Goodbye and Good Luck Pedro Torres

Very sad day for us at Alliance Atlanta because we are loosing our good friend Pedro Torres. Pedro has been training with us for the last 2 years, but now will be returning home to Orlando FL. We wish Pedro the best of luck, he has been a great training partner and friend

Marcelo = Greatest of All Time?

This is a guest post by T.P. Grant, part of the Bloody Elbow Grappling Coverage Team.

Marcelo Garcia is one of the most popular fighters in the BJJ community. Known as 'Marcelinho', he is a member of the trinity of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, along with Roger Gracie and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. This past Sunday Marcelo may have set himself apart by winning his fourth ADCC championship.
An accomplished BJJ middleweight (163 lbs), Marcelo is a five-time world champion at the black belt level in Gi Jiu Jitsu. He entered the ADCCs fresh off of wining an IBJJF championship and in the first two rounds Marcelo dispatched Davis Heart and Vitor Estima in less than two minutes combined with his patented guillotine from mount.

In the semi-finals, Marcelo faced the young and hungry up and comer Kron Gracie, son of legend Rickson Gracie. Kron, a black belt since 2009 and still seeking his first World Championship, was trapped in a stacked division with veteran competitors. In his semi-final match with Marcelo, Kron locked on a guillotine choke that appeared very tight. Marcelo admitted he thought about tapping, but resolved to fight until he passed out and managed to escape.

Marcelo won the match on points, but it was the sternest test he had faced in years. In the finals Marcelo faced Leo Vieira - a 2x ADCC champion who once fought an almost 100lbs heavier Mark Kerr to a stand-still. Marcelo quickly defeated Vieira with a triangle from mount. Marcelo finished the two biggest grappling competitions of 2011 not only as the champion, but without a single point being scored against him.
With this victory Marcelo Garcia moves into a class of his own as the most decorated ADCC competitor. Roger Gracie's greatness stems from domination with fundamentals, Jacare Souza's from physical brilliance, while Marcelo's stems from technical brilliance. Marcelo's creativity and innovation has lead him to create amazingly effective, deviously simple and detail heavy sweeps.

Marcelo realized as he was progressing towards black belt that at the highest levels of BJJ, submissions from the back had become the exception instead of the rule and focused his guard game on sweeping rather than submitting. Marcelo mastered the butterfly guard and then adapted it to the super technical X-Guard and tinkered with both positions with and without the gi.

Marcelo is still a young man, in his late twenties, and has a long grappling career still ahead of him. While Roger Gracie's accomplishments are well-documented and his ability to pass the guard and submit seemingly anyone will always earn him a spot among the all-time greats, Marcelo Garcia stands alone as the pound-for-pound greatest living grappler. Nine of the most prestigious gold medals in submission grappling hang in Marcelo's closet and the technical innovations make him a once in a generation type talent, akin to Carlos and Helio Gracie the original innovators of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Felipe's Graciemag Ad

New Alliance School in Hawaii!

Alliance Jiu Jitsu is proud to announce our fist affiliated school on the beautiful island of O'ahu, Hawaii!

Head instructor, Rexie Barnum began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1991 after moving to Hawaii from California. After 18 years of training, Rexie Barnum was promoted to black belt in 2009. Rexie Barnum has participated in various competitions throughout his career and continues to participate in competitions, always striving to improve himself and keep in touch with the direction of Jiu-Jitsu for his students. Aiming to provide a great place where students can call "home" and are "family" while learning the art of Jiu-Jitsu, Rexie opened his academy in 2007.

Rexie Barnum dedicates much of his time to the academy and his students as he teaches most of the classes and makes it a priority to teach and train with all his students. The academy also strives to support the community and participates in service projects.

The Academy offers programs for children (beginning from 4 years old to 12 years old), teens (from 13 years old to 17 years old), women (Gi), adults (both Gi and No-Gi) and a program for "Master Senior" adults (over 30 years old). The Academy strives to offer training for all individuals: from the serious competitor to the person who simply enjoys the art. Alliance Hawaii's mission is to help students reach their goals, whatever they may be and make them a part of their growing family.

School address: 94-1388 Moaniani Street, Unit 227, Waipahu, Hawaii 96797

School phone number: 808-222-7967

School contact email: info@alliancebjjhawaii.com

School web address: www.alliancebjjhawaii.com

Ian and Jordon take home cash in Advanced Absolute

This Saturday, Ian McPherson and Jordon Schultz traveled to Blue ridge Georgia where they dominated the rumble in the mountain's advanced gi under 170 and over 170 divisions.

Jordon won his division taking home the cash prize only having one match. Ian closed out his division with Rafael Rosendo Dos Santos from Alliance Greenville. Ian and Rafa were kind enough to have a friendly final match as a symbol of their respect for each other.

ADCC Final Brackets

The ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) Submission Wrestling World Championship
24th and 25th September 2011
Capital FM Arena.
Nottingham, England
Friday:  Weigh in and rules meeting at the arena at 3pm
Saturday:  Competition start at 12pm
Sunday:  Competition start at 12pm
Weigh-ins will be on Friday after the rules meeting and both days Saturday and Sunday before the first fight.
Superfights:
Mario Sperry vs Renzo Gracie (Sunday, September 25, 2011 before the ADCC Absolute Semifinals)
Jacare vs Braulio (Saturday, September 24, 2011 Last match of the day)
MEN'S

-65.9kg
1. Rafael Mendes. Brazil (current champion, ADCC 2009)
2. Greger Forsel. Finland (European trials winner)
3. Marko Ramos. USA (North American trials winner)
4. David Marinakis. Australia (Oceania trials winner)
5. Tetsu Hadairo. Japan (Asian trials winner)
6. Jeff Glover. USA (second North American trials winner)
7. Bruno Frazzato. Brazil (South America)
8. Timo-juhani Hirvikangas. Finland (Second European trials winner)
9. Ryan Hall. USA (confirmed invitation)
10. Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
11) Barret Yoshida. USA (confirmed invitation)
12) Rani Yahya. Brazil(confirmed invitation)
13) Robson Moura. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
14) Jeremy Umphries. USA (confirmed invitation)
Denny Prokopos. USA (confirmed invitation)(out injured)
15) Tom Barlow. England (confirmed invitation)
16) Justin Rader (confirmed invitation)

-76.9kg
Pablo Popovitch. (current champion)(Moving up to 88kg)
1. Jorge Britto. Brazil (European trials winner)
2. Vagner Rocha. Brazil (North American trials winner)
3. Davis Hart. Australia (Oceania trials winner)
4. Sanshiro Nakakura japan (Replaced Gomi)
Takanori Gomi. Japan (Asia trials winner)(Looks to be out))
5. Enricco Coco. USA (Second North America trials winner)
6. Murilo Santana. Brazil (South American trials winner)
7. Daniel Strauss. England (Second European trials winner)
8. Marcelo Garcia. Brazil(confirmed invitation)
9. Clark Gracie (confirmed invitation)
Gunnar Nelson. Iceland (confirmed invitation)(Moved to under 88kg)
10. Leo Viera. Brazil(confirmed invitation)
11. JT Torres. USA (confirmed invitation)
12. Kron Gracie. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
Gregor Gracie. Brazil (confirmed invitation)(Out injured)
13 Victor Estima Brazil (confirmed invitation)
14. Augusto Mendes “Tanquinho”. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
15. Claudio Calasans Brazil (confirmed invitation)
16. Jason Manly (confirmed invitation)

-87.9kg
1. André Galvão. Brazil (current runner-up – Bráulio will face Ronaldo Jacaré in superfight)
2. Marko Helen. Finland (Europe)
3. Kyle Griffin (confirmed invitation)
Rustam Chsiev. Russia (North America) (Out Injured)
4. Cameron Rowe. Australia (Oceania)
5. Jeon Doo Kwang. South Korea (Asia)
6. James Harbison. USA(confirmed invitation)
JJ Holmes. USA (North America)(never responded to adcc)
Claudio Calasans. Brazil (South America)(Moved to 77kg)
7. Zbigniew Tyszka. Poland (second European trials winner)
8. Pablo Popovitch. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
9. Rafael Lovato jnr. USA (confirmed invitation)
10. Romulo barral. Brazil (confirmed invitiation)
11. Rousimar Palhares. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
12. Sergio Moraes. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
13. Paulo Filho. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
14. David Avellan. USA (confirmed invitation)
15. Dan Schon. Mexico (confirmed invitation)
16. Gunnar Nelson Iceland(was in under 77kg)

-98.9kg
1. Xande Ribeiro. Brazil (champion)
2. Kari Peltola. Finland (Europe)
3. Joseph Lee Baize. USA (North America)
4. Igor Praporshchikov. Australia (Oceania)
5. Animal Anzai. Japan (Asia)
6. James Poupolo. USA (North America)
7. Augusto Ferrari. Brazil (South America)
8. Kamil Uminski. Poland (second European trials winner)
9. Lucio "lagarto" Rodrigues. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
Roger Gracie. Brazil(confirmed invitation)(out)
10. Rodolfo Viera. Brazil(confirmed invitation)
11. Joao Assis. Brazil(Confirmed invitation)
12. Dean Lister. USA/Brazil (confirmed invitation)
13. ???
Robert Drysdale. USA (confirmed invitation)(out)
14. Radek Turek. Poland (confirmed invitation)
15. Antonio Peinado (confirmed invitation)
16. James Brasco (confirmed invitation)

+99kg
1. Fabricio Werdum. Brazil (champion)
2. Janne-Pekka Pietiläinen. Finland (Europe)
Mario Rinaldi. USA (North America)(Out)
3. Luke Costello uk(confirmed invitation)
Lucio "lagarto" Rodrigues. Brazil (confirmed invitation)(moved to under 99)
4. Mick Wilson. Australia (Oceania)
5. Sekine Hideki. Japan (Asia)
6.Rodrigo Artilheiro (confirmed invitation)
Jared Rosholt. USA (North America)(never responded to adcc)
7. Gabriel Vella. Brazil (South America)
8. Mateusz Juskowiak. Poland (took second in trials but winner already had invite- Europe2)
9. Jeff Monson. USA (confirmed invitation)
10. Bruno Bastos. Brazil(confirmed invitation)
11. Roberto "cyborg" abreu. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
Antonio ”bigfoot” Silva. Brazil (confirmed invitation)(out)
12. Jarrod Bunch(confirmed invitation)
13. Vinny Magalhaes . Brazil(confirmed invitation)
14. Geraldi Rinaldi. USA (confirmed invitation)
15. Fereira Jose Junior. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
16. Alexander Trans. Denmark (confirmed invitation)
WOMEN'S

-60kg
1. Luanna Alzuguir. Brazil (champion)
2. Lara Jayne Ng. Australia (Oceania)
3. Hashi Takayo. Japan (Asia)
4. Cathilee Albert. USA (North America)
5. Michelle Nicolini. Brazil (South America)
6. Sara Svensson (European trials winner)
7. Krya Gracie. Brazil (Confirmed invitation)
8. Rosi Sexton. U.K (confirmed invitation)

+60kg
1. Hannette Staack. Brazil (champion)
2. Fiona Muxlow. Australia (Oceania)
3. Penny Thomas. South America (North America)
4. Talita Nogueira. Brazil (South America)
5. Devi Ahuja. Norway (European trials winner)
6. Gabi Garcia. Brazil (confirmed invitation)
7. Ida Hansson (confirmed invitation)
8. Katrina Weilbacher(confirmed invitation)

Langhi Bros Highlight

Graciemag article: Cobrinha ready for ADCC next weekend - Ivan Trindade

There aren’t many athletes qualified for or invited to the ADCC who have a CV quite like Rubens Charles Maciel’s.

Cobrinha, a five-time Jiu-Jitsu world champion who in 2007 captured featherweight gold without so much as an advantage point scored against him, will put it all out there at ADCC 2011, as he told GRACIEMAG.com in an exclusive interview: “The event itself has lost a bit of importance to me. Of course I still like the championship a lot and will put in an effort to become champion. I always liked the ADCC, but what I liked most was preparing for the ADCC”

On Joel Tudor's back in 2009

Taking the post of runner-up in the under-66kg division in 2009 after an historic, 40-minute final with Rafael Mendes, Cobrinha decided to innovate in preparing for the 2011 event: “This year I did things a bit differently. I started training in Los Angeles with Michel Maia and Pedro Lott and then headed for New York, where I trained with Marcelo [Garcia], Lucas Lepri, Antônio Peinado, Piui, Gabi Garcia and the other Alliance students there.”

If the stay in Manhattan already featured such a stellar cast to train with, what’s to say about Cobrinha’s subsequent training tour? He tells it himself: “To wrap up I came to Abu Dhabi at the invitation of Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed [founder of the ADCC]. Here I had the welcome surprise of a dream training camp, with Renzo and Rickson Gracie, as well as the Sheikh himself.”

With Marcelinho in NY

The training and time spent with such a select group furbished Cobrinha with extra weapons with which to take on the other aces of the under-66kg division when competition time comes in Nottingham: “Having gone through all these preparations, I’m more than ready to face my opponents. And I even added a few more secrets to my game.”

Being the champion he is, Cobrinha is always in it to win it, however, as he reveals candidly, “After all this training, what will endure in my memory forever is the knowledge I acquired from these legends of the sport. To me that’s worth even more than an ADCC title.”

Don’t forget to stay tuned to the GRACIEMAG at the ADCC blog for all the latest and greatest on ADCC 2011.

Oma Plata Technique by Jordon Wallace Schultz

Link to his youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/triangulo6

Anyone interested in private lessons or seminars please contact him. Group rates available. BJJ black belt Jamel McCurry had this to say after a 3 hour seminar with Jordon

‎"World Champion Jordon Schultz gave one of the best seminars I've ever been too! I'm so glad I didn't miss this one... priceless!"

Graciemag interview of Felipe “Zicro” Neto - Ivan Trindade

GMA member school Alliance Tallahassee is a safe place if you are looking for a top class Jiu-Jitsu training facility in Florida. Its leader, Felipe “Zicro” Neto lives the gentle art 24/7 and is restless in improving his teaching and management skills to bring more and more benefits to his students.
In this quick interview, Zicro, who started Jiu-Jitsu at 17 years old at the legendary Master Academy, in Rio de Janeiro, under Master Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti, talks about his views on Jiu-Jitsu and what and how the gentle art  can turn everyday people into more confident and successful persons.

Did Jiu-Jitsu change your life?

Felipe “Zicro” Neto: I think that not only Jiu-Jitsu, but also any well-oriented sport can change people’s lives. I’ve been into sports since I was a child, with judo at 6 years old. I encountered Jiu-Jitsu as a teenager, a time of our lives when we make the passage from family to broader social relations. That’s an especially dangerous phase because we can get in touch with new experiences, not always good ones. I cannot say that Jiu-Jitsu changed completely my life, but I can sure say that it strengthen my values, such as discipline, respect, honor, integrity and loyalty.

Is there a secret for owning a successful academy?

Zicro: That’s a question I hear often and a hard one to answer. To me, the most important quality a professor/owner of a Jiu-Jitsu academy must have is to like what he or she does, which is to help people to develop. To be a great teacher being a great champion is worthless if that is the only thing you developed during your career. You have to know how to communicate and organize, to deal with delicate situations, have creativity, leadership, be persistent, responsible and to know how to transmit your technical knowledge. Those are things you learn at school, so I consider vital to have a degree, preferably in Management or Physical Education.

What gives you more pleasure, to turn a white belt into a black belt champion or to turn a lonely and shy child into someone with great self-esteem?

Zicro: Competitions bring me a lot of satisfaction, but Jiu-Jitsu is the environment that I try to create in my academy, more family oriented. Other than athletes, teenagers, women and children develop themselves daily on our classes. To see a housewife learn to defend herself, an executive to vent his stress, an overweight person loose weight and a lonesome guy or girl not only learn Jiu-Jitsu but make a lot of friends is something priceless.
For more info, go to alliancetallahassee.com.

Jacare Seminar in Phenix City, AL - September 17th

Jacare Back in Class!!

After taking all of last week off for being sick, Professor Jacare is back in class teaching. Its good to have the Yoga warm up back in the noon class!!