Aposentado oficialmente das competições de Jiu-Jitsu em maio deste ano, Rafael Mendes revê a carreira como lutador e explica os motivos para “pendurar o kimono” no auge, como hexacampeão mundial

O Jiu-Jitsu como cartão de visitas

Inspire-se nas aventuras do professor Luiz Dias, nosso GMI no Rio de Janeiro que, sem nenhum contato ou recomendação, tampouco fluência em línguas estrangeiras, conseguiu desbravar a Europa fazendo seminários de Jiu-Jitsu

Montada sem mistérios

Aprenda de uma vez por todas a jamais temer a posição que consagrou diversos lutadores legendários do Jiu-Jitsu

As preferidas do Carlson

Numa homenagem póstuma ao saudoso faixa-vermelha, relembramos a herança técnica do “bulldog”, tanto em seus aspectos conceituais como práticos

A invicta

O gigante gentil

Em tempos nos quais ser arrogante virou pré-requisito para ganhar o estrelato, é um alento ter Stipe Miocic como o campeão dominante dos pesos pesados

Tyron Woodley: um problema logístico para Demian Maia

Atual campeão da categoria é o wrestler mais condecorado, pragmático e perigoso que o paulistano terá enfrentado nos últimos tempos

Rafael Mendes’ preparation for the 2016 World Jiu-Jitsu championship includes random appearances at selected events to test his skills and fitness level.

On April 24, he competed at the San Antonio Open, in Texas.

Click play to watch a beautiful transition from the back to an armbar in the featherweight final against Gabriel Oliveira.

Today, May 2, we are 30 days away from the 2016 Worlds.

The final deadline to register is May 24.

Click here to register now.

The man on the cover of GM #227 is back to teach another awesome technique.

Here you have a solution for when your opponent blocks your berimbolo spin to the back.

With a few simple steps, you can set up a crafty arm bar attack.

Watch and add it to your game.

The man on the cover of GRACIEMAG #227 is here to teach an attack that always catch the opponent by surprise.

In this video shot in 2010, Rafael Mendes shows how to set up the flying triangle.

He explains in Portuguese: “As the match begins, make a grip on the opponent’s lapel and another one on his elbow. On the same side of the grip to the elbow, put your foot on the opponent’s hip and fake a jump to pull guard. As the opponent’s bends his knees to prepare for the jump, pass your other leg over his shoulder and lock the triangle. Then, push the arm to the other side and pull the head down for the tap.”

Rafael Mendes is one of the finest examples of how high you can get in life, on and off the mat, when you apply focus, discipline and hard work to your natural talent. The only five-time featherweight world champion as a black belt shares his views on the ideal mindset for a successful career and a fruitful life. Other than that, you will also learn all the secrets of one of Rafa’s favorite techniques, the leg drag. We also have Demian Maia, the return of MMA to Japan, 10 years without Carlson Gracie, 10 reasons why you should stick to training and much more. Subscribe now or secure your copy!

Four times world champion Guilherme Mendes teaches a great way to pass the lasso guard.

In his very detailed explanation, you’ll be able to retain all key points to the position and add this pass to your top game.

In the sixth video of the HOW-TO Series, we went back to 2013 and extracted one of the positions the Mendes Bros taught at an online seminar for GRACIEMAG.

Pay close attention to Rafael Mendes and add this crafty way to get to the opponent’s back.

As part of a charity opportunity, Rafael Mendes has opted to sell the competition gi he wore when he recently competed and won his superfights in Chechnya.

The proceeds for the gi will go towards Kristen Gustavson, who was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer.

The gi is a white Shoyoroll Comp Standard that has patches for Art of Jiu Jitsu Academy, Atos Jiu Jitsu, RVCA / Barry McGee & Bull Terrier Fight Gear.

You can also donate directly to Kristen here: https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/hbm7/-kristensjourney?utm_source=giveforward&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=dashboard&shareid=3048862

Bid here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261794621914

Kids training at AOJ. Photo: Nick the Tooth

The kids from GMA Art of Jiu-Jitsu in Costa Mesa, CA are heading to the Long Beach Walter Pyramid this weekend with an army of 95 to compete in the 2015 IBJJF Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Led by Rafael and Guilherme Mendes, they are the largest team on the athlete list by far.

Set in their white haven, the kids train in classes that run nearly all times of the day. All different ages and belt levels train to prepare themselves for the competition ahead.

Check out Nick the Tooth and new book at www.nickgullo.com

The Mendes brothers are excited for their kids to take on the challenges at the Pan: “The kids are training really hard and we believe that we will have a good performance. It’s been three years since we opened AOJ and some of these kids have been training with us since the beginning. They are like little Mendes brothers! Can’t wait to watch them perform on Sunday!”

Check out a quick photo album by Nick the Tooth that captures their dedicated students:

Learn more at www.artofjiujitsu.com

Gui and Rafa preparing for Rafa’s superfight. Photo: Nick the Tooth

The Mendes brothers, Rafael and Guilherme, indulged in some more world traveling over the weekend. This time, they visited Grozny, Chechnya for an opportunity to face an opponent each, in two separate superfights in both gi and no-gi.

Rafa faced Osvaldo “Queixinho” and submitted him from the back on both days, in both fights. Gui faced a local black belt named Arbi Muradov. Gui submitted him with a baseball choke in the gi and with a toe hold in the no-gi portion.

Their response to the event and their victories:

“It was an amazing experience–first time in Russia and first time fighting under these rules. We were able to get the submission on both days in less than ten minutes and we were able to use the techniques that we have been working on. We want to thank Berkut Jiu-Jitsu and the local fans for all the amazing support and love, and special thanks to our students for sending positive messages and preparing us to face this challenge!

Now it’s time to go back to the academy and train the kids to win another Pan Kids title! OSS”

Keep an eye on the Mendes bros and their travels in the future at www.artofjiujitsu.com

Watch the videos bellow:

Gui Mendes vs Arbi Muradov – (video queued to 7hrs 15 mins)

Rafa Mendes vs Quexinho – (video queued to 7hrs 46 mins)

Gui Mendes vs Arbi Muradov – (video queued to 9hrs 51mins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlCpStTUDFw#t=35460

Rafa Mendes vs Quexinho – (video queued to 10hrs 27mins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlCpStTUDFw#t=37645

The Art of Jiu-Jitsu student base. Photo: Owen Francis Photography

Guilherme and Rafael Mendes had a great year by many standards. They both won their fourth world championship title, were entered into the IBJJF Hall of Fame, facilitated multiple championship wins by their adult and kids students, celebrated two years since GMA Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy opened,  traveled the world to teach and compete and much more.

GRACIEMAG spoke with the duo in an end-of-year closing interview to speak about their accomplishments and goals still set.

Check it out:

GRACIEMAG: With 2014 coming to a close, can you say you accomplished all your goals?

MENDES BROS: Yes, and it’s way beyond winning the World Championship. I believe that our lives have improved a lot and it’s our main achievement, being able to support people that are with us every day, our family and students, doing what good people were doing to us when we started, supporting.

AOJ team at 2014 Kids Worlds. Photo: Owen Francis Photography

What achievements were made by the kids team at AOJ this year? What major milestones can go into the yearbook?

It’s definitely a result of team work, we can not talk about the kids program without giving credits to all our AOJ coaches. We feel blessed to have so many good people with us. The kids are amazing; in 14 years of training Jiu-Jitsu I never saw anything like it. Some academies have one, two, maybe three kids that always win tournaments. We have 60, 70 kids that always win tournaments. It’s because of the environment. Our kids are inspired by us and the coaches as we motivate them and we keep the classes fun. They love Jiu-Jitsu and the result could not be different.

Since winning the worlds for another year, both of you, can you describe what it feels like to keep winning the most prestigious title? When will you be satisfied or when will your competition results be enough?

Rafa after winning his fourth black belt world title. Photo: Ivan Trindade

It feels amazing of course, not like the first one but each one has a special taste. Being able to enter the Hall of Fame is something special, because our name will be in the history of the sport forever. Stopping competition is something hard, especially when you are as young as we are. We don’t have any special number to achieve now but we just can’t stop because we feel greater than ever.

What was the proudest moment this year as competitors? As teachers? As school owners?

As competitors it was winning Worlds, as professors we had great results with kids team winning Pan Kids, students winning Pans, Europeans & Worlds, just watching all the students improving competition after competition is something very motivational. People that could not win the first match before are becoming great competitors, world champions, and it’s a result of dedication. There is nothing more special than seeing hard work pay off.

Congratulations to our students for the discipline and focus–true champions. As school owners? I don’t see us as “school owners” but as leaders of a team, because when we grow, everybody that is with us grows together. We don’t have the boss mentality, we have the leaders mentality. We walk together, always leading by example.

Now we are in Brazil visiting our family. We come every year and spend two weeks with them. It’s good to see everybody but we already miss our AOJ family. Hope everyone has a happy holiday with many dreams to achieve in 2015, that God gives everyone the health and courage to pursue each one of these dreams.

Follow the team at www.artofjiujitsu.com and follow the brothers on Instagram @MendesBros

Four-time world champion Guilherme Mendes guides you through the warm up drill and teaches a guard pass that has all the technical elements that made him and his brother Rafael household names in the competition scene.

Join the class and add this technique to your game.