Fabio Gurgel had a very special evening this Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Alliance HQ in São Paulo, Brazil.

The co-founder and co-leader of the eagle team reached the sixth degree in his black belt.

The new stripe came from the hands of Alexandre “Gigi” Paiva at a packed ceremony.

Fabio wrote about it on his Facebook page.

“I received the sixth degree in my black belt tonight from the hands of my friend Gigi. Thanks Master Romero Jacaré for the touching speech and for all the teachings. Also thanks to all that were present tonight. I have no words to say how thankful I am”.

Fabio Gurgel have been a black belt for 24 years.

GRACIEMAG joins the celebration of Fabio’s achievement!

Leave your message for the General!

Watch Gurgel teaching at Marcelo Garcia’s school in NYC earlier this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3SijZhpShM

Professor Itabora Ferreira of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu San Francisco with Master Romero ‘Jacare’ Cavalcanti. Photo: Itabora Ferreira

Coming up in November GMA academy Alliance Jiu-Jitsu San Francisco will add Jiu-Jitsu and anti-bullying classes for kids to the schedule.

The enrollment is open now for a seven week program with emphasis on basic Jiu-Jitsu techniques for kids. This will include a self-defense curriculum as well as an anti-bullying program.

Each class will be taught by professor Itabora Ferreira, a qualified and experienced Jiu-Jitsu black belt with forty years of teaching experience who encourages a respectful environment.

The age group group for this first program is for six-year-olds up to twelve-year-olds. Classes will start on Monday, Nov. 4 and will run until Friday, Dec. 20.

The schedule is: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

If anyone is interested in enrolling their children in the program please leave a message at 415-793-2988.

Despite being one of the best Jiu-Jitsu competitors at the time and even the head instructor of his own academy, his win didn’t come from a submission. At 9:55 of the first round he defeated his opponent Denilson Maia TKO.

Check out the match below and see a pre-Alliance Gurgel fight his first luta livre challenge:

The post Flashback to Fabio Gurgel’s first MMA fight twenty-two years ago first appeared on Graciemag.]]> https://www.graciemag.com/romero-jacare-comments-on-gurgels-style-and-adcc-match-i-think-this-is-jiu-jitsu/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=romero-jacare-comments-on-gurgels-style-and-adcc-match-i-think-this-is-jiu-jitsu Tue, 02 Jul 2013 22:21:20 +0000 https://www.graciemag.com/?p=88184   In a recentl Facebook post, Alliance founder Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti shared a 1994 match between his Alliance counterpart Fabio Gurgel and Leo Dalla. He commented, “Fabio Gurgel trademark pressure on top, trying to mount, always looking to finish his opponent until the end of the match. I think this is Jiu-Jitsu is very different from some…

 

Leaders of Alliance, Alexandre Gigi Paiva, Romero Jacare Cavalcanti and Fabio Gurgel; Rio, Atlanta and Sao Paulo. Photo: Rubens Charles Maciel

In a recentl Facebook post, Alliance founder Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti shared a 1994 match between his Alliance counterpart Fabio Gurgel and Leo Dalla. He commented, “Fabio Gurgel trademark pressure on top, trying to mount, always looking to finish his opponent until the end of the match. I think this is Jiu-Jitsu is very different from some boring matches we see nowadays. Please enjoy and learn.”

And to GRACIEMAG, he told us how he thinks that match will pan out: “Fabio has always had a very forward game, always looking to finish. If he is on top trying to pass the guard. He always looks for the classic combination to get to the side mount and then proceed to mount and finish. His game always involves a lot pressure but the goal is to finish. I think he will do very well against Ze Mario, who is a very tough opponent. I think it will be an awesome match. Two guys with very different styles but I hope Fabio gets the win!”

Gurgel’s upcoming superfight with Ze Mario Sperry will be at ADCC in Beijing, China this October. Even though this match will be without the gi, the pressure is still useful and we can bet that Gurgel will have it in his arsenal.

What do you think of the match below compared to what we see today?

The post Romero Jacare comments on Gurgel’s style and ADCC match: ‘I think this is Jiu-Jitsu’ first appeared on Graciemag.]]>

Lucas Lepri (bottom) has never competed in ADCC before. Here he sets up a sweep on Kenny Florian at the 2009 Pan No-Gi.

Along with many athletes receiving emails from the ADCC organization, Alliance champion Lucas Lepri is of that group. Gaining his first-ever invitation to the prestigious event, Lucas will be traveling to Beijing, China, in October to represent his team in the under 77kg division.

Having already been to Abu Dhabi for the World Pro and a champion in IBJJF’s top tournaments, it’s time for Lucas to make his debut as a no-gi grappler on the international stage of ADCC. See how he reacted to the surprise notification and how he will adjust his training regiment in an exclusive chat with GRACIEMAG.com.

GRACIEMAG: How does it feel to be personally invited to one of the most prestigious BJJ tournaments in the world?

LUCAS LEPRI: Honestly when Fabio Gurgel called me and told me that I was chosen to represent my team at the ADCC, I felt so happy and at the same time so flattered for the opportunity. I was waiting for this invitation since my first No-Gi Worlds title [in 2009] and now I am more than happy to know that my work is being recognized.

Will you change your training from now on to be prepared for this no-gi event and will you go anywhere else or stay in Atlanta?

Yes, my training now is going to be more focused on no-gi, but I will keep training with the gi because in my opinion it’s very important to combine both to get the result that I am looking for. All my training is going to be done in Atlanta with Master Jacare and my students. But I might also go to NYC [Marcelo Garcia Academy] as it seems that our crew from Brazil is coming so we can all train together and get prepared.

What kind of matches are you looking forward to with possible opponents such as Otavio Sousa?

For all of my fights my goal is to fight forward and look for the submission. It’s always a pleasure to fight with big athletes of our sport.

Stay tuned for more ADCC news on who will be in attendance and more.

Marcelo during the middleweight final at the 2011World Championship, against Lucas Leite. The star was injured and didn’t fight in 2012. Photo: Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG

Three weeks from the biggest championship of the year, Alliance gym is already hoping to try its eighth world title among teams in California.

The eagle team will be led by Romero Jacare, Fabio Gurgel and Alexandre Gigi in Long Beach, and should take about 300 competitors to the Pyramid at the very end of May.

“Alliance is already training hard for the Worlds, and we are all focused on winning another title. The strategy here in Atlanta, as well as in other schools, is total dedication. The stars are all confirmed: Lucas Lepri, Michael Langhi, Rubens Cobrinha, Bernardo Faria, Léo Nogueira, Tarsis Humphreys, Luanna Alzuguir, Gabi Garcia and Bruno Malfacine will all train together in our camp,” said Master Romero, keeping fans in suspense about a certain five-time middleweight world champion.

“About Marcelo Garcia fighting for his sixth world title, we’ll save that surprise until the last minute (laughs) … But he’ll be here in Atlanta for a great seminar on May 18. That’s all I can anticipate,” said the gym founder.

Jacare is also very excited with the new promises of Alliance.

“From the new generation we will have several athletes in the 2013 World Championship, many of whom we are seen as promises for the future. There are the purple belts Jacob Sandoval, silver in Pan Ams and Brazilian National, and Rehan (Muttalib), both students of Cobrinha. There are also Marcelo students and the kids from Atlanta. Athletes will come to São Paulo, where Fabio is conducting hard training sessions. The team will come well prepared,” he said.

If you’re in the U.S. and want to learn from Marcelo in Georgia, visit www.alliancebjj.com to learn more.

To check who is already confirmed for the World Championship, visit the IBJJF website here.

If you want to enroll for the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2013, click here.

Lucas Lepri receives his second degree by Master Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti / Photo by Preston Smith

The Alliance Headquarters has been home of many champions, past and present. Many of Alliance’s greatest team members have trained, taught and been promoted on the mats in Atlanta, Georgia under Master Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti.

Today, the academy runs classes taught by Lucas Lepri who moved from New York in the beginning of 2012 to teach full time. Between teaching, training and competing, Lucas has gathered more experience in the art which showed as Jacare wrapped the white tape around the all-telling belt.

Lucas placed at major tournaments this year winning gold at the Atlanta Open and No-Gi Pan Ams and silver at the Worlds, Pan Ams and Abu Dhabi World Pro.

In response to his promotion he says, “I am glad to receive my 2nd stripe of the black belt. It’s an honor to receive it from Master Jacare. Like Jacare has said, a black belt is a white belt that never quit. Now I am going to Brazil on vacation to rest up for next year. Nothing but GOLD medals for 2013!”

In Jacare’s closing speech he announced: “It was a well deserved promotion. Lucas has been a great asset. He is an awesome person and a great instructor. He has a lot of talent and dedication. He has one of the best work ethics I have ever seen. Now we are going to celebrate our accomplishments for this year and look forward to 2013. We plan on winning all the major tournaments once again!”

Congrats to Lucas Lepri and the Alliance Atlanta team.

Lucas Lepri smiles after being promoted to second degree black belt / Photo by Preston Smith