Gracie Barra Corona

CONGRATULATIONS TO MALAIPET “THE DIAMOND” SASIPRAPA ON HIS MOST RECENT WIN THIS PAST SUNDAY AGAINST MICHAEL MANAQUIL FOR MORE INFO ON MALAIPET’S TITLES AND BACKGROUND, CLICK Malaipet Sasiprapa Info

7TH ANNUAL SOUTH BAY OPEN-Congratulations to our competitors at this years South Bay for a job well done!

OUR JUDO KIDS COMPETED AND DID VERY WELL AT THE 2010 USJF/USJA NATIONAL JUDO CHAMPIONSHIPS
SOME ARE NOW LOOKING TOWARD THEIR NEXT BIG EVENT: USA OPEN in FLORIDA!!

If you did not read the Gracie Mag article, “The Spirit of Jiu-Jitsu” featuring our very own Brandon Mendez, please click here

Stay tuned for details about a Pizza Party at Straw Hat and a beach day so that we can all get together and visit and have fun!!!!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

CHECK OUT LOCAL TOURNAMENTS AT GRAPPLINGX.COM

Sunday August 1st - WE WILL HAVE TABLES RESERVED AT AUSTIN’S FOR THE UFC on 8/1 and UFC 117 8/7 - JOIN US AT AS CLOSE TO 6 TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT!!!
AUSTIN’S SPORTSGRILL
951-549-1352
1275 Magnolia Ave.

3rd World International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships Gi & Nogi
for kids and teens ages 4-17
Saturday July 31 and Sunday August 1st
Riverside Convention Center
Registration Click Here until Wednesday July 28, 2010 11:59pm

American National Jiu-Jitsu No Gi Championship (IBJJF)
August 14, Sport Center of Las Vegas

American National Jiu-Jitsu Gi Championship (USBJJF)
September 25-26, Carson, CA

WE ARE GOING TO BE AT THE NORCO FAIR! Save the date to come watch the rodeo, play and eat! We will have a booth if you want to stop by!
Labor Day Weekend - September 2-6

REMINDERS:

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals - Women Only

  Womens Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Class is up and running and moving to 5:15-6:15

Mom’s, sisters and friends are welcome to join us anytime to try it out. If you decide to come regularly - there is a special price of $60/month ($50 if you have a current family member at the academy) for the women’s class plus yoga & conditioning (you can also attend the Saturday 10am BJJ class with or without your kids)!

INTRO TO CAPOEIRA  will be Every Friday from 6:15-7:00PM and is going strong! The class is growing fast so we have adjusted the schedule to allow 45 min for capoeira  - (it is a great workout)

Yoga/stretching on Thurs 10:30-11:30 is also growing fast. We are doing a gentle/restorative method of yoga so please feel free to come try it.

ADULT JUDO - We will be designating a time for beginners to have an opportunity to work on basics. Please stay tuned for that announcement. Until then, Judo adult class participants must be atleast bjj two stripe white belts.

Thursday 7:15 conditioning - PLEASE remember to bring your running shoes.
(and get ready for rope training - they should be delivered in a few days)

Please let us know when your friends come and sign up at the academy so that we can give you $50 credit during their 2nd month of training. We are still planning a contest - for the start of the school year!

“If you’ll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your lives.” - Vince Lombardi thank you all for helping us make gbc a special place to train!   If you have any suggestions, comments, or concerns please send those as well. We are eager to hear your feedback. write to: info@graciebarracorona.com   Please remember that we train for many different intentions and these change over time. Circumstances and personal realizations often impact us in unexpected ways. Our training follows this path. It is imperative to develop acceptance and commitment. Training teaches us the value of consistency more than we can imagine. The longer we train, the more we realize these things.

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The true spirit of Jiu-Jitsu

by Deb Blyth — July 9, 2010.

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Paul Nguyen winning the match against Brandon Mendez

In Jiu-Jitsu there are always people who blow you away. It may be because their athletic abilities are so superior, you’re mesmerized by their skills. Sometimes it’s because their appearance or behavior is so outlandish, you can’t take your eyes off them. Occasionally, it’s simply because you sit down and talk to them about their journey to and through Jiu-Jitsu, and you can’t believe what you’re hearing.Every sport has its champions and Jiu-Jitsu is no different. The true spirit of any sport, though, is found in its everyday heroes. People who fight the battles of life with such tenacity, grace, and courage, it makes you sit back and reflect about the true meaning of life and reconsider what you often take for granted. That’s what the following Gracie Barra warriors do. Their journeys through war, injury, and disease, wielding nothing but supreme mental and physical strength, set valuable lessons we can all live and learn by. On Saturday, May 8, 2010, the GB Season Opener displayed the kind of heart and soul you only read about in books.

Paul Nguyen is light featherweight white belt from GB Temecula. His Professor, Ricardo Guimarães has a lot of respect for him, “No one’s allowed to complain at the gym,” Guimarães says, “After hearing Paul’s story, we can’t ever say we’re having a bad day!”

Paul Nguyen in his 2nd match in his second match of the day. Photos: Deb Blyth

Paul served in the Army and was wounded overseas. He was shot in the thigh, the pelvis, and stomach. The round of ammunition burned up his insides. Doctors took out half his colon, so he ended up with a colostomy bag. “My thigh rode up, broke into fragments, and went into my stomach,” Paul says, “My nerves were done. I couldn’t use my leg for two years. I could stand, but I couldn’t lift it up to walk.” Paul says he couldn’t eat and left the hospital at 98 pounds.

Paul didn’t give up. He worked hard in physical therapy, and after two years was able to get rid of the leg brace the doctors told him he’d wear for the rest of his life. “I still have nerve pain, but I bite the bullet with it.” He endured a colostomy reversal, and now he’s free of the colostomy bag.

Paul tried Jiu-Jitsu and loved it instantly. “It didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would,” Paul says, “I didn’t think I’d be able to do anything good again. My life was going so well, then I got shot and it went down the tubes…until I found Jiu-Jitsu.”

Paul had two fights at the GB tournament. He won one and lost the other. Paul says the best part of his day was getting an armbar in his first match. “There’s nothing like that – knowing I can get it now!” Paul says if anyone learns anything from his experience it’s, “whenever the going gets tough, you just have to remember there’s other people out there living a tougher life.”

Paul had no idea the opponent he armbarred was someone living a tougher life. Brandon Mendez is a light featherweight white belt from GB Corona under Tom Reusing. “Brandon’s constant positive attitude is an inspiration to all of us,” Reusing says. Brandon grew up on the mean streets of Santa Ana, hung with the wrong crowd, and got into trouble. “I joined the Marines and it straightened me up,” Brandon says, “Got me off the streets and gave me direction.”

Paul Nguyen and Brandon Mendez

In 2007 Brandon was in Iraq working on a freeway overpass, which was a permanent check point. Brandon says, “We were looking out for suicide bombers when one went under the freeway with 3000 pounds of explosives and detonated himself.” Everything went black, then white, then Brandon was thrown in the air and slammed to the ground. “I didn’t know what happened,” Brandon says, “I tried to stand up, but couldn’t. I tried to wipe my face with my hand, but it was dangling by a piece of skin. I started screaming. I thought I was going to die.”

Brandon Mendez trying to pass Paul Nguyen’s guard

After what seemed like an eternity, a fellow Marine came and put a tourniquet on his arm, which saved his life. He was flown to Maryland for multiple surgeries and then to San Diego for physical and mental therapy. “It took me a year to recover,” Brandon says, “I had two heel fractures and I couldn’t walk for four months. The doctors said they might have to amputate my feet. I’m grateful that didn’t happen.”

When Brandon first started Jiu-Jitsu it wasn’t easy. “I don’t have a left hand, so I learned using my stub. It was painful,” Brandon says, “My heels also hurt when I was on my knees because they’d stretch out, but I toughed it out.” Brandon says what he enjoys the most is that the guys he rolls with don’t take it easy on him. “I’m not different,” Brandon says, “So I don’t want any special treatment.”

Although Brandon lost his first match, he was happy with himself nonetheless, “You win or you learn, so I feel good,” he says, “I know eventually I’ll win. I feel part of something that’s bigger than me. I think that’s what humans seek in life and I’m thankful I found it in Jiu-Jitsu.”

“After I got out of the Marines, I felt sorry for myself, like I wasn’t going to amount to anything anymore,” Brandon says, “I felt broken. The Marines made me a machine and what do you do when that machine is broken?” Brandon’s inspirational performance on the mats makes it very clear that what you do is Jiu-Jitsu.

visit this link to read the rest of the article:  http://www.graciemag.com/en/2010/07/the-true-spirit-of-jiu-jitsu/

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We had an exciting evening with Professor Feitosa who showed us some great techniques!! Thank you so much Professor for spending your evening with us - training and sharing your experiences along with some of your history with Master Carlos and the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil and now - worldwide. It was inspiring to hear your thoughts on both serious competition and training for fun and good health. We are encouraged by the social developments that are occurring as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu becomes one of the leading sports of the twenty-first century. It is certainly a great benefit to understand that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can offer something for everyone and that we can learn to  train with enough wisdom allowing ourselves to continue with the practice through our later years enhancing our health without over-stressing or injuring our bodies.

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GB Instructors Certification

The Gracie Barra Instructors Program was created to ensure teaching quality, maintain teaching consistency, and open opportunity to future Instructors. The Gracie Barra Instructors Program is committed to supporting our instructors, schools owners, and students in their efforts to meet the growing demand for quality Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction.

Master Carlos Gracie Junior’s life’s work has been to create an institution that provides the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction in support to personal growth and the strengthening of families and communities. The scope of his work goes beyond the preparation of world class fighters or athletes and focuses fundamentally on building one’s character.

To be able to use Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a tool to improve people’s lives, Master Gracie’s established a process of mentoring his students that became a trade mark of his teaching methods. Until 2005, this mentoring style of teaching BJJ was done informally through the use of verbal communication and emulation of Gracie’s methods by other GB Professors. When Gracie Barra’s first foreign Head Quarters was founded on that year in the City of Irvine, California – USA, the senior instructors of that location started a research process, led by Master Carlos Gracie Jr himself, to identify the core principles of teachings and, for the first time on the Gracie Barra history, to write it down creating a handbook.

The goal according to Master Gracie was to create a material that Gracie Barra Instructors all over the world could follow, making it possible that the “Gracie Barra Experience” was the same for students in the five continents.

We are making history by certifying GB Instructors on this material.

Keeping the legacy alive!

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REGAL ENTERTAINMENT - EDWARDS CROSSING 18 AT 2650 Tuscany Street, Corona.

We have been invited to perform some demonstrations during the opening of the new Karate Kid movie!!!

Please join us FRIDAY AT 6PM-9PM outside at the fountain SATURDAY AT 2PM - 5PM more demos from our Judo and Muay Thai teams!

Bring your family and enjoy the movie, eat, or play around the fountain area.

For those who do not remember, the original KARATE KID (1984) changed the landscape of youth sports in America. Prior to it’s release, martial arts training was an obscure activity that was practiced mainly by adults in the US. In the last few decades, there has been an increased interest in and awareness of the values of martial arts training for children. With the rise in popularity of Mixed Martial Arts/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - we are in the midst of a reawakening of the potentials of these practices. Film is often a reflection of what is happening in the culture. THE KARATE KID (2010) is an indication of the possibilities for young people to develop inner and outer strength and a personal foundation for life, not to mention the ability to contribute to their communities and their world in a positive way.

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Roger made history Sunday as the first ever 3x absolute winner of the World’s. Go to http://graciemagworlds.wordpress.com/ to see the rest of the story and results.

Roger throws Bruno Bastos. Photos: John Lamonica.

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