03/26/2009

 

 

 

 

Huge announcement, ladies and gentlemen:

 

 

 

 

Long time students and RABJJ Black Belts John Houben and Mike Boyle have started classes in

 

 

From Prof. Almeida:

 

"I have had the privilege of teaching Jiu jitsu for the past 15 years. I have shared the mats with thousands of students and training partners. As an Instructor, I am just as proud of a white belt learning a proper head lock escape or getting in the best shape of his/her life, as I am of the guy who goes out and compete in the world championships or MMA. However, the ultimate satisfaction is to see one of our students become a successful instructor, with many students of his own.

Today as I talk about the RABJJ Associated school in Newark, Delaware. I will briefly tell you how it all started.

 

I began teaching initially with a small kids program when I was 18 years old and still lived in Brazil. In 1997 I moved to Mestre Renzo's home here in the US to teach at the newly open Renzo Gracie Academy in Philadelphia. Master Renzo Gracie eventually split from his partner and decided to close down the Philadelphia branch of his school. I would move closer to NY to stay near Renzo helping him at the NY Academy and continue my training (I was only a Brown Belt then).However, there was a group of dedicated students from the defunct Philadelphia school that I felt responsible for continuing to be their Instructor.

 

They helped me find a Gym where we rented a Raquetball court and I would drive down from north jersey to teach class every  tuesday, thursday and saturday. We would just throw some wrestling mats and train. How unprofessional we were, but those were the standards at that time.

 

Many of the original students from the Philadelphia academy have moved away or life has taken away from the mats for one reason or another. However there has been four, who have endured the training, the pass of time and the many challenges that life throws at us, and remain students of the school today. I believe every student of the academy is responsible for helping the academy become one of the biggest Jiu Jitsu  schools in the country, from the White to the Black Belts. But today I would like take the opportunity to mention four of them, who were there when we laid down the first wrestling mats and are still here with us:

 

'Big' John and 'Uncle' Mike  have been among my most loyal and dedicated students.

Over the past 10 years they have diligently taken the drive from Delaware. Initially to Philadelphia, then Willingboro and for the past three years a total of 150 miles each time to Hamilton NJ, in the pursuit of their goal of becoming RABJJ Black Belts.

It is with great pride we welcome their school into our Jiu Jitsu family. If their dedication towards training is any indication as to  how seriously they take Jiu Jitsu instruction, the students in the Newark, Delaware area could not be in better hands."

 

 

 

Complete information about the school will be available to you on our Associated Listings page very shortly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our little ones make us so proud!

 

Under the tutelage of our spectacular Kids/Teens Coach Pete McHugh, not only they are having the best time but they are also getting really tough!

 

We want to congratulate our boys and girls for the amazing job they have been doing on the mats; they represent everything RABJJ stands for: hard work, discipline, commitment and fun!

 

We'd like to thank the wonderful parents as well for making this possible for all of us, driving great lenghts, always getting everyone here on time and most importantly, believing in the amazing benefits of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

 

 

 

 Lukas and Aaron take the lead.

 

 

 Everyone cools down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We asked the parents to join us, they deserve our recognition as much as the little ones do.

 

 

 

 

  


RABJJ  Competition Class.
03/23/2009

Big thanks to our dear Professors Steven Bongiorno, Tom DeBlass, Steve Kim and Coach Haz for their  assistance and for bringing  their students, who make our team so much stronger and represent us so greatly!

 

 To all RABJJ students:

 

If you'd like to become a part of the RABJJ Competition Team, you need to fill out an application and return it to the office for final approval.

 

You must be a member of the Competition Team in  order to participate in Jiu Jitsu and Grappling tournaments.

 

Be sure to take advantage of this resource to best represent your school. Please see us in the office for further information.

 

 

Here are some pictures from this past Saturday's competition class:

 

 

 

 Professors Ricardo, Steve B., Steve K. and Tom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We had VERY special guest who couldn't wait to get back on the mats!

Congratulations to our dear Sean and family on the birth of his second child!

 

 

 

 

Here is a little taste of what's coming out on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, May 19th 2009... ...and it looks awesome!

 

Make sure you add that to your wish list, guys!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. Almeida in UFC 2009 Undisputed!

 

 Most of us have grown up playing video games like Pac-Man, Mortal Combat, Mario Brothers, etc... but not many of us have the chance to be a character in a video game.

 

We're thrilled to announce that Prof. Almeida will be one of the featured fighters in UFC 2009 Undisputed!

 

While these pictures are not of Ricardo, we can't wait to see how it turns out because these graphics look awesome!

Big shout out also to our very own Frankie Edgar who will also be featured in the game!

 

 

 

 Click here to read the full roster reveal!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video of the Week.
03/19/2009



“The Jiu-Jitsu that I created was designed to give the weak ones a chance to face the heavy and strong. It was so successful that they decided to create a sportive version of it.

I would like to make it clear that of course I am in favor of the sportive practice and technical refinement of all athletes, whatever their specialty may be, as well as good nutrition, sexual control, avoidance of addictions and unhealthy habits. The problem lies in the creation of a sport-oriented Jiu-Jitsu, based on rules and time limits, which benefits the heavier, stronger, and more athletic individuals.

The primary objective of Jiu-Jitsu is to empower the weak who, for not having the physical attributes, are often intimidated. My Jiu-Jitsu is an art of self-defense in which rules and time limits are unacceptable.

These are the reasons for which I can’t support events that reflect an anti Jiu-Jitsu.”

 

-Grand Master Helio Gracie (October 1, 1913 – January 29, 2009)

 

 

Here we go again! Our own Prof. Almeida will be fighting very tough Matt Horwich on the upcoming UFN 18.

The fight will be on April 1st in Nashville, Tenessee (catch it on Spike TV), and we'd like to share with you some pictures of yesterday's training session at Mestre Renzo's Academy in NYC.

 

Under the watchful eyes of Renzo himself along with Jiu Jitsu expert John Danaher,  guys like UFC's Welterweight Champion Geroge St. Pierre, UFC's Andre Gusmao, Igor Gracie, Gregor Gracie, ROC Champion Rafael Sapo, UFC's Frankie Edgar and many more super tough professional athletes, Ricardo worked really hard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Danaher coaches St. Pierre and Ricardo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gene Dunn, Ricardo, Gregor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We'd like to thank our dear Professors Steven Bongiorno and Chad Beatty for taking the time out of their busy schedules to teach two wonderful classes over the past 2 weeks at RABJJ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can only imagine how much knowledge such achieved instructors have gathered over so many years of hard work on the mats, and that comes as a true inspiration to all who have had the chance to attend.

 

 

 

Thank you so much, and get ready for this Saturday, March 21st, as none other than our super skilled  Prof. Brian Walter takes on those mats and puts on a Jiu Jitsu clinic for you guys!

 

Don't forget, he'll be teaching his favorite moves... you don't want to miss out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

03/17/2009

 

Click here to listen to Prof. Almeida's interview on MMA Weekly Sound Off Radio show, and catch up with the latest discussion about his upcoming fight against Matt Horwich as well as many other interessting MMA related issues.

 

The page takes some time to load, so don't give up!

 

 

 

03/17/2009

 

 Following that, there was a second appearance in PRIDE, and then suddenly – at the top of his game – he dropped out of the scene entirely.

Fast-forward to 2008. Fight fans let out a collective sigh of relief when Almeida returned to the UFC, breathing new life into its middleweight division. But now, two fights into his highly touted comeback, he’s been on a nine-month absence. What gives?

For once we can blame forces beyond his control. While Almeida’s previous career moves were conscious decisions related to his personal life, his recent disappearance was the result of a sports hernia..."

 

...Click here to read the rest of the article.

 

Let's all wish him the best and hope for a great outcome!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. Tom DeBlass has had Bubba since 6 weeks old but Bubba needed a friend, so he just adopted Barney.

Barney is a 6-month-old Pitbull Lab mix from a shelter, and he's had a tough life with a face full of scars to show it.

 

Since he's been adopted he's the best dog ever and so is Bubba! According to Tom, they are out of their minds and a LOT of work, but definitely make his days complete.

 

Check them out! Too Cute!