Monday, April 13, 2009

FAREWELL TO OUR DEAR VLAD













THE KIMEKAI FAMILY IS SAD TO SAY GOOD BYE TO OUR DEAR BRASILIAN JIU JITSU INSTRUCTOR VLAD.
HE PASSED AWAY ON THE WEEKEND.


VLAD IS ON THE FARTHEST RIGHT IN HIS BELOVED GI. EVEN WHILE TRAINING W/ THE GREAT STRIKER & UFC CHAMP- MAURICE SMITH, VLAD PROUDLY WORE HIS BJJ COLOURS.


THERE IS NOW A HUGE VOID ON OUR DOJO MAT THAT WE WILL WORK HARDER THAN EVER TO FILL EVERY TIME WE ROLL. HIS ANALYTIC APPROACH, ATTENTION TO DETAIL & PASSION FOR THE GRACIE WAY WILL LIVE ON IN US AS STUDENTS. HE WAS A GIFTED MARTIAL ARTIST, ATHLETE & COACH. WE WILL MISS HIM DEARLY.

VLAD WAS BORN IN BELARUS OF RUSSIAN HERITAGE AND EARNED AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEGREE IN WISCONSIN, USA. WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SHARING SOME LONG CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM ABOUT MARTIAL ARTS, THE GRACIE WAY & RAISING A FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA. HIS UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE IS WHAT WE WILL MISS THE MOST.