Professor Ricardo Guimarães, leader of Gracie Temecula, is batling stomach cancer, recently diagnosed.

He just had surgery and the chemotherapy is about to begin.

The Jiu-Jitsu community is gathered around Ricardo.

Jiu-Jitsu Solidarity

In another action to help him with the costs of treatment, a seminar will be taught next March 17th.

Black belt Charlie Kohler will be teaching the class.

The cost is $35 for the seminar ans $55 for the class and a t-shirt.

All the proceeds will go to Professor Ricardo.

To know more and to enroll, call 951-970-2043 or email ricardo@jiujitsuacademy.com

For more info on Ricardo and his Team, go to jiujitsuacademy.com

GMA member school Gracie Temecula South will host a very special seminar nex January 14th.

Black belts Regis Lebre and João “Johnny” Faria will be teaching a one of a kind class.

All the proceeds will go to GMA member black belt Ricardo Guimarães and his family.

Ricardo is going through medical treatment for a stomach cancer diagnosed recently.

The cost of the seminar is $50.00, but participants are encouraged to contribute with more if they can.

The class is open to students of all schools.

For more info, go to gracietemeculasouth.com

Lance and Dave. Photo: LAFD

Exactly one month ago, GRACIEMAG.com posted a story about a Gracie Temecula brown belt that was going to donate a kidney to a co-worker.

Lance Dempsey, 43, is a Bay Watch captain in Two Harbors, California, and he decided to take action to save the life of Harbor Patrolman Dave Coiner, who suffers from Polycistic Kydney Disease, a genetic disorder that destroys the organs with multiple cysts.

The transplantation was a success and Lance is already home.

He talked to GRACIEMAG.com about how things went: ” I am doing great! I was up and walking the day after the surgery and came home on the 2nd day. At two weeks I started swimming and running again.”

He can’t wait to be back on the mats, with his professor Ricardo Guimarães: “I hopefully will start some light rolling in 4 more weeks.”

He also updates us on how Dave is doing: “Dave is recovering fast as well, the kidney took right away and he had his stent removed yesterday.”

Here is a report about the case posted on the Los Angeles County Fire Department website.

For more info on Gracie Temecula, go to jiujitsuacademy.com

Cornier, Dempsey. Photo: LAist.com

Lance Dempsey, 43, is a Bay Watch captain in Two Harbors, California.

He is also a brown belt at GMA school Gracie Temecula, under second-degree black belt Ricardo Guimarães.

And Dempsey has added a new adjective to his name: hero.

He decided to donate a kidney to his co-worker, patrolman Dave Cornier, giving him the chance of a new life.

Cornier suffers from polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder where cysts prevent the kidneys from functioning properly.

Cornier still can’t believe the gift he is receiving:“It is astonishing to me that anybody would be willing to give me this kind of a gift. I was also surprised anytime anyone said they wanted to get tested. I hardly know how to describe it, but for somebody to be willing to go through something like this is such an incredible gift. The compassion and the generosity are off the scale, beyond expectations,” he said to LAist website, who first broke the story.

With our prayers that everything goes well in the transplant procedure, GRACIEMAG.com salutes Dempsey for his generosity.

To find out more, go to jiujitsuacademy.com

GMA member Ricardo Guimarães announces a very special seminar next August 13th.

No other than BJJ and MMA legend Rickson Gracie will be at Gracie Temecula South for a seminar.

Registrations are already open and space is limited.

Gracie Humaita students have the priority.

As you can imagine, you have to hurry to guarantee your spot.

The cost is US$ 150 for early registrations and US$ 200 for registrations at the door.

For more info, call 858-505-9917 or 951-795-8854 or visit gracietemeculasouth.com