May 20, 2019
Kim Rice Spotlight Athlete, 5 time IBJJF World Champion - wants to beat up Dwight Schrute
Kim is a 38 year old Jiu Jitsu brown belt who trains at Cary Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Cary, North Carolina) under Jason Culbreth. Kim has been training Jiu Jitsu for 9 years. She is very accomplished – just to name a few of her titles:
2 time IBJJF Adult World Champion
3 time IBJJF Masters World Champion
Abu Dhabi Silver Medalist
5 time Pan Am No-Gi Champion
Current Toro Cup Brown Belt World Champion
Toro recently sat down to speak with Kim, while enjoying some Forte Legato Coffee at Sizzler
Toro: What other sports have you competed in?
Kim: I grew up a competitive swimmer. As a teenager and adult I went on to specialize in open water swims, especially marathon swims. My longest swims were the “Swim Around Manhattan” and the “Swim Around Key West”.
Toro: Have you trained in other martial arts?
Kim: I dabbled in Judo for a few months but my knees did not like it. Besides that I have stuck with Jiu Jitsu. (Kim may have forgot but she did train MMA for a period of time – even to the extent of taking an amateur fight and winning)
Toro: Who is your favorite JJ competitor to watch?
Kim: Anybody that I train with. I am not much of a Jiu Jitsu nerd. I don’t really watch matches that I’m not emotionally invested in. I’m more engaged watching a white belt who I train with on the regular than a high level black belt that I don’t know.
Toro: Do you do any exercises/workouts to supplement your Jiu Jitsu?
Kim: I do Crossfit a few times a week in addition to strength training two times a week on my own. My back hurts when I overdo it on yoga. The short videos on YogaforBJJ are a nice supplement for me.
Toro: Best advice for anyone beginning Jiu Jitsu?
Kim: Tap early! Don’t wait until there is pain in your joints to tap. Your body will thank you later.
Toro: What is your best Jiu Jitsu moment? Most memorable win?
Kim: Not much can compare to winning adult worlds. I will never forget those experiences. I did so once as a blue belt and once as a brown belt. It is my long term goal to win worlds as a black belt. My other favorite memory was winning the Abu Dhabi trials. This enabled me to win a trip to the Abu Dhabi World Pro. It was my 3rd time trying and in previous attempts I suffered tough losses. Winning the trip was a huge goal that I finally accomplished.
Toro: Do you have a favorite website for instruction?
Kim: Ryan Hall and Bernardo Faria instructional videos are my favorites
Toro: What makes you happiest in life?
Kim: Enjoying time with my hubby and our big floofs (dogs). Our dogs love to wrestle each other. Watching them “roll” is the cutest.
Toro: If you could have a 1 hour private lesson with any person – living or dead – who would it be?
Kim: Grandmaster Helio Gracie. He died before I discovered Jiu Jitsu, but I would jump at the chance to train with his ghost.
Toro: If you could fight anyone throughout history – who would it be?
Kim: Dwight Schrute
Toro: Any sponsors or ANYONE you’d like to give a shout out to?
Kim: My husband, Jason Mask. I’d also like to thank Toro BJJ for being a long time, loyal sponsor. Thank you to YogaforBJJ for keeping my body healthy.
Toro: Who wins in a boxing match: Mike Tyson in his prime or Muhammad Ali in his prime?
Kim: I don’t know a lot about boxing, but my grandpa delivered Muhammad Ali’s daughter! Plus he never bit anyone’s ear . So I’m going to pick him.
June 27, 2019 Athlete spot light – CJ Murdock
Cj Murdock is a 30 year old black belt who has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 15 years. He trains at Top Martial Arts & Team Roberto Traven HQ in Atlanta.
What other sports have you competed in?
Hockey, Baseball, Karate as well as MMA
Have you trained in other martial arts?
Cowboy Karate, Muay Thai, Karate I also take off my pjs occasionally and do some no-gi.
Who is your favorite BJJ competitor to watch?
Besides Josh (brother Josh Murdock) and Cait (girlfriend, Caitlin Huggins)?!?! Or, I'm assuming you don't mean my amazing training partners at Top!?! Then maybe it's the Norwegians Tommy & Espen because they come from a small town and train basically with each other and are two of the top level guys in their weight classes. The Miyaos will always be idols of mine. They inspire me so much with how they dedicate their whole lives to jiu-jitsu, as well as Joey Plyler, that kid is going to make a lot of adults very unhappy. Thalys Pontes is the wonder kid and also makes a lot of adults very sad, but unlike a lot of insane blue belts, he has only been training a short period of time. Thalys is something special. Junny Ocasio (Maybe the whole unity squad hahaha). I like too many I think!! Megaton and Levi Jones too! I could maybe list 20 more people I like to watch. Michael Musumeci has to be on the list as well. The GOAT, Terere. Maybe I'm done...who knows?!!!
What is your “day” job?
Kids BJJ and private lessons.
Do you do any exercises/workouts to supplement your Jiu Jitsu?
As a light guy who trains with everyone, I like to think of the open class as my weight lifting. I try and drill for at least 1 hour and have 3 days dedicated to drilling at a high intensity. I also roll as hard as I possibly can every round I can. And yes with white belts too, you just make them move and be careful of not getting hurt. Also, if you want better cardio, don't eat like garbage. Not eating like garbage helps my cardio almost more than doing cardio
Best advice for anyone beginning BJJ
Don't quit. Tap. Listen to your instructor & smile. Ask questions in a manner that makes you seem interested not arrogant & try to show up on time (15 minutes early) and stay after class. Some of the best knowledge is shared before and after class.
What is your best Jiu Jitsu moment? Most memorable win?
My entire trip to brazil I think, training with Terere, meeting all the amazing people, competing, wining any match in brazil felt just as good as anything other than maybe winning this past atl open, my first blackbelt medal that wasn't a us grappling or a 1 and done. It was my first "real" medal. I have a 2 gold medals from brazil but they were 1 and dones so they don't feel as good. I took 2nd in a few tournaments but always fumbled at the finals match. Up until this year there was this part of me that didn't feel like I could win first at a major tournament. I feel now though I have the potential to beat anyone.
What makes you happiest in life?
Besides jiu-jitsu. Josh and Cait. My parents. Luke the kitty. Doughnuts & ice cream & Apex legends.
Who is the greatest martial artist of the last 100 years?
It might be Deandre Corbe. It might be my brother. It might be someone we will never meet. Martial arts is a crazy thing where you never know who really is the best. Just the best at certain times.
If you could have a 1 hour private lesson with any person – living or dead – who would it be?
Living, more privates from Terere. Not living, Rolls Gracie.
What is your favorite movie?
Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Anchorman, Saving Silverman, & Con air or anything that has Seth Rogan & James Franco
Better host of The Price is Right: Bob Barker or Drew Carey?
I have no clue, probably Bob Barker but Drew Carey is a boss.
Who wins in a fight: Jean Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal?
JCVD easy maybe if JCVD had no arms or legs Seagal would win, maybe.
Who wins in a boxing match: Assuming BOTH are in their prime, Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali? Ali would get knocked out.
If you could fight anyone throughout history – who would it be? Rickson.
Competition high-lites
IBJJF Atlanta Open Spring 2019
Adult Black Lightfeather Weight 1st place
IBJJF Atlanta Winter Open 2019
Adult blackbelt Absolute class 3rd place
IBJJF Atlanta Spring Open No Gi 2018
Adult Featherweight 2nd place
IBJJF Atlanta Winter open 2018
Master 1 Featherweight 1st place
US Grappling Sub Only Featherweight World Champion 2018 (1 match)
SJJSAF 1ª Copa Sul-América de Verão
Adult Blackbelt lightweight 2nd place
SJJSAF Sulamericano 2015 de Jiu-Jitsu
Adult blackbelt lightweight 2nd place
CBJJO WORLD CUP JIU-JITSU OLIMPICO
Adult Lightweight 3rd place (1 match)
CBJJD - Circuito Rio - Troféu Rio 2015
Adult blackbelt Lightweight 1st place (1 match)
SULAMERICANO DE JIU JITSU OLIMPICO
GI 2015
Adult black belt Middleweight 3rd place(1 match)
SULAMERICANO DE JIU JITSU OLIMPICO NO GI
Adult Blackbelt Middleweight 1st place(1 match)
CBJJD- CAMPEANATO MUNDIAL 2015
Adult Blackbelt lightweight 2nd place
Toro Cup 1, 2, 7, 13, 15 Superfight Winner
Kakuto Submisson Challange 135, 2nd place
Kakuto Submisson Challange 155
Draw for 1st place with Diego Saraiva
Multiple time US Grappling Champion
May 3, 2019 - Spot Light Athlete: Daniel Charles Frank "DCF"
Toro BJJ had lunch at Sizzler with Daniel Charles Frank. We conducted a brief question and answer session.
Toro: Could you please state your name, age, BJJ belt rank and how many years you have been training ?
DCF: Daniel Charles Frank, 40, Black Belt, 16 years
Toro: What school do you train at?
DCF: I train at Revolution BJJ in Richmond, Virginia.
Toro: What other sports have you competed in?
DCF: I've competed in all types of ball sports, mostly baseball.
Toro: Have you trained in other martial arts?
DCF: I have done some Muay Thai and some MMA.
Toro: Who is your favorite BJJ competitor to watch?
DCF: I love watching both Terere and Leandro Lo. They are exciting and have such open styles. They have a game plan to win a match, but can make split second decisions to change their style, tempo, or attack in order to adjust during that match. They are champions.
Toro: Do you do any exercises/workouts to supplement your Jiu Jitsu?
DCF: I do anywhere between 4 - 8 hours of jiu jitsu a day. When I am not doing jiu jitsu I ride a bike, lift weights, swim, use a rowing machine, circuit train, sit in the sauna, take epsom salt baths. It feels like I am always training. I dream of doing or teaching jiu jitsu most nights.
Toro: Can you offer some advice for anyone beginning BJJ?
DCF: Take it slow and learn the basics repeatedly. Perfect practice makes perfect. You will need to practice the same things a thousand times to get any good at them.
Toro: What is your best Jiu Jitsu moment? Most memorable win?
DCF: The best moment was receiving my black belt. I worked very hard for it and felt fantastic when I finally achieved it. My most memorable win is hard to pinpoint. There have been many. One of the most recent was a win over Josh Murdock at the Toro Cup for the Lightweight belt. We went into sudden death overtime and I won with a sweep. I put everything into that match and said to myself that I would die on the mat in order to get the win. It was one of the hardest matches of my life.
Toro: Do you have a favorite website or DVD set for instruction?
DCF: BJJ Path
Toro: What makes you happiest in life?
DCF: Teaching others jiu jitsu.
Toro: If you could have a 1 hour private lesson with any person – living or dead – who would it be?
DCF: Rolls Gracie
Toro: Any sponsors or ANYONE you’d like to give a shout out to?
DCF: I would like to thank Toro BJJ for their never ending support of me. The best brand in the world!!