City of Geneva. Photo: publcity

Our GMA in Switzerland Anderson Pereira is getting ready for the sixth Swiss International Jiu-Jitsu Cup event. The event, to be held in Geneva, is the country’s biggest competition and already has a tradition behind it in Europe.

The tourney will take place November 20 and 21 and will include the participation of athletes from Italy, France, England, Belgium, Spain, Morocco, Germany, and of course, Switzerland.

For further information, visit www.swisscupbjj.com.

Rafael and Guilherme in Panama. Photo: Personal archives

Together or apart, Rafael and Guilherme Mendes have been around the world, whether in Panama, Morocco or the United States. On their trip, besides teaching the techniques that brought them to the status of world champions, they found time to visit child cancer patients, Sheikh Tanhoon, and do a bit of tourism. Now the duo is already onto its next commitment, but in competition. Rafa en Guilherme are getting ready for the November 20 Rickson Cup in Kawasaki, Japan.

“We’re already in Brazil training hard because we’re pretty much sure to compete at the end of the month in Japan. We spent a week outside Brazil and now we’re back and will continue our physical conditioning word, which is geared towards this competition. We trained a lot this week with Claudio Calasans, Bruno Frazatto, Eduardo Ramos, Gigante and some of the Atos black belts. We’re confident as always and we’re going out there to win!” warns Guilherme.

“Our trip was great! We went to Panama, where we had a great seminar. The gang loved it and, thank God, we’re coming up with great results with our seminars. I feel we’ve put together a class curriculum for teaching position that’s different from the rest and has been a success,” remarks Rafael.

But that’s not all that went on during the trip.

“After Panama, Guilherme went on to Florida to teach at some of the academies there and visit Disney World, and I went on to Morocco to train with Sheikh Tahnoon. That was great too! Guilherme enjoyed the training he did at some of Renato Tavares’s ATT branches. He was able to teach our positions and even visit Disney. And I had the honor of training with the Sheikh again. I’m really happy about having his recognition. It’s great. Tahnoon is someone really interested in our sport and is very intelligent; he’s always up to date and knows new positions. It was a great pleasure once again!”

In Panama, the Mendes’s didn’t just limit themselves to seminars and training. They took the chance to visit and provide support for child cancer patients.

It was a great experience. We visited Amigos, a foundation for child cancer patients and we were able to learn a lot from them. We learned about determination, will power and faith. They are great examples of overcoming adversity, since even with the illness, they don’t seem to be overwhelmed by it, they seem happy, smiling and playing, showing just how superficial our problems are! And we’re already setting up a return trip there in the summer, when they will camp out and have a bunch of activities we plan to participate in!” says Guilherme.

After Rickson Cup, the brothers will continue on their trip. Jiu-Jitsu can’t stop!

“We created a teaching method whereby our seminars are productive from white belt to black belt, not just with positions, but also in terms of concepts and variations. Folks are liking it and, just this year, we visited countries like Ireland, USA, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Canada, Panama, and Turkey… In December we’ll return to Canada, to Pura BJJ academy. We’ll also go to Hawaii, to Gracie Kailua. When we return, we’ll continue training and we’ll concentrate entirely on the European Championship, says Rafael in closing.

Pimpolho in Morocco

Special invitee of Carlson Gracie black belt Anselmo Montenegro, Luiz Fernando “Pimpolho” packed his bags and split for Morocco. His mission: to spread Jiu-Jitsu in the African nation.

“I’ve been here for three months and I’ve learned a lot about Arab culture. I’ve been studying a lot of Arabic and French, the languages spoken around these parts,” recounts the Nova União black belt living in the capital Rabat.

“I only teach the royal guard, but I’ve also found time to lecture to others. I teach ground fighting to the judo guys; there are six or seven black belts who are wholly devoted to judo and others who work and study like the majority in Brazil does. Everyone here’s a true fan of Flavio Canto; he’s an icon even here in Morocco,” he says.

Pimpolho with his students

Pimpolho says Moroccans have a knack for Jiu-Jitsu, it’s a good place to live, but that one must get used to the cultural differences.

“They are very centered around Islam. You can’t avoid hearing the call to prayers. It’s a very rigid and disciplined culture, both where religion and security is concerned. There are cameras everywhere around here and the guards on the street don’t carry weapons, just the royal guards. Alcohol is only permitted in closed areas (bars and homes). If you get caught on the street with drinks, it’s ten years in the slammer. But they love Brazilians and soccer!” he says in finishing.

“This Saturday the Coupe de France took place in Grasse, France. It’s a Jiu-Jitsu championship for kids in teenagers that counted around 150 participants. The girls from Anderson Pereira academy, who won the 2009 Swiss Cup, repeated the achievement,” Anderson recounts.

Professor Adil Makroum's girls. Photo: Publicity

“Four of Adil Makroum’s little students achieved excellent results. Sofia and Narcisse, for example, won gold. Chadine got silver, but truth be told she closed out the category with Narcisse. And Imane, 10, competed against the older girls and took third place after winning two matches,” he says.

“The most interesting part is that, with the excellent results, the minister of Morocco will receive the champions in the capital, Rabat, to congratulate them for their hard work. We’re also starting to work alongside the head of judo in Morocco, Adil Belgaid, who will try to periodically organize internships with me. This way we’ll further develop the project in the country,” says Pereira in closing.
For further information visit www.andersonpereirajjb.blogspot.com .

The newly-promoted group. Photos sent in by Anderson Pereira.

“On the 6^th, we held at BTT Bienne a big black belt exam in the morning. In the afternoon, we held a training session with all the affiliate academies. The Swiss academies from the cities of Geneva, Bienne, Cologny were there. From France, academies from Margencel, St. Genis, Annecy marked their presence. Even Morocco had representation, in our branch in Casablanca,” said Anderson.

The latest Jiu-Jitsu black belts in Europe, with Anderson in the middle.

“The event was held at the branch of instructors Marcelo and Paulão, who received with open arms the 50 athletes. 14 practitioners were given new belts: seven blues, three purples, two browns and two new black belts, Elie and Francisco,” he remarked.

Kudos to Morocco’s Adil Makroum, who traveled from Casablanca for a week of intensive training and in the end got a blue belt from Anderson’s hands to boot.

For greater information, visit www.bttandersonpereira.blogspot.com .

Moroccan blue belt Adil Makroum. Is your academy involved in interesting projects around the world? Be a part of the GMA and tell your story!

“The school is run by my student Adil Makroum under my direct supervision,” says Anderson.

Anderson Pereira

The hard work is already showing results, as Pereira tells us:

“Last November a 11 year old girl from Morocco, Sofia Essakhi, competed at the Swiss Cup and won. Four other kids competed as well,” celebrated Anderson.

The school in Casablanca has over 30 students and a defined plan to grow. To know more, go to bttandersonpereira.blogspot.com