Toronto BJJ family with Xande Ribeiro / Photo provided by Jorge Britto

Every year Jiu-jitsu keeps growing, and Toronto, Canada is no exception.  In 2012, Jorge Britto led GMA member Toronto BJJ on its continued path of extraordinary success as many students moved forward in their progression towards the black belt.  Every year at this time Toronto BJJ holds its year-end event known simply as “The Annual.”

The annual is time for Toronto BJJers, friends and family to celebrate another year. It features an in-house tournament, the year-end group picture, belt promotions, awards, cool new gear, the unveiling of new programs, and most importantly a food drive for the Daily Bread Food Bank. This year’s goal is to raise at least 1000KG of donated food.

With over 70 Toronto BJJers poised to receive their next belt, it is a time to reflect on the year that was.

Toronto BJJ Team at the 2012 IBJJF Toronto International Open / Photo provided by Jorge Britto

In 2012, Toronto BJJ students lost weight, got in better shape, reached personal and martial arts goals, all in thanks to the great art of Jiu-Jitsu. One of the ways Toronto BJJers enjoy the healthy lifestyle is through competition and this year was a success. They took to the mats throughout North America, Slovenia, Abu-Dhabi, and England racking up an incredible 264 medals. Toronto BJJ had decisive team victories in the Ontario Open, GTA Classic, and the IBJJF Toronto Open.  However, the team success was not limited to only local tournaments. A squad of only 6 Toronto BJJers placed third as a team at the IBJJF Pan-No GI Championship, and a small crew also took home third at the IBJJF Montreal Open. They also rocked the IBJJF Worlds (7 medals), IBJJF World Masters and Seniors (6 medals), and IBJJF World No-Gi (5 medals).World Juvenile champions Roya Lohoni and Nathaniel Sagman helped pace Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu to the World Juvenile team title as well.

In addition to all of the competitive success, there were incredible stories this year of both triumph and tragedy. Aaron Broverman, who trains with cerebral palsy, is getting ready for his first tournament at “The Annual.”  To watch Aaron train is to witness the triumph of the human spirit in Jiu-Jitsu.  This year saw Toronto BJJ say goodbye to its greatest competitor ever, Seana Rossi.  She may not have won a match in a tournament, but her warrior spirit in the face of ovarian cancer humbled us all. Seana passed away this May, but not before fighting so hard that the doctors ran out of treatment protocols for her because no one had ever survived as long. She inspired both people who knew her and those who had never met her to take up her cause. In a show of unity and compassion, the Jiu-Jitsu community can truly be proud. When Seana was denied access to expensive treatments, fundraisers for her treatment were held at many academies throughout North America, and donations were received from South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia as well. Her legacy will live on through all the lives she has touched and inspired. This year also marked the 4th straight year Toronto BJJ has run special classes free of charge for at-risk youth.

Congratulations to Toronto BJJ for another successful year!

Check out Toronto BJJ on their website: www.torontobjj.com

Seana Rossi's certificate and black belt from Toronto BJJ

Our GMA Jorge Britto, a Jiu-Jitsu professor living in Canada, got slammed with one of those losses that cause even the thickest-skinned athletes to break down. And he turned his sadness into a show of affection and love.

Last May 19, the leader of Toronto BJJ lost his purple belt Seana Rossi, who had been battling cancer since 2006.

“After spending months fighting bravely, Seana Rossi left to join God. However, her time here served to inspire us all in our daily struggles, from the easiest to the most difficult. The worst defeat is when we stop fighting, and she didn’t stop fighting until her last breath, until she had tried her last recourse,” wrote Jorge.

“This Tuesday, May 23, a wake was held in her memory. The church was packed to celebrate an intense and happy life. Friends and family members were present to pay final tribute. On my part, I could not leave out promoting Seana to Jiu-Jitsu black belt (in memoriam), for all she did and represented in life for all of us. She represents the attributes of a warrior and the values of Jiu-Jitsu that we all fight to defend. And as a black belt is a white belt who never gave up, Seana would surely have completed the mission, as she never, ever gave up.”

GRACIEMAG.com extends its wishes for strength and comfort to the family members, friends and everyone who had the opportunity to train with and learn from the fighter.

O certificado de faixa-preta de Seana Rossi da Toronto BJJ: exemplo.

Nosso GMA Jorge Britto, professor radicado no Canadá, encarou uma daquelas derrotas que abalam o mais casca-grossa dos atletas. E fez da tristeza um exemplo de carinho e amor.

O líder da Toronto BJJ perdeu, no último dia 19 de maio, sua faixa-roxa Seana Rossi, que vinha lutando contra um câncer desde 2006.

“Após meses lutando com muita coragem e bravura, Seana Rossi foi para perto de Deus. No entanto, sua passagem aqui serviu de inspiração para todas as nossas lutas diárias, desde as mais fáceis até as mais difíceis. A maior derrota é quando desistimos de lutar, e ela nunca desistiu até o último momento, até o último recurso”, escreveu Jorge.

“Nessa terça-feira, 23 de maio, foi realizado um culto em sua memória. Uma igreja lotada para celebrar uma vida intensa e feliz. Amigos e familiares estiveram presentes para uma última homenagem. Da minha parte, não poderia deixar de promover Seana a faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu (in memoriam), por tudo que ela fez e representou neste período de vida para todos nós. Ela representa as qualidades de um guerreiro e os valores do Jiu-Jitsu que tanto lutamos para defender. E como um faixa-preta é um faixa-branca que nunca desistiu, com certeza Seana completaria esta missão, pois ela nunca, nunca desistiu”.

O GRACIEMAG.com deseja força e conforto aos familiares, amigos e todos que tiveram a oportunidade de treinar e aprender com a lutadora.