GMA member Itabora Ferreira of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu San Francisco has announced that Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles Maciel will be teaching a seminar at his academy on Sunday, Sept. 14.

The 2013 ADCC champion and 8-time world champion will teach from 1:05 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.

Learn the decorated techniques of his mastermind’s game.

Pre-registration is $119 + tax and at the door the cost will be $150 per person.

You can reserve your spot now here: https://itaboraevents.ticketbud.com/cobrinha-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-seminar 

For more information about GMA Alliance SF, visit http://alliancebjjsf.com/

Fabio Gurgel with Rubens Cobrinha Charles training in Los Angeles. Photo: @CobrinhaCharles Instagram

Fabio ‘The General’ Gurgel has been training at GMA Cobrinha BJJ in Los Angeles, CA for the last two weeks to prepare for his ADCC superfight in Beijing, China in October. His opponent is Ze Mario Sperry and the match will be no-gi so Rubens Charles Maciel is helping him with no-gi specific tips. Tomorrow Gurgel will return to Brazil but he spoke with GRACIEMAG  a quick minute to give us an update of where he’s headed next:

Get to train with Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles in Los Angeles, CA at Cobrinha BJJ before the 2013 World Championship.

The camp is currently going on now and will continue its focus until May 29, the first day of the event. Alliance athletes will be present from Brazil, and various states here in the U.S. as they make their last preparations for the trek to gold.

Luanna Alzuguir, Michael Langhi, Mario Reis, Andresa Correa and others will be stopping at the GMA academy located on the corner of Wilshire Blvd and Highland Blvd in Los Angeles, CA from Brazil. Others like Bruno Malfacine, Rafael Rosendo Dos Santos and Lucas Lepri will show up as well to put the last details into their strategies.

Cobrinha posted on his Facebook page: “Don’t miss this chance to train with some of Jiu-Jitsu’s best! Today we have Bruno Malfacine coming in to roll as well as Rafael Rosendo Dos Santos. Tomorrow, more Alliance competitors arriving including: Mario Reis, Monique Elias, Luanna Alzuguir, and Andresa Correa! More will be arriving in the next few weeks in preparation for Worlds at the end of the month. One thing is for sure….the training here at Cobrinha BJJ academy just skyrocketed to a whole other level!!!”

The whole camp is $399 but day/week prices are available. To reserve your spot and inquire for questions please call 323-931-9953 or email info@cobrinhabjj.com

Victor Silverio wins his brown belt division at the 2013 WPJJC / Photo by Erin Herle

The third day of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship was a jam-packed day that decided a lot for many athletes. From the start at 9 a.m., the purple belt adult males entered the mats to make them come alive. From first match losses to submission wins to the finals, there was no destiny involved– only hard work prevailing here in Abu Dhabi.

The final divisions began at 1:30 p.m. starting with the master/senior male brown/black divisions moving to purple adult male, brown adult male, purple/brown/black female and finally black adult male.

The six minute matches were set for all divisions no matter the age, rank or gender, therefore pushing the athletes to finish their fights. Because there isn’t a lot of time and the referees will give penalties rather freely for stalling, the action is always in large demand. As much as it is a competition, it’s also a show. Here in Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu is a national sport so it is broadcasted on television and followed with coverage and lots of interest.

Keenan Cornelius takes the back in his brown belt final / Photo by Erin Herle

The purple belt and brown belt adult matches brought the excitement and when a leader of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu team Faisal Al Ketbi fought Luke Costello, the crowd went wild as he won by points. Submissions came from the back mostly, by Gianni Grippo in the -70kg division and the -88kg division by Keenan Cornelius but even the matches that were determined by points were enough action to call it a show.

Caroline de Lazzer celebrates her win / Photo by Erin Herle

The females came with some nice surprises as Beatriz Mesquita conquered Luanna Alzugiur, a native to the WPJJC top podium spot, when she swept her twice. Caroline de Lazzer cried when she won Fernanda Mazzelli on points as this win was a huge accomplishment for her. Gabrielle Garcia was able to submit Tammy Griego before time ran out with a choke to win her fourth title at the World Pro and Michelle Nicolini surprised the crowd when we swept Mackenzie Dern at the very last minute after being down by advantages.

Marcos Yoshi Souza wins by two points over Victor Estima / Photo by Erin Herle

The black belts were enticing because of some new faces in the finals. The -64kg division started it off right with Thiago Marques defeating Samuel Hertzog with a quick triangle choke. From Bonsai, Satoshi’s brother Marcos Yoshi Souza was able to gather two points from catching the leg as Victor Estima jumped guard then avoiding all of Estima’s many submission attempts from armbars to omoplatas to triangles.

Augusto Tanquinho Mendes on top after sweeping Rubens Charles Maciel / Photo by Erin Herle

Two matches that we’ve seen many times before came in the -70kg and -76kg divisions as both were determined by points or advantages. Augusto Tanquinho Mendes won Rubens Charles Maciel with a sweep and then Leandro Lo won over Lucas Lepri by an advantage due to a guard pass attempt deemed worthy of such.

Romulo Barral walks off the mats with medics / Photo by Erin Herle

In an unfortunate event, Romulo Barral quit his match against Andre Galvao early on after pulling a hamstring. Galvao jumped guard then immediately swept with a waiter sweep, putting Barral’s leg in great danger and ultimately causing him to forfeit the gold. Rodolfo Vieira defeated his opponent Pedro Peres in the -94kg division with some textbook moves by passing the guard, taking the back and choking with the lapels. Antonio Braga Neto pushed the pace of his -100kg division fight with a sweep and multiple attempts of passes and getting into mount, finishing 2-0 against Jose Junior.

The final match of the day left two people who were very unlikely to ever fight- but they did. Rodrigo Cavaca is the professor of Marcus Buchecha Almeida and they met in the +100kg division final and fought instead of closing out. Cavaca won the match 7-2 in a friendly yet competitive roll. Here’s what Buchecha had to say about it:

“For us it was like a dream come true to get to the finals together because we have dreamt about it since 2010 when I got my black belt. We never close out any tournaments so we’re happy that we have reached that goal. And we are happy to do a fight because we don’t like close outs– that’s why we decided to fight. We hope to do the same thing in the finals of the open weight tomorrow.

It wasn’t awkward because I have been training with him since 2004. This was just like a normal day in the academy, a tough roll with my master. It’s always a pleasure to roll with him because he taught me everything that i know in Jiu-Jitsu.

I would  like to say thank you to my father because he was the most important person for keeping me in Jiu-Jitus and because of him, Cavaca came to Abu Dhabi where we we’re able to accomplish this goal instead of flying to Pan Ams [where he was going to travel instead of Abu Dhabi].”

Cavaca and Buchecha after their final match / Photo by Erin Herle

 Full results from day 3:

Rafael Mendes cranks a foot lock on Cobrinha. Photo by Mike Colón.

One of the most exciting matches at the Pan American Championhip last year was the final of the black belt featherweight division. Rafael Mendes and Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles Maciel have squared off many times before, often showing off their expertise in the matches leading up. Last year the ending was a bit different than previous bouts, but go ahead and see what happens if you missed it.

Make sure you register to compete alongside these champions and avoid missing the deadline of March 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT!

Click here to register for the 2013 Pan Ams that will be held from Mar 20-24!

The Brenn Event Center at UC Irvine is located at 100 Bren Event Center Irvine, California 92617.

Fabbio Passos, Cobrinha, Fabio Gurgel, Lyoto Machida, Roger Gracie / Photo: Instragram @cobrinhacharles

As of late, Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles Maciel has welcomed many champions into his gym, mostly in the realm of MMA. Fabricio Werdum has trained consistently with the featherweight world champion for months and Urijah Faber also paid a visit in October.

Urijah Faber stopping by Cobrinha BJJ / Photo: Instagram @cobrinhacharles

This week, the General of team Alliance made the trek from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Los Angeles, CA to pay Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles Maciel a visit at his inconspicuous academy on the busy Wilshire/Highland corner.

Fabio Gurgel has been training with at GMA Cobrinha BJJ for the week including working on his grips:

Fabio Gurgel training his grips at GMA Cobrinha BJJ / Photo: Instagram @fabiogurgel

On Jan. 3, Fabio and Cobrinha were greeted by two great champions in many aspects of the martial art: Roger Gracie and Lyoto Machida.

This LA academy is quickly becoming a hub for many MMA fighters to gain more technical experience in and out of the gi. Even though there is a size difference between Cobrinha and many of the guys he is training with, it furthers the notion that technique overcomes strength– an idea that is quickly being identified in the octagon.

Follow Cobrinha and Fabio Gurgel on Instagram for more quick pics: @CobrinhaCharles and @FabioGurgel

And don’t forget to follow your source for reliable Jiu-Jitsu information on Instagram: @GracieMagazine

Lotus Club and Alliance team member Laercio Fernandes is one of the top competitors competing in the IBJJ Pro League tomorrow, December 8. In this video he welcomes you to watch the event, for it will be a great day for Jiu-Jitsu.

If you don’t know much about Laercio, he finished second at the 2012 World Championships after a tough match against Guilherme Mendes in the finals that was left to a referee decision.

The biggest win of his blooming career that sparked the most interest in this 31-year-old Irvine, CA resident, was his 2010 match with Caio Terra whom he defeated by points at the 2010 American Nationals. What was seen as an upset then, helped give rise to Laercio’s recognition however he still manages to slide under the radar despite numerous places on the podium since then.

When he’s not teaching and training in Irvine, he heads over to GMA member Cobrinha BJJ in Los Angeles, making the trek in order to train with the 9x world champion Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles Maciel.

Don’t forget to tune into the live stream if you’re not local to the Long Beach Pyramid. The free live stream is available at www.ibjjftv.com and will start at 3pm PST!

Laercio training / Photo by Erin Herle

Learn to take the back with Cobrinha

GRACIEMAG.com paid a visit to Cobrinha’s in Los Angeles academy a few days back.

The four-time world champion was wrapping up his training camp for the Worlds Masters & Seniors that took place this Sunday.

We caught Cobrinha on camera teaching two ways of taking the opponent’s back when he plays the spider guard.

Watch the video and learn from one of the most technical fighters of all times.

GMA member Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” Maciel has lauched a new vehicle of interacting with him.

His academy in Los Angeles, CA, now has a You Tube channel.

Check out the videos featured there and learn with the four times world champion.

The channel’s address is youtube.com/user/Cobrinhabjj

For more info, go to http://www.cobrinhabjj.com/

GMA member Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” is to host a great seminar next November.

On the 3rd, 2011 uber-champion Gabi Garcia will be at Cobrinha BJJ for a special Np-Gi class.

Gabi is the dominant figure in female grappling nowadays, so you don’t want to miss the opportunity to learn from someone who is on top.

The cost is US$ 30 for Alliance members and US$ 50 for non-Alliance members.

And, if you are in LA and live the BJJ life, don’t miss taking part in an open mat at Cobrinha BJJ this Sunday, October 9.

For more info, go to cobrinhabjj.com

Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” Maciel, four times world champion, is now part of the team.

After many years teaching alongside with Alliance founder Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti, in Atlanta, Georgia, Cobrinha has moved to Los Angeles, California.

His new academy is located at the world famous Wilshire Boulevard.

The grand opening took place on March 28th, with the presence of an Alliance all-star team.

For more info, go to cobrinhabjj.com