BJJ Magazine + DVD

One of the Best Kept Secrets in Brazilian Jiu-jits

How many Jiu-Jitsu practitioners can you find that began training in the art of BJJ and has literally lived on the mats as a toddler that doesn’t have the last name Gracie? Give up? I’m not sure either, but my guess is not that many. Well I have found one. This individual has been training in the gentle art since he was 5 years old. He has beaten some of the brightest stars in the history of the sport like Marcio Feitosa, Terere’ and Marcelo Garcia.

3rd degree Royler Gracie black belt, 11 time World medalist, and leader of Relson Gracie Jacksonville (www.graciejacksonville.com) Daniel Moraes demonstrating one of his favorite take downs. Moraes was at Serg BJJ (www.SergiBJJ.com)in Savannah, Georgia for a

He was known as just Roberto Abreu back in early 2000. A tough blue belt that loved to compete and hungry to be a world class BJJ black belt. Just four short months after having been in a horrific car accident that was to leave him with having to give up the sport he loved he went on to take 2nd in the Brazilian Nationals. That’s when it all changed.

Roberto already knew, and now everyone else does too, that he was still on a path to accomplish his jiu-jitsu goals. But how could he. How could Roberto from the Brazilian country side make such a quick come back? How could he make a come back at all? It wasn’t normal. It’s like he’s some kind of a machine or mythological figure.  A BJJ player of his size with  the quickness of a feather weight, the technical ability of someone raised in Rio and playing on the mats from infancy, and the power and pressure of a super super heavy weight. "Cyborg" could be an understatement.

So, how do I gain promotions? That is a popular question asked by most  students beginning in martial arts. A question like that presented to instructors of traditional martial arts like Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, and American Karate can receive a direct answer and even feedback as to when they can expect to receive promotions. The same question presented to an instructor of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu may get an indirect answer with a lot of questions presented to the student.

BJJ at 40.... Why? The IBJJF defines 36-40 year old competitors as senior. No other area of society, other than sports, are young men and women referred to as seniors. Most would agree that 40-year-olds are middle aged, but not senior. The 20’s are the new teens, the 30’s the new 20’s, and the 40’s the new 30’s. There have been many athletes to accomplish great things beyond 40-years-old. Former NFL player and current BJJ brown belt Jarrod Bunch has won gold medals in the 18-29 division of IBJJF tournaments.

Romulo, He’s Only Just Begun!

If you grow up in Brazil and want to get involved with sports most children are steered towards soccer. If you grow up in Brazil and want to get involved with martial arts most children naturally gravitate towards jiu-jitsu. Unlike most Brazilian boys Romulo Barral began his martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do. It took nearly 5 years for Barral to warm up to jiu-jitsu from his first introduction to the gentle art. Romulo was a natural at TKD and enjoyed the stand up game much more than the ground game.

Food Network Star and Author Bobby Deen Dishes About Another

One of His Passions: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Legendary celebrity chef Paula Deen is known by millions throughout the world for her culinary skills and great sense of humor. For more than 40 years Paula’s sons Bobby and Jamie Deen joined her in the kitchen honing those same skills that have made all three the most highly rated Food Network stars in the history of the channel.