Ruy Menezes / Personal archive photo

Ruy Menezes, who spent years at China Top Team working with some of Asia’s top fighters, sent in news for Jiu-Jitsu fans.

The black belt has now headed off to new stomping grounds, and has new plans. First on the list is to inaugurate the Carlson Gracie branch in Cali, Colombia, a city of growing popularity among tourists.

“I’m living in Cali right now, and I’m really happy about opening a branch of Carlson Gracie Team here in partnership with my friend Carlson Gracie Jr. The aim is to continue to wave Grandmaster Carlson’s banner,” he reported via email, explaining that he left China because of differences regarding the working relationship with his former teammates.

Now I’ve got a good MMA and Jiu-Jitsu group. I started work here less than a month ago, and we already have a competition in Medellín this Saturday, the 3rd. We’re taking six students to compete at Copa Shogun, and we expect good results,” he said in closing.

Ruy Menezes. Foto: Arquivo pessoal.

Quem manda notícias aos fãs de Jiu-Jitsu esta semana é o professor Ruy Menezes, que integrou durante alguns anos a China Top Team, equipe de algumas professas do UFC na Ásia.

Agora, o faixa-preta está em novas paragens,e com outros planos. O primeiro é inaugurar sem demora a filial da escola Carlson Gracie em Cali, na Colômbia, cidade cada vez mais elogiada pelos turistas.

“Estou morando em Cali agora, e estou muito feliz por abrir a Carlson Gracie Team aqui, em parceria com meu amigo Carlson Gracie Jr. O objetivo é continuar levantando a bandeira do grande mestre Carlson”, contou ele, em papo por email, explicando que deixou a China por divergências em relação à forma de trabalhar dos ex-companheiros.

“Agora já estou com uma boa turma de MMA e também de Jiu-Jitsu. Comecei a trabalhar aqui faz menos de um mês, e já temos uma competição em Medellín neste sábado, dia 3. Estamos levando seis alunos para disputar a Copa Shogun de Jiu-Jitsu, e espero trazer bons resultados”, concluiu.

Photos: Personal archives

“I trained Jiu-Jitsu for about six months with Bitetti, but he moved back to Brazil, so I stop taking classes for awhile,” Carreno says, “Then I moved to New York City and found Christiano Bertolucci, who is a black belt under professor Paulao Rezende from Minas Gerais.” Carreno is now a purple belt with Team Legacy and has made Jiu-Jitsu his life.

I was a decorated taekwondo player, but I realized I didn’t know anything at all and that I really needed to learn how to defend myself” Luis Carreno

“What I love about Jiu-Jitsu is that it’s proven and effective,” he says, “When I started Jiu-Jitsu, I was a decorated taekwondo player, so I thought I was going to do very well sparring against Jiu-Jitsu competitors. I realized I didn’t know anything at all and that I really needed to learn how to defend myself.”

Carreno says that Jiu-Jitsu offers a myriad of benefits to those who practice it. “I have personally benefited from the art a great deal,” he says, “My health has improved, I can defend myself, therefore I’m a more confident person, I have a positive attitude, and I take life like a champ – never backing out on anything or any situation. I can’t thank Master Carlos and Helio Gracie enough for creating such a powerful art and lifestyle”.

Because of the effect Jiu-Jitsu’s had on his life, Carreno decided he wanted to help introduce the gentle art to the people of Colombia, so they could also benefit from it the same way he has. “I moved to Colombia in late October 2009,” he says, “Ever since, I have been working diligently to help spread the art of Jiu-Jitsu here. I often travel to different cities to give seminars and special classes.”

Team Legacy Jiu-Jitsu in Colombia

Carreno says his hard work and effort is really paying off. His team has been able to open Team Legacy Jiu-Jitsu (TLJJ) groups in five different cities. He considers this rapid growth. “Our TLJJ groups are still small in relation to the number of students we have, but the spirit of the mission is strong,” he says, “The goal is to close 2010 with six well-established TLJJ groups and we are 100% committed to helping develop the sport here.”

Carreno says Team Legacy is creating Jiu-Jitsu teams that combine the traditional aspects of the art with the modern. “Masters Carlos and Helio used to stress self-defense a lot, so we teach the Jiu-Jitsu created by them,” he says, “We also wanted to allow people to develop themselves as athletes, so we teach competitive Jiu-Jitsu too. We offer both competition training and self-defense to continue the legacy of Carlos and Helio Gracie.”

Recently, Team Legacy threw a Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Cali, Colombia. Carreno says the athletes showed an excellent level of Jiu-Jitsu and good sportsmanship. “We had people come from all over Colombia,” he says, “Team Alliance Ecuador (of professor Fernando Di Pierro) also showed up. The highlight was Gracie Barra Colombia, who had the largest number of competitors. They were great. Team Legacy Jiu-Jitsu also did well and took home seven medals. The tournament was a big success.”

First Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Colombia

Carreno is working on some other big projects. Team Legacy is currently in negotiations with the legend Royce Gracie to teach a seminar in Colombia in October or November of this year. “He is up for it,” Carreno says, “We are just working on the details. The plan is that everyone who attends the seminar will be given entry to a tournament right after. So, we will provide the seminar, the tournament, and a free t-shirt to all participants. Everyone is invited to attend.”

Jiu-Jitsu in Colombian army

Carreno’s good works don’t stop there. “I started a Foundation called, “Fundacion Arte Suave,” he says, “I teach Jiu-Jitsu to blind kids. Soon I will be starting a class for needy kids as well.” Carreno wants to help children build good character through the art of Jiu-Jitsu.

If you would like to donate to the cause, you may reach Luis Carreno directly at: www.luiscarreno.com or www.teamlegacyjj.com.