Caio Terra in the no-gi absolute. Photo: Hoong Giang

Caio Terra, a roosterweight, has made his way back into the competition circuit. The black belt world champion has been out of the tournament scene due to complications with his health. While not completely healed or healthy, he couldn’t help the itch to compete and entered the 2014 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open on Aug. 9-10.

On Sunday, he entered the no-gi absolute and was able to defeat two opponents for the gold including an ultra-heavyweight in the final. The division held two fight for him which he won both by points. The first was won by 6-2 and the final was 11-4 in his favor.

Caio admitted he was exhausted but managed to push through the matches to do what he loves.

Check out the final match here:

Milton Bastos. Photo: Erin Herle

One of the biggest tech companies in the world has taken in the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle. While the community of Jiu-Jitsu is comprised of many, many different types of people, the fact that Google has brought in an instructor for Jiu-Jitsu classes on site is something new.

Milton Bastos, a black belt training at GMA Institute of Martial Arts in San Jose, CA has become the Google Jiu-Jitsu professor. Here’s his story of how it came about:

“It’s a funny story because I had read a Facebook post asking who was available to work during lunch time, and I wasn’t doing anything at this time and it was close to my house, so I said I could do it. I sent a curriculum but I didn’t know to whom I was applying to teach. I just knew it was in a company. I have classes at T-mobile too so I thought it was inside a small office as well. Later on when they called me to go there to teach the classes they told me it was for Google… and when I got there to teach I actually found an old student from when I used to live down South and there were guys from Caio’s place too.

I teach inside of the main campus in Mountain View. They have a specific building with an academy inside and they have a lot of equipment for fitness and health. It’s a really amazing facility. The class is open to anyone from Google so I have engineers, designers, lawyers, chefs, all kinds of people and have a lot of girls, too, because it was advertised as self-defense and Jiu-Jitsu.

I kinda run two classes at the same time because the difference between the levels are huge. We have black belts, brown belts, and a lot new people in to try and learn what Jiu-Jitsu is. Plus, there are people who come in to try the self-defense as well.

It’s really different from the work at the academy because the guys over there do the classes really to relax and try to take the focus away from work; especially when they have some problems and can’t find a solution, so they don’t go there to compete. They go more to have fun, and those who know me, know my classes are fun. I’m never serious.”

Learn more about Milton Bastos and the trainings at Institute of Martial Arts at www.bjjsanjose.com

On July 26, kids instructor Milton Bastos of Institute of Martial Arts will be leading a kids camp.

Located at 855 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95126, the camp will focus on techniques for kids aged 5 and up. All teams and affiliations are welcome.

It will run from 2 – 5 p.m. and the cost is $50 per kid.

To reserve your spot please visit www.miltonbastosbjj.com and for more information call 805-766-1370

To learn more about GMA Institute of Martial Arts visit www.bjjsanjose.com

What he thought was an outlet to learn self-defense became so much more and over the years infused his life with lessons on how to be a better person, friend, father.

Check out All Things BJJ’s new video from Caio Terra’s GMA academy, Institute of Martial Arts in San Jose, CA:

For Manuel Diaz, the brown belt competitor at Institute of Martial Arts, he received his black belt in a silly way as well. In this video, even without sound you can see that Caio is teaching about the various belt levels using his students to demonstrate. As he comes to Samir, he takes Samir’s belt and hands it over to Manny.

See what Caio has to say about the promotion and watch the video below:

“Today was a very special day for my school, and our association. In the three years we have been open, Manny is the first black belt to be promoted at the Institute of Martial Arts in San Jose. It’s a great honor to call him my student and an even greater honor to call him my friend.

Manny works harder than most people to provide for his family and still finds time to train. Jiu Jitsu, is truly a part of his life.

At the end of class I told the students we were filming a video on belt ranks and asked if they could stay. When it came to Samir I told him, “Samir, you don’t even have your belt on, maybe some one else should wear it” and awarded Manny his black belt (sorry no sound).

No matter where life takes you, please remember this day. Not because you got a new belt, but because I want you to always know that no matter what, your family, your teacher and your team/friends all love you.

Today you woke up as a brown belt, but go to sleep as a black belt. You were awarded your black belt not because you won any tournament or can tap out so many people but because of who you are as a person. Congrats Manny, this is just the beginning!”

While he rolls, you can hear Caio’s own commentary on the roll as he breaks down every move he makes in counter to his student AJ’s moves.

This most recent video is available to see on his training site, www.caioterra.com so check it out and go to the website if you enjoy what you see:

As part of a new Jiu-Jitsu training camp in Europe, GMA member Caio Terra of Institute of Martial Arts and three other black belts have joined forces.

From July 11 to 21 you can train with Caio Terra, Yuri Simoes, Kit Dale and Ary Farias in Belek, Turkey which is located in the Antalya province. Accommodations will be held at Spice Hotel & Spa for everyone at the camp.

Members of the camp program will train in both gi and no-gi during two sessions per day. As part of the package price, food and beverages will be included as well as the rooms which hold two guests. The airfare is sold separately.

There is a price for BJJ practitioners and guests who are coming along as non-practitioners so both Jiu-Jitsu and tourism can be found on this vacation.

If you are interested in this exclusive, luxury training camp then book now as spaces are limited and running out.

Find out more information at http://bjj.spice.com.tr/

Samir Chantre is another black belt ready for the 2014 World Championship. Going for the featherweight gold medal this weekend, Samir is a Caio Terra Association black belt who has much competition experience.

Graciemag spoke with the black belt on his training, Caio Terra’s status and the submission-only formats for tournaments:

GRACIEMAG: How is your training going for this years worlds? Are you doing anything different this year to prepare than in previous years?

SAMIR CHANTRE: Training has been amazing. It’s been a very busy season for me with a lot of tournaments lined up so I’ve been training a lot non stop. For Worlds, like we always do prior to the major tournaments, we are having our camp at the Institute of Martial Arts with a lot of good guys to train and led by Caio.
One thing I’m doing different is conditioning training that I never did before. Alan Moraes, my first instructor back in Brazil, is the one that is taking care of my conditioning training, sending me my training all the way from Brazil. It has been amazing and I’m feeling great and most importantly, I’m injure-free even with all this hard training.

You recently fought in Metamoris. How was that experience and do you prefer that style of matches vs IBJJF?

It was a really good experience. I felt a lot of pressure and to be honest that was my biggest challenge on that night. Afterwards I felt I could have done much better… It wasn’t myself up there..
Comparing both styles, Metamoris and IBJJF, I like submission-only a lot but we can’t have tournaments for everyone in this style. Imagine a 3000-competitor tournament with sub-only? So I think one compliments the other.

A lot of people are talking about Caio as he did not defend his Pan title and isn’t defending his Worlds title this year. How is his health and do you think he will compete again?

I’m sure he will compete again and that’s what I pray for! But I think right now is not the best time. We spoke a lot last week because he was struggling himself to train so he could fight, but he is not well… A couple of days he had to stop training because he was feeling really bad, the other day he couldn’t even finish teaching a class..
Right now is time for him to recover, start thinking about his future. Better to see him out this year but healthier and stronger for the next season.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I want to thank my sponsor CTRL Industries for all the support for all these years. Also I would like to say that CTA will go very strong for this year’s Worlds. Caio may be out from fighting but he will be there to coach us and we will do our best to make him win as a coach instead! He deserves it! We will be fighting not only for ourselves but for him too!

UPDATE: A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SEMINAR ON SUNDAY WILL GO TOWARDS RYAN MINOR WHO IS RECOVERING FROM BRAIN SURGERY.

Between April 24-27 both Caio Terra and Yuri Simoes of GMA Institute of Martial Arts will be in Oregon state for a four-day training camp at three different locations. Both black belts are active competitors and champions and since they are one both sides of the spectrum, light and heavy, their knowledge covers all bases.

On Thursday and Friday, April 24 and 25, the duo will be teaching at CTA Hillsboro. On Saturday, April 26 they will teach a seminar at Ben Baxter’s Performance Martial Arts Academy in Eugene. On Sunday, April 27, they will teach another seminar at a Caio Terra Association affiliate PDX Jiu-Jitsu in Portland.

Here are the addresses of the academies:

CTA Hillsboro: 1414 Southeast 18th Avenue # 100 Hillsboro, OR 97123
PDX Jiu-Jitsu: 2335 NW 23rd Place Portland, OR 97210
Performance Martial Arts Academy: 869 Shelley St, Springfield, OR 97477

The cost for all four days of the camp is $150.
For just the two days on April 24-25 at CTA Hillsboro the cost is $80.
For three days in Portland at CTA Hillsboro and PDX Jiu-Jitsu the cost is $125.
The cost for just the seminar alone at either PDX Jiu-Jitsu or at Performance Martial Arts Academy is $75.

You can help support the recovery of a fellow Jiu-Jitsu community member, Ryan Minor, who is currently recovering from brain surgery due to a tumor.

More information can be found at www.caioterra.com

Caio at the 2013 Pans. Photo: Ivan Trindade

When the registration period for the 2014 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship winded down, we saw many black belts commit their names to the brackets. One in particular was Caio Terra, a multiple-time world champion at roosterweight who signed up for the ultra-heavyweight division. While he’s not a stranger to open weight divisions, the larger tournaments have never seen his name there.

The brackets were set and while we anticipated hearing the reason Caio entered a division of men who weigh well over 220 pounds with only 130 pounds to his name, he dropped out of the competition. Due to health reasons that are still unknown, Caio must rest rather than compete or train — a tough thing to do for a Jiu-Jitsu world champion.

Here’s what Caio had to say about his initial intentions and goals and how illness changed his plans:

GRACIEMAG: Why did you sign up for ultra-heavyweight division when you’re normally a roosterweight?

CAIO TERRA: I entered the ultra-heavy because I wanted to show the world that my Jiu-Jitsu works for everyone. I would have done the open but I am not sure my body could handle the 5+ matches and then the next day fight another 3-4 in my weight class. I believe in pushing myself and my limits, one step at a time.

Why are you dropping out of the championship?

I was having an amazing camp and was feeling the best I’ve felt in years. Last Thursday I had a very bad headache. A few people at camp got a little sick so I rested a day thinking I had the same thing. The next day my headache was so bad I couldn’t walk. I typically never go to the doctor but was very worried. The doctor gave me a shot because they thought it was sinus related. I slept almost 20 hours and when I woke up felt rested but still had a very bad headache.

I went back to the doctor and they suggested I do some tests and rest. I asked that if I felt I was up to it if I could try and train. They said absolutely not. I then joked, “So competition is out of the question?” and was told very seriously that I shouldn’t joke about this.

As of now I don’t know what’s wrong. I do feel a little better but my vision still goes in and out. One of my students in Oregon had similar things and it turned out to be a tumor. This really put life in perspective. One minute I’m thinking about brackets and next I am praying I am healthy.

How will you dedicate your time instead?

Getting healthy. I might go down to coach, even though I need to rest a lot I want to be there for my team. They have always supported me and I’m very thankful.

Stay tuned for more information about Caio as well as the Pans this weekend.

The 120 females of the 2nd Bay Area Inspire All-Female Open Mat. Photo: Erin Herle

On Saturday, March 1 the 2nd Inspire Bay Area All-Female Open Mat brought an outstanding number of females together. The leader of such a powerful movement is brown belt Kristina Barlaan of GMA Institute of Martial Arts.

Since returning to her hometown in the Bay Area, she has strengthened the community in a saturated area of women in Jiu-Jitsu with two open mat events so far. The first Inspire was held in September and the capacity was reached at 100. The second event, less than six months later, brought regulars and new faces alike to a cap of 120 participants.

One of the drills had each person jump guard on their partner. Photo: Erin Herle

The Inspire open mats work as a catalyst for females to gain new grounds both as a community and individuals. The hours spent together create lasting bonds and a network for advice, experience and news. Structure for the events include an inspiring speech from Kristina, who teaches, competes and lends a helping hand wherever, a warm-up, techniques to practice, a raffle of many prizes and time to roll with one another.

Women traveled from all ends of Northern California as well as Southern California and Texas. The youngest participant was 13 and the oldest was 68 and 62 academies were represented.

A sneaky choke set-up was taught by Kristina Barlaan with the help of black belt Stephanie Moon. Photo: Erin Herle

To start, each participant was encouraged to pair up with someone they don’t know and the higher ranks sought out the lesser experienced. Kristina situated the group with drills: jumping guard, toreando to knee-on-belly, kimura set-ups, and an ab workout that resembles a synchronized swimming routine. For technique, Kristina showed various ways to set up a choke from closed guard with the help of local black belt Stephanie Moon.

The raffle had prizes from various companies looking to support females in the Jiu-Jitsu community. Photo: Erin Herle

The raffle offered prizes from gis to DVDs to journals to clothing and supplements. Multiple companies and brands gave support to the event and patches were given to all. Black belt Lana Stefanac took over the duties of name drawing and stuck around for the girls to pick her brain during the time set for rolling. The open mat set rounds for all the belts to train with one another and the training lasted for well over an hour.

By the end of the day new friendships were established and the community of females expanded its network.

You can check out photos of the event in a full gallery here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/graciemag/sets/72157642175025124/

Catch the next event by following Inspire on facebook: www.facebook.com/InspireBJJ

The IMA instructors/ locals Caio Terra, Osvaldo Queixinho, Milton Bastos and Samir Chantre have created an atmosphere of high-level skill and talent. That was until Kit Dale arrived from Australia. The bearded brother from CheckMat appeared on the scene and has since perplexed the existing crowd with what can only be described with this picture:

This crowd will be heading down to the southern region of the state for the Pan Championship at the Brenn Event Center. To follow their camp and more madness that ensues, follow the Institute of Martial Arts facebook page: www.facebook.com/InstituteofMartialArtsCTA

Clark Gracie also showed some techniques of his at the camp but his were more adaptable to every-day life:

From Caio Terra’s facebook: “Learning from the master!! I thought I knew style but now my hair is perfect. Thanks Clark, Technique Conquers All.. Good morning America hair I come!”

Learn more about IMA at www.bjjsanjose.com and more information about the 2014 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship at www.ibjjf.org