The fifth graders at Lincoln Elementary. Photo: Personal Archive

The fifth graders at Lincoln Elementary have been lucky enough to gain access to Jiu-Jitsu in their school. The team at GMA Gracie Morumbi brought a bully prevention program into a fifth grade class to help them gain confidence, learn self-defense and have fun in the process.

Brandon with Professor Erik at Woodranch Elementary School. Photo: Personal Archive

In Simi Valley, CA another school was granted the presence of a five year-old student, Brandon, who came along with Professor Erik to teach students the importance of staying safe. They learned the “No, Go, Yell, Tell” system to help them deal with bullies with Brandon as the teacher’s assistant.

If the students choose to pursue training Jiu-Jitsu further, they’ve already taken the first step and getting on the mats at Gracie Morumbi is an easy transition.

Learn more about the bully prevention program from Fabio Leopoldo and Gracie Morumbi here: http://bullypreventionforkids.com/gracie-morumbi-helps-kids-in-the-community/

Fabio Leopoldo made the cover and the top of the list twice for best in Ventura Country in the VC Register. Photo: Fabio Leopoldo

GMA member Fabio Leopoldo was voted the best martial arts instructor and his academy, Gracie Morumbi, was voted best martial arts school by the Ventura County Register for the 2013 year. This is his fifth year in a row winning the prestigious title. Fabio also made the cover of the “VC Reporter” with the best business of the county (left on the picture above).

The multiple-time world champion runs three locations in Ventura County, CA: Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Ventura. Along with this wife Dini and her certified kettlebell classes along with the kids, adult and women’s programs make the academies a great place for many goals to be reached.

Fabio Leopoldo (left) and business partner Erik Klinger

Fabio is still no stranger to competition and will be competing in the 2013 IBJJF Masters & Seniors World Championship on October 5-6 in the black belt senior 1 heavyweight division.

For more information regarding Gracie Morumbi, their classes and locations go to www.graciemorumbi.com

Greater evidence of the long road he has taken are the Pan-American gold medal, in the black belt absolute of the remote year of 2002, and the fact he still talks about training sessions at “Barra Gracie”, inverting the order like folks used to do.

So Fabio is one of the stars signed up in the master division of the Pan 2010, which boasts more than 50 fighters this year, promising to be an entertaining sideshow.

Fabio Leopoldo faces Fabio Gurgel at Worlds in Rio. Photo: Gustavo Aragão.

“I’m in good shape, getting squashed up by the world champions of Barra Gracie, at the training sessions headed by Marcio Feitosa at GB America. After training with Braulio Estima, Romulo Barral, Otavio Sousa and Kayron Gracie (debuting at black belt), I feel I’m ready to face anyone at the Pan. More names are cropping up; I heard a rumor that Saulo Ribeiro will be in it, so it will be really cool. It’s never easy, but I feel a lot better than last year, when I returned to competitions after four years in MMA, and busy with the academies,” the former IFL fighter and Jiu-Jitsu teacher living in California says with a serene voice. Fabio now has 360 students in two academies, one in Ventura and the other in Thousand Oaks. Happy and fulfilled, he has had time and training partners to get in championship shape.

“My students have gotten tougher and my training has improved. These days here I have the lifestyle I always dreamed of. We have our students, I’m in practice, and I just returned from a wicked surf trip with my big wave rider friend Mancuzzi,” he says with a laugh. “I can feel the guys on my team are really happy in training, and very motivated to conquer a second team title. Alongside the work of structuring Gracie Barra in the USA, an ever-stronger competition team is cropping up.

Besides training at GB, Fabio will also count on another reinforcement starting this Monday: “Gabriel Vella called me and will show up to do his final training sessions here in Ventura,” he says in closing, referring to his childhood friend and current ultraheavyweight world champion, one of the favorites in the adult absolute, in Irvine.

With the help of professors Erik Klinger, Raul Montolfo and Ryan Dahlgren, Fabio’s new Gracie Barra branch pays tribute to his origins, with the names of his masters, Ryan and Renzo, emblazoned on the door.

Check out the photos of the new installation at the academy’s official website by clicking here.

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