Hello All, here’s a little information as we move forward.

JaxBJJ has decided not to participate in an impending Franchise situation.  As a businessman, I wish to remain independant with my business model.  With that said, I have had a very difficult decision to make.  I have had very upbeat, and positive communications with Professor Flavio Almeida, and have decided that JaxBJJ will be leaving Gracie Barra.  I think nothing but the best of GB, their affiliates, and my time with them.  Extremely well organized, great people, and A GREAT TEAM, and I remain a very good friend with Professor Flavio and several of the key players and school owners.  I wish them the very best, as they do me.

Moving forward I will be affliliated under 6-stripe Black Belt, UFC Veteran, Abu Dhabi Open Champion, multiple times World, Pan Am, and Brazilian National Champion Roberto Traven.  Traven will also be consulting with my Kid-Jitsu program, and will be Master of our many Affiliates, and JaxBJJ.  My school, and all of my affiliates are all now Team Roberto Traven, and can participate in tournaments, and can also advertise using Traven’s logo, his name, as well as JaxBJJ and coffeybjj.

As Traven is located in Atlanta, we will have constant assistance from Traven, and his affiliate managers Chip Coffey, and Arman Barros. Chip has been a member of JaxBJJ for many years and still teaches frequently.  He’s been like a bad penny.....just can’t get rid of him. (lol)

Very exciting times.

Professor Larry Shealy
Team Roberto Traven

JaxBJJ & MMA in Jacksonville Florida is offering 2 FREE MMA CLASSES.  The Beginners MMA class will be held on Monday and Wednesday nights from 8-9pm. Our Advanced MMA classes will continue to be held on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6-7pm and the mixed MMA classes (beginners and advanced) will be held on Saturdays at 12-1pm.

Our Beginners MMA class includes fundamentals of Wrestling, Muay Thai, Boxing, Clinch Work, and BJJ.  NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Keep your BJJ “honest” with MMA.......

“Bust yours.....Kick Theirs!”
JaxBJJ & MMA

JaxBJJ is adding two more MMA classes.  These MMA classes will be held on Monday and Wednesday nights from 8-9pm.  The advanced MMA classes will still be from 6-7pm on Monday and Wednesday nights.  Advanced and Fundamental classes will be mixed and will be from 12pm to 1pm

The fundamentals will cover basic MMA standup techniques, footwork, combinations, clinches, closing the gap, to the clinch to the takedown, fundamental Muay Thai techniques, grips, positions, etc..

As the advanced MMA classes are hardcore and geared toward the guys who are training to fight.  The MMA fundamentals will be for those who wish to know and understand MMA and also be able to protect themselves and their families in the streets.  Come try the new MMA classes....FREE!  You will need MMA gloves, which can be bought at JaxBJJ.  See you on the mat!

Bust yours.....kick theirs!
LS

Jacksonville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has announced that they will be offering virtual learning to address the needs of their current students, their many affiliates, and interested parties who wish to be a part of the Jacksonville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Team from a distance; in the arts of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai and BJJ for Kids: Kid-Jitsu..  Many topics will be covered:

--Business classes for BJJ, MMA, Muay Thai school owners
--Best practices for BJJ, MMA, and Muay Thai school owners
--BJJ and MMA Curriculum, Instruction and Troubleshooting:  Professor Larry Shealy, Chip Coffey and UFC Fighter Alan Belcher will be the virtual instructors, along with special guests from both of these fighters camps.
--Kid-Jitsu Curriculum, Instruction, and Troubleshooting:  Affiliates and potential affiliates will have access to our virtual university for business practices, BJJ for kids, MMA for kids, Muay Thai for kids and more. Professor Larry Shealy and Chip Coffey are the Main Instructors for these programs, and UFC Fighter Alan Belcher will be the Main Instructor for Kids-Muay Thai, and Kid-MMA.
--Muay Thai Curriculum, Instruction and Troubleshooting:  Kru Brian Tyle will offer a traditional Muay Thai program in the Jacksonville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Virtual University.

These are exciting times at Jacksonville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and in the world of BJJ, MMA, Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu for Kids....Kid-Jitsu.  Ride the wave of success with North Florida’s Premier school, locally and from a distance.......Jacksonville Brazlian Jiu-Jitsu.

JaxBJJ’s team training is on Saturday from 11am to 1pm.  Come get a mix of BJJ, wrestling, no-gi, MMA, Boxing, Muay Thai.  Curriculum will be mixed, so gravitate to what you wish to improve on. Open to all JaxBJJ members.

Professor Larry was recently voted to the Board of Directors of USAJJ, a non profit organization out of Washington DC.  The primary focus of USAJJ is growing the art of Jiu-Jitsu across the United States, and the World, pushing to have Jiu-Jitsu accepted into the Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero in 2016.  Professor Larry is extremely humbled as he joins some very heavy hitters in the industry to assist in achieving the above listed group goals:  Master Rigan Machado, Johnny Ramirez, Robert Drysdale, Papa John Gorman, Matt Larson......and many, many more.

USAJJ is not run by a school preference, or a team, it is a not for profit, governing body that will work with all teams trying to make BJJ a bigger and better sport than it currently is.  Check the website http://www.usajj.com and get involved.

Don’t forget:  We have BJJ every morning during the week from 10:30am to 12:00pm.  Alot of my students, professionals, business owners and military guys come to train during this time. 
We also have BJJ Class on Saturday morning at 11:00am.......and Monday thru Thursday nights at 7:00pm.

Kid-Jitsu:
Tuesday and Thursday nights:  6pm to 7pm
Saturday Morning:  10am to 11am.

MMA:
Monday and Wednesday nights:  6-7pm
Saturday: 12pm to 1pm

Muay Thai: 
Tuesday and Thursday 8-9pm
Saturday:  1-2pm

Kid-Jitsu Founder Larry Shealy and Chip Coffey traveled to Biloxi, MS early this week to work a few days with Alan Belcher and his staff on rolling out the Kid-Jitsu Program in his school: Remix MMA in Biloxi, MS.  Check out what Alan had to say about the program:

“The Kid-Jitsu program is what we needed to take our school to the next level.  The kids love it and the parents love the structure and safety.

............ I feel confident that my staff is trained to run the Kid-Jitsu Program like a machine.”

Alan Belcher
Remix MMA
Biloxi, MS

Chip Coffey has assumed the position of Vice President & Technical Advisor in the Kid-Jitsu Program.  In his new capacity Chip will be responsible for maintaining positive licensee relations, continuous updating of Kid-Jitsu & Adult BJJ Program Curriculum, and representing/marketing Kid-Jitsu at local and national BJJ tournaments.

Chip has trained BJJ for approximately 10 years.  He trained at JaxBJJ from 2004 until 2007, and instructed at JaxBJJ full time for a year and then part time ever since. In addition to opening his own Academy in Cartersville, GA, (http://www.coffeybjj.com), he trains full time under Master Roberto “Spider” Traven.  Chip will be competing in the World Championships in June, as a 2-stripe Brown Belt.

Please join me in welcoming Chip to the Kid-Jitsu Team, and also wish him well in the World Championships!

It’s been a busy time at JaxBJJ.  Last week Professor Flavio Almeida visited our school and shared some awesome spider guard techniques: sweeps/submissions, etc..

At the beginning of the Seminar Dr. John Morris received his Black Belt, 13 years after beginning his training.  Anyone who has ever trained BJJ in Jax, has probably met Doc at one time or another.  Again Doc, great job.

May 10 we will begin Rio-Fit with Brazilian Soccer/Footvolley Player “Betto” Lima.  Classes will be 6am Monday-Wednesday-Friday and 5pm on Tuesday and Thursday.  and Saturdays at 9am.  Classes will run around 45-50 minutes.  “Get Real Fit......with Rio-Fit”

Our next tournament is May 22 and will be single elimination for adults and double elimination for kids.  There will be NO TIME LIMITS for adults.....submissions only. Check the Academy for more details.

Yoga at JaxBJJ?  Not yet, but we will be having a YOGA clinic with Melissa Schuermann leading the way on Saturday May 29 at 830am.  The clinic will run a little over an hour.  If we get enough interest from this clinic, we will begin to offer Yoga at JaxBJJ. 

Memorial Day: Monday May 31.  WE WILL BE CLOSED.

Testing for Kid-Jitsu, BJJ and MMA will be held on Saturday, June 12.

Busy is GOOD......let’s have fun together throughout the summer!!

Prof. Larry Shealy

With the growth of Kid-Jitsu and Team Wolfpack across the country, we have hired another Instructor to assist in the phenomenal growth we have experienced. 

Master Roberto Traven Brown Belt, Chip Coffey has joined Professors Larry Shealy and Charles dos Anjos as a Kid-Jitsu/Team Wolfpack Instructor.  Chip is a world class grappler and has been training BJJ for close to ten years.  He is an Instructor at JaxBJJ and also is an Instructor under Master Roberto Traven.  Please welcome Chip and check out his personal website at http://www.coffeybjj.com, or hit him up on FaceBook.

Jason Vigil/Island Jiu-JItsu,used to train at JaxBJJ many years ago, While at JaxBJJ he received his blue belt, and is now just a few armbars away from his brown belt.  Check out Jason and Island Jiu-Jitsu on my Facebook, and on the web.  HIs logo is one of the coolest I’ve seen.  I just ordered a tee from him.......check it out.....order a shirt and support a JaxBJJ bruddah!!  Great job Jason......Aloha n’ Armlocks!!

Congrats to JaxBJJ medalists at the Abu Dhabi Trials in Boca Raton this past weekend.

1st Place: Master Purple Belt:  Chad Beech
2nd Place:  Master Blue Belt: Eric Shegog
3rd Place:  Adult Blue Belt:  Joshie McClain

Nice job guys.

JaxBJJ MMA has evolved with a 26 segmented curriculum that includes Wrestling, Muay Thai, Boxing, submission wrestling and BJJ.  We have also implemented a 12-band system for training and promotions that closely mirrors our BJJ Program..  Come on in and “hit somebody!”

You can keep up with Kid-Jitsu, Team Wolfpack and JaxBJJ at:  http://www.whywebpr.com/kidjitsu

Congratulations to JaxBJJ Purple Belt Nathan Lang for receiving his Black Belt in Haganah today in Las Vegas.  He was awarded his Black Belt after 3 days of training with Haganah founder and Main Instructor Mike Lee Kanarak, and the other Instructors and Black Belt Candidates.  Nathan is one of 34 people in the world who have achieved this rank!!  Again Nate.....Congratulations!!!!

T’he International Sport Grappling Association will be hosting a Tournament in Neptune Beach (Jacksonville) Florida on February 13, 2010. 

The ISGA and KickUSA put on the large Disney event each year.  The tournament will be gi, no-gi, and sport MMA.  Adults and Children.

Please follow the following link for information and registration for the tournament.  http://kickusa.com/ISGA-events.html

Many thanks, and I’ll see you all in February.

The top 10 reasons you should enroll your child in Kid-Jitsu at JaxBJJ:

10.  Kid-Jitsu is our trademarked program and is held in a safe, clean, friendly and family oriented environment
9.  They will learn from our Kid-Jitsu Values Program during every class
8 They will gain confidence, self-discipline and self-control
7 We currently DO NOT have a waiting list!!!  (only 7 spots available though)
6 Our Professional Instructor Staff have gone through extensive training on how to teach children, and many have their own children in the program.
5 Our Trademarked program, Kid-Jitsu, is recognized worldwide, and is currently being used in over 150 schools in the U.S. and Europe
4 We support exactly what YOU, the parents, are trying to accomplish at home....(conferences available to stay on the same page)
3 We work with them on their Leadership skills as they grow with the program
2 They will have fun, in a structured and disciplined environment....
1.  And the by-product of all of this,is that they will learn the best self defense system in the world: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu!!!!

The proof is in the pudding!  Please call today to make an appointment for 2 FREE classes, 904-242-9343

Two JaxBJJ students made the trek to New York for the NoGi Pan Ams and each came back with a medal.  Congratuations to John “Blue” Williams and to Dan Desjardin.  “Blue” took first in his brown belt division and Dan took third in his purple belt division.  Nice job guys! 

The Kid-Jitsu/Team Wolfpack BJJ program will be featured at the upcoming NAPMA (National Association of Professional Martial Artists) tradeshow.  With over 150 schools nationwide and in Europe, the Kid-Jitsu program is gaining a ton of momentum.  Professor Larry Shealy will be a featured speaker at this event; and he is also teaching a seminar along with Royce Gracie Black Belt, Professor Charles dos Anjos. If you are attending this tradeshow, please stop by and say hello to Larry and Charles.

Chip Coffey is back as an Assistant Head Instructor of BJJ, and Director of our Submission Wrestling/No-Gi program at JaxBJJ.  Having trained/taught at JaxBJJ for 3+ years, and after almost two years away, he’s back and ready to push our submission wrestling/no-gi program to the next level.  If you’d like more information on Chip, his bio is in our Instructor Section.  JaxBJJ offers Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Submission Wrestling, MMA, Muay Thai, Women’s Personal Protection, Haganah FIGHT and Kid-Jitsu.......the most complete curriculum in North Florida.  Come try two free classes NOW!!

JaxBJJ will be hosting a seminar with one of our past Instructors Chip Coffey on Saturday September 26.  Chip will teach from 11am to 100pm.  It will be a strictly no-gi, mma class. Semi Private Lessons will be available on Friday afternoon/evening, and on Saturday afternoon.  Inquire at Academy for details.

Nevelyn G. Shealy: January 9, 1929----September 12, 2009 The person who taught me more than anyone else in the world is gone. I never knew I could hurt so much!

Two of our JaxBJJ Satellite schools sent a total of 4 students to compete at the Copa Tournament in Lakeland on August 25.  These young students from Union Rollin’, and Fighting Chance Fitness brought home 9 medals.  That’s right 4 students.....9 medals.  Great job boys, and great job by Instructors Chad Beech from Union Rollin’ and Kevin Synan from Fighting Chance Fitness.  (5 Gold Medals, 4 Silver Medals,, 4 participants)

Devon Smith -14yr old beginner 115lb
1st place gi

Tyler Myles - 10yr old beginner 80lb ,
1st place gi,
1st place no-gi
2nd place in super fight

Children Advanced:
Jared Forsyth--1st Place Gi
David Thomas--2nd Place Gi

Jared Forsyth--1st Place No-Gi
David Thomas-2nd Place No-Gi

Teen No-Gi:
Jared Forsyth-2nd Place No-Gi

Congratulations to the newest Leadership Team Member in our Kid-Jitsu program, Ryan Ard.  Ryan has trained this summer in the Kid-Jitsu program, and has also trained with the adults in the morning BJJ classes.  I am expecting big things from Ryan in his BJJ, his Leadership, and in his efforts at school this year.  Good job Ryan.  Ryan joins Rahjhe, Devin, BJ, Daniel, Sparkles.......and a few others are very close to this honor.

After recently competing at an Invitational Tournament in Fortaleza, Brazil (one of only 2 Americans invited), Chip Coffey will be coming back to his old home: JaxBJJ for a seminar later this month.  Check at the Academy for details.

Here is a little information on Chip.

Chip Coffey has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 8 years and is a Brown Belt under 2x Word Champion, Abu Dhabi Absolute Champion and UFC Veteran, Roberto “Spider” Traven. He teaches full time at D.S.G.B. Combat Sports (Coffey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / Team Roberto Traven) in Barnesville, Georgia. Chip has competed in the Mundials, The ProAms, NAGA, Casca Grossa, and MMA events. Chip has also trained extensively in Judo, Wrestling, Boxing and Muay Thai.
2009 BJJ World Championship Brown Belt Adult Quarterfinalist
2009 Pan Am Brown Belt Adult Absolute Quarterfinalist
Pro Am Champion
NAGA Champion
Casca Grossa Champion
2 x Master BJJ Tournament Champion
2nd Place U.S. Nationals
2nd Place GA Grappling Championships
2nd Place Jackson Fight Night Tournament
3rd Place Abu Dhabi World Pro U.S. Trials Brown / Black Belt Division

“When knocked down 8 times, get up 9” Chinese Proverb

This one holds a lot of sentiment for me due to this past weeks activities!! 

Train Hard, Train Smart!

Prof. Larry Shealy

Hello gang, just a quick note to you all. wishing all fathers a Happy Fathers Day.  Enjoy your day, love your families and get ready for another awesome week!!  See ya’ll soon.

Larry

Seven JaxBJJ Students went to to the JaxBJJ Open to compete, and came back home with 9 medals.  Not bad for a school who is not a “tournament” school.  Congrats to the following.

Adults:
Manny Reyes-2nd Gi,Purple Belt
3rd No Gi
Arin Essler-2nd Gi--Purple Belt
Kaleb Gifford – 3rd White Belt
Joe Forsyth – 1st Blue Belt

Kids
Jarraid Forsyth – 1st Gi
1st No Gi
David Thomas 2nd Place Gi
BJ Bemister--1st Gi

Congratulations to Bill “Red Dog” Eierman for recently being promoted to Purple Belt.  Bill has been an active student at JaxBJJ for 5-1/2 years and has met IBJJF requirements to be promoted to Purple Belt.  Congrats to Red Dog!

A quick reminder that our Kid-Jitsu belt promotion ceremony will be held at JaxBJJ on April 11 at 10am.  Parents please see Mr. Jimmy to make sure that your child is signed up for this event.  Bring your cameras.

The turnout for the JaxBJJ in-house tournament was tremendous.  We had a total of 85 participants.  Congrats to all the participants and their families.  Everyone did a fantastic job!

The results are as follows:

Kid-Jitsu:

Superlightweight:
1:  Tomas V.
2:  Adam D.
3.  Austin W.

Lightweight:
1. Avery D.
2. Chase B.
3. Anthony G

Middleweights:
1. BJ B.
2. Michael M.
3. Krista H.

Heavyweights:
1. Jared F.
2. Brandon O.
3. Sean R.

Congrats to all of the children who participated.  You ALL did a great job!

Adult-Female
1. Carri Paquette
2. Denise Yurich
3. Megan Mark

Adult Male White Belt--Lightweight
1. Jack Bates
2. Mike Hughes
3. Eric Bondoc

Adult Male White Belt--Middleweight
1. Aaron Marlow
2. Bill Garrison
3. Channing Oester

Adult Male White Belt--Heavy
1. Herbie Partin
2. Joshua McClain
3. Dustin Swearingin

Blue Belt Open
1. Mitch Eddy
2. Chris Craig
3. Ben Ressler

Purple Belt Open
1. Nate Lang
2. Nate Alderson
3. Dan Desjardin

Open Division
1. Nate Lang
2. Chad Hanson
3. Nate Alderson

Again, congratulations to all participants. Good training!!

Prof. Shealy had the opportunity this week in Washington DC to train with Rigan Machado.  Rigan spent hours discussing the history of GJJ, his family, his cousins, uncles........and also alot of time about Rolls.  It was a very interesting seminar delivered by one of the best ever.  Thanks Rigan.  Johnny Ramirez was also there sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience.  Thanks Johnny.

It is a sad day in the Jiu-Jitsu world as Grand Master Helio Gracie passed away on Wednesday in Brazil.  He was 95.  Rest in peace Grandmaster....your life has been an inspiration to many.  Attached is an article from GracieMag.com. (see more info on todays blog) Prof. LS

29.01.2009
Master Helio Gracie has passed away

Jiu-Jitsu loses its icon

It is with great sadness that GRACIEMAG.com announces the passing of Grandmaster Helio Gracie. At 95 years of age, the great icon and one of those most responsible for Jiu-Jitsu’s success in Brazil and the world died this morning, at Beneficencia Portuguesa Hospital, in Petropolis, mountain region of Rio de Janeiro.

“I created a flag from the sport’s dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection and nerves of blood,” said the Professor, as his last worlds.

The Master will be buried this Thursday afternoon, at 5 pm, at the Chapel of the Petropolis municipal cemetery.

Helio Gracie’s last public appearance occurred in December of last year, during a belt-promotion ceremony held by Gracie Humaita at the Guanabara Yacht Club.

In October, Helio Gracie celebrated his 95th birthday at the Gracie Humaita academy, in Rio de Janeiro. Click here to see how the party went.

In one of his most famous interviews, published in the special 100th issue of GRACIEMAG, the professor had declared: “I’ve already told my sons that when I die I want there to be a party. No drinking, no debauchery.”

All workers at Gracie Publishing, the company responsible for GRACIEMAG, NOCAUTE and GRACIEMAG.com are in mourning and express their condolences and sadness to the bereaved family, his wife Vera, sons Rorion, Relson, Rickson, Rolker, Royler, Royce, Rherica, Robin and Ricci

Don’t forget our No-Gi class schedule is:
Monday and Wednesdays 6-7pm
Saturdays: 1-2pm

See you then!

JaxBJJ will be open during normal class hours on Monday January 19th.  See you on the mats.

We have scheduled our quarterly Women’s Personal Protection Seminar at JaxBJJ. 
This seminar will:
--Assist participants in putting together a game plan to reduce the chances of a personal attack;
--Provide participants a plan of action to resist and escape an attack.
--Provide participants the techniques necessary to resist and escape an attack.

All of these techniques come from the most effective Self-Defense System in the world:  Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

Seminar Date: Saturday February 21, 2009

Location:  Jacksonville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
1475 Atlantic Blvd. Neptune Beach

Time:  3pm to 6pm

Cost: $50.00 per person

Please click the link below to register for this event.  This seminar will fill up fast, so act now.
For more information please email Professor Shealy at: 

https://events.membersolutions.com/event_detail.asp?content_id=14681

Some folks have expressed that getting to the No-GI/MMA class by 6pm is pushing it with work and traffic.  I will let you participate in this class if you get here by 615pm.  Like they say: “No Work, No Eat!” See you guys in class. 

Sign up now for the JaxBJJ Women’s Personal Protection Seminar.  Learn, with other women, how to protect yourself from a personal attack.  Develop a plan of action, using Gracie Jiu-Jitsu techniques from standing, and techniques to resist and escape from the ground. 

Resist, Escape............and go home to your family!  Don’t be a victim, take action and sign up now.

The Seminar will be held at JaxBJJ on Saturday Feb. 21st from 3pm to 6pm.  Call 242-9343 to register.  Cost is $60 per person.

All in-stock Gracie Magazines are on sale for $3.00 each.  As I have alot of magazines in stock, I am selling them under my cost, until they are gone.  Get them while they last.

No-gi/MMA classes are now on Monday and Wednesday at 6pm and Saturdays at 1pm. 

Professors Charles dos Anjos and Larry Shealy recently conducted another 3-day Phase One Instructor Certification for the Kid-Jitsu/Wolfpack program in Birmingham, AL.  In this recent event, another 78 Instructors completed the 3 day event, and have begun their long term instructor training.  There are now over 350 Kid-Jitsu Instructors Worldwide...........spreading the art of BJJ to children.

In yesterdays blog, one of my ‘beliefs’ was that it is easier to quit in most things than it is to stick with something until you reach your goal.  I also mentioned that I love people who see things through until they reach their goals.  With that said, I love two guys who have done just that:  Mark Dilworth and David Zavarella.  Both of these guys have trained at JaxBJJ consistently for 6 years.  They started in the old school on 8th St. in Atlantic Beach, they moved with me to the Sweatshop on Atlantic Blvd in Atlantic Beach, and they helped open our current location with me in 2005.  They have been Leaders, and team players in the Academy for many years and exemplify everything that JaxBJJ is all about.  They have reached, and surpassed all of the criteria that is set forth in the IBJJF Guidelines for promotion, and have been awarded the Brown Belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.  Congratulations to Mark and David on their awesome achievement.

Attention Prospective JaxBJJ Students:  we currently have a waiting list in our adult BJJ classes.  You are welcome to visit and take a free class or two, but there are currently no openings.  If you would like to place your name on the waiting list for January, please either call the school, or come talk to Professor Shealy about securing a spot on the list.

The Academy will be closed beginning on December 24th and we will re-open on January 5, 2009.

Get your training in now, before the end of the year. 

We are back to our regular schedule, and will remain so, up until the Christmas Holidays. 

Congratulations to the newest JaxBJJ Purple Belt: Sam “Sammy” Hutsell.  Sam came to JaxBJJ as one of the originals a little over 3 years ago.  He came to us with an extensive background in wrestling having wrestled collegiately for The Citadel.  For those who have trained with Sam, know how deserving he is of this new belt.  Great work Sammy!!

Once again Professor Flavio Almeida shared some of his knowledge with JaxBJJ Students.  With gi and no-gi techniques, the seminar was enjoyed by all.  Congrats to Jimmy Gibson for his 3rd Stripe on his Purple Belt and also to Nate Lang for his first stripe on his Purple Belt.  The promotions were conducted by Professor Flavio.  Also, earlier in the week, Dave Zavarella received his 4th Stripe on his Purple Belt.  Great job to Zav, Jimmy and Nate!!

Prof. Shealy, and JaxBJJ Instructors Jimmy Gibson and Chris DeBelen spent Wednesday night over in Fernadina Beach with John “Blue” Williams and his team..Congratulations to “Blue” and Dan Desjardin for the work they have done in building a BJJ program in Fernandina Beach.  John Williams promoted 4 of his students to the Blue Belt............Congrats to you all at JaxBJJ North!!

Professor Larry Shealy, who has been appointed as Florida’s State Chairman of USA Jiu-Jitsu, has announced that along with Charles dos Anjos, they will be hosting a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament in Jacksonville, in early 2009.  Details to follow as dates, locations, etc. are announced.  We are working in concert with our USAJJ friends in Georgia to put together a professional, well run, inexpensive tournament for the many people who wish to compete. More details to follow. 

JaxBJJ extends a warm welcome to the Jacksonville Beach Police Dept. who will be training at JaxBJJ.  WELCOME!!!

After spending time in California with Master Carlos Gracie, Jr., Professor Marcio Feitosa and Professor Flavio Almeida, completing our MMA curriculum; JaxBJJ is rolling out our BJJ for MMA classes.  Thank you to Kohl Kaminshi and Jimmy Gibson for attending this seminar, and assisting in the dinner meeting with this famous threesome!!  Our BJJ for MMA will begin on Wednesday April 16 from 615 to 7pm.  All current JaxBJJ students are welcome to attend.  Good Training!!

Beginning the week of April 14, JaxBJJ will be adding 2 new classes to our curriculum.  In addition to our BJJ, Muay Thai, Kid-Jitsu and FIGHT programs.........We will be adding a Women’s Personal Defense Class on Monday evenings from 615pm to 700pm..The Women’s Personal Defense Class will be an on-going class that is an extension of the Women’s Personal Defense seminars.  We will also be adding an MMA/Street Fight class on Wednesday evenings from 615pm to 700pm.  The MMA class will be for students with a minimum of 6 months BJJ experience at JaxBJJ.  Find out the details about each class on your next visit to the Academy.  Good Training!!

We have another Women’s Personal Defense Seminar scheduled for April 12th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.  Talk to Professor Larry for details.

JaxBJJ’s own T.J. Rivers has been awarded the distinction of “Naval Air Station Jacksonville Male Athlete of the Year 2007” Selection for this award was based on participation in base, and community intramural sports, community volunteer work and professional accomplishments.  TJ is a Certified Kid-Jitsu Instructor, and an Assistant Instructor for BJJ and Muay Thai.  Please join me in congratulating TJ on this fine accomplishment. LS

The Kid-Jitsu Program was once again highlighted in Gracie Magazine.  In the March Cover Story, “What Jiu-Jitsu can do for your kids.”, Professor Shealy was quoted many times on the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu for kids (Kid-Jitsu), as well as the Kid-Jitsu Values Program.  Kid-Jitsu has proven to be an idea that is long overdue, and is being embraced in martial arts circles around the world.

Grandmaster Jurandyr Moura, 8th degree Black Belt, and Master Derval Rego 7th Degree Black Belt, endorse the Kid-Jitsu/Wolfpack program that was created by Professor Larry Shealy, and his partner Professor Charles Dos Anjos.  For more details see: http://www.kid-jitsu.net.

A “Street Fight Seminar” will be held on Saturday March 22 from 11am to 1pm.  The seminar is free and open to all current JaxBJJ members.  Sign up now at the Academy to reserve your spot on the mat.

Professor Larry Shealy, Jim Gibson, Jason Frank and Kohl Kaminski will be attending the Pan Ams in Long Beach, CA in late March. Jason will be displaying his
NOSUBMIT line of MMA related attire.  NOSUBMIT is one of the sponsers for JaxBJJ competitors.  There will also be an Instructors Meeting and Seminar at Gracie Barra America with Master Carlos. 

JaxBJJ’s trademark registered Kid-Jitsu made it’s way into one of the most popular Martial Arts Magazines in the World:  Gracie Magazine.  The November edition of the magazine, which is written in Portuguese and English, included a very favorable overview of the Kid-Jitsu Program that is being accepted and licensed into traditional martial arts schools all over the world. “Charles and I believe that to grow the sport, we must address the children” said founder Larry Shealy. 

The editors of Gracie Magazine did a profile story on JaxBJJ’s Main Instructor, Larry Shealy.  Check out the story at http://www.graciemag.com