The evening of September 6th was a special one at the Gracie Barra America headquarters, in Irvine, California.

Master Carlos Gracie Jr handed out much deserved new belts and deegres for professors and students.

Many GMA members were among the graduated.

Daniel Montanha, from GB Miami, received his 3rd deegre.

Alberto Crane rolling

Alberto Crane, leader of GB Pasadena and GB Burbank, had the black belt of one of his instructors, Juan Pablo Garcia, endorsed by Master Carlinhos.

Other than that, Philipe Dela Monica got his 2nd deegre, as well as Rodrigo Chalita and Marcos Soneca.

GMA member Felipe Jerry, from GB Huntington Beach, was also present.

Montanha (top) rolls with Mike Colón

On a personal emotion, Master Carlos gave his daughter Carol Gracie the first degree of the purple belt.

Professor Marcio Feitosa’s sister, Vivi Almeida, got the 2nd deegre to her purple belt as well.

For more info, go to graciebarraamerica.com

Montanha é professor na GB Miami. Fotos: divulgação.

Entre faixas-pretas como Pablo Popovitch, Rodrigo Cavaca, Renato Tavares, Roberto Cyborg e muitos outros, Daniel de Lima, o Montanha, foi um dos homenageados pela IBJJF no Miami Open 2010. Melhor ainda, o professor da Gracie Barra Miami venceu o absoluto master no evento, categoria que fechou com Rodrigo Clark, numa dobradinha de associados GRACIEMAG (GMA). 

“Fiz um bom combate contra o Jared Weiner, atleta do Lloyd Irvin. Consegui quedar e passei a guarda duas vezes para finalizar com a chave kimura. Ele tinha uma guarda muito agressiva, mas, com paciência, fui passando pouco a pouco, como o mestre Carlos Gracie Jr. ensina! Na final encontrei meu companheiro de equipe Rodrigo Clark, da Gracie Barra Santa Barbara, e fechamos a categoria”, comenta. 

Treinos com Georges St. Pierre.

Um dos homenageados do evento, em reconhecimento ao trabalho feito em prol do Jiu-Jitsu, a festa foi completa para Montanha. 

“É uma honra enorme ter o reconhecimento do nosso trabalho pela Federação Internacional e perante todos que estavam presentes no ginásio. Acredito que com atitudes desse tipo o nosso esporte cresce mais forte ainda. Tenho lutado por seis anos aqui em Miami para ensinar o Jiu-Jitsu que aprendi e este tipo de gesto por parte da Federação incentiva os professores a continuar com mais garra na divulgação da arte suave pela Flórida.” 

Além disso, o professor ficou contente com o resultado de um dos pupilos em Miami.

“O Manny Torres, meu faixa-marrom, venceu no senior o peso e ficou em segundo no absoluto. Ele tem 48 anos e desceu para o senior 1, porque o senior 3 não tinha nenhuma luta para ele. Ele ficou muito feliz por ter conquistado algo tão importante dentro do nosso esporte, depois de cinco anos de treino e muita dedicação!”, encerra.

Montanha teaches at GB Miami. Photos: publicity.

Along with black belts the likes of Pablo Popovitch, Rodrigo Cavaca, Renato Tavares, Roberto Cyborg, and others, Daniel “Montanha” de Lima was one of those paid tribute by the IBJJF at the 2010 Miami Open. Better still, the Gracie Barra Miami teacher won the absolute class of the master division, closing out with Rodrigo Clark, a double win for the GRACIEMA Association (GMA).

“I had a good match with Jared Weiner, a Lloyd Irvin athlete. I managed to get the takedown and pass guard twice, before finishing with a kimura lock. He had a really aggressive guard, but with patience, little by little I made it past, just like Master Carlos Gracie Jr. teaches! I then closed out the final with Rodrigo Clark, of Gracie Barra Santa Barbara,” he explains.

Training with Georges St. Pierre.

One of those honored at the event, in recognition of his work benefitting Jiu-Jitsu, to Montanha the party was complete.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized for by the International Federation and everyone at the gymnasium for the work we do. I feel that such attitudes will only make our sport even stronger. I’ve been here in Miami working hard teaching the Jiu-Jitsu I learned and this type of gesture by the Federation provides incentive for teachers to further there efforts in spreading the gentle art in Florida.”

Furthermore, the teacher was overjoyed with a student of his’ results in Miami.

“Manny Rorres, my brown belt, won his weight group and took runner-up in the absolute in the senior division. He’s 48 and dropped to senior 1 because there were no opponents for him in the senior 3 category. He was really happy about conquering something so important in our sport, after five years of training and lots of dedication!” he says in closing.

Montanha em treino com GSP do UFC, no início do ano. Foto: Debora Rosenn.

No master & seniores do Miami Open, no último dia 23, o bom Jiu-Jitsu também esteve bem representado.

Depois de receberem seus diplomas de professores da IBJJF de Rilion Gracie, em cerimônia muito aplaudida, os mestres foram à guerra.

Renatinho Tavares venceu no master leve, ao passar por Jared Weiner (Lloyd Irvin). No peso médio, Marcio Silva (Brawler Academy) foi o campeão, enquanto Edson Diniz (ATT) venceu Rodrigo Clark (GB Santa Barbara) e voltou ao pódio, no meio-pesado.

Com Rilion ao centro, os professores da Flórida homenageados: bons serviços prestados ao Jiu-Jitsu da região. Foto por Ray Santana.

No peso pesado, deu Todd Allen Cutler (Renato Tavares), enquanto Daniel “Montanha” de Lima venceu o peso pesadíssimo e o absoluto. No aberto, Daniel ficou em primeiro, com Rodrigo Clark em segundo e Jared Weiner e Ethan Day (Renato Tavares) em terceiro.

No Sênior 1, o absoluto ficou com Romulo Reis Pereira (Gracie Elite Team), com Guilherme Arashiro (GB) em segundo e Marcelo Rodrigues de Araujo (Gracie Elite) em terceiro. Confira a vitória de Romulo a seguir.

No Sênior 2, o campeão absoluto foi Marcelo Conti (Gracie Elite), com Hector Vasquez (GB) em segundo.

Os próximos campeonatos da IBJJF serão o Brasileiro Sem Kimono, dia 30 no Rio, e o Mundial Sem Kimono, no dia 7 de novembro na Califa.

Para mais, clique aqui.

Rilion, com Marcelo Araujo, Renatinho Tavares e o campeão mundial Rodrigo Cavaca. Foto: Ray Santana.

Montanha training with the UFC's GSP early this year. Photo: Debora Rosenn.

At last October 23rd’s Miami Open, the master & senior division boasted some top-notch Jiu-Jitsu, too.

After receiving IBJJF teaching diplomas from Rilion Gracie, in a ceremony met with heavy applause, the masters went to war.

Renato Tavares won the lightweight master division by beating Jared Weiner (Lloyd Irvin). Rhe medium heavweight champino was Marcio Silva (Brawler Academy), while Edson Diniz (ATT) made it back onto the winners’ podium after defeating Rodrigo Clark (GB Santa Barbara), in the medium heavyweight division.

With Rilion at center, Florida's teachers were paid tribute for good services rendered to Jiu-Jitsu in the region. Photo: Ray Santana.

At heavyweight, Todd Allen Cutler (Renato Tavares) took first, while Daniel “Montanha” de Lima won the ultra heavyweight division and the absolute. In the open weight division, Daniel took first, with Rodrigo Clark in second, and Jared Weiner and Ethan Day (Renato Tavarez) in third.

In the Senior 1 contest, absolute first place went to Romulo Reis Pereira (Gracie Elite Team), with Guilherme Arashiro (GB) in second, and Marcelo Rodrigues de Araujo (Gracie Elite) in third. Check out Romulo’s win below:

In the Senior 2, Marcelo Conti (Gracie Elite) won the absolute, with Hector Vasquez (GB) in second.

The next IBJJF champions on tap are the No-Gi Brazilian Nations, on the 30th in Rio, and the No-Gi Worlds, on November 7 in California.

For further information, click here.

Rilion, with Marcelo Araujo, Renatinho Tavares and world champion Rodrigo Cavaca. Photo: Ray Santana.