Saturday training was great today at Gordo Jiu-Jitsu, plenty of black belts and lots of good training!
Gordo Jiu-Jitsu Saturday training November 2009
(Photo from Greg Penaloza)
There are a dozen black belts in the photo, including myself and that is not including the ones out of the picture, not to mention a half dozen brown belts, high level purple belts… No breaks from high level rolling and hot weather!
After nearly two years out of Brazil Paddy and Donal Carmody are back in Rio. These two brothers travel the globe searching out the best training in BJJ there is and this year brought them to the academy of Gordo Jiu-Jitsu. Paddy and Donal are two of the most dedicated and matriculate Jiu-Jitsu practitioners I know. After training, they review, they watch instructionals and championships…Notes??? These guys have literally written a book thoroughly logging and detailing the techniques they have learned and practice. The Carmody brothers represent both Ireland and Jiu-Jitsu with confidence and pride. Aside from being dedicated to the Arte Suave they have a great sense of humor and are really good people. Glad to have you both back here!
Paddy & Donal at GJJ
It’s been on my mind for a while but I keep forgetting to write it in the blog. At the 1a etapa da Copa Minerienha LB academy had a lot of good performances from the team. Tiago Gaspery, Zorobabel, Ze Carioca, Clayton, Massoud and Caleb all did well, putting on a good showing for the team. Novo Leblon team also did very well. The team has a lot of young competitors and the showings get better every event.
In this last UFC Fight Night, Rafael dos Anjos earned fight of the night with a great performance. Congratulations Rafael.
Gordo Jiu-Jitsu/Gracie Fusion team mate Rafael dos Anjos interview, before his April 1st fight with Tyson Griffin at UFC Fight Night.
For all the people who want to know more about Gordo and the academy:
There has been a lot happening here in Rio. As it is said the year doesn’t begin in Brazil until after Carnival and for many people the saying is true.
During this last week David was once again admitted to the Clinica Bambina because of difficulty breathing, he even spent 24 hours in the ICU. The doctors said that it is possible he has some blood clotting from his healing leg that likely migrated to his lungs (in addition to inflamed bronchial tubes). Thankfully he left the clinic Saturday with his mom and Lane. He seemed in good spirits when I saw him this Saturday afternoon.
Training in the academy is getting into full swing as many of Gordo Jiu-Jitsu athletes prepare for upcoming Jiu-Jitsu championships and Vale Tudo fights. Not only where their the Cariocas but Gordinho brought down a group of New Yorkers, filling up the academy. No shortage of good people to train with.
During the weekend aside from Saturdays training there was a special Mauy Thai promotion for students of Edu Pachu, Deigo Braga, Cadu Andrade, Dudu, and Erinaldo Rodrigues headed by their professor Vander Valverde.
Sunday ITG held a special recording session for the TECH FACTORY and Faixa Preta Digital, with BTT black belt Fabiano Capoani demonstrating technique on Olivar Leite and myself.
Filming Technique at gordo Jiu-Jitsu w/BTT's Fabiano Capoani
Olivar Leite at home on the mat.
Felipe behind the camera
Clinica Bambina
Seeing David at the Clinica Banbina Saturday was very uplifting. He is talking, slowly and really able to communicate…”Bring me pizza”, was an urgent request sent out to everyone visiting him. With his broken femur healing he is still in bed but moving and ‘awake’.
Visiting family, friends, or loved ones in intensive care uses a lot of energy, in both seeing them in that state and willing them back to health with all of one’s energy. Going in to visit David now that he has been released from the ICU is a relief. The strength that David’s mother, sister and fiancee have shown throughout this time, waiting for visiting hours, sleeping at the hospital, and giving their emotional support to him, making the difference in his recovery to this point…Very admirable.
Yesterday an email came in asking me if I would be competing again…Although my blog has been dedicated to my good friend David Mills this past month, yes I am still training and yes I will be competing soon. The next championship will be the Brazilian Nationals of Jiu-Jitsu this May, said to be the toughest there is. To date there has been only one American to take gold in his division. My focus is on this championship.
Training photos will be up soon.
Brodinho Issa interview in Portuguese for ITG. Check it out: LINK
Thursday training 10/16/2008
This Thursday’s training wasn’t full but it was good training as always. Still more than a month off till Edu’s fight in the next Fury FC and a month till Rafael dos Anjos debuts in the UFC…both are already looking sharp.
Compliments of Edu