Garry Tonon, American “Lion Killer” of GMA Brunswick BJJ will be in the United Kingdom over the weekend for the Polaris event. But he has time to teach in Birmingham at 10th Planet while he’s not competing.

Don’t miss the opportunity on Jan. 11 starting at 1 p.m. The cost will be £35 per person.

For more information email chris.garry@hotmail.co.uk and for privates email info@progressjj.co.uk

Cousins Robson, Roger and Kywan Gracie at Roger Gracie Academy in London, UK. Photo: Personal Archives

Kywan Gracie Behring carries Jiu-Jitsu in his blood from both sides of his family. His mother, Kyrla Gracie is Grandmaster Carlos Gracie Sr.’s daughter and his father, Marcelo Behring was Rickson Gracie’s student and became an important Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter in the 1980’s before tragically passing away in 1995.

The youngsters Kywan, who is now a Jiu-Jitsu brown belt under his cousin Roger Gracie in London starts to show signs that he is looking forward to follow the steps of his predecessors and become another protagonist to his family’s fighting legacy.

With a superfight schedule for this November 23rd against Sebastian Brosche at the European TKC 1, Toulkon Challenge event in UK, the Gracie speaks in the video below about carrying out his family name, the beginnings of Jiu-Jitsu and the relationship between Rickson Gracie and his father.

Check it out:

One-year anniversary for RGA Bucks. Photo: Personal archive

Last weekend on Sunday, July 27, GMA Roger Gracie Academy Buckinghamshire celebrated a milestone. The RGA Bucks, led by Kev Capel, had their one-year anniversary.

As part of the event, Roger Gracie came down to teach a class before grading some of the students. What followed was a barbecue in the rare British sunshine. Roger even cut the homemade cake with the club’s samurai sword!

Congrats to the RGA Bucks and many more years to come.

Check out more of the Roger Gracie Academy in Buckinghamshire at www.rgaa.co.uk

Kev Capel earns first degree from Roger Gracie. Photo: Personal archive

Kev Capel of GMA Roger Gracie Academy Buckinghamshire is celebrating his third year as a black belt. As a customary mark, the head instructor received a degree on his belt from Roger Gracie.

Congratulations to Kev and the RGA Bucks.

Learn more about RGA Buckinghamshire at www.rgaa.co.uk

GB Manchester celebrates 1 year anniversary

Last week, Gracie Barra Manchester which is owned by the Brazilian black belt Lucio Sergio Dos Santos celebrated its 1 year anniversary with a Jiu-Jitsu seminar and belt ceremony for 50 students including adults and children.

Professor Lucio started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2000 in the city of Rio de Janeiro where he is from originally, under Joelson Sousa from Gracie Barra. Before moving to the UK, Dos Santos was an instructor at Gracie Barra Matriz, the first official Gracie Barra School in Brazil created by Master Carlos Gracie Jr. and today lead by head instructor Jefferson Moura. Currently, Lucio Dos Santos lives in the city of Preston, UK where he teaches at Gracie Barra Preston. A year ago he decided to open Gracie Barra Manchester where he is the head instructor and also teaches three times a week.

GB Manchester leader believes that BJJ is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK and is the most effective martial art in the world. Unlike other martial arts, in BJJ it can take up to ten years to earn a black belt and so this is considered to be an incredible achievement.  “I teach both children and adults helping them build up their confidence and encourage them to a healthy lifestyle through sport.” Said Dos Santos

GB Manchester kids celebrates their belt promotions

For more info go to www.graciebarramanchester.co.uk

Black Belt Roger Gracie with Yasmine Wilson

Yasmine Wilson is the newest female Black Belt in UK. She trains under GMA Kev Capel, Roger Gracie in Buckinghamshire. Yas was promoted to Black Belt by Roger Gracie at an official opening ceremony last night.

This makes Yasmine the first Female to be promoted by the Legendary member of the Gracie Family and only the 4th female ever to be promoted to black belt in the UK.

Yasmine is also the current world champion and ranked no.1 in the world by the International Federation in the Brown Belt featherweight division.

Congratulations Yas! Thank you for inspiring many other women all around the world to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and showing that all of them can also become a black belt like you.

Victor Estima knows what success in Jiu-Jitsu feels like, having been a top black belt competitor for years under the Gracie Barra banner and opening successful academies in the UK. To him, earning money can only get you so far on the road to happiness and success is not always deemed by the number in your bank account.

Without loving what you do, that 40-45 year span in the working world could eat up your life and cause you a lot of unwanted stress and unhappiness. His life revolves around working hard in Jiu-Jitsu and reaping the rewards. See what he has to say himself in this video from Stuart Cooper Films about success in life, not just in Jiu-Jitsu.

Galvao at the ADCC. Photo: GRACIEMAG

In 2011, Andre Galvao set out for a chance to win an ADCC title. Through struggles via immigration issues, minimal resources and other barriers, he was able to not only get to the UK but he won the whole event.

Read up on Galvao’s own words as to what he went through to become the 2011 ADCC champion:

It is already past but it’s good to remember this day. God gave me those titles and I really thank Him for that. Of course I worked hard for it. But He gave me power and health and energy to be every single day on the mat working hard. Also God got a lot of people like my wife, students, friends and family to help me reach my dream. My school was so little, I had to train, answer the phone calls, teach the kids, help the adults, talk with people, clean the gym and set up the waivers for the visitors, and train hard, I said: hard. I was doing it every single day. My academy had no wall protections, the mat space was so little, and only one bathroom. I thank my first students so much for the help, also Bruno Frazatto, Davi Ramos, Denilson Bischiliari and Ronaldo Candido. They were the only ones from Brazil with me in that journey. I really was training without knowing if I would be there because I was in my greencard process and I didn’t have my travel permission with me, but in about 3 weeks before the ADCC 2011 I got it. The U.S. immigration government sent me that. Thanks God!!! And not just that, also I got deported from UK in 2009. They didn’t let me get in and sent me back to Brazil at that time. I remember sometimes during the sessions I was training so hard and sweating so much but inside my mind I was thinking: “Why am I doing all this? They will never let me in there again or maybe I can’t even go there” but I believe God just didn’t let me stop and I just canceled those thoughts in my mind and kept going almost crying. When I was in the plane ready to arrive in UK I just thought: “OMG I will be kicked out of this place again, what am I doing here” but no. As soon as I got there I had a kind of hard time to get in but they got me in for just 4 days permission and the day back home was my birthday September 29th. I can’t forget it ever. So as soon as I got my bags I said: “I wanna fight so hard now. I wanna win it.” Then I got back home with 2 trophies and the award of best fighter and best fight (vs. Palhares). My students were all waiting for me in a big party  inside our academy. I just cried and gave thanks to My Lord! If you don’t believe God exist, I do!!! I don’t need to say anything. This is the resume of my 2011 ADCC championship. “When you are loyal , God is Loyal and whatever I do I will do for Him. Because He is my power and my strength” I know I may never have a moment like that again. This is just one of my great experiences with Jesus. Rm 11:36

Caio competing at the 2013 Worlds where he won his division before heading to Europe for seminars. Photo: Ivan Trindade

World Champion Caio Terra is known for his traveling escapades and seminar schedule. It seems like he’s always extending his knowledge somewhere but that’s because he’s always booked. After winning his rooster weight division at the 2013 Worlds at the start of June, he took off once again, this time to Europe.

We’ve mapped him out so check out his schedule to see where he’s been so far and where he will be.

• June 12-13 Saint Malo, France
• June 15-19 Manchester, UK
• June 20 Strasbourg, France
• June 21-27 Basel, Switzerland
• June 22 Lausanne, Switzerland
• June 23 Zurich, Switzerland
• June 29 IBJJF Rome Open
• July 1 Rome, Italy
• July 2-3 Ravena, Italy
• July 4-5 Madrid, Spain
• July 6 Gracie Lisbon Lisbon, Portugal
• July 7 IBJJF Lisboa Open
• July 8 BPT Lisbon, Portugal
• July 9-11 Luxembourg, Seminar at GMA Ricardo Cavalcanti Luxembourg
• July 13-14 County Kildare, Ireland

The Abu Dhabi WPJJC Trial for the UK competitors unfolded on Feb. 24 at the National Judo Club in Dartford.

The event took place all day and the eventual winners of their categories received an all-expenses paid trip to the Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship in April. See names below to see who won! 

White Adult – 65kg

1. Aron Soto – Checkmat
2. Makesa Mwanza – Checkmat
3. Oliver Lee – Escola De Jiu Jitsu Leao Teix
4. Pedro Correia – Coimbra Mma / Icon

White Adult  -74kg

1. Elias Awada – Prana Jiu Jitsu
2. Diogo Silva –Icon BJJ
3. Danny Langford – Madhatters
4. Hector Augusto – RGA

White Adult -83kg

1. Booby Williams – Prana Jiu Jitsu
2. James Whild – GB Birmingham
3. Luke Holness – Madhatters
4. Mathew Morris – Pedro Bessa BJJ

White Adult -92kg

1. Danniel Watts- GB Garcia
2. Tim Rowley –GB Birmingham

White Absolute

1. Stephen Hall – GFTeam
2. Daniel Watts GB Garcia
3. Hector Zambrano –RGA
4. Tim Rowley – GB Birmingham

Female White-Blue  Adult -63kg

1. Carolina Carriello – GB London Bridge
2. Jolie Boyle – Carlson Gracie
3. Naiomi Matthews – Blakz

Female White And Blue  Adult +63kg

1. Martina Gramenius – Prana Jiu Jitsu
2. Mille Pederson –Arte Suave
3. Tanya Tansiri – Exeter BJJ
4. Kimberley Coster – Legacy Bjj

Female Purple – Brown – Black  +63kg

1. Karolina Zawodnik – Brasa /Berserkers Team
2. Anna Wilanowska – Alliance
3. Janni Larsson – Arte Suave

Female Purple Brown Black -63kg

1. Camilla Hansen – Arte Suave / Checkmat
2. Anna Polok – GB Draculino
3. Laura Hondorp – GB NL
4. Vanessa English GB Nottingham

Female White / Blue Absolute

1. Martina Gramenius – Prana Jj
2. Mille Pederson – Checkmat
3. Kimberley Coster – Legacy Bjj

Blue Adult -65kg

1. Kim Hofmans – BJJ Gent
2. James Costa – Carlson Gracie Jnr
3. Vinicius Frigo – RGA

Blue Adult -74kg

1. Babar Raja – Carlson Gracie Jnr
2. Chris Leddy- East Coast Jui Jistsui
3. Lee Renaut –Carlson Gracie Jnr
4. Nivaldo Lopes –Icon BJJ

Blue Adult -83kg

1. Amir Jawood – Allstars
2. Rokos Narusevicius – ATM
3. Giacomo Fincato – Nova Uniao
4. Mateusz Kacperski – RGA

Blue Adult -92kg

1. Wissam Suliman – Escola De Jiu Jitsu
2. Ashley Garvin – London Fight Factory
3. Nima Hashemi – Roger Gracie Academy
4. Mohamed Mansouri – De Le Riva France

Blue Adult +92kg

1. Kacper Bergunda – Yogui BJJ
2. Piotr Ossowsky – Gokudo Checkmat
3. David Mackenna –GB Essex
4. Greg Ferguson – GB London Bridge

Blue Absolute Light

1. Ali Korkmaz – De La Riva France
2. Lee Renaut – Carlson Gracie
3. Chris Leddyu – East Coast Bjj
4. Baber Raja – Carlson Gracie Jnr

Purple Adult -74kg

1. Kywan Gracie Behring – RGA
2. Diogo Borges -RGA
3. Daniel Svensson – Prana Jiu Jitsu
4. Jimmy Svensson-  Prana Jiu Jitsu

Purple Adult -65kg

1. Alexander Hoog Thomsen – Prana Jiu Jitsu
2. David Hyde – GB Birmingham
3. Emil Nilsson – Prana Jiu Jits
4. Belhassan Hicham – De La Riva France

Purple Adult +83kg

1. Carlos Santos -RGA
2. Yussof  Kaddurv – Zarate Team
3. Jamie Paxman – GB Nottingham
4. Antanas Cicenas – Checkmat

Purple Adult -92 Kg

1. Jaroslaw Saganowski – RGA
2. Krzysztof Saganowski RGA
3. Gavin See – RGA

Purple Adult +92kg

1. Hanna Karalainen – Alliance
2. Jason Bell – Carlson Gracie Jnr
3. Matthew Nazer – Simkin Mma
4. David Leech – London Fight Factory

Purple Light Absolute

1. Jimmy Svensson – Prana  Jiu Jitsu
2. Daniel Svensson – Prana Jiu Jitsu
3. Emil Nilsson –Prana Jiu Jitsu
4. Kywan Gracie Behring – RGA

Purple  Heavy Absolute

1. Hannu Karjalainen – Alliance
2. Peter Adams –
3. Krystof Suganowski  – RGA
4. Jamie Paxman –GB Nottingham

Black –Brown- Adult +65kg

1. Luiz Tosta – London Shootfighters
2. Maxmiliano Campos – Oxford Shootfighters
3. Carlos Eduardo Almeida – Nova Geraçao

Black – Brown – Adult -83kg

1. Alan do Nascimento – Checkmat
2. Rafael – Gracie Barra
3. Lucio Sergio – GB Preston

Black – Brown – Adult – 92kg

1. Jackson Dos Santos – Checkmat
2. Marcelo Coppa – Lotus Club
3. Jaroslaw Gajek – Gold Team Fighters
4. Arturo Salas Espies – Mathias Riberio Team

Black – Brown – Adult +92kg

1. Christopher Bowe – GB Birmingham
2. Antonio Junior – RGA
3. Thiago Borges – Cia Paulista
4. Dequick John – Malicia Team

Faria(right) was the black belt open class champion

The first ever European No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF championship took place this Sunday, in London, UK.

World champion Bernardo Faria was the black belt absolute champion.

He closed out the final with team member Dimitrius Souza.

Bernardo wrote about it on his Facebook page: “I closed out the open class with my mate Dimitrius Souza here in London. I fought twice, submitted the first guy with a leg lock and won the semifinal 8-0. I am so happy for having won yet another championship for Alliance, and this time with Dimi. Now, next stop is Los Angeles, for the Worlds No-Gi.”

In the adult black belt division, the champions were: Maxmiliano Campos (feather), Theodoro Canal (Light), Michael Langhi (middle), Eduardo Rios (medium-heavy), Dimitrius Souza (heavy), Bernardo Faria (super-heavy), Thiago Borges (Ultra-heavy), .

In the team competition, Gracie Barra finished first with 127pts; Check Mat was the runner-up with 123pts and Roger Gracie Academy was third with 116pts.

For the full results, go to ibjjf.org.

Master Helio featured on wall of Wand's academy, one of his favorite photos. Photo: Publicity

Wanderlei Silva is heading for London. Across the pond, alongside son Thor, taking a front row seat at UFC 121, Wand will teach ten seminars that, besides teaching his broad array of standup techniques, won’t be lacking in Jiu-Jitsu positions.

A black belt in the gentle art, Wand recognizes the achievements of one of the grandmasters, Helio Gracie.

“He really was the man, a tough guy who never backed down from a fight. Master Helio changed and continues to change the lives of many, as he did mine. Thank you Master Helio,” says Wanderlei over Twitter, after posting a photo of Helio hanging on the wall of his academy in Las Vegas.

“All MMA academies in the world should have a photo of Master Helio. Thank you for everything, Master, you’ll be remembered forever,” he said in finishing.