Cousins Robson, Roger and Kywan Gracie at Roger Gracie Academy in London, UK. Photo: Personal Archives

Kywan Gracie Behring carries Jiu-Jitsu in his blood from both sides of his family. His mother, Kyrla Gracie is Grandmaster Carlos Gracie Sr.’s daughter and his father, Marcelo Behring was Rickson Gracie’s student and became an important Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter in the 1980’s before tragically passing away in 1995.

The youngsters Kywan, who is now a Jiu-Jitsu brown belt under his cousin Roger Gracie in London starts to show signs that he is looking forward to follow the steps of his predecessors and become another protagonist to his family’s fighting legacy.

With a superfight schedule for this November 23rd against Sebastian Brosche at the European TKC 1, Toulkon Challenge event in UK, the Gracie speaks in the video below about carrying out his family name, the beginnings of Jiu-Jitsu and the relationship between Rickson Gracie and his father.

Check it out:

The IBJJF London Open has both gi and no-gi divisions on Oct. 19-20

On the weekend of Oct. 19 and 20 there will be be two IBJJF championships around the globe. On Saturday, Oct. 19 Miami Open will have its one-day event. In the UK, the London Open will be held on both Saturday and Sunday for gi and no-gi divisions.

Both tournaments offer chances to earn an IBJJF title, compete against international athletes and test your skills no matter you experience level.

The deadline is fast approaching. You must register by Friday, Oct. 4 at 11:59 PST.

To register, go to www.ibjjf.org

The location for Miami Open is: Miami Dade College – Kendall Campus 11011 SW 104th Street Miami, FL 33176

The location for London Open is: Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Ledrington Road, London SE19 2BB

Athletes already registered for Miami Open include members from GMA academies such as Fight Sports Miami, Gracie Del Mar, Alliance Ecuador, Renzo Gracie Academy, Renato Tavares Association, Soca BJJ, Roberto Traven BJJ and more!

In London we have GMA academies: Choke Academy, Drysdale BJJ, Gracie Barra Birmingham, Roger Gracie Academy, Gracie Barra Santa Barbara and more!

On August 3, the IBJJF Toronto Open hosted it’s second edition. In the black belt absolute final was Raphael Carneiro Fischetti against Oliver Geddes.

Daniel Alvarez works on a back-take at the IBJJF Toronto Open. Photo: IBJJF

The IBJJF Toronto Open held its second annual event on Saturday, August 3 at York University. The booming city in Canada catered to many local as well as visiting teams from all over the world. Some teams came with a force of many, others with just one representative but the level of skill was high either way.

GMA academies that took home bunches of medals were: Renzo Gracie Ottawa earned twelve medals at the event. Students from Marcelo Garcia Academy in New York traveled with nine competitors and came back with ten medals. Toronto BJJ had three competitors take home medals as well, although more members are not counted as they were registered as Ribeiro BJJ. Total, over 70 competitors from the academy alone were out on the competition mats earning them the first and third place trophy.

Oliver Geddes, a black belt under Roger Gracie from GMA Roger Gracie Academy in London, UK won gold in his black belt adult lightweight division and placed second in the open class.

Jorge Britto of Toronto BJJ placed first in his black belt master middle division and placed second in the open class.

Daniel Alvarez of GMA Alvarez BJJ in Arlington, Texas accomplished gold in the black belt master feather division defeating his opponent 9-0 in points. See the match below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epZiyEY9qSs

INSTRUCTOR:

3rd Degree Black Belt Roger Gracie

ABOUT:

Roger Gracie is a world-famous practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and MMA. He is the grandson of one of the founders of the art, Carlos Gracie. The Gracie family has been the driving force in the growth of BJJ and the revolution in the martial arts community. Roger has put together a team of instructors from Brazil and other parts of the world, all trained to the highest standards of BJJ instruction.

ADDRESS: 237 Kensal Road, Ladbroke Grove, London W10

PHONE: # 44 208 960 1112

WEBSITE: www.rogergracie.com

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/roger.gracie.9?fref=ts

VIDEO:

Oliver sight-seeing while in Chicago, IL for 2012 IBJJF Chicago Open / Photo: Oliver Geddes

For those who are embarking on journeys to visit distant academies during the winter break, make sure you follow all of these tips from Roger Gracie black belt and traveling connoisseur, Oliver Geddes. No stranger to traveling for Jiu-Jitsu related endeavors, Oliver rounded out a 60 day trip during the summer where he went from his hometown of London, England to Toronto, Las Vegas, Chicago, Boston, Montreal, Los Angeles, Atlanta and finally, New York. He trained at academies, competed at competitions and garnered good ole’ Jiu-Jitsu hospitality allowing him to better budget his adventure.

Whether you are competing, visiting many academies or just managing a get-away from the family to train once during your vacation, you can learn from these tips and perhaps they will inspire you to plan a thorough training tour of your own:

INSTRUCTOR:

Black Belt Kevin Capel

ABOUT:

Self discipline is the virtue that makes all other virtues possible.

The Roger Gracie Academy Buckinghamshire is the only full time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) club in Buckinghamshire, We are located in the centre of Aylesbury close to the Bus station and train station.

The aim of RGA Bucks is to promote the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lifestyle and excellent ground fighting skills, coupled with superior conditioning to deal with the rigours of sparring and competition.

We promote a friendly training environment that suits serious competitors or recreational martial artists alike. We welcome complete beginners or already accomplished martial artists looking to expand their skills on the ground whatever their background be it Karate, Kickboxing or Kung Fu we can add to their game.

As a full time martial arts club in Aylesbury we dedicate ourselves to bring the highest level of instruction for our students. For some, martial arts is a way of life and for others its a pass time to stay fit and healthy, either way if you live in or around Aylesbury and want to try a new exciting martial art then you should come and see us and try your first lesson in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for FREE!!

ADDRESS: 18 Califoria , Coxhill way, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP21 8HH

PHONE: 07904810640

WEBSITE: www.rgaa.co.uk

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/groups/rgabucks/

VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMzFDea_SQg#t=43

Faria (à direita), na foto com Langhi, foi o campeão absoluto do Europeu No-Gi

Fim de semana agitado em Londres, na Inglaterra. Sábado foi dia de vestir o kimono no London Open, enquanto no domingo a IBJJF lançou o primeiro Campeonato Europeu de Jiu-Jitsu Sem Kimono. Bernardo Faria, da Alliance, foi o campeão absoluto na faixa-preta adulto.

O mineiro fechou o aberto com seu companheiro de Alliance Dimitrius Sousa, que também brilhara no London Open. Em terceiro lugar, ficaram Maximiliano Carvalho (Gracie Barra) e Renato Tavares (Frontline  Academy).

O peso leve foi dominado por Theodoro Canal, da GFTeam. O paulista Michael Langhi (Alliance), campeão dos médios do London Open na véspera, tirou o paletó e venceu novamente.

Eduardo Rios venceu o meio-pesado, Dimitrius conquistou o ouro no pesado e Thiago Borges (Cia Paulista) venceu Igor Silva e ficou com o título do pesadíssimo.

Por equipes, o resultado foi:

1 . Gracie Barra – 127

2 . Checkmat – 123

3 – Roger Gracie Academy – 116

Confira todos os resultados, clicando aqui.

GMA member Roger Gracie had a memorable graduation ceremony last December 10th.

The leader of Roger Gracie Academy, in different locations in trhe UK, graduated no less than seven new black belts.

One of them was also GMA member Kev Capel, leader of Roger Gracie Buckinghamshire.

Roger and his father Mauricio Gomes have been working in the UK for a decade now.

Congrats to all.

For more info, go to

 There was a grading at RGA on 10th of december, at which Roger promoted 7 new blackbelts, here is a shot of the balckbelts that
have been promoted over the years, Mauricio and Roger have been building a very steady work for over a decade. expanding all over the country and
developing BJJ in a very positive way.

Carlos Gracie Junior. Foto: Arquivos GRACIEMAG.

Roger Gracie poderá alcançar no MMA o mesmo sucesso que teve no Jiu-Jitsu esportivo? Esta foi a pergunta que o repórter Marcelo Alonso, do Portal do Vale-Tudo, fez para Carlos Gracie Junior, tio e professor do tricampeão mundial absoluto, que luta no próximo dia 29 no Strikeforce.

“Difícil”, foi a resposta.

Por que Carlinhos, presidente da IBJJF, acha isso? Por algumas razões, como você confere no vídeo do Portal TV, abaixo. Algumas delas: “Porque no MMA um golpe de sorte acaba com a luta.” “Porque no MMA de hoje você precisa ter uma estrutura física capaz de absorver muita pancada.” “Porque os campeões do UFC hoje aguentam muito soco na cabeça.”

Como lembra Carlinhos, no MMA de hoje “se dois caras sabem Jiu-Jitsu, o mais forte vence”. E, afinal, o “Roger é grandão mas é magro, mais fino”, com menos massa muscular que os adversários.

O mestre da Gracie Barra ainda dispara: “Olha a grossura do pescoço do Cain Velasquez!”

Na entrevista de Alonso, realizada durante o último Sul-Americano, campeonato da IBJJF que fechou a temporada, Carlos Gracie Junior festeja o Jiu-Jitsu em Abu Dhabi, defende os bons modos nas academias e ainda diz qual é seu grande sonho.

Confira algumas lições do mestre, extraídas da entrevista completa.

“Meu sonho é que as pessoas entendam que o Jiu-Jitsu no fim das contas é uma arte que ajuda o ser humano”.

“Se o Jiu-Jitsu entrar em todas as camadas da sociedade, as pessoas vão ver a vida de outra forma, investindo em coisas mais valiosas e menos fúteis.”

“Roger já é uma estrela dentro do Jiu-Jitsu, não precisa correr os riscos de lutar MMA. O tempo que ele gasta treinando e lutando ele podia se dedicar mais a abrir outras academias na Inglaterra e ganhar ainda mais.”

“Antigamente o Jiu-Jitsu era uma coisa bairrista, hoje é internacional. Hoje, o público vai ao Mundial como vai a um show, para assistir na maior tranquilidade, sem estresse nenhum.”

“Ainda há menos academias nos EUA do que no Brasil. Mas as academias nos EUA têm mais praticantes do que no Brasil.”

“Para viver confortavelmente do Jiu-Jitsu, o professor precisa atrair o cidadão comum para a academia, para ter 200 a 300 alunos.”

“Por que há tanta mulher fazendo ginástica e tão pouca fazendo Jiu-Jitsu? Uma das razões é que o ambiente da maioria das academias não é convidativo para elas. Você não vai levar sua mulher ou filha para um lugar onde todo mundo anda sem camisa, fala palavrão e faz o que quer. A academia em vez de escola vira um clube da luta”.

Carlos Gracie Jr.

Carlos Gracie Junior / Photo: GRACIEMAG archives

Will Roger Gracie be able to reach the same heights in MMA as he has in sport Jiu-Jitsu? That was the question posed by Portal do Vale-Tudo reporter Marcelo Alonso to Carlos Gracie Junior, uncle and teacher to the three-time absolute world champion who will next fight in Strikeforce on the 29th.

“Unlikely,” was the answer.

Why would Carlinhos, the president of the IBJJF, think so? For a few reasons, as the Portal TV video below reveals (in Portuguese). Some of them are: “Because in MMA a lucky punch can end the fight.” “Because in MMA these days you need to be physically built to withstand a lot of blows.” “Because the UFC champions these days can withstand a lot of blows to the head.”

As Carlinhos reminds us, in the MMA of today “if both guys know Jiu-Jitsu, the stronger one wins.” And, lastly, “Roger is big but skinny, he’s thinner,” with less muscle mass than his opponents.

The Gracie Barra master also exclaimed: “Look how thick Cain Velasquez’s neck is!”

In the interview with Alonso, taken during the last South American championship, the last IBJJF tourney of the year, Carlos Gracie Junior celebrates Jiu-Jitsu in Abu Dhabi, defends good manners in academies, and even reveals what his greatest dream is.

Check out some of the lessons from the master, extracted from the complete interview:

“My dream is for people to understand that in the end Jiu-Jitsu is an art that helps people.”

“If Jiu-Jitsu were to enter every strata of society, people would see life differently, investing in things of greater value and less superficial.”

“Roger is already a star in Jiu-Jitsu, he doesn’t need to risk himself in MMA. The time he spends training and fighting he could be dedicating to opening more academies in England and making more money.”

“In the old days Jiu-Jitsu was a territorial thing, now it’s international. These days, the public goes to the World Championship like they would to a concert, totally calmly, without any stress at all.”

“There are still fewer academies in the USA than there are in Brazil. But the academies in the USA have more practitioners than they do in Brazil.”

“To make a comfortable living from Jiu-Jitsu, the teacher needs to bring normal people into the gym, to have 200 to 300 students.”

“Why do so many women do aerobics and so few Jiu-Jitsu? One of the reasons is that the environment in most academies is not inviting to them. You wouldn’t take your wife or daughter to a place where everyone walks around without a shirt, curses, and does what they want. The academy becomes a fight club instead of a school.

Carlos Gracie Jr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfpo7ivor-8