Henrique e Darragh after the graduation. Photo: Reproduction

Jiu-Jitsu ace in Ireland, the country’s representative in several elite tournaments, Darragh O’Conaill has plenty of reasons to celebrate. Under the tutelage of Brazilian Henrique Saraiva, the Irishman received the second degree at his black belt, cementing his reputation as one of the main competitors in the land of Conor McGregor.

GRACIEMAG today recalls one of the most important duels in O’Conaill’s career, the middleweight final at the IBJJF 2018 No-Gi European Championship. Check out the pressure of the master with adult intensity in the video below. Oss!

Reginaldo and Daniel

GMA member and leader of GB Cool Springs, in Tennessee, Reginaldo Almeida has a very special accomplishment to celebrate in 2015.

He recently graduated his fit black belt student to complete the entire belt ranking under his instruction.

Daniel Mehrkar started training with Almeida as a white belt and is now a certified Gracie Barra black belt.

The graduation ceremony took place this December, in Tennessee.

Click here to know more about GB Cool Springs.

The Valente Brothers held a massive belt ceremony last Monday, Dec. 7.

With the special presences of Grandmaster Pedro Valente and Royce Gracie, Pedro, Guilherme and Joaquim welcomed more than 500 students for the awarding of new belts and ceremonies.

Among all the students that got new belts, two deserve a special mention.

Sisters, Hannah Basel and Regis Giles became the first females to pass the black belt test by GM Pedro Valente.

Hannah and Regis have been with the Valentes since the youth program.

For more info, go to valentebrothers.com.

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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

The 2015 brown belt open class world champion is now a black belt.

Mahamed Aly received the new ranking earlier this week from Lloyd Irvin, in a ceremony in Camp Springs, MD.

The Brazilian who’s been training and living in the USA for sometime now wrote about the achievement on his Facebook page.

“At my age, 21, most people are graduating from college and taking on the professions they chose. I am turning into a black belt. I had to study very hard at this “college” I chose. I was the best student in class and many times I couldn’t sleep before important tests. Many times i dreamed of the day of graduation. Now that I graduated, i want to study more. i want my Masters and my PHD. I want to give lectures in Harvard. I want that someday someone comes up to me and tell me he does what he does because he saw me do it first. This black belt came with a lot of sweat. All the suffering, the pain and the tears were worth it. Now I’m ready for more. I don;t need to rest because my energy is renewed. I’m a new man. I’m a black belt.”

Saulo and Xande Ribeiro

After 14 years, two-time black belt open class champion Xande Ribeiro was awarded the 4th degree to his black belt.

The ceremony took place last night at University of Jiu-Jitsu, in San Diego.

Saulo Ribeiro was responsible for awarding Xande with the 4th degree.

Xande wrote about it on his Facebook page: “That time has came, 14 years of black belt, exactly March of 2001 my journey has started, and how amazing this trip has been. Thank you everybody that have been part of this, my family, students and opponents and every single one of you that has shared the mats with me.”

GRACIEMAG celebrates the achievement and takes the opportunity to highlight some of Xande’s technique.

First, let’s learn his take on the choke from the back.

Now, watch as Xande gives a thorough explanation on the key points for side control.

Guy Ritchie and Renzo Gracie

Renzo Gracie promoted another one of his famous pupils.

Filmmaker Guy Ritchie, director of blockbusters such as Snatch andSherlock Holmes received the black belt this Monday, in New York.

He was in the city for the launch of his newest movie, “The man from U.N.C.L.E”.

Renzo told GRACIEMAG that Ritchie kept the belt on for the entire event.

Guy started training Jiu-Jitsu with Mauricio Gomes and Roger Gracie, in England.

Rilion Gracie is the newest addition to the roster of red and black belt masters of Jiu-Jitsu.

The 20th son of Carlos Gracie completed 31 years as a black belt and was awarded the 7th degree and the new color.

The ceremony on July 11 took place in the city of São Jose, in Santa Catarina, Brazil, and had the presence of hundreds of students from Rilion Gracie’s network of schools.

Rilion received the new belt from the hands of Grandmaster Reyson Gracie.

GRACIEMAG congratulates Master Rilion for reaching another important milestone in his Jiu-Jitsu journey.

Cesar Pereira’s seminar in PA

GMA member Cesar Pereira, leader of Cesar Pereira BJJ, was at Carlisle, PA, on July 3 for a seminar at Tiger Shark Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The school is owned black belt Marcelo Mattos, one of Pereira’s former students.

The seminar was a success with a full house that learned techniques such as takedowns, submissions, etc.

After the class, Marcelo held a promotion ceremony and he himself got the first degree to his black belt from Pereira’s hands.

Juan Pablo Garcia and Carlos Gracie Jr

GMA member Juan Pablo Garcia, of GB Chile and GB Santa Barbara, experienced a very special moment lasT Thursday, May 22.

He received the first degree to his black belt from the hands of GB founder, Carlos Gracie Jr.

JP talked about the achievement.

“This was a great honor and motivation to keep working to spread Jiu-Jitsu in South America and California where I have most of my students.”

For more info, go to graciebarrachile.com, gbsantabarbara.com.

Rodrigo Clark with Master Carlos Gracie Jr

GMA member Rodrigo Clark had a big surprise earlier this week.

After a training session at GB Mission Viejo, during the team’s training camp for the 2014 Worlds, Clark was awarded with his third degree to the black belt.

The honor came from the hands of the team founder and leader Carlos Gracie Jr.

Clark talked about the graduation: “I was honored to receive my 3rd degree from Master Carlos Gracie Jr. today, during the GB Worlds Training Camp. It’s been a pleasure to represent the Gracie Barra flag and to be part of this incredible BJJ family for so many years. Gracie Barra forever!”

Rodrigo Clark runs Gracie Barra Santa Barbara, in California.

For more info, go to gbsantabarbara.com

Group picture at GB Mission Viejo with Prof. Kayron Gracie

Kayron Gracie is son of Master Carlos Gracie Jr., the founder and leader of Gracie Barra. Last Saturday, the 25 year old Black Belt hosted the Gracie Barra Mission Viejo’s 1st Belt Promotion Ceremony in Orange County, CA, since he became the school’s head instructor in 2011.

Kayron has been away from the competitions since the 2013 Pan Ams because of a back injury on his Cervical Disc. The back injury has been bothering the 2012 Pam Ams Champion for a while now and getting in the way of his training. Kayron has been spending most of his time teaching at his school in Mission Viejo and treating his “war bruises”. The Gracie said he expects to recover completely until the end this month so he can compete at the IBJJF Pan Ams in March.

Besides the graduation ceremony on Feb 1st, where Prof. Kayron promoted 6 blue belts, 6 purple belts and one brown belt, the BJJ champion also taught a free Jiu-Jitsu seminar to celebrate his student’s promotions. Adults and kids attended to the event and got together on the mat to learn and have a good time. On his social media, Kayron posted a picture of his team and said “ Great weekend for our school, amazing belt promotion! I’m very proud to be able to teach this amazing group of people.”

Prof. Kayron promoting his student. Photo: Carol Gracie

GRACIEMAG asked the professor how he feels watching his student’s progress and he said: “ I know this is the 1st of many belt ceremonies here at Mission Viejo and to watch my students evolving and getting closer to their black belts is very satisfying. I’m proud to see them working hard and for being able to lead them in this wonderful journey that is Jiu-Jitsu.”

Kayron Gracie and coach Steven Berry with the kids