracie Family. Bottom line: the 10th Planet System works. You can watch it work in competition and gauge it by the medals on the wall. After the seminar we got a chance to talk with Eddie and the 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Vista team, and they spoke about how they have become a family. Ryan shared his troubled past, some ups and downs, and how the birth of his son became his inspiration to make a change. He went out to follow his dream and stumbled upon the right people. Now living his dream and running his second gym, he only hopes to help each person with their own. The Freak Show family spoke about how they fell in love with the art of Jiu Jitsu, the 10th Planet family and how it gave them a home to practice and teach their art of dance. Eddie spoke about his love for music and how he has been playing and composing since the age of 10. He told us that when he found Jiu Jitsu, his family and friends were almost laughing at him. This continued until his uncle called him up and said “are you famous or something”. All and all, each of these guys are an inspiration because they do what they feel without altering it for societies benefit.
