Prova de que o Clube Barra é um time voltado para o futuro. Mas será uma equipe tão recente assim? Sim e não.

Clube Barra é o novo time do nosso GMA Claudio França com seus faixas-pretas, mas a história da equipe já tem 20 anos.

A molecada do Clube Barra. Foto: Divulgação.

Ele conta: “A Barra da Tijuca era a grande capital do Jiu-Jisu nos anos 1990, e em 1991 criei com o Marcus Vinícius, professor hoje em Beverly Hills, a equipe Clube Barra, já que dávamos aula por ali, no condomínio Riviera, no Atlântico Sul e na academia Fisilabor, todas na vizinhança”, relembra o faixa-preta, que também organizava com Marcus Vinícius (e Joe Moreira no início) a Copa Atlântico Sul. “Até 1995 a equipe era uma das mais competitivas no cenário carioca”.

Ao chegar na Califa para tocar a vida em 1996, Claudio deixou o nome de lado, por não fazer sentido em Santa Cruz e para fortalecer seu nome como professor de Jiu-Jitsu. Hoje, com diversos faixas-pretas formados, Claudio quis um nome mais impessoal, que incluísse os demais professores.

Clube Barra, então, tornou-se o time de Claudio, Vince Vanderlipe e Daniel Thomas, representado ainda por faixas-pretas como Carlos Melo, Mike Weaver, Gary Casey e Tyson Kamp, além do marrom Nathan Mandelsohn, que começou na academia de França aos 7 anos de idade.

“Sentamos e pensamos, mas botar nome em equipe é mais difícil que botar nome em filho”, diz França, meio brincando, meio a sério. E assim o nome Clube Barra voltou com força. Força mesmo, como se vê pelos resultados e perspectivas.

Para o Pan 2011, a equipe vai levar cerca de 60 atletas a Irvine, e sonha repetir algo parecido com o Pan Kids, quando ficou em segundo lugar geral e faturou o troféu de primeiro lugar na divisão de 7 a 9 anos.

“Aconteceu mais rápido que eu esperava, pois levamos no máximo 10% das nossas crianças. A equipe na realidade já era forte, mas estava dividida. É mais uma prova de que no Jiu-Jitsu não tem milagre, o sucesso vem com o tempo”, reflete, para analisar onde o time tem mais chance. “Nosso juvenil é bem forte, vamos para subir no pódio nessa divisão. O adulto vai com 30 atletas, mas ainda está se fortalecendo para os próximos anos. No Master e Sêniors vamos mais forte, com chance de ir ao pódio também.”

Bem no papel de treinador e de organizador de eventos (sua American Cup, evento tradicional na Califa, é agora no dia 30 de abril), Claudio França não compete desde 2000. E explica isso numa frase simples e direta, como um bom golpe:

“Hoje é mais importante eu trabalhar como coach e organizador do que ficar no quarto descansando para lutar no dia seguinte”.

E sua equipe, está forte para o Pan 2011? Comente abaixo. E para saber mais sobre o Clube Barra, acesse www.claudifrancabjj.com .

Solid proof Clube Barra is a team with its sights set on the future. But is it really all that new a team? Well. . . Yes and no.

Clube Barra is the new team of our GMA Professor Claudio França and his black belts, but the story behind the team goes back a good twenty years.

The kids at Clube Barra / Photo: publcity

“Barra da Tijuca was Jiu-Jitsu’s capital in the 1990s, and in 1991 Marcus Vinicius, who now teaches in Beverly Hills, and I created Clube Barra, since we taught around there, at Riviera condominium, Atlântico Sul and at Fisilabor gym – all around the same area,” recounts the black belt, who also promoted Copa Atlântico Sul championship with Marcus Vinícius (and Joe Moreira at the start). “Up until 1995 the team was one of the most competitive in the Rio scene,” he adds.

Upon his 1996 arrival in California, Claudio stashed the name, as it made no sense in Santa Cruz and as he wanted to push his own name as a Jiu-Jitsu teacher. Now, having produced numerous black belts, Claudio wants a less personal name, one that can include other teachers.

Hence team Clube Barra, now comprised of Claudio, Vince Vanderlipe, Daniel Tomas and further bolstered by black belts like Carlos Melo, Mike Weaver, Gary Casey and Tyson Kamp, as well as brown belt Nathan Mandelsohn, who started out at França’s academy at seven years of age.

“We sat down and thought about it, but giving a team a name is harder than giving one to your son,” says França, half joking half serious. And thus the name Clube Barra came back strong. Really strong, as one can tell from the team’s results.

For the 2011 Pan, the team will be taking a sixty-man troop to Irvine and it dreams of a repeat of what it accomplished at the Pan Kids, when it took second overall and won the first-place trophy in the 7-to-9-year old division.

“It happened quicker than I’d thought, as we took at most 10% of our kids. The team was already really strong, but it was scattered. It’s further proof of how there are no miracles in Jiu-Jitsu, success comes with time,” he reflects, to then analyze where the team’s greatest chances lie. “Our juvenile team is really strong — we’re going to make it onto the podium in that division. We’ll take thirty athletes in the adult division, but we’re still strengthening it for the years to come. We’ll be stronger in the Master and Senior, with a shot at placing, too.”

Now stuck in the role of trainer and event promoter (his American Cup, a traditional California event, is coming up on April 30), Claudio França hasn’t competed since 2000. And he explains it with a phrase both simple and direct, like a swift punch:

“These days it’s more important for me to work as coach and promoter than to lie around in a room resting to compete the next day.”

What about your team, is it in good stead for Pan 2011? Comment below. And to find out more about Clube Barra, visit www.claudiofrancabjj.com.

Isaiah Edmond, one of Lloyd Irvin's beasts / Photo: publicity

Team Lloyd Irvin had a gala performance February at the last Pan Kids, with 16 gold medals, six silver and five bronze.

“It was a tournament where the coaches, competitors and referees displayed great posture with the kids; it was all fantastic. We intend to compete at all editions of Pan Kids from now on. Our kids trained super hard for this event, got on the honor roll to be able to compete and they fought their hearts out to win the team title,” Lloyd told GRACIEMAG.com in praise.

Indeed, the team won the junior and teen divisions to win the overall team title.

Any great promise for the future? A new Mike Fowler or “JT” coming up within the ranks?

“It’s hard to point out just one name. I’d say one of the standouts was Isaiah Edmond, our junior 2 orange belt, for submitting both his opponents on his way to winning gold. Then there’s Shane “Jamil” Hill-Taylor, who had a great showing in the most stacked division, the green belt teen 3 one. It’s probably the toughest category in the Pan Kids.

Of course, team Lloyd Irvin’s achievements don’t end there. “The Canadian World Pro trials are worth mentioning: our purple belt De Alonzio “BJ” Jackson won at weight and open weight, like he did at the Euro Open. And our brown belt Jimmy Harbison, a 20-year-old champion of Europe, fought a bunch of black belts in Montreal and won his weight division, earning his way to Abu Dhabi,” adds Irvin.

And what about the Pan in March?

“There the news isn’t that good. We had some recent injuries and some of our best stars won’t be able to compete. But yes, we have a decent batallion going…” Lloyd says in closing.

Isaiah Edmond, uma das ferinhas de Lloyd Irvin. Foto: Divulgação.

A equipe de Lloyd Irvin teve uma exibição de gala no último Pan Kids, em fevereiro, com 16 medalhas de ouro, seis de prata e cinco de bronze.

“Foi um torneio onde os técnicos, competidores e árbitros mostraram uma postura muito legal com as crianças, foi tudo fantástico. Pretendemos competir em todas as edições do Pan Kids a partir de agora com força total. Nossas crianças treinaram super bem para este evento da IBJJF, conquistaram a honra de representar nosso time no campeonato e lutaram com o coração para ganhar o título de equipes”, elogiou Lloyd ao GRACIEMAG.com.

Realmente, o time faturou as categorias júnior e jovens para conquistar o título geral por equipes.

Alguma promessa para o futuro? Algum novo Mike Fowler ou novo “JT”?

“Difícil apontar somente um nome. Eu diria que um dos destaques foi Isaiah Edmond, nosso faixa-laranja júnior 2, por ter finalizado seus dois adversários no caminho para o ouro. Ainda, Shane “Jamil” Hill-Taylor teve uma ótima exibição numa divisão cheia de talentos, a faixa-verde jovem 3. Foi provavelmente a categoria mais difícil do Pan Kids.

As vitórias do time Lloyd Irvin, claro, não pararam por aí. “Vale lembrar que na seletiva canadense para o World Trials, nosso faixa-roxa De Alonzio “DJ” Jackson venceu o peso e o absoluto, como fez no Europeu. E nosso faixa-marrom Jimmy Harbison, campeão europeu de 20 anos, encarou em Montreal os faixas-pretas e venceu sua categoria de peso, faturando uma passagem para Abu Dhabi”, reforça Irvin.

E o Pan em março?

“Aí as notícias não são tão boas. Tivemos umas contusões recentes e alguns de nossos melhores astros não vão poder competir. Mas sim, temos um batalhão decente indo…”, encerra Lloyd.

Roscoe Garcia with his loving dad, Michael / Photos: Deb Blythe

When asked why he thought it was so important for kids to compete, Fernandes replied, “This generation is going to represent us in a few years. For us to create a good generation of black belt competitors at 21 years of age, we need to provide competition experience for them.” The Pan Kids does just that with a variety of belt and experience levels competing against each other in the usual fun and friendly, yet competitive fashion – the same as the IBJJF adult competitions.

The Pan Kids provides the same rules, referees, and experience that the adults receive during their IBJJF tournament experience, so Fernandes thinks kids who compete at the Pan are receiving all the tools necessart to be the best competitors possible.

Fernandes says the technical level of the kids this year was outstanding. “It’s way better than what we expected,” he says, “It reflects back on the good work all of the coaches are doing at all of the academies.” Fernandes says the event is a great way for schools to showcase their hard work and effort through the years. “They can show everyone what they can do on the mats.”

Fernandes goes on to say, “When kids bring their parents and friends, they show the benefits of the sport.” Some of the benefits Fernandes is speaking of are confidence, discipline, and respect. “There are too many to mention,” he says, “But we really advertise a healthy life style. When a child spends time doing Jiu-Jitsu, he will become a better person.”

One kid who became a better person competing at the Pan Kids was six-year-old Roscoe Garcia from Yuma BJJ. With his cool, purple Mohawk and his infectious smile, he lit up the crowd with his enthusiasm on the mats. Roscoe had two matches. He won the first with an armbar and lost the second.

As he came off the mats in tears after his loss, his father, Michael, took the opportunity to teach Roscoe the most important lesson of all: Jiu-Jitsu, above all else, is supposed to be fun. “I’m proud of you, son,” Michael said, “I love you. It’s not always about a gold medal. You’re a champion.”

Michael thinks the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu and competing have taught Roscoe how to take care of himself at an early age. “When he’s on the mats, whatever happens is only in his control. He has to make his own decisions. It’s a really good life lesson and he’s really grown as a person because of it.”

Will Brooks with his gold medal children, Zion and Nadia

Will Brooks of Ralph Gracie in Berkeley, CA, couldn’t agree more. His seven-year-old son, Zion and 10-year-old daughter, Nadia, took gold at the Pan, but that’s not what the emphasis was on that day. “Jiu-Jitsu has changed their lives,” he says, “It’s taught them discipline, good manners, and dedication. We’ve found it’s a great activity to do as a family. It’s made us a stronger family, but the most important thing has been keeping it fun for them. I would tell any parent interested in putting their kids in Jiu-Jitsu to make sure they’re having fun. You don’t want to pressure them or they won’t want to do it.”

Romulo Barral, Mik Milman and some of their Jiu-Jitsu crew

World Champion Romulo Barral made an appearance at the Kids Pan with a few of his students and coach Mik Milman, and he concurs. “We won gold and bronze today,” he says, “It’s been a great experience for the kids, their parents, and coaches. The kids are here to have a good time. I’ve seen a couple of parents upset with their kids and they need to realize they can’t push so hard. It has to be about the experience the kids have at the event and not about the win or loss if they want them to keep doing Jiu-Jitsu. If the kids don’t enjoy it, they’re going to quit.”

Xavier Silva and his brown belt dad, Paul Silva

One boy who loves Jiu-Jitsu and is definitely not going to quit is 9-year-old Xavier Silva from Paul Silva Jiu-Jitsu. Xavier took gold at the tournament by winning two matches, one by a back choke and the other by a falling arm bar. Xavier was promoted to orange belt on the podium by his dad, Paul, who is a 3rd degree brown belt and owner of the school. Paul says Jiu-Jitsu helps build true self-esteem and good family values in his students. The motto of his school is: The family that trains together, stays together. “Jiu-Jitsu brings good discipline. It keeps people humble and gives them confidence.”

Coach Ali Saleh and some of his A-Team Jiu-Jitsu students

A-Team Jiu-Jitsu was one school that came to represent with a lot of kids competing and they really showed some extraordinary Jiu-Jitsu skills. Alyssa Wilson, and Kade and Tye Ruotolo were just a few of the kids who won gold at the tournament. Coach Ali Saleh coached all of his kids on the mats that day and was very proud of their accomplishments. “A-Team is happy to be here at the Pan Kids and we look forward to being here every year,” he says, “We have the biggest girls team here today. We call them the A-Team Angels. We really like seeing more girls in our program.” Saleh goes on to say that he thinks Jiu-Jitsu has really changed his kids’ lives for the better. “It’s given them a sense of teamwork, accomplishment, and confidence.”

Vicente Jordan Vanderlipe and his black belt father, Vince Vanderlipe

Vicente Jordan Vanderlipe, an eight-year-old yellow belt from Kugtar MMA, was another gold medal winner whose dad, Vince, is a black belt under Claudio Franca. Vince loves Jiu-Jitsu because of the discipline it provides his son. “It teaches respect,” he says, “It also teaches children to take responsibility for themselves, which is important.” Vicente loves Jiu-Jitsu for different reasons, “I love to compete and win medals,” he says, “I get butterflies in my stomach. It’s very exciting!” When asked what the best part of his day would be, Vicente Vanderlipe wrapped it up the only way a child can, “Going back to the hotel so I can go to the swimming pool!”

The message at the 2011 Pan Kids is clear: This event is the best place for children to get some really good competition experience, a great way for schools to showcase their students’ Jiu-Jitsu talents and technical skills, and a way for everyone to have a lot of fun.

Among the academies, our GMA Lloyd Irvin stood out, winning the overall team dispute, followed by Clube Barra and Gracie Barra, respectively. Also doing well at the event were the students of Rômulo Barral, Ralph Gracie, Asle, Rod Wilson/Tapout, A-Team and Coachella Valley, among others.

Check out some of went on there in photos by John Lamonica:

[flickr set=72157626103449252]

Check out all the results from the event by clicking here.

And sign-up for the adult Pan, to start March 24, by clicking here.

Entre as academias, destaque para a nossa GMA Lloyd Irvin, campeã no geral, seguida pelo Clube Barra e Gracie Barra, respectivamente. Também foram bem no evento os alunos de Rômulo Barral, Ralph Gracie, Asle, Rod Wilson/Tapout, A-Team e Coachella Valley, entre outros.

Veja um pouco dessa ação nas fotos de John Lamonica:

[flickr set=72157626103449252]

Confira todos os resultados do evento clicando aqui.

E para se inscrever no Pan para adultos, que tem início no dia 24 de março, clique aqui.

As inscrições para o Campeonato Europeu, que abre a temporada 2011 em janeiro, já estão abertas. Para saber mais, visite www.ibjjf.org .

Veja os torneios confirmados abaixo.

Cena registrada por John Cooper, no Las Vegas Open 2010.

Janeiro, dias 27, 28, 29, 30
Campeonato Europeu – Lisboa, Portugal

Fevereiro, dia 20
Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championship – Califórnia, EUA

Fevereiro, data por confirmar
Houston International Open

Março, data por confirmar
Pan de Jiu-Jitsu

Abril, dia 16
New York International Open

Maio, data por confirmar
Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu
Dallas International Open

Junho, dias 2, 3, 4 e 5
Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu – Califórnia, EUA

Julho, data por confirmar
Campeonato Master & Senior de Jiu-Jitsu
Rio International Open

Agosto, data por confirmar
Las Vegas International Open
Chicago International Open

Setembro, data por confirmar
Honolulu International
Boston International Open
American National Jiu-Jitsu Gi and No Gi
Brasileiro de Equipes
London International Open

Outubro, dia 1º
Pan de Jiu-Jitsu Sem Kimono

Outubro, data por confirmar
Miami International Open
Brasileiro Sem Kimono

Novembro, data por confirmar
Mundial Sem Kimono

Novembro, dias 18, 19 e 20
Melbourne International Open

Sign-ups for the European Open that kicks off the 2011 in January, are now open. To find out more, visit www.ibjjf.org.

Check out the tournament list below.

Scene captured by John Cooper at Las Vegas Open 2010.

January 27, 28, 29, 30
European Championship – Lisbon, Portugal

February 20
Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championship, in California, USA

February, date to be confirmed
Houston International Open

March, date to be confirmed
Pan

April 16
New York International Open

May, dates to be confirmed
Brazilian Nationals
Dallas International Open

June 2, 3, 4 and 5
Worlds

July, dates to be confirmed
Master & Senior Championship

Rio International Open

August, date to be confirmed
Las Vegas International Open
Chicago International Open

September, dates to be confirmed
Honolulu International Open

Boston International Open

American National Jiu-Jitsu Gi and No Gi

Brazilian Team Nationals

London International Open

October 1
No-Gi Pan

October, date to be confirmed
Miami International Open
No-Gi Brazilian Nationals

November, date to be confirmed
No-Gi Worlds

November 18, 19 and 20
Melbourne International Open