The BTT Boston team. Photo: Personal archive

On June 14, 2014, head instructor of GMA Brazilian Top Team Boston Bruno Amaral and his fiancé Nathalia Azoff wed in Lexington, Massachusetts. The proposal happened just over one year ago in the middle of Bruno’s Jiu-Jitsu class and so it would only be appropriate for their Jiu-Jitsu family to share this special occasion. The wedding had Nathalia’s and Bruno’s family and friends present along with many of their teammates including Bruno’s uncle and owner of Brazilian Top Team Boston, Joao Amaral. This was a very special evening for the happy Jiu-Jitsu couple.

Just a couple of days after the wedding, rather than taking a honeymoon, Bruno and Nathalia were back on the mats for the BTT Boston belt ceremony.

On June 16, 2014, Joao Amaral, Daniel Gazoni, and Bruno Amaral awarded many stripes and belts to BTT students. Thayse Soares, the first BTT Boston female black belt was awarded her second degree on her black belt and Roger Woo, owner of BTT affiliate Woo Kickboxing Academy was awarded his first degree on his black belt.

To complete an already great evening, 5 black belts were awarded to very deserving students; Nathalia Amaral (our new bride), Aniss Al Hajjajy, Vincent Silvestre, Attila Javor, and Tatasuya Goto. This was the most successful belt ceremony to date. “I am proud of everyone and their accomplishments. Today was very special for all of us and I look forward to seeing all our students grow and evolve in this sport,” says Joao Amaral.

Needless to say, this has been quite an exciting few days for Bruno and Nathalia!

Learn more about the adventures of Bruno and Nathalia along with their GMA academy BTT Boston at www.bttboston.com

See pictures:

This particular submission she shows is the head and arm choke and the specific details that breaks down each part of the move.

Enjoy!

Check out more of Hannette Staack’s stuff at www.brazil021chicago.com

Using a knee slice pass to side control, Nathalia secures her position and covers her sneaky way of grabbing her own lapel. While diverting the attention of Bruno’s far hand, she is able to feed the lapel to her hand around Bruno’s neck and secure a very tight choke.

Her details along with her do’s and don’ts make this move great for anyone, no matter the gender or skill level.

Check it out!

Full house for promotions at BTT Boston. Photo: Personal Archives

GMA team Brazilian Top Team Boston celebrated the end of 2012 with a belt promotion ceremony.

Head Coach Prof. Daniel Gazoni had the help of Prof. João Amaral and several black belts to test over 80 students.

The highlight was student and avid competitor Michael Zenga (several gold medals at IBJJF tournaments) getting his black belt.

Once again Prof. Gazoni reminded everyone about the importance of the Jiu-Jitsu life style in our lives outside the gym and that there is nothing better than Jiu-Jitsu to help us face the reality.

Congrats to everyone!

For more info, go to bttboston.com

Bustamante, Toquinho seminar at BTT Boston

GMA member school BTT Boston welcomed very special guests earlier this month.

Murilo Bustamante and Rousimar Toquinho paid a visit to the academy to teach some No-gi Jiu-Jitsu and MMA techniques.

They were welcomed by team leaders João Amaral and Daniel Gazoni.

After the seminar, Gazoni was awarded with the third degree to his black belt.

For more info, go to bttboston.com

Jorge Britto in action at Montreal Open / Photo: IBJJF

The Centre Pierre-Charbonneau gymnasium in Canada hosted IBJJF championship the Montreal International Open this Sunday. The black belt absolute division was dominated by representatives from GRACIEMAG-associate academies. Our GMAs did indeed put in splendid performances, securing the top three spots on the team podium.

Jorge Britto took first in the middleweight division, however, the teacher at Toronto BJJ came up short in the absolute final against a game Renan Borges (BTT Boston).

In the overall team standing, first place went to Toronto BJJ, followed by Renzo Gracie and Gracie Barra.

Check out the complete results here. 

Jorge Britto (embaixo): o líder da Toronto BJJ levou o ouro no médio e o troféu por equipes em Montreal. Foto: IBJJF.

O ginásio do Centre Pierre-Charbonneau serviu de palco para o Jiu-Jitsu neste domingo, com o Montreal International Open, evento da IBJJF que esquenta a arte suave no Canadá. Na faixa-preta, destaque para a categoria absoluto, dominada por dois representantes de academias associadas à GRACIEMAG. Aliás, as nossas GMAs fizeram bonito, tendo garantido as três primeiras colocações por equipe.

Jorge Britto ficou em primeiro no médio. No absoluto, entretanto, o professor da Toronto BJJ foi batido pelo competitivo Renan Borges (BTT Boston).

No placar geral, a primeira colocação ficou com a Toronto BJJ, seguida pela Renzo Gracie e Gracie Barra.

Confira todos os resultados aqui. 

Professors João Amaral and Daniel Gazoni conducted the belt test from white belts all the way to black.

Black Belts Renan Borges, Thayse and Bruno Amaral were present to help.

First day was only for white belts and several people proved that they were ready for their blue belt.

Gazoni, Woo, Amaral

A very emotional and touching moment took place on the second night when the black belt was awarded to Roger Woo.

Roger has been practicing martial arts his whole life and for 16 years practicing Jiu-Jitsu.

All the students were also reminded of the meaning (for them and for the ones that are looking up to them) of the belts they wear around their waist.

A couple of tough blue bets, Mateus and Sean were promoted  to purple and Atila Javor got his deserved brown belt.

Last but no least black belts Renan Borges (world class competitor) and Thayse (one of the first female black belts in New England) received their first degree. Congrats to all!

For more info, go to bttboston.com

BTT vai leiloar luvas para arrecadar fundos às vítimas no Rio.

Em mensagem enviada pela nossa GMA BTT Boston, novas formas de ajudar as vítimas da enchente que já matou, até esta publicação, 555 pessoas na Região Serrana do Rio de Janeiro.

“Bom, a BTT também tem vários alunos, professores e amigos na Região Serrana do Rio. Criamos um website (www.sosriobtt.com), o email sosriobtt@gmail.com e o Facebook Sos Rio para ajudar nas doações às vítimas da enchente. Toda a grana arrecadada irá para as vítimas. Em breve vamos colocar uma luva do UFC autografada pelo Mestre Bustamante e pelo lutador Rousimar Toquinho no Ebay/Mercado Livre com 100% do dinheiro arrecadado destinado às vítimas das enchentes”, informam.

BTT to auction gloves to raise funds for Rio flood victims.

Our GMA BTT Boston sent in a message announcing new ways to help the victims of the landslides that, at the time of publication, have taken the lives of 555 people in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro state.

“BTT has a number of students, teachers, and friends in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro. We created a website (www.sosriobtt.com), the email sosriobtt@gmail.com and Facebook page SOS Rio to help collect donations for the flood victims. All the money brought in will go to the victims. Soon we will put a UFC glove autographed by Master Bustamante and Rousimar Toquinho on auction on Ebay/Mercado Livre with 100% of the proceeds going to the victims,” the message read.

New academy's dojo / Photo: personal archives

Our GMA at Brazilian Top Team Boston João Amaral just opened another academy, BTT West Palm Beach, at Bombers Boxing gym in Florida.

Anyone nearby is welcome to a free trial class. The address is 2223 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach, Florida, 33409. For further information, contact João at joao@braziliantopteam.com and (857) 272-8295.

Dojô da nova academia. Foto: Arquivo Pessoal.

Nosso GMA na Brazilian Top Team Boston, o professor João Amaral abriu mais uma academia, a BTT West Palm Beach, na Bombers Boxing, Flórida.

Quem estiver pelas redondezas pode aparecer com direito a uma aula experimental totalmente grátis. O endereço é 2223 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, West Palm Beach/ Fl 33409. Maiores informações através dos contatos joao@braziliantopteam.com e (857) 272-8295.