Toronto BJJ crew. Photo by Marc Bourgeois 

TorontoBJJ, representing Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu, captured another IBJJF team title in Canada, at the recent IBJJF Montreal Open.

Competing against the two big local teams, BTT Canada and Gracie Barra, the race for the first place was a thrill.

Great performances of athletes like David Krimus (double gold – purple belt), Dainis Nguyen (double gold-brown belt) and Sarah Smith (double gold – blue belt), secured important points for the overall run.

TorontoBJJ, lead by Professor Jorge Britto, finishes another great year with the two only IBJJF team titles in Canada. Know more about the team at torontobjj.com.

Toronto BJJ team at the podium

With more than 100 points ahead of the second place, TorontoBJJ, Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu association, won on October 10 the Toronto Open, the most prestigious tournament in the region.

The purple belt was one of the most stacked divisions and the standout was David Krimus.

With a very aggressive and technical style, he captured the middleweight and the absolute division, eliminating some of the best prospects athletes of Ontario.

At the brown belt division, Darson Hemmings and Dainis Nguyen closed out the absolute division for the team.

Winners on the black belt adult division, Giacomo Zanini, Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu representative in Vancouver, and Jorge Britto, head instructor at Toronto BJJ, captured gold on their respective divisions, the superheavy and medium-heavy.

This year’s winning team at the CBJJF BC Provincial Championship in Abbotsford, BC was none other than Ribeiro Jiu Jitsu.

The school dominated the adult divisions in the third annual tournament, scoring the most points and placing first in both the Gi and No-Gi competitions.

Athletes from schools in Vancouver, Coquitlam, Surrey, Aldergrove, Toronto and Ohio contributed to the team’s massive win, scoring a combined amount of 211 points and taking home more than 15 gold medals.

The team’s coaches included black belts Giacomo Zanini, Jorge Britto and others.

This is the second time the team has won the tournament in three years.

GMA member Jorge Britto of Toronto BJJ is leading the way for his team to be great. Whether in competition or just training, they are improving their lives and keeping the BJJ spirit alive.

Check out this annual highlight of the team from their great year:

Learn more at www.torontobjj.com

The whole team at Toronto BJJ and other affiliates. Photo: Vernon Anthony Kee

Professor Jorge Britto and his students from Toronto BJJ, a proud Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu representative, including affiliates 905 BJJ, Stratford BJJ and MTC Windsor celebrated another year together with their 6th annual in-house tournament and belt promotions recently in Toronto, Canada.

Over 200 students of all ages and belt levels competed in the end-of-year tournament held on four mats with IBJJF rules that included special male and female no-gi divisions and a brown belt absolute division. For many it was their first time tasting competition and experiencing a real tournament. For others it was another chance to sharpen their skills in front of family and friends with familiar training partners.

To begin the event, the students from the kids and teens programs provided an impressive demonstration of traditional BJJ self-defense and modern BJJ.

The new black belts. Photo: Personal archive

Additionally, Toronto BJJ celebrated many promotions as students reached the next level in their BJJ journey. Most notably nine students, some of who are also instructors at Toronto BJJ, reached the level of black belt! The new black belts in Toronto are: Nathan Rector, Michael Zaniewski, Firdavs Sulaimonov, Mike Nomikos, Eyal Cinamon, Sandro Tucci, John Serio and Steve Ramos.

The total of 100 new belts:

Adult
7 x Green
25 x Blue
6 x Purple
16 x Brown
9 x Black

Kids / Teens
6 x Grey/white
6 x Grey
2 x Grey/black
5 x Yellow/white
7 x Yellow
5 x Orange/white
4 x Orange
1 x Green
1 x Blue

Andrea Martyn receives her award. Photo: Personal archive

Furthermore, two students, Andrea Martyn and Nicolas received the Seana Rossi Award for their display of the warrior spirit in 2014. This award honors the legacy of student Seana who passed away in 2012 after a long fight with cancer and whose memory and spirit still inspires and motivates the team to this day. Seana’s parents alongside TBJJ Director Josh Rapport presented each award.

The academy also collected food donations for The Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto with a goal of collecting 1000 kg of contributions for the holiday season.

Professor Jorge Britto surprised with a birthday cake. Photo: Personal archive

To finish the day the team surprised Professor Britto with a cake to combine the day’s celebration with his birthday. Keeping up with tradition, the group picture was captured and the party came to a close after another successful event was in the history books.

Congratulations to everyone at Toronto BJJ and we look forward to hearing of more success in 2015!

Learn more about Toronto BJJ at www.torontobjj.com

Bruno Fernandes open class champion Photo: Andrei Tanasescu

The IBJJF has announced the Madrid International Open has reached 95% capacity for its tournament set for Saturday, Nov. 22 in Madrid, Spain.

Alternatively, for the North Americans, the Montreal International Open is still open for registration and will be held on the same day.

In Madrid, black belts have gathered from all over Europe. Jorge Elias, who recently competed and won in Moscow will be in the light-feather division. Sergio Calderon and Simone Franceschini will face off in the feather division as the lone fighters so far. Luca Anacoreta makes his way for the middle division. Black belt females will have a match in the lightweight division between Michelle Nicolini and Maria Gonzalez.

You can register for the event but hurry as there is a chance it could close any time. Go here: https://www.ibjjfdb.com/CampeonatoInscricao/Edit?CampeonatoId=326&FederacaoId=3 

Montreal International Open still has spots to fill for the Nov. 22 event to be held at Centre Pierre Charbonneau located at 3000 rue Viau Montréal, Québec, Canada. Some of the teams that are already on board include: BTT, Alliance, Gracie Barra, Renzo Gracie, Ribeiro JJ, Toronto BJJ, Vitor Shaolin BJJ and more.

Join the ranks and register here before the Nov. 14 deadline: https://www.ibjjfdb.com/CampeonatoInscricao/Edit?CampeonatoId=327&FederacaoId=3

Learn more at www.ibjjf.com

James Puopolo wins double gold. Photo: Martin Nguyen/Toronto BJJ Scene

The 2013 IBJJF Toronto Open was held this past weekend on Aug. 2 at Ryerson University.

Overall, the local teams had a great time testing their skills against one another. By the end of the day, however, the Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu team outscored the other teams by more than doubling the second place.

Here is how the team trophies were distributed:

1 – Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu – 192
2 – Action & Reaction Mixed Martial Arts Toronto – 93
3 – Gracie Barra – 50

The teams receiving their team trophies. Photo: Martin Nguyen/Toronto BJJ Scene

This is the third year in a row that Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu has won first place as a team at the Toronto Open.

For the black belts, Rafael Lovato Jr.’s black belt form Oregon was able to claim the double gold in adult divisions. James Puopolo won gold in the super-heavyweight division and the absolute.

GMA member Daniel Alvarez of Alvarez BJJ brought home gold in his black belt master 2 featherweight division and Jorge Britto of GMA Toronto BJJ won his black belt adult heavyweight division.

Check out the full results here: http://static.ibjjfdb.com/Campeonato/000297/en-US/Results.pdf

And see a full photo album by Martin Nguyen of Toronto BJJ Scene here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.929764380372228.1073742030.192240324124641

Professor Jorge Britto promoted one of his long-time students Thomas Beach to black belt with the help of Xande. In this video you can see just how emotional the promotion was for everyone involved.

Watch the special moment and try not to leak from your eyes!

Check out more about Professor Jorge Britto and GMA Toronto BJJ at www.torontobjj.com

The legendary Xande Ribeiro will be in Toronto later this month. GMA Toronto BJJ will host two seminars on July 26 & 27 for any student who would like to learn from this icon.

There will be seminars for both beginners and advanced students. Advanced students are determined by blue belt and up.

If you would like to attend both seminars, the cost is $175 and the cost is $125 if you can only make it to one.

Toronto BJJ is located at 813 Bloor St. West, Toronto, ON

To reserve your spot call 416-744-6868 and to learn more about Toronto BJJ visit www.torontobjj.com

Learn more about Toronto BJJ at www.torontobjj.com

Traveling from Canada, they have prepared for their chance to be world champions:

Catch their results at the World Championship which will be held from May 29 – June 1. Learn more about GMA Toronto BJJ at www.torontobjj.com

This Friday, May 23th, Gracie Magazine Associated (GMA) Toronto BJJ in Canada will be hosting a special “Ginastica Natural” and rolling class to help people in need from the Balkan Floods that devastated homes in Bosnia and Serbia last week.

According to Bosnian President Bakir Izetbegovic and neighbor from Serbia, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, the flood damage to both countries will cost billions. Both countries already have opened negotiations with the European Union to support reconstruction efforts. The biggest issue now is the people who lost their homes with this tragedy. Bosnia and Serbia have one of the weakest economies in Europe and a high unemployment rate; therefore almost no one has property insurance, meaning many residents lost practically everything.

The special class for humanity will happen from 6pm-8pm, May 23th at 813 Bloor St West in Toronto, Canada.

If you would like to attend to this special class or make a donation, please contact Toronto BJJ at www.torontobjj.com, phone number: 416-744-6868 or email: info@torontobjj.com