Five year old donates his too small gi and receives an new one thanks to the Give a Gift of a Gi Program.

Nicholas father died when he was just 18 months old. Nicholas’ mother Satu Immermann was widowed three years ago when her husband had a heart attack while in the backyard playing with the kids. This left Satu to raise three small children on her own.

Jammin' BJJ is a branch of the non-profit organization The Carly Stowell Foundation (CSF). The CSF provides enhanced education in sports and music to young people who demonstrate passion for learning and a commitment to excel. The Give the Gift of a Gi program is part of the organization that takes donated gis and repurposes them. Most gis are given to children who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford one. Some of the badly tattered gis are sewn into gi bags and a few, the worst of the worst, are sold in bulk as raw cotton to help cover the cost of shipping.

Elena Stowell is the founder of the Jammin BJJ Foundation. She was moved to create the foundation after the sudden death of her 15-year-old daughter, the subsequent depression and finding Jiu-Jitsu to help cope with the loss. “Passion”, states Elena. Elena has written book ‘FLOWING WITH THE GO: A Jiu-Jitsu Journey Of The Soul’ about her journey to her blue belt and her path to acceptance of the loss of her daughter.

Nicholas, the 18-month-old, is now 5 and in kindergarten. He has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for two years through a neighborhood program. The class is taught by Professor Kris Shaw who is black belt under Tinguinha and a mother of four young girls. The class is held at Carlson Gracie OC even though Kris has no affiliation there. Troy Acker, the academy owner and black belt under Franco De Camargo, rents the space at a reduced rate so the class can take place.

In the months before Satu’s husband died, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. When her husband passed, it left the family financially struggling. Despite a long, drawn out foreclosure and eventual short sale, Satu and the children are doing ok.

Nicholas quickly out grew his M0000. It was a hand-me-down and never quite fit him anyway. The Jammin BJJ Foundation heard about his family and his willingness to learn, listen and train and found him a new M00 with lots of growing room. Best part is that he traded in his M0000 and now another deserving (little) kid gets to train.

Nicholas’ new gi was donated by Marcelo Alonso’s team and has a Marcelo Alonso patch on it. It’s an interesting turn of events because Marcelo, Troy, and Franco are all part of the Carlson Gracie Team and classes are held at a Carlson Gracie academy. (Carlson Gracie OC)

If you would like to donate an old gi or organize a kid’s seminar please contact
Elena Stowell at the
Carly Stowell / Jammin' BJJ Foundation
16915 272nd St SE
Suite 100 Box 101
Covington, WA 98042

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamminbjj

Find out about the programs at Jammin BJJ here
http://www.jamminbjj.org/

More on the Carly Foundation here
http://carlystowellfoundation.countmein.com/default.aspx

Read about Elena’s book here
http://www.amazon.com/FLOWING-WITH-THE-GO-Jiu-Jitsu/dp/1937084620

Read more about Satu’s story here
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/struggling-242684-elysse-tustin.html

Carlson Gracie OC http://www.carlsongracieoc.com/

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Former UFC fighter and BJJ World champion says, "When I went into MMA I lost my BJJ." This prompted a lively exchange about training and the philosophies around training and cross training. As an example Marcio states, "In MMA when someone has you in side control you push away, in BJJ you don't, you have more options." He has the perspective of a seasoned Brazilian black belt and knows the power of Jiu-Jitsu. He continued, "I believe you're not going to be good without the gi."

Márcio is a third degree black belt. He received his black belt in four years from Carlos Gracie Jr. When I countered with, "Carlinhos? Carlinhos doesn't do that!" Pe de Pano said, "That's what Carlos said when he gave me the belt."

He began training in 1996 when he was 18. In 1999 he ran the ladder going from blue to brown in one year.

He competed in the 1999 Pans in January as a blue belt and won his division and absolute.
He competed in the 1999 Worlds in July as a purple and won his division.
He competed in the 1999 Nationals in October as a brown belt and placed second.

He went on to win the 2000 Worlds in his division and & absolute as a brown belt. Later in 2000 he won Nationals in his division and absolute as a black belt. In 2002 he won gold at the Worlds in his division and absolute.

Read more about Pe de Pano ->

Congratulations Callum Bisping, son of the UFC fighter Michael Bisping, after his win at the Tinguinha In House Tournament in Anaheim Hill CA. Callum won gold with two fights one ending in an RNC and the other decision. Callum has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for about six months.

Michael Bisping was on hand to cheer and coach. Michael is a veteran of the UFC and coach on TUF. He one TUF season three.

Thank you Grapple TV and Michael for the photos.  Photos and more - Read on >>

UFC Gym Grand Opening

On December 22, 2011 the UFC celebrated the grand opening of its fourth UFC Gym in Torrance, CA. The day’s events included tours of the amazing facilities and great demonstrations of Judo, Muay Thai, MMA, Kids MMA, Zumba, Capoeira, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. BJJ Legends got the chance to spend a few moments with UFC Gym’s head of Jiu-Jitsu, Tinguinha. Check out the interview and pictures from the event. Stop by the gym and check it out… you won’t be disappointed! A special thanks to Christina Pitkin and Wendell Paulding for showing me around. Make sure you ask for them if you're interested in joining... They'll take good care of you!

Click for video and pics

Read More ->

UFC Gym Corona held a workshop for the members of their Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and No-Gi classes. The Corona classes are taught by Instructors Thomas Kenney and Kenric Toliver. The UFC Gym Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu curriculum is overseen by Head Instructor Mauricio Tinguinha.

Black belts in attendance at the workshop were Mauricio Tinguinha, Thomas Kenney, Kris Shaw, Joe Camacho, Kenric Toliver, Rene Salazar and Brandon Bender. Over sixty students attended this Saturday workshop; white, blue, purple and brown belts of all ages.

Read More >>

FREE Muay Thai Trial
The Tinguinha BJJ Academy
Orange County
California

Special for BJJ Legends Readers, this entire month of October Tinguinha will be offering at The Tinguinha BJJ Academy a FREE Muay Thai trial for 3 Full weeks.   Click to read more - Make sure you tell them you saw it on BJJ Legends.

In California?

In Southern California?

Then come join us for a FREE 1 hour self defense/conditioning workshop specially tailored for women. We will be offering this FREE Women's Self Defense Workshop Saturday, October- 23rd at The Tinguinha BJJ Academy. The workshop will cover basic self defense techniques and it will be OPEN FOR EVERYBODY!! So invite your friends,  sisters,coworkers to join in the fun and learn to defend themselves.