Danny and Marc

Following the successful campaign at the recent Dallas Open, GMA member Danny Alvarez had a graduation ceremony at his school in Arlington, TX.

Among many students getting new belts and adding degrees to their belts, Marc Trought received his black belt after years of training.

Danny and AJ

AJ Tucker also received his black belt after many years of training.

Danielle and Danny

Danielle Alvarez, Danny’s daughter, received her brown belt after a very successful run as a purple belt, when she collected numerous medals.

Congratulations to all students who received new belts or degrees.

Know more at www.AlvarezBJJ.com

Danielle at the 2013 American Nationals. Photo: Erin Herle

Purple belt Danielle Alvarez of GMA Alvarez BJJ in Arlington, Texas has set her eyes on the gold at the 2014 World Championships like thousands of others. When you read what her accomplishments have been so far this year alone, you’ll agree that it is in reach. Her dad, Daniel Alvarez, is a black belt who leads a team of competitors all around the world to compete and explore the true limits of a Jiu-Jitsu journey.

I spoke with Danielle about her goals for the worlds and what makes a good role model in Jiu-Jitsu. Check it out:

GRACIEMAG: How has your competition season been this year thus far?

DANIELLE ALVAREZ: This year has been great, I’ve been actively competing and learning a lot this season since January. I won the Europeans, San Francisco Open, Houston Open, Boston Open, FIVE grappling, a women’s superfight and also placed at Pan Ams and Brazilian Nationals.

How often do you get to train and what other priorities do/did you have besides Jiu-Jitsu?

Right now I am out of school for the summer so I am able to train 2-3 times a day, every day of the week. During the semester I would train once every day because I had college classes in the mornings. I also teach a women’s class once a week and help instruct the kids classes 3 times a week at my dad’s gym.

Explain your most proud competition moment this year.

My most proud competition moment this year was winning a superfight in a women’s only tournament in Denton, Texas. I had a very tough ten-minute match against Fabiana Borges and came out with the victory.

Danielle wins the 2014 European Jiu-Jitsu Championship to start the year off right. Photo: Personal archive

What would winning the worlds mean to you?

Winning the Worlds would mean everything to me. None of my other accomplishments in Jiu-Jitsu could compare to a Worlds gold medal. All of the competitions I’ve done so far this season have been preparation for the Worlds and I’ve been looking forward to this all year. A Worlds gold medal is the most important thing to me right now.

What qualities and behaviors do you think make a good role model for Jiu-Jitsu?

I think it is important for role models in Jiu-Jitsu to be respectful and helpful for all belt levels, especially white belts since that’s where everyone’s journey begins. I also think good role models in Jiu-Jitsu should always lead by example and bring positive energy to the people around them.

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You can watch the 2014 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship buy purchasing the livestream at www.ibjjftv.com

Joe, Danny, Bryan show off their no-gi medals on the podium. Photo: Alvarez BJJ Instagram

Black belt GMA member Danny Alvarez of Alvarez BJJ in Arlington, Texas took a team of students to compete alongside them in Rome, Italy. Normally at most IBJJF events around the country including Boston Open, Houston Open, Las Vegas Open and more, Danny himself pushes for the best results to get onto the podium and shares the same momentum with every one of his students who express the same interest.

On June 29, the first IBJJF Rome Open gave the Alvarez BJJ army a chance to prove their skills in the gi. Here are the results:

Joe Gonzales placed third in his purple belt master medium-heavy division.
Danielle Alvarez placed second in her purple belt adult lightweight division and third in the absolute.
Danny Alvarez won gold in his black belt master featherweight division.

Daughter Danielle Alvarez was out of competition for 10 months as she moved a few hours away from home to attend her first year of college. Prior to becoming a first-year college student, she competed often since she was a juvenile racking up titles in IBJJF tournaments all over the world as an adult, winning a ticket to Abu Dhabi WPJJC and earning the title of best blue belt competitor in Texas two years in a row. This competition was a good start for her return to Jiu-Jitsu competition.

The second day, on Sunday June 30 came the European No-Gi Championship and the time for the team to prove their skills without the gi. Here are the results:

Bryan Landin placed third in his blue senior 1 ultra-heavyweight division.
Joe Gonzales won gold in his purple master medium-heavy division.
Danny Alvarez won another gold in his black belt master featherweight division.

Congratulations to the team.

For more information about Alvarez BJJ you can visit www.AlvarezBJJ.com

Check out Danny Alvarez in action in his final at the European No-Gi Championship:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvvRgQBTl5k

Bruno Bastos comemora troféu em Houston. Foto: Arquivo Pessoal.

Bruno Bastos teve um final de semana emocionante, durante as disputas do Houston Open. Além de subir no alto do pódio mais uma vez, pode ver brilhar alunos como Daniel Veja que, apesar de ter deficiência física em um dos braços, finalizou todos os oponentes. Para coroar o desempenho de Bastos como atleta e professor, veio o primeiro troféu por equipes em um evento da IBJJF desde que o faixa-preta se radicou definitivamente nos EUA.

Confira as suas palavras:

“O final de semana que passou foi emocionante pra mim.
Tudo bem que eu já tinha conquistado alguns bons resultados em eventos locais aqui como treinador, mas entendo que isso só fica completo quando conseguimos um troféu por equipes na IBJJF.”

“Após 16 meses de trabalho, consegui liderar a Nova União ao 2º lugar geral por equipes no Houston Open. Considero isso um feito extraordinário em tão pouco tempo. Claro que sem a ajuda dos meus associados (Octagon MMA, Team Lutter, Peak BJJ, Alvarez BJJ, Trinity MMA e Evolve BJJ) e todos os atletas que treinaram bastante, como o Daniel “Jacaré” Almeida, que puxou a fase final de preparação dos atletas quando eu estava em Portugal pra competir no Europeu e depois no Brasil para graduar meus alunos, nada disso seria possível. Não posso deixar de mencionar também o Robson Moura e o Gustavo Dantas, que é o cara em que me espelho aqui nos EUA, com seu trabalho sério, liderando toda a Nova União.”

“Finalmente senti que posso e estou contribuindo para ele tornar nosso objetivo concreto, que é voltar ao pódio do Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu entre as equipes.”

“Indo para os destaques individuais na faixa-preta, tive o Daniel Jacaré, que fechou comigo o pesadíssimo e faturou o bronze no absoluto, além do Daniel Alvarez, que ganhou o pena master e foi prata no absoluto master.”

“Entre as meninas, todas pegaram ouro com destaque pra Yasmin Soto no pesadíssimo azul e Danielle Alvarez, que ganhou o pena azul e ficou com o bronze no absoluto. Olho nela, pois tem apenas 16 anos.”

Daniel Veja supera qualquer deficiência com o Jiu-Jitsu.

“Nos juvenis, o Levi Mowles ganhou mais um evento da IBJJF e também tem muito futuro pela frente. Ainda na faixa-azul, Loronz Marion foi prata no médio master, mas voltou com tudo e faturou o absoluto depois de quatro guerras.”

“Por fim, na faixa-roxa, Johnny Cross com duas finalizações no pesado sênior 1 e o sensacional Daniel Veja, que com apenas um braço finalizou seus dois adversários no leve master e garantiu mais um ouro. Esse cara é muito sinistro e não se espantem se, em breve, ele medalhar no adulto, pois estamos trabalhando para isso.

Enfim, mal posso esperar para ajudar o time no Pan e depois buscar o 1º lugar no Dallas Open, em maio. Vamos fazer um grande camp aqui em Dallas para o Mundial, comigo e Rodrigo Feijão. Até lá!”

Bruno Bastos celebrates trophy in Houston. Photo: personal archive.

Bruno Bastos had an emotion-filled weekend, during the Houston Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Besides making it onto the winners’ stand yet again, he got to see students of his like Daniel Vejaque, who despite a handicapped arm, submitted all his opponents. To cap off Bastos’s performance as an athlete and teacher, he took his first team trophy at an IBJJF event ever since the black belt moved definitively to the USA.

Here’s what he had to say:

“Last weekend was an emotional one for me.

Sure I’d won a few titles in local events as a trainer here before, but it is only complete when it’s an IBJJF team trophy.”

“After sixteen months of work, I managed to lead Nova União to 2nd place overall at the Houston Open. I consider that an extraordinary feat in such short time. Of course, without the help of my associates (Octagon MMA, Team Lutter, Peak BJJ, Alvarez BJJ, Trinity MMA and Evolve BJJ) and all the athletes who trained so hard, like Daniel “Jacaré” Almeida, who led the athletes in the final phase of training while I was in Portugal to compete at the European Open and then in Brazil to promote my students, none of it would be possible. I can’t forget to mention Robson Moura and Gustavo Dantas, who is the person I model myself on here in the USA, with the serious work he does leading the whole of Nova União.”

“Finally I felt empowered and that I’m contributing to him fulfilling our objective, which is to make it back on the podium as a team at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship.

“Now on the individual standouts at black belt, I had Daniel Jacaré, who closed out the ultraheavyweight division with me and took bronze in the absolute, not to mention Daniel Alvarez, who won the master featherweight and took silver in the absolute master.”

“Among the girls, all of them took gold, with Yasmin Soto standing out at blue belt ultraheavyweight and Danielle Alvarez, who won the featherweight blue and took bronze in the absolute. Keep an eye on her, she’s only sixteen.”

Daniel Veja overcomes any challenge with Jiu-Jitsu.

“In the juvenile division, Levi Mowles won another IBJJF event and has a good future ahead of him. Still a blue belt, Loronz Marion won silver at middleweight master, but went back in full steam to take the absolute winning four wars.”

“Last but not least, at purple belt, Johnny Cross won the senior 1 heavyweight with two submissions and the sensational Daniel Veja, who with only one arm submitted his two opponents in the lightweight master division and won another gold medal. The guy is awesome and don’t be surprised if soon he gets a medal in the adult division; that’s what we’re working toward.

“Now I can hardly wait to help the team at the Pan and then go for first at the Dallas Open in May. We’ll have a big training camp here in Dallas for the Worlds, me and Rodrigo Feijão.”

Bruno com as alunas Claudinha Gadelha, Kelly Faszholz e Heather Renshaw. Fotos: arquivo pessoal.

O sábado foi de muito Jiu-Jitsu na cidade de Dallas, noTexas. Os lutadores da categoria profissional lutaram por uma passagem aérea para a seletiva americana da Costa Oeste do ADCC, que vai ser realizada em março, na Califórnia (a seletiva da Costa Leste foi realizada neste sábado, em Nova Jersey).

A lutadora da Nova União Claudia Gadelha, atualmente radicada em Dallas com o faixa-preta Bruno Bastos, fez quatro lutas para vencer na categoria de peso e no absoluto. 

Como Claudinha é brasileira e não pode disputar a seletiva americana, quem ficou com a vaga foi a vice-campeã -60kg Danielle Alvarez, de apenas 16 anos, que também é aluna de Bruno Bastos.  

“A Claudinha está muito bem aqui e em breve teremos boas novidades para o GRACIEMAG.com. Esse ano ela ainda vai lutar no Naga, em dezembro. Meu aluno Daniel “Jacaré” Almeida também vem em dezembro para competir no mesmo evento. Minha equipe vai entrar com tudo, sem contar nossos parceiros Travis Lutter, Paul Halme, Danny Alvarez e Brandon Quick. Já comecei a preparação para o Europeu, em janeiro, então aqui não tem descanso no final de ano!”, conta Bruno Bastos.

Claudinha Gadelha e Kelly Faszholz levaram tudo no feminino profissional.

A academia de Bastos, a Octagon MMA, ainda levou o peso +60kg do feminino com Kelly Faszholz . No masculino, se deram bem e ganharam a passagem Jason Sampson (-66kg), Albert Hugues (-77kg), Frost Murphy (-88kg) e JJ Holmes (99kg e absoluto).

Bruno with students Claudia Gadelha, Kelly Faszholz, and Heather Renshaw. Photos: personal archive.

Saturday was a day of Jiu-Jitsu in the city of Dallas, Texas. The professional-division fighters took to the mats in pursuit of an airplane ticket to the West Coast ADCC trials coming up March in California (the East Coast qualifiers took place this Saturday in New Jersey).

Nova União combatant Claudia Gadelha – who currently resides in Dallas with black belt Bruno Bastos – had four matches and won at weight and open weight.

As Claudia is Brazilian and not allowed to compete at the American tryouts, the one who took the spot was under-132 lb runner-up Danielle Alvarez, a sixteen-year-old Bruno Bastos student.

“Claudia is doing great here and soon we’ll have more news for GRACIEMAG.com. This year she’ll compete at Naga, in December. My student Daniel “Jacaré” Almeida is also coming in December to compete at the same event. My team will enter everything, not to mention our partners Traviss Lutter, Paul Halme, Danny Alvarez, and Brandon Quick. I’ve already started preparing for the European Open in January, so there will be no end-of-the-year break,” says Bruno Bastos.

Claudinha Gadelha and Kelly Faszholz swept the female professional division.

Bastos’s academy, Octagon MMA, also snatched the over-132 lb gold, with Kelly Saszholz. In the men’s division, Jason Sampson (under-145 lbs), Albert Hugues (under-155 lbs), Frost Murphy (under-194 lbs), and JJ Holmes (218 lbs and absolute).

Ao lado de Hillary, Cyborg foi o nome do evento

Faixa-preta conhecido por não deixar uma competição de lado, Bruno Bastos teve que ficar de fora do Grapplers Quest, que agitou Dallas no último sábado (14 de agosto). Mas foi por uma boa razão. Brunão precisou acompanhar seus alunos inscritos e, de quebra, nos conta o que rolou de melhor no Dallas Convention Center.  

O grande nome da competição foi Roberto Cyborg Abreu. Com a faixa-preta Hillary Williams no corner, foi campeão do absoluto sem kimono e faturou os mil dólares de premiação. A fera finalizou os três primeiros combates e derrotou na final Jeff Owen (Travis Lutter/Bruno Bastos) por 7 a 0.

Bruno Bastos com os alunos em Dallas

A Nova União, comandada por Bruno Bastos em Dallas, também fez a festa com 34 títulos entre medalhas de ouro e cinturões, mais 16 pratas e nove bronzes.

“Vale lembrar que estou em Dallas não tem nem um ano”, comenta Bastos, todo orgulhoso dos alunos. “Daniel Almeida, Daniel Garcia, Jeff Owens, Levi Mowles, Peter Runez e Danielle Alvarez foram alguns dos destaques nossos no evento”, completa.

Danielle Alvarez também venceu a edição 2010 do Rio Open

Bruno agora prepara seus atletas para os próximos eventos da IBJJF em 2010, na Academia Octagon MMA. 

(Colaborou Bruno Bastos)

Alongside Hillary, Cyborg was the big name of the event

A black belt known for never missing a championship, Bruno Bastos had to sit out the Grapplers Quest event that shook up Dallas last Saturday, August 14. But it was for a good reason. Bruno had to oversee the students he had signed up in the event, as well as to report on what went down at the Dallas Convention Center for GRACIEMAG.com.

The big name of the competition was Roberto “Cyborg” Abrea. With black belt Hillary Williams in his corner, he won the no-gi absolute division and took home one thousand dollars in prize money. The grappling ace got the tapout in his first three matches and overcame Jeff Owen (Travis Lutter/Bruno Bastos) by a score of 7 to 0 in the final.

Bruno Bastos with students in Dallas

Nova União, in Dallas led by Bruno Bastos, had much to celebrate, too, having won 34 gold medals and belts, 16 silvers and nine bronzes.

“It’s worth remembering I’ve been in Dallas for a year now,” remarks Bastos, proud of his students. “Daniel Almeida, Daniel Garcia, Jeff Owens, Levi Mowles, Peter Runez and Danielle Alvarez were some of our standouts at the event,” he adds.

Danielle Alvarez also won the 2010 Rio Open

Now Bruno will set about getting his athletes ready for the upcoming IBJJF tournaments, at Octagon MMA Academy.

(Collaborator: Bruno Bastos)