First Annual Soccer Invitational a Huge Success! 08/17/2009
Words can't really describe how much fun it was to see so many Jiu Jitsu aces going at it in a soccer field!
If you weren't there, make sure you don't miss the next one in 2010, it was hilarious! So much fun!
Thank you to all who showed up and participated, and now let's announce the winners:
RGA City Rollers walked away with the 1st Place trophy! Congratulations, guys!
Mestre Renzo coached his team to victory after the LONG battle went to penalty shots. Basically every team won a game, so we put together Red Noses and Bulldogs in one team against the City Rollers in the finals. After a tie during the regular time, the game went to overtime. Still tied, it went to penalty shots.
It was close, but enough to make the City Rollers our event's first Champions.
Congrats again, everyone! RABJJ Association students and Renzo Gracie Academy participants, we'll have our rematch next year!
Winners:
- Renzo Gracie - Igor Gracie - Rolles Gracie - Gregor Gracie - Neiman Gracie - Luca Atalla - Joao Silva - Ze Triangulo - Lucinho - Guto Braga - Tunico - Steve Kim Substitutes: - William Fauci - Kevin Hatch - Donald Ramos - Alex Eyre - Rich Schmich - Bobby Johnson - Lorand DoBondi
PS: The City Rollers, led by Mestre Renzo, even had a winning dance saved for the end of the game. They called it the "indian victory dance"! Hilarious!
There it is, the indian dance!
Renzo dancing solo. So funny.
Thanks again to all who participated, you made it really special!
NJ Police Seminar. 08/17/2009
This past weekend our dear instructors put together a seminar for NJ's State Police and at our request, Prof. McPherson (recently promoted to Captain, congratulations Professor) wrote us quick note:
"The seminar was a 5-day Defensive Tactics program entitled "Jiu-Jitsu for Law Enforcement" developed initially for the State Police but is now being utilized at various police and correctional academies throughout New Jersey.
Over 10 years running, the program has changed from time to time to meet the ever changing environment that law enforcement officers face on a daily basis. Thousands of officers from the Federal, State, County and local levels have participated in this program along with members of the military.
Taking the lessons that I have learned from Prof. Almeida and Master Renzo Gracie and adapting them to Law enforcement tactics has proven very succesful. There are documented incidents where members have used these techniques to control combative individuals. One of the first seminars conducted was attended by Master Renzo Gracie, Professors Ricardo Almeida and Sergio Ignacio at the Ocean County Police Academy. The program is designed to give all officers regardless of size the confidence to handle an aggressive individual with minimal force.
The students in attendance were extremely grateful for the guidance and instruction that was provided by Master Renzo and Professors Almeida and Ignacio. Prof. Luca Atalla even put down the camera for a while to assist with the instruction."
Brian McPherson.
Thank you Professor McPherson for the opportunity, everyone had a great time!
Enjoy some pictures.
Congratulations Prof. Almeida! 08/12/2009
What a night! This past weekend Ricardo faced another tough opponent in the octagon - 6'6 tall Kendall Grove, and brought the victory home after a unanimous decision.
Here is a nice article on Sports Illustrated that pretty much sums up what's next for our dear Professor, and just like he says, there's "no rest for the best"! He already has another fight scheduled and the upcoming bout should be announced very shortly.
Please click on the link below and enjoy the article.
RABJJ First Annual Soccer Invitational - This Saturday at 10:00 AM! Don't Miss Out! 08/12/2009
On 08/15/2009 at the Robbinsville Fieldhouse, our students will face off at 10:00 AM and will be fighting for the First RABJJ Annual Soccer Game trophy, and no, they won't have to grapple to achieve that (well, hopefully not).
We'll not only have team jerseys but also medals for the participants and again, an awesome looking trophy for the winning team!
Here is a sneak peek of the facility in which they'll battle it out, simply spectacular!
The game will be followed by a nice lunch at one of our favorite local restaurants, and if you are planning on coming you'll need to register for that too.
Friends and family are very much welcome to come and cheer you on and we can't wait to meet them ourselves.
Robbinsville Fieldhouse information:
153 West Manor Way Robbinsville, NJ 08691 Phone: (609) 259-8787
We can't wait!
MMA Connected - Ricardo One on one. 08/06/2009
Mike Straka - UFC 101 Storms East Coast. 08/06/2009
Almost there. 08/05/2009
Hello from Philly, everyone. I'll be posting a few links to some of Ricardo's interviews and articles regarding UFC 101.
We'll get started with the following links:
Prof. Almeida visits Fox Studios and Mike Straka. 08/04/2009
Today in NYC Ricardo visited Fox News studios and sat down with Mike Straka to tallk about UFC 101, his history as an MMA fighter, representing Renzo Gracie and our Academy, his drop to the 170 lbs division after this fight and much more. Enjoy!
Ricardo on News 12 NJ this Sunday. 08/01/2009
Check your TV guides, everyone. Don't miss Prof. Almeida's segment on NJ News 12 - this Sunday at 10:30 PM.
It should be very informative and fun, make sure you tune in.
Also on Monday Ricardo is getting picked up by the UFC to go on a day-long media tour in NYC. Same old stuff, Tv shows, radio stations, sparring at Renzo's academy etc, but for those of you a little bit curious about how everything works behind the scenes, I'll be getting tons of footage so I can vlog later on Monday right here on our news page.
Definitely stay tuned for that one.
Take care guys, enjoy your weekend!
Ricardo teaches his last class before heading out to Philly! 08/01/2009
This morning the students wished Ricardo good luck on his upcoming UFC fight. This is the last class he'll be teaching before making his way to Philly, and the mood was great as always.
Good luck, Professor!
Thank you Joseph White. 08/01/2009
Our dear warrior (in every sense of the word) Joe White has just presented Prof. Almeida with a beautiful plaque. What an honor!
We let the words speak for themselves. It is a very rewarding feeling to know that the Academy helps and inspires the ones who have been helping and inspiring us to face our battles with so much heart.
That's the kind of recognition that keeps us going strong.
Ricardo's Pancrase Days. 08/01/2009
This is a small highlight video documenting Ricardo's run in one of the most traditional MMA organizations in the world, Pancrase (Japan).
Here is a list of past Pancrase Middleweight Champions, including Ricardo who became King of Pancrase in 2003.
