Some stunning changes come from the way of the bjj Mecca – San Francisco. So what just happened there? Osiander has been very popular for a number of years.
Recently Osiander went on the Grappling Central Podcast and described just what happened. Short version?
“I was fired. ”
When prompted what happens now Kurt replied:
” When I was in Asia they kind of like threw somebody out who I f*cking held for value and a lot of people like … well you can’t throw it with him you know… ”
Further Kurt added:
“And now I’m f*cking jobless and branded a traitor. ”
reddit user fickledeedo shined some light on the specifics:
“TIL that Ralph Gracie sold his San Francisco academy to Gracie Barra. According to my friend, a top guy from GB, Joao Filipe “Jerry” Oliveira, walked in one day and without any warning fired long time instructor Jake Scovel and then began implementing a bunch of rule–no swearing, no music, shirts always, which the members were not used to. Joao Filipe would not let Kurt teach classes in the afternoons or evenings and hired another guy to teach them. So I guess Joao Filipe replaced Jake Scovel and Kurt with himself and another guy to make the academy into a GB. Kurt definitely does not fit the GB mold, got pissed and left or was fired. That is all I’ve heard and it makes some sense given the Podcast.”
Ralph Gracie took to instagram to offer his version of the story and stresses that he did not sell his academy to Gracie Barra and that he did not fire Kurt Osiander:
ralphgracieOver the past couple of days, I have heard a number of rumors about my gym in San Francisco and its former instructor, Kurt Osiander, and I feel the need to address this misinformation.
First, I did not sell my gym to Gracie Barra. Ralph Gracie San Francisco is my gym and will forever be my gym.
Second, I am saddened to say that, after nearly 25 years together, Kurt Osiander has chosen to leave Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Kurt was not fired nor pushed out. He made the decision to leave our team and start a new gym in the same neighborhood. I was made aware of his decision while I was out of the country for a seminar. After announcing his intention to me, I even offered to support him and invest in a new location just for him, but he refused.
But I cannot live my life holding any grudges. Everything happens for a reason. Kurt has been instrumental in building up the Ralph Gracie San Francisco gym. I am very grateful for his contribution to our team.
Ralph Gracie San Francisco will always be my family. Our team will continue to get bigger and stronger as I believe in the power of jiu-jitsu to transform lives and build better communities. My family and I have given our lives to building up the sport, and our work must continue.
Ralph Gracie
The outspoken Kurt Osiander is one of the most well-known instructors in the world and certainly has a tough old school BJJ game. Kurt recently released his first instructional series for BJJ Fanatics entitled Fundamentals of a Jiu Jitsu Renegade where he teaches his no BS and hard nosed approach to BJJ. Now grab yourself a copy of Fundamentals of a Jiu Jitsu Renegade and be sure to add code ‘BJJEE’ to get 10% off!
