Will Ribeiro e seus pupilos na 1ª Copa Eraldo Paes. Foto: Divulgação.

Se você ainda reclama das dificuldades, é bom ler este artigo. O faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu Will Ribeiro fazia boa campanha no WEC, em dezembro de 2008, quando sofreu um grave acidente de moto. Ficou em coma, perdeu parte da visão, mas jamais perdeu o sangue nos olhos de lutador.

Graças aos amigos do mundo das lutas, Will tem participado de eventos de MMA e muay thai como árbitro lateral, além de ter montado a equipe WR, onde dá aulas em projetos sociais no Rio de Janeiro. Apenas no projeto Andaraí-Flor da Mina, Will já tem 50 alunos e o time já começou a dar frutos. Pela 1ª Copa Eraldo Paes de Submission, realizada no último domingo, no Ciep Vila Isabel, no Rio, a equipe conquistou uma penca de medalhas.

“O projeto é bacana mas precisa de apoio. Faça parte desta história de superação, patrocine este campeão, seja você pessoa física ou jurídica, escolha o valor e a categoria e a forma de pagamento. Nosso e-mail é bf.eventos@hotmail.com“, reforçou Wladimir Alves, irmão de Will.

As doações recebidas serão usadas também para ajudar no tratamento de reabilitação do lutador, como fisioterapia, fonoaudiologia e psicologia domiciliar, além adaptações necessárias. Com Will firme, seus frutos vão ainda mais longe.

“Only Dedé is helping. My brother doesn’t even have enough to eat,” says a frustrated Wladimir Alves, who is urging bids for the present Wand has offered up for auction. Anyone who wants to make a bid or donate something can contact me at wlad1@yahoo.com.br.

“Só o Dedé Pederneiras está ajudando. Falta até comida para meu irmão”, desabafa Wladimir Alves, que pede ofertas pelo presente oferecido por Wand para um leilão. Quem quiser fazer seu lance ou doar algo, pode fazê-lo pelo email wlad1@yahoo.com.br .

Cyborg at his South Beach,Florida, gym. Photo: personal archives.

Recently, he held a seminar at his gym, Fight Sports! South Beach, in honor of Will Ribeiro, a WEC bantamweight fighter who suffered a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2008. Initial reports from his doctor gave Ribeiro only a fifty-fifty chance of surviving his injuries, but over time, his condition has improved. However, what has not gotten better is his way of life, and he needs financial help to assist with his ongoing medical and personal costs.

Cyborg, who had never met Ribeiro before, read an article about him in GRACIEMAG and the fighter’s battle touched a chord inside of him. “I really felt for him,” he says, “Especially because I’m in the middle of the same environment he is. I can’t imagine how he must feel right now. To be on top; at the peak; and then for him to have to stop at the best time of his life because of a bad accident…I don’t know…I just wanted to help him. I wish I could do more.”

Cyborg continues, “He’s not my friend – I’ve never seen him in my life. I truly just want to do my part. I think people should care more about other people and try to help. Not because of any injuries – just because you should. It’s the best feeling in the world when you can give a little bit of you to the next person or to an animal or nature.”

Fight Sport! gym's beach clean-up effort

Cyborg stands behind his words of wisdom. A couple of weeks ago, he and Eliane Carotta, of Sanatura Yoga Studio, which is based in his Fight Sports! gym, organized a day-long “conscious attitude”/beach clean-up event for his students.

The day started with an Acro Yoga class led by Arianne Traverso, exercises on the ball with black belt Marcel Goncalves, then a guided meditation with Eliane Carotta (specializing in Yoga for fighters), and ended with everyone getting together and cleaning the sands of Miami Beach. All proceeds from the event went to: ECOMB (www.ecomb.org), a non-profit organization that preserves the beaches of Miami Beach.

Cyborg thinks that every act of good will can change your perspective in life, along with others’ attitudes. “When you have a good attitude, the people around you say, ‘I should do that, too,’” he says, “People start changing their perceptions. In the world of Jiu-Jitsu, there are a lot of good people who want to help, and I felt it was time to help Will Ribeiro. The seminar was one way to do that.”

Group at the Will Ribeiro-benefit seminar

Cyborg’s held a two-hour open mat and all the Avengers’s guys were there. He then gave a two-hour seminar, for which he charged a thirty-dollar minimum fee per person. “It was up to the individual to decide how much more than that he or she wanted to donate to Ribeiro’s cause,” Cyborg says, “One hundred percent of the money is being donated to Will. He lives in Brazil, so he wasn’t at the seminar, but I will make sure he gets all the proceeds from the event.”

If you would like to assist with Cyborg’s support of fellow fighter Will Ribeiro, he has an account set up where you can send a donation:

Will Marcos Pessoa Ribeiro
Bank Caixa Economica Federal
Account 013-00006328-7
CPF 100-405-737-70

Cyborg believes that giving back to others is the only way to improve ourselves and the world at large. “If every one of us did our part, the world would be a better place.”

Will Ribeiro at WEC weigh-ins with the late Master Luiz Alves on left. Photo: Josh Hedges

An MMA event for a special cause will be held this Saturday in Rio de Janeiro. All the proceeds from Shooto Brazil 20 will go to the treatment of former WEC rising star Will Ribeiro, who suffered a debilitating motorcycle accident two years ago, leaving him partially paralyzed and missing a large part of his skull.

Promoter of the event André Pederneiras calls on one and all to show up and enjoy the excitement of the always-entertaining Shooto Brazil event and help change Will’s life for the better, by contributing to his skull-reconstruction operation.

Shooto South America bantamweight champion with a dynamic game Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas headlines the event and hard-hitter with a capoeira background Leandro Batata also features on the card, as well as some must-see little-guy action with Maicon Willian versus Lincoln Sá.

Tickets cost $R 30.00, and can be purchased at the door at Delfim Academy, just around the corner from São Francisco Xavier subway station, or at Upper Academy, a stone’s throw from Flamengo subway stop.

The events starts at 6pm.

Shooto Brazil 20
Location: Academia Delfim, Rua Pereira de Siqueira, 45. Tijuca.
Date: Saturday, December 20, 2010
Time: 6 pm
Cost: 30 Brazilian Reais

Maicon finaliza Evandro Brilhante. Foto: Carlos Ozório

O Shooto Brasil 20, que será realizado no dia 11 de dezembro, na academia de boxe Delfim (Tijuca/ Rio de Janeiro), terá toda a renda de sua bilheteria doada para ajudar o ex-atleta de MMA Will Ribeiro. Will sofreu um grave acidente de moto em 2008 e necessita com urgência de uma complicada cirurgia de reparação da caixa craniana.

A decisão da doação foi tomada por André Pederneiras, representante do Shooto Brasil e ex-treinador de Will Ribeiro.

“O Will precisa mais do que nunca de nosso apoio. Essa cirurgia reconstruirá o afundamento que ele tem no crânio e deixará sua cabeça visivelmente normal”, disse Pederneiras.

O Shooto 20 terá um card de seis lutas, com disputas de cinturão: na categoria até 60kg, Carlos Alberto “Betão” (RFT) terá sua revanche contra o campeão Dudu Dantas (Nova União), válida pelo cinturão Sul-Americano. Já na categoria até 52kg, será definido o primeiro campeão Sul-Americano na final do GP iniciado no Shooto 19, entre Maicon Willian (Nocaute) e Lincoln Sá (Art Combat).

Os ingressos do evento serão vendidos nas academias Upper (Rua Marquês de Abrantes, 88 – Flamengo) e Delfim Boxe (Rua Pereira de Siqueira, Tijuca) pelo valor de R$ 30.

Confira o card:

Shooto Brasil 20
Dia 11 de dezembro de 2011
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Dudu Dantas (Nova União) x Carlos Alberto Betão (RFT)
Leandro Batata (Nova União) x Eder Jones (Minotauro Team)
Maicon Willian (Nocaute) x Lincoln de Sá (Art Combat)
Leandro Sete Bala (Nova União) x Reveilisf Barcellos (Peterson Mello)
Jeferson (RVT) x Francisco D´Branco (Beto Padilha)
Antonio Samuray x Emenilson Negão (Nova União)

Maicon submits Evandro Brilhante. Photo: Carlos Ozório

The entire gate from the December 11 Shooto Brazil 20 event at Delfim gym in Rio de Janeiro will be donated to the treatment of former MMA fighter Will Ribeiro, who suffered a serious motorcycle accident in 2008 and urgently needs complicated surgery to reconstruct his cranium.

The decision to donate the proceeds was André Pederneiras’s. Pederneiras is the president of the Shooto Brazil organization and a former coach of Ribeiro’s.

“Will needs our support more than ever. The operation will reconstruct his crushed skull and make him appear normal again,” said Pederneiras.

Shooto Brazil 20 will feature six fights with a few title challenges: Carlos Alberto “Betão” (RFT) will have a rematch against bantamweight divisional champion Dudu Dantas (Nova União), while the inaugural Shooto South America flyweight title will be determined between the finalists of the Shooto 19 flyweight GP, Maicon Willian (Nocaute) and Lincoln Sá (Art Combat).

Tickets for the event are on sale at Upper Academy (Rua Marquês de Abrantes, 88 – Flamengo) and Delfim Boxing Academy( Rua Pereira de Siqueira, Tijuca) at a cost of R$ 30.

Check out the card:

Shooto Brazil 20
December 11, 2011
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Dudu Dantas (Nova União) vs. Carlos Alberto Betão (RFT)

Leandro Batata (Nova União) vs. Eder Jones (Minotauro Team)

Maicon Willian (Nocaute) vs. Lincoln de Sá (Art Combat)

Leandro Sete Bala (Nova União) vs. Reveilisf Barcellos (Peterson Mello)

Jeferson (RVT) vs. Francisco D´Branco (Beto Padilha)

Antonio Samuray vs. Emenilson Negão (Nova União)

One of Jorge Britto's MMA submission wins. Photo: MMAAuthority Magazine

At Toronto BJJ this Saturday, Professor Jorge Britto is holding an open house class and demonstration of his Jiu-Jitsu for anyone  from any academy to attend.

The goal is to raise money for his friend and WEC fighter Will Ribeiro.

This special seminar will be from 12pm – 2pm with all donations transferred to assist the injured fighter recovering from a devastating motorbike accident that left him with major head injuries and paralysis on one side of his body.

If you would like to help Will with his treatment, purchase of medicine, transportation, and other expenses for his recovery, please come to Toronto BJJ this Saturday and bring your Gi.

By making a donation not only will you get to learn from a Saulo Ribeiro Black Belt, but you will send much needed help to a our friend in Brazil.

We ask for a minimal donation of $10 but, really, it’s whatever you can bring.

Obrigado – see you on Saturday and share this with all your BJJ friends!

Want more details about Will? Check here: http://bit.ly/bdEKmi.

Cyborg e Pablo no Mundial No-Gi. Foto: arquivo pessoal.

Lutador que vinha impressionando com ótimas apresentações no WEC, Will Ribeiro teve a carreira interrompida depois de um acidente de moto no final de 2008. Desde então, lutador e família lutam para captar recursos para o tratamento. E o mundo da luta não abandonou Will. Atletas de peso no MMA como Rodrigo Minotauro e Anderson Silva, por exemplo, já fizeram seminários com os custos revertidos ao tratamento do lutador. 

Atentos a isso, a dupla campeã do Mundial Sem Kimono Roberto Cyborg e Pablo Popovitch, nossos GMAs, entraram nessa campanha.  

“Ando acompanhando história sobre o que aconteceu com o Will Ribeiro. Dei um toque no Pablo Popovitch e vamos fazer dois seminários com as rendas completamente voltadas para ajudá-lo”, diz Cyborg.

“Tivemos um ano tão abençoado e isso é o mínimo que podemos fazer para dar apoio a um guerreiro como o Will. Infelizmente a vida dá rasteiras de vez em quando e temos que ser muito agradecidos por podermos viver e respirar o Jiu-JItsu”, diz.

“O meu seminário é no dia 18 de dezembro, na minha academia em Miami Beach. Vão ser duas horas de seminário. Os contatos podem ser feitos através do número 305-534-7410. O segundo é com o Pablo, no dia 8 de janeiro, na academia dele em Fort Lauderdale. O contato é 954-771-0084”, encerra Cyborg.

Cyborg and Pablo at No-Gi Worlds. Photo: personal archive.

A fighter who impressed with his performances in the WEC, Will Ribeiro had his career cut short by a motorcycle accident in 2008. Ever since, the fighter and his family have struggled to collect funds for his treatment. But the fight world hasn’t abandoned Will. Big-name athletes like Rodrigo Minotauro and Anderson Silva, for example, have held seminars where all the proceeds went to the fighter’s treatment.

Keen to Will’s plight, winning duo from the No-Gi World Championship Roberto Cyborg and Pablo Popovitch, two of our GMAs, entered the campaign.

“I’ve been following what happened to Will Ribeiro, and Pablo Popovitch and I decided to do two seminars where all the money to come in will go to helping him,” says Cyborg.

“Our year has been so blessed, and this is the least we can do to support a warrior like Will. Unfortunately, sometimes you take hard knocks in life, and we have to be very thankful that we can live and breathe Jiu-Jitsu,” he says.

“My seminar is on December 18, at my academy in Miami Beach. It will be a two-hour seminar. I can be reached at 305-534-7410. The second one is Pablo’s, on January 8, at his academy in Fort Lauderdale. He can be reached at 954-771-0084,” says Cyborg in closing.

Um dos mais talentosos lutadores de Jiu-Jitsu dos anos dourados, Ricardo Libório hoje vive nos Estados Unidos e é o responsável pela academia de MMA mais bem estruturada do mundo, a American Top Team. Faixa-preta de Carlson Gracie, Libório revela como funciona a engrenagem da ATT, que conta com atletas renomadíssimos como Tiago Alves Pitbull, Thiago Silva,  Antônio Pezão, Jorge Santiago, Mike Brown, Kimbo Slice, Luiz Cane Banha, entre outros.

Ricardo Libório relembra também alguns momentos de sua carreira, como a conquista da medalha de ouro no primeiro Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu (1996) num lutaço contra Léo Castello Branco.

Vencedor do Shotoo e do WEC, Will Ribeiro foi considerado um dos pesos leves mais virtuosos e agressivos da época. Mas Will, que treinava inclusive com o atual campeão José Aldo, foi vítima de um acidente de moto no ano passado, e hoje luta todo dia para progredir na recuperação. No Sensei deste sábado, Will mostra que seu ponto forte está mesmo na força mental, e gradativamente vai voltando à rotina das lutas. Hoje em dia, ele trabalha como árbitro lateral do Shotoo Brasil.

E, como não poderia faltar, também nesta edição do Sensei Sportv, a consagradora vitória de Maurício Shogun, que tomou o cinturão de Lyoto Machida com um chocante nocaute ainda no primeiro round.

O Sensei Sportv vai ao ar à meia-noite e meia de sábado pra domingo no seu Canal Campeão também em Lutas. Ah, a promoção Sensei Sportv com Vitor Belfort vai até o dia 5 de junho.

In a battle to recover from a debilitating motorcycle accident, Will is returning slowly but surely, within the possible, to activity. He has been working as a side referee at several MMA and muay thai events, as well dispelling preconceived notions regarding his abilities, by teaching boxing and muay thai classes, despite his being wheel chair-ridden.

There are many figures from the fight world standing behind Will in solidarity. Recently, Rodrigo Minotauro, Rogério Minotouro and Anderson Silva taught a seminar to collect funds for the fighter’s treatment. André Pederneiras, through the Shooto South America promotion, has helped, too. Now another MMA star is on the campaign, Wanderlei Silva.

Find out how you can help in the video below: