Keiko Stars: Keenan Cornelius’ phenomenal mark on Jiu-Jitsu history

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 18:48:05 +0000

Keenan Cornelius

Keenan Cornelius is a known name and inspiration for the upcoming generation of Jiu-Jitsu competitors. His accomplishments have been unmatched by anyone so far at his ranks in purple and brown belt, leading to his phenomenon reputation. Now only 21-years-old he is considered among the best in the world but it took him seven years to get to where he is today. The motivation to begin training Jiu-Jitsu stemmed from his desire to look cool at school and the gateway opened by his step-father, the first instructor for UFC fighter BJ Penn.

In 2012, Keenan Cornelius began a raid on the competition mats of Lisbon, Portugal’s European Championship. Despite many attempts at previous championships local and prestigious, he always fell short of the podium. Fueled by the refusal to lose, Keenan competed that day in the purple belt division determined to give his all so that even if his hand wasn’t raised, he would at least tire his opponent enough to prevent him from moving forward. He went on to defeat all ten opponents and earned the first of what would be many double golds in his weight and absolute.

Throughout the year he gained more and more gold medals and increasingly more submission finishes. At the 2012 World Championship he won both weight and absolute once more giving him the lone title of “double grand slam champion” after winning double gold at all four major IBJJF tournaments (Europeans, Pan Ams, Brazilian Nationals, Worlds). After receiving his brown belt he went on to win in international competitions, submission-only superfights, the IBJJF championships and was even invited to the Copa Podio Heavyweight Grand Prix despite being the only brown belt and the lightest athlete in his group among the top black belts in the world.

Today he trains under Andre Galvao at the Atos academy in San Diego, CA with the ADCC on his mind. He is currently training for the -88kg division with fellow teammates Rafael Mendes, JT Torres as well as Galvao.

The post Keiko Stars: Keenan Cornelius’ phenomenal mark on Jiu-Jitsu history first appeared on Graciemag.

Keiko Stars: Otavio Sousa, the teacher who leads by example

Thu, 29 Aug 2013 23:06:16 +0000

Otávio Sousa celebrates his second world title

Gracie Barra’s black belt star athlete, Otavio Sousa spends as much time teaching as he does training and competing. The first degree black belt’s dependable qualities afford him a solid base not only against sweeps but as a full-time instructor at the Gracie Barra Headquarters in Irvine, CA. But his personal qualities also extend to the competition mats. As a 26-year-old he has earned world titles at every belt level which total to five with the last two earned in the black belt division. This past June he accomplished a repeat performance by winning the middleweight division at the IBJJF World Championship just as he had in 2012.

When he’s not focusing solely on his own training and preparations with fellow Gracie Barra competitors, he teaches classes and is often the last one out the door at night. Having found the gentle art at the age of thirteen, he was led by Ze Radiola at the Gracie Barra HQ in Recife, Brazil and has never strayed. By 2006 as a top brown belt competitor, he was offered a teaching position in England. He received his black belt in 2007 from Master Carlos Gracie, Jr. after he won the brown belt absolute division at the Worlds. Furthering his career, he moved to the United States a few years later to begin position as an instructor in Irvine. It was his time as an instructor in 2006, however, where he learned that teaching also allows you to grow. He has since found an overlap in training and teaching as they go hand-in-hand.

Since dedicating himself to his students, he has continued to accomplish multiple titles on the most prestigious level. The game he is most known for is the omoplata submission and guard retention that makes him one of the most feared in the middleweight division. Today he focuses on teaching and constantly pushing his students as he does with his own competitive goals. Set for ADCC in October, he is currently training to compete in the -77kg division and will apply his disciplined approach for the pursuit of gold in Beijing.

Watch a cool Otavio Sousa Highlights video.

The post Keiko Stars: Otavio Sousa, the teacher who leads by example first appeared on Graciemag.

Labor Day | Graciemag

Keiko Stars: Keenan Cornelius’ phenomenal mark on Jiu-Jitsu history

Keiko Stars: Otavio Sousa, the teacher who leads by example