On November 23rd, Gracie Barra Bath held its annual Seminar with Professor Carlos Lemos Jr [GMA member and leader of Gracie Barra Countryside]. You could feel the excitement was buzzing in the air as 50 students lined up on the mat, ready to begin. It was impressive to glance around the room and see so many students packed in, with only two not being regulars at Gracie Barra Bath. Even with so many on the mat there were still a few of our students who weren’t able to attend, so who knows – soon we will probably have to find a bigger place in order to accommodate everyone!

I digress however – let’s get back to the seminar. It is always special to witness a teacher like Professor Carlos step onto the mat and command respect with a strong inner stillness that immediately brings a room to order. As we stood ready and waiting for the seminar to begin I believe it made Prof. Carlos proud to see so many old faces, so many new ones and a healthy growing school.

Everyone in attendance was there for one reason, to gain just a little bit of the wisdom and knowledge imparted by Professor Carlos. Sure, we were there to gain new techniques and add them to our repertoire, definitely, but more than that, we were there to learn life lessons. To gain wisdom from someone who has been on the journey of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu a lot longer than most of us, is something to cherish. As students we listen to every word, absorb it, digest it, then try to live by it as we strive to be better people and create a better society around us. Learn from those who have been on this journey longer and avoid their mistakes as they teach us the right way. It is obvious at these occasions that we are part of something greater than us, something special that any one can be a part of if they are willing to be the clay that is moulded into something new and outstanding. We are part of a Jiu-Jitsu family that extends world wide.

I love Professor Carlos’s seminars as there’s always a little funky move that can be added into the mix of everything we learn, but more important are the things we learn to help us create a solid foundation on which good, strong Jiu-jitsu can be built. If we do not have a solid foundation the funky stuff can never be set up. It not about the finish, it’s about how you got there. This is not only true during our sparring but in life as well. Professor Carlos called us to sit and listen; as good children we gathered around to hear to the story. He recalled a few tales of a student of his which brought home just how much we must be a united team in order to progress. How we need to be good to each other and help each other to learn in order to grow. That preventing a team mate from learning a move or getting the feeling for a move not only slows their progress down but hinders our own. Allow yourself to be used as an instrument for progress so we can all play a better game of chess.

Each and every time Professor Carlos visits us, I can never stop thinking about what a wondrous path we are on and I honestly can’t wait to see where it leads to. However, there is no rushing this journey, it is not a sprint but a marathon and one that will lead us down many avenues but one thing we must always hold close to our hearts is to be true to ourselves and good to each other. It is called ‘the gentle art’ for a reason.

This evening was not only full of excitement for the seminar but also for the new belts that were awarded that evening. Professor Carlos and Professor Salvatore proudly awarded four new purple belts and our first two brown belts under Professor Salvo. That evening Andy Brown, Harvey Dines, Mark and Callum Siddons were all made purple belts. It is always a proud moment to see a new belt being handed to students who work hard, put their time in on the mats and are dedicated to the sport.

Jason Tripp and Richard Weatherall are our first students to be awarded their brown belts under Professor Salvatore. If these guys weren’t BJJ men, I think tears would have been shed. What a magnificent moment to behold as old belts were shed and new belts were donned. These two have been on this journey from the beginning of Gracie Barra Bath and their loyalty is as strong as ever. Their journey is far from over and there is still so much for them to learn. It will be exciting to watch as they grow into their new belts and see their games develop. Hearing a little bit of where they’ve come from, to the men that stood before us that day made it an honour to know them and from the depths of our hearts we wish them great things for the future.

To everyone who received a new belt that evening congratulations aren’t enough, wear your belts proudly boys and know we are proud of you. To everyone who attended the seminar thank you for your continued support, we have a great team, a great family, and it is always a pleasure training with each and everyone of you. See you on the mats!

For more info, go to graciebarracountryside.com

The leader of Gracie Barra Countryside again demonstrated not only his Jiu-Jitsu but primarily his striking at Total Fight Challenge 17.

With a change of opponent at the last minute, Carlos was instead paired up with Mike Philips, a very tough opponent from Team No Ego with a wrestling and kickboxing background.

Photo: Personal Archives

Whereas his last fight at TFC could be said to be utter domination, this fight was an all-out war, and both combatants have every right to be proud of their performances.

In fact, several experienced fighters and fans both mentioned that the match was worthy of being shown in the UFC or WEC.

It ended with Professor Lemos engaging an armbar from the top mount, he had the arm extended and was working on adjusting the wrist to the proper angle when the third round ended, earning him a unanimous decision for the win.

For more info, go to graciebarracountryside.com

Carlos exchanged blows with his opponent, Jason Rine, for forty-nine seconds, then he caught a leg and the fight went to the ground.

Lemos in action

Carlos immediately took mount and released a barrage of punches, forcing his opponent to give up his back. Once Carlos had his back he maintained control, transitioning to mount once to release more strikes, which again caused Jason to give up his back, leading to a finish by rear naked choke barely two minutes into the first round!

Celebrating with his team

It was a textbook exposition on the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and groundfighting in MMA, and surely there will be more to come from Professor Lemos!

For more info, go to graciebarracountryside.com

This seminar will feature Dr. Eric “Medico” Dodson who has worked with several UFC fighters including Rashad Evans and high level jiu-jitsu fighters such as Carlos Lemos Jr, Roger Gracie and Igor Gracie.

Dr.Dodson will address “fight nutrition”, a must for all who are interested in taking their performance to the highest level possible.

This seminar will be open to the public, so please invite your friends.

The school will be having open mats after the seminar, so if you’d like to roll then bring your gi.

For more information about the seminar go to countrysidebjj.blogspot.com, graciebarracountryside.com or call: 708 990-0348

Do you own a Jiu-Jitsu academy and want to have your school featured  on GRACIEMAG.com? It’s easy, all you need to do is to become a GMA member. Click here and find out how.

Escorrega is the headmaster of Gracie Barra Countryside.

Professor Lemos not only demonstrated cutting-edge techniques but he also distilled and conveyed the Gracie Barra philosophy as extolled by Master Carlos Gracie Jr.

Professor Lemos also did the official grand opening seminar of instructor Salvatore Pace’s school in Bath Spa England, setting the southern English city on the map of affiliated Gracie Barra Schools around the world.

For more info, go to graciebarracountryside.com

Do you own a Jiu-Jitsu academy and want to have your school featured  on GRACIEMAG.com? It’s easy, all you need to do is to become a GMA member. Click here and find out how.

Comprido e Hall fecham o absoluto. Foto: Felipe Pires

O Jiu-Jitsu esteve em evidência neste domingo, em Chicago, quando um exército de kimono se apresentou nas áreas de luta montadas para o Chicago Open. O time campeão foi o Lloyd Irvin, seguido da Carlson Gracie e Gracie Barra. Mas, no individual, o representante da Brasa Rodrigo Medeiros, o Comprido, garantiu o ouro na principal categoria. 

Comprido chegou do Brasil, onde realizou alguns seminários, direto para a competição, como havia adiantado no GRACIEMAG.com. No peso pesadíssimo, o bicampeão mundial absoluto bateu Fabiano da Silva (Carlson Gracie). No absoluto, Comprido fechou com o companheiro de equipe Ryan Hall. Com duas medalhas no peito, o lutador agora ainda vai treinar com o campeão do UFC Brock Lesnar, peso pesado e seu aluno, que enfrenta Cain Velasquez. Haja fôlego!   

Ryan Hall, que fechou a categoria aberta com Comprido, também foi bem no peso, campeão entre os médios. 

Marcos Paulo, Carlos Lemos e Sean Bansfield foram bem pela Gracie Barra

No master faixa-preta, Carlos Lemos “Escorrega” e Marcos Paulo Barros surpreenderam. Depois de fecharem no peso leve, a dupla da Gracie Barra garantiu a dobradinha no absoluto.

Equipes no pódio do Chicago Open. Foto: Felipe Pires

Comprido and Hall close out absolute. Photo: Felipe Pires

Jiu-Jitsu was in evidence this Sunday in Chicago, when a gi-clad army presented arms on the mats of the Chicago Open. Lloyd Irvin was the winning team, followed by Carlson Gracie and Gracie Barra. But in the individual competition, Brasa representative Rodrigo “Comprido” Medeiros stole the show by taking gold in the main division.

Comprido arrived straight from Brazil, where he held some seminars, as previously reported by GRACIEMAG.com. In the ultra heavyweight division the two-time absolute world champion beat Fabiano da Silva (Carlson Gracie). In the absolute Comprido closed out with teammate Ryan Hall. With two medals around his neck, the fighter now heads off to train with UFC champion Brock Lesnar, who is set to defend his title against Cain Velasquez.

Ryan Hall, who closed out the open weight class with Comrido, also came up spades at weight, winning the middleweight division.

Marcos Paulo, Carlos Lemos and Sean Bansfield served Gracie Barra well

In the black belt master division, Carlos “Escorrega” Lemos and Marcos Paulo Barros were the big surprise. After closing out the lightweight division, the duo from Gracie Barra did the same in the absolute.

Teams on the stand at Chicago Open. Photo: Felipe Pires

Barros, Lemos, Bansfield

The IBJJF Chicago Open International was a success this weekend.

And our GMA members were a huge part of this success, conquering lots of medals.

Carlos Lemos, from Gracie Barra Countryside, and Marcos Barros, of GB Springfield, dominated the black belt master. They closed out the lightweight and the absolute.

Also in the black belt master division, Sean Bansfield, from Ann Arbor JJ, conquered a silver and a bronze medal and at the ultra-heavyweight and the absolute.

Team Brazil 021, headed by André Terêncio, also did great. Its members went home with 12 medals.

Click here for the complete results of the event.

Do you own a Jiu-Jitsu academy and want to have your school featured  on GRACIEMAG.com? It’s easy, all you need to do is to become a GMA member. Click here and find out how.