The black belts at the big seminar. Photo: Marcelo Pereira

On Saturday, Jan. 17, Bruno Bastos of GMA Bastos BJJ Midland in Midland, TX received his fourth degree on his black belt. This promotion came from the hands of Professor Marcelo Pereira.

The day was part of a full seminar weekend where students were to learn from Ricardo Demente Abreu, Rico Bastos, Marcelo Pereira, Gustavo Dantas and Bruno himself. Promotions were also held for the students.

Hear what Bruno has to say about his promotion and check out the video below:

“Last Saturday I was awarded with the 4th Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by my long time friend, Professor Marcelo Pereira ( @marcelinhojj ). It was a BIG DAY for me. Very special moment. There witnessing this moment, my “Bebezao” Rico Bastos, Ricardo Demente Abreu ( @ricardodementeabreu ),#TheBjjMentalCoach Gustavo Dantas ( @gdjiujitsu ), the man who brought me to Midland Bradley Barnes ( @bradgordinho ), my lovely wife#BulgarianBeautyPetya Petya Bastos and ALL my @bastos_bjj_midland family alongside my affiliates as well.
14 years of Black Belt feels good and I’m ready for more. Next May I’ll be completing 25 years of Jiu-Jitsu and I’m going to celebrate competing in the Adults division to give some old man hard time for the young guns. There’s only one Highlander…”

Learn more about Bastos BJJ Midland at www.bastosbjjmidland.com

In this interview he talks about challenges and how life itself is a competition. There are challenges in trying to be the best school, the best athlete and get the results you want by paying the correct price.

Learn about his history, his goals and his philosophies:

Bruno Bastos and Daniel Alavarez collecting their first place team trophy at the 2014 IBJJF Dallas Open. Photo: Daniel Alvarez

The Bruno Bastos Association, while new, is growing in numbers and in rank. The Texas team has been competing locally, nationally and internationally and picking up podium shots along the way with a multitude of its athletes. Its team is comprised of GMA Bastos BJJ Midland under Bruno Bastos himself, GMA Alvarez BJJ under Daniel Alvarez and other affiliate academies.

Over the past weekend on Sept. 13, the 2014 IBJJF Dallas Open came to a close with Bruno Bastos Association in the top spot for the team trophy. This is their fourth year in a row taking home the title.

The Alvarez BJJ army with Bruno Bastos students on the podium. Photo: Daniel Alvarez

Part of the association that helped to earn the trophy was GMA Alvarez BJJ. They made up 59 of the 82 competitors who were present in Dallas. They contributed 207 points to the 300 that were earned in total. Led by Daniel Alvarez, their total medal count was 18 gold, 10 silver, 15 bronze.

Both Bastos and Alvarez worked hard during the 12-hour day to coach, push, support, console, promote and congratulate their students. Gold medals were accumulated as were new belt colors for some.

Of the accomplishment, Bruno Bastos says it was exactly what they had planned. “I believe that the right thing to say without being arrogant is that we’re the best team in Texas. We’ve won every IBJJF tournament in Dallas. We’ve placed in the IBJJF tournament [as a team] in Houston. We have athletes winning all over the world. So I have the right to say that we’ve been dominating the scene in Texas,” says the third degree professor.

Learn more about Bastos BJJ Midland here and Alvarez BJJ here.

Instead of settling with his diagnosis, he took his health into his own hands by changing his diet and staying on the mat. The 56-year-old took one dose of the recommended drug to treat him and suffered side effects that included a seizure, chemo cough and he was forced to limit his exposure to people because his immune system was compromised.

With his ketogenic diet, supplements, exercise, sunshine and heat therapy, he is able to train Jiu-Jitsu four to five times a week as well as use kettlebells and travel. Check out his story with a local news team:

You can follow Joe’s journey on his facebook page: www.Facebook.com/EvenCancerIsBetterWithBacon

Bruno Bastos at the 8th Arizona Open

GMA member Bruno Bastos is turning 34 years old this Thursday, March 27.

To celebrate the date, we feature the renowned black belt teaching a technique.

Pay close attention and learn this awesome loop choke from the half guard.

Know more about Bruno and his school in Midland, Texas, at bastosbjjmidland.com

Here, Bastos and Dantas offer a way to capitalize on that mistake and get the pass for any body type:

Learn more about Bruno Bastos at www.bastosbjjmidland.com and Gustavo Dantas at www.gdjiujitsu.com

GMA member Gustavo Dantas of GDJJ in Tempe, Arizona will be leading a two-day seminar at GMA Bastos BJJ Midland in Midland, TX on Sept. 21-22. Head of the Nova Uniao Association in the USA he also coaches UFC fighters for mental preparation, which holds much weight when it comes to achieving success.

The two-day seminar is organized by belt levels and techniques. Jiu-Jitsu techniques will be taught as well as mental techniques that will apply to life on and off the mat.

Don’t miss this training camp weekend. To reserve your spot and learn more information call 432-296-0860 or email: bastosbjj@yahoo.com

Check out this video below to see what’s in store:

Bruno Bastos returned to the cage at Legacy FC 22. Photo: Eric Karr/TXMMA.com

Last Friday, August 23, Jiu-Jitsu champion Bruno Bastos, who retired from adult gi competitions at this year’s Worlds, took to the Legacy FC cage to test his game.

And he walked out with a win by unanimous decision, and a big smile. “I didn’t even get the chance to collect some scars – didn’t even take a punch in the face,” he excitedly told GRACIEMAG.

His opponent was Gabriel Garcia, an American black-belt under Ralph Gracie. “Like me, he also teaches Jiu-Jitsu here in Texas,” said Bruno.

The Nova União athlete prepared diligently for the challenge, which helped when the chips were down.

“I was able to control all three rounds. In the last 30 seconds I went wrong: I pulled into half-guard already leaving the bottom and we were stuck, me trying to overthrow him with a single-leg and him taking the chance to punch my body,” said Bastos, our GMA in Dallas .

“I’m happy with my evolution in striking – I managed the distance, threw good jabs, took him down competently… My entire eight-week camp was done with UFC veteran Paul Buentello, a really tough guy. He fought the main event and got a knockout in the second round. Vitor Shaolin in my corner was also critical, as was Gustavo Dantas, who helped me with the mental preparation for the fight,” he said.

Bruno Bastos did his physical preparation with Giulliano Gallupi at Bastos BJJ Midland, and had the support of sponsors Bold Energy, Asher Logistics, Fuji Sports, Fast Signs, Aggro Brand, Oss Arizona and Jaime Barron Immigration Law Group.

Legacy FC 22
Lubbock, Texas
August 23, 2013

Paul Buentello def. James McSweeney by TKO (punches to the body) at 2:44, R2
Eric Davila def. Artenas Young by split decision
Aaron Cerda def. George Pacurariu by stoppage at 2:11, R3
Joseph Sandoval def.  Jonathan Lopez by TKO at 4:18, R2
Gino Davila def.  Jon Voth by unanimous decision
Justin Reiswerg def. Anselmo Luna by unanimous decision
Dustin Roe def. Jessie Moreno by unanimous decision
Thomas Wayne def. Daniel Perez Moreno by unanimous decision
Bruno Bastos def. Gabriel Garcia by unanimous decision
Joe Saucedo def. Larry Garcia by unanimous decision
Javier Minjarez def. Santana Martinez by split decision
Eric Lunsford def. George Trujillo by TKO in R1