Champion Inacio Neto. | Photo: Luisarturo Hernandez

The GB Season Opener happened last Saturday, Feb. 22, in Irvine, CA. This competition celebrates the beginning of the championships season to all red shield competitors and it is the 1st Gracie Barra Compnet event of 2014.

The GB Compnet is a groundbreaking organization that coordinate the sport aspect of Jiu-Jitsu championships at Gracie Barra, and is committed to stimulate all instructors, competitors and staff, strengthening the culture of sportsmanship inside the organization.

Inacio Neto, Brown Belt, conquered the highest place on the podium Saturday in Irvine. He won the Pro Division at the Open Class category. Born and raised in Brazil, the competitor now lives in California and he is also a BJJ instructor at Gracie Barra.

Learn more about the GB Compnet in this video:

Gracie Barra has launched a new website.

The idea of the new page is to integrate all sides of the Jiu-Jitsu experience.

Four-degree black belt Marcio Feitosa, one of  GB leaders, talked about the novelty: “This launch is a milestone in our Jiu-Jitsu project once we managed, better than ever, to talk to all different profiles of people who are part of our movement.”

Flavio Almeida, Executive of Gracie Barra Franchises, also talked about the new website: “The new face of our online community builds on the legacy of Master Carlos Gracie Jr highlighting the most important initiatives of our Team.”

If you want to take a look on GB’s new online face, go to graciebarra.com

Watch the highlights with interviews from Carlos Gracie Jr, Marcio Feitosa, Flavio Almeida and others.

The Gracie Barra Compnet American Nationals happened Saturday, Oct. 19th in Irvine, California. GB internal tournament counted with the participation of 600 athletes including children, men and women competing. Master Carlos Gracie Jr. presence at the event was highly celebrated.

The competition day started with the kids showing off their BJJ skills on the mats of the Northwood High School in Irvine. The family atmosphere conquered the place. Kids had double elimination matches and they all received medals for their participation at the tournament. At the adults divisions, Pro-Div purple and Pro-Div brown, the champions received U$250 each for their victory.

Gracie Barra founder, Master Carlos Gracie Jr. was present at the event to support all the students. The event organizers stopped the tournament and called him in the middle of the mats to say thank you for everything he has been doing for the GB organization and Jiu-Jitsu.

GRACIEMAG: Master Carlos, in your opinion what is the importance of the Compnet as Gracie Barra’s internal tournament?

Master Carlos Gracie Jr: The Compnet tournaments are very important for Gracie Barra and his students because it promotes union between Gracie Barra professors to work together as a team to achieve the objectives of GB organization.

GM: Why do you think Gracie Barra students should participate in this tournament?

MC: For students it is a way for them to compete and gain experience at an event in which there is a careful and friendly atmosphere that makes them able to face their internal challenges such as fear and insecurity without a very violent impact that can happen to an inexperienced student and this can create a trauma for future competitions. Compnet promotes a friendly environment causing the student to gain experience and confidence so in the future he will be able to enter competitions with more experienced athletes without disadvantages of lack of knowledge in competitions.

GM: We have noticed a lot of kids competing at the tournament. For you, what are the best lessons children can learn from this competition?

MC: For children, who still do not have maturity to understand the competition, competing with your friends, teachers and family nearby means they can face those challenges much easier and with less stress so when they go to external competitions they will already stare at those challenges without the impact of an emotional charge in which he was not prepared.

The next Gracie Barra tournament is schedule to March 2014. For more information about the Compnet visit www.gbcompnet.com

Paulo Cézar “Drive-In”, professor da Gracie Barra. Foto: Gustavo Aragão/ GRACIEMAG

Primeiro torneio geral das escolas Gracie Barra realizado no Brasil, o evento GB Compnet foi realizado no último fim de semana, em Brasília. O ginásio da Uniceub ficou recheado com mais de 350 jovens atletas, professores, alunos e familiares das academias GBs.

Entre os faixas-pretas, estava a figura Paulo Cézar “Drive-In”, que comanda um projeto social da Gracie Barra em Jacarepaguá, no Rio de Janeiro. Paulo avaliou o saldo do primeiro GB Compnet no Brasil:

“Foi muito bacana, conhecemos muitos professores da Gracie Barra que só víamos pela internet. Deu para ver a galera toda reunida em uma senhora festa em prol do Jiu-Jitsu. É sempre bom participar desses eventos da escola, para trocar ideias e evoluir como professor”, comentou Paulo.

Drive-In levou 14 alunos do projeto, e a alegria foi geral.

“Levei 12 faixas-amarelas, um faixa-azul e um roxa. Eles fizeram a festa, se divertiram e praticaram muito Jiu-Jitsu. Alguns inclusive experimentaram a sensação de lutar entre si, por ser uma competição interna. Foi um grande evento, e o sorriso nos rosto dessas crianças não tem preço. Eles gostam bastante de viajar, agora continuo na luta para levantar mais apoio para eles poderem sempre competir fora do Rio”, conclui o faixa-preta.

Crianças em ação no Jiu-Jitsu. Foto: Ivan Trindade/ GRACIEMAG

O primeiro torneio das escolas Gracie Barra no Brasil já está com tudo pronto. O evento, chamado GB Compnet, será neste sábado, 14 de setembro, em Brasília, no ginásio da Uniceub, a partir das 10h. Todos os professores, alunos e familiares da academia de Carlos Gracie Jr são esperados para o campeonato.

Organizado pelos professores Nelson Monteiro, Marcio Feitosa e Fabio Costa, o GB Compnet no Brasil promete reunir 350 jovens promessas da escola, da faixa-branca à marrom, que vão competir sob as regras da IBJJF, com destaque para a molecada dos projetos sociais ligados à GB.

Fora dos dojôs, serão mais de 500 faixas-pretas da GB reunidos, num reencontro de velhos amigos que compartilham uma filosofia comum de treinamento, organização e estilo.

Vale lembrar aos competidores que os atletas só estarão aptos a competir se estiverem com o kimono oficial da Gracie Barra.

Confira todos os atletas inscritos clicando aqui.

Crianças em ação no Jiu-Jitsu. Foto: Ivan Trindade/ GRACIEMAG

A escola Gracie Barra no Brasil está convidando todos os seus professores, alunos e familiares para um evento que espera ser grandioso e diferente, no próximo dia 14 de setembro.

Tornando-se cada vez mais tradicional nos EUA ano a ano, o evento GB Compnet será realizado pela primeira vez no Brasil. E o que há de extraordinário nele? Por que não é visto pelos organizadores como um campeonato como os outros?

Primeiramente, o torneio é famoso pelo conforto e pelo clima de camaradagem, integridade e espírito esportivo. No ginásio da UNICeub, em Brasília, a partir das 10h, o GB Compnet promete oferecer aos participantes e espectadores:

* Ambiente Familiar
* Exclusividade (somente alunos GB partcipam)
* Seriedade na arbitragem
* Regras da CBJJ
* 4 áreas de luta com placar de plasma
* Chaves feitas pelo computador
* Ginásio moderno e com grande capacidade de público
* Medalhas e camisetas
* Pódio
* Loja oficial da GB Shop com diversos artigos e uniformes
* Área de alimentação com opções saudáveis no cardápio
* Segurança interna e estacionamento
* UTI móvel no local

O torneio, organizado por Nelson Monteiro (GB San Diego), Marcio Feitosa (GB Brasil / GB Irvine) e Fabio Costa (GB Asa Norte) prevê disputas da faixa-branca à marrom, com as categorias infantil e juvenil. E criança até 12 anos não paga.

“Neste ano, para motivar a prática do Jiu-Jitsu infantil e também apoiar os diversos projetos sociais ligados à Gracie Barra, vamos oferecer aos professores isenção para os pequenos até 12 anos. É preciso apenas enviar a lista das crianças, com idade, peso e faixa, além de obter a autorização dos pais para competir no evento e levar um documento de identidade da criança”, comenta Fabio Costa. “Nossa missão é ser o berço e também um senhor campo de testes para o desenvolvimento de verdadeiros campeões. E com isso manter nosso legado vivo”.

Professores, a Gracie Barra conta com a sua presença e apoio para o sucesso do GB Compnet. Participe!

Entre no site da www.gbcompnet.com, preencha a ficha de inscrição e garanta seu lugar no dia 14 de setembro.

GB Compnet Season Opener 2013

The Saturday afternoon of March 2 was completely devoted to Jiu-Jitsu at Nothwood High School in Irvine, Calif.

The Gracie Barra Competition Network (GB Compnet) held its first event of the year, the 2013 Season Opener.

More than 700 students from schools all over the state and the country were present to compete.

Professor Nelson Monteiro, GB Compnet’s director, along with Professor Rafael Ramos, defined the event that is much more than a championship for the Gracie Barra community.

“It’s a get-together. A bunch of friends gathered,” said Professor Monteiro.

Since 8 a.m., kids, teens and adults stepped on the six mats and gave their best.

Again, to make sure everyone knew that this was much more than a championship, before every kids’ division started, one professor guided the kids in a group warm-up session. This is the same warm-up every GB student does at his or her class.

Professor Marcio Feitosa, fourth-degree black belt, arrived at the gymnasium around 8 a.m. and stayed until the end.

He also talked about the importance of the event: “It’s really a celebration. It’s much more than winning or losing. Here, we take care of each kid to provide the best atmosphere for him or her to feel a integral part of the Gracie Barra family.”

Many GB stars and professors were there, such as Romulo Barral, Otavio Sousa, Kayron Gracie, Philipe Della Monica, Ana Laura Cordeiro, Marco Joca and Orlando Sanchez.

The next GB Compnet event in California happens in October.

Here is a exclusive photo gallery of the Saturday:

[flickr set=72157632903372318]

GB Compnet Season Opener 2013 this Saturday, March 2

The Gracie Barra family has a unavoidable appointment this Saturday, March 2.

Fortunately, it is the kind of appointment you don’t want to miss anyway.

The Gracie Barra Competition Network Season Opener for 2013 is scheduled this Saturday at Northwood High School, in Irvine, Calif.

Students, instructors, professors, family and friends will gather to celebrate the school’s motto “Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone.”

It is also a great opportunity to put their skills to the test in a friendly enviroment filled with good values.

For more info, go to gbcompnet.com.

Watch the video bellow and get in the right mood to compete Saturday.

GB Compnet returns next March 2nd

Gracie Barra students from all ages and belt colors have an almost mandatory commitment next March 2nd.

It’s the Gracie Barra Competition Network 2013 Season Opener.

The event will be held at the Northwood High School, in Irvine, California.

The registration period is already open and the costs are:

Normal Registration:

Adults: $ (USD) 70 from January 4 to February 25

Child: $ (USD) 70 from January 4 to February 25

Late Registration: 

Adults: $ (USD) 80 from February 26 to February 28

Child: $ (USD) 80 from February 26 to February 28

The Compnet is a great opportunity for every student to test their skills and experience the philosophy of “Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone”, imagined by Master Carlos Gracie Jr.

Register now at gbcompnet.com

Here is a video with a special invitation from Professor Marcio Feitosa.

GB Compnet Nationals is underway

The Gracie Barra Compnet Nationals was a complete success this Saturday, at the Northwood Highschool, in Irvine.

The GB community gathered for a whole day of competition, but mainly of cammaraderie and sportmanship.

Kids, teens, young adults, adults, masters and seniors, men and women, gave their all on the mats and helped creating a wonderful atmosphere.

The bleachers were always full, with excited parents, family and friends.

After each and every match, both athletes had their arms raised by the referee, symbolizing that it was impossible to realy loose today, even when you were defeated.

All the kids got medals and they were almost the same, with only an inscription in the back stating the final ranking of the athlete.

The reason for all that was simple, as Professor Marcio Feitosa said: “It’s ground work. We are planting the seed of a great future for Gracie Barra and for Jiu-Jitsu irtself!”

That ground work came from everywhere, as schools from all over the USA took part in the event.

That also brought a great deal of diversity, as the mats had people that looked a lot different from each other but shared the same love for the gentlee art

As the day went by, the kids gave way to pre-teens, teens, young adults and adults.

The “pro division” awarded the purple and brown belt champions with $250 in the adult category.

Feitosa summed the feeling of the day in the end: “Thanks to all staff, instructors, competitors, friends and family who were in the GB Compnet Tournament today with a goal not to promote individuals, but to promote skill development, sportsmanship, team play and love of the sport. Together we are creating a challenging, engaging, and learning environment where we learn from each other and lift each others up. There was no losing in that venue today. You either won or you learned.”

Get the complete result at gbcompnet.com.

Here is a exclusive photo gallery of this Saturday’s thrills.

[flickr set=72157631812860473]

GB Compnet Nationals this Saturday

The Gracie Barra Compnet Nationals takes place this Saturday, october 20th.

Over 600 students will take over the Northwood High School, In Irvine, California.

Much more than a tournament, the GB Compnet Nationals is a huge celebration of the ideals of the GB Team.

Under the motto “Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone”, the entire network will gather for this very special event.

Activities kick off at 8:30Am and go on until after 6:30PM.

It includes competition for students from the age of 4 up to the masters and seniors divisions.

For more info, go to gbcompnet.com.