How many times have we used the expression Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a community? I know I have used it before, but really what is a community? By pure definition, a community is a unified body of individuals linked by a location, a mindset and/or a common interest… PLEASE that definition is so elementary; it only scratches the surface of what the BJJ community represents.

Allow me to propose this more applicable definition of our community.

The BJJ community is a collective group of individuals who are bonded by a shared interest that is the art, lifestyle and philosophy of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We compete against each other, however we fight together waving the flag that Carlos, Helio and the countless forefathers woven for us. We all cheered when Royce Gracie defeated everyone in his path in the original UFCs and we all collectively bowed our head in silence during the passing of Rolls, Carlos, Ryan and Helio Gracie. Our community helps one another on and off the mat. In a time of need, the Jiu Jitsu community does not respond back with minor assistance, we ROAR back with our generosity!

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, dreams were lost in the sheer devastation. In times of need, we look towards our government for assurance, but what if the government’s bureaucracy fails you? Where are you supposed to go, who are you supposed to turn to?

Joseph Capizzi, a top Mundial competitor and Renzo Gracie BB is asking the generous BJJ community to help his family in this troubled time. Please take a moment to read the below and if you can help, please contribute in assisting with Joseph Capizzi’s family’s seemingly insurmountable journey to normalcy. Thank you.

To buy a raffle ticket please go to http://www.paypal.com and send your donation to capizzibjj@yahoo.com.

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To all my friends

My parents home in Midland Beach was badly damaged during Hurricane Sandy. To make matters worse, my parents, had no insurance on their house as their coverage had lapsed the Friday before the Storm.

They made their home insurance payment fearing the worse from the storm, but due to the payment being late, Allstate Insurance would not confirm their coverage until after the effects of the storm.

Allstate Insurance would then make the following offer after the storm. ” If there is no damage to your property from the storm, your policy will be reinstated and payment would be accepted. However if the property was damaged then we can not honor your payment and will not reinstate your policy.

To make matters worse, they were then denied help by FEMA. Because they answered the FEMA paperwork in an honest manner,they were denied any assistance at all !!!

To all those who were affected by the storm and are looking for help from FEMA, be advised to seek legal counsel first. It may be the difference between getting a chance to start over again or having to live in a shelter.

I want to say thank you to the local NYPD for coming to my parents aide. The NYPD Scuba team helped cut the power in the house so no one would get electrocuted.

I would also like to thank all the workers from my brothers Fire Department Engine 33 / Ladder 9 for all their help cleaning out the mess from inside and outside the house.

Just like 911 , the people of NYC are the ones that came to aide of their fellow brothers and sisters in the relief efforts, not the Federal government.

My brother has arranged a raffle for a 60″ flat screen TV. The donation is 10$ per ticket. The winner will be selected January 31st ,2013. The winner need not be present at the time of the drawing.

Tickets can be purchased in person at NYCBJJ, 2397 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island NY 10306. For those who wish to purchase a ticket online, you can paypal me at capizzibjj@yahoo.com

I will send you a photo of your ticket if you make an online purchase.

We will rebuild my parents house.

I would also like to say thank you to all the Staten Island based restaurants that are feeding all of the familiesthose whose lives were altered by the storm. Deninos, Goodfellas, Pronto and Classic Pizzerias, you guys have hearts made of gold.

To all my fellow students of Martial arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I will be hosting a BJJ seminar and an MMA seminar to help aide my parents in their mountain of expenses. The seminar will take place Saturday December 15th 2012 at NYCBJJ. The event will run from 12-3pm There will be a minimum donation of $25 to attend the event.

Last but not least, I want to thank my little sister Denise for taking my parents , and my sister Kims entire family in during this whole ordeal.

- Joseph Capizzi
http://www.nycbjj.com

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Joseph Capizzi vs Bruno Bastos — 2009 No-Gi Worlds

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Joseph Capizzi vs Felipe Costa — 2011 Mundials

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Crucifix Submission by Joseph Capizzi

Check out this exciting match between two world champions, Gianni Grippo vs. Mateo Maldonado! This battle occurred at yesterday’s World Pro trials in NY. In addition to winning a trip to Abu Dhabi, the winner of this match gets bragging right. LOL!

Enjoy the match.

Hey guys, we had to take some time off to straighten somethings out and now we are back.

Today’s feature match is between a rising star versus a BJJ legend… Antonio Carlos “Cara de Sapato” (Checkmat) vs Romulo Barral (Gracie Barra)! This battle took place at the semi-finals of the absolutes at the 2012 Brasileiro’s.

Antonio Carlos is a relative new comer in the BB division, but he plays the game like a vet. Check out the below write up on him courtesy of BJJheroes:

Full Name: Antonio Carlos Coelho de Figueiredo Barbosa Júnior
Nickname: “Cara de Sapato” which means Shoe Face (means ugly), the nickname first came up when Ricardo Vieira was giving a seminar at Antonio’s academy. Vieira is renowned for giving nicknames to everyone he meets, and he saw Antonio as having a bigger chin then his(!), thus the name.

Antonio Carlos Junior Biography
Antonio Carlos Junior was born on the 16th of March, 1990 in João Pessoa, state of Paraíba – Brazil. He lived in Salvador da Bahia for a while, and it was there that he began his jiu jitsu training in 2005 with Renato Velame as an instructor. It was Renato Velame who graduated Antonio Carlos with the blue belt, Antonio then moved back to his hometown of Joao Pessoa, picking up where he had left off, training with the acclaimed instructor and competitor, Helder Medeiros – nicknamed “Bob Esponja” (Sponge Bob Square Pants) – it was training under Medeiros that Antonio Carlos blossomed to BJJ with several significant victories in many important state, national and international level competitions. He was pointed out by Gracie Mag as the number 1 fighter to watch in 2011 (see article here) after his victory at the Mundial earlier in 2010 where he won both his weight and the open weight division, closing both finals with his team mate Marcos Buchecha. “Cara de Sapato” would receive his black belt while still on the podium of the World Pro Cup Trials, after he submitted several high calibre competitors in the mixed brown and black belt division. Antonio Carlos at the Brasileiro – 2011

Check out the slow motion replay of some key moments of the match. Enjoy the match!

Slow Motion Replay (@ Full Speed, Half Speed and Quarter Speed)

Today, we feature a match that took place in Japan this past weekend, Michael Langhi vs. DJ Jackson. This intense battle took placeatn the absolute finals of the Rickson Cup. This is the classic guard player vs the relentless passer battle. Check out who wins.

Hey everyone, today we bring you a special treat… THREE interviews on ONE post. Wellington “Megaton” Dias, Mackenzie Dern, and Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes!

Hope everyone like it! Check out their website http://www.teammegaton.net/

Wellington “Megaton” Dias

Mackenzie Dern

Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes

Ok guys, we took some time off to get some R&R, but now we are back!

Today, we feature a stellar match between two superstars of the Galo weight class, Bruno Malfacine Vs. Felipe Costa. This exciting match took place in the finals of the 2011 Brasileiros (Brazilian National).

Enjoy the match!

Also we are starting a new thing. For those who intently study these matches, we included slow motion replays of some note worthy moments.

Slow Motion Replay

To celebrate Demian Maia’s return to the octagon , today’s Match of the Week features one of his gi matches at a CBJJO event. I’m not sure when this happened (looks like 2004), but I do know that his opponent was another UFC veteran, Gaberial Gonzaga.

Enjoy the match!
 
 

 
 
This is how it was done!

Today’s Match of the Week Features Marcelo Garcia and Raphael Lovato jr tearing it up at a smaller event in Houston TX. When speaking to Marcelo, he claims that he has the hardest time with long lanky players like Roger Gracie and Raphael Lovato jr. Check out the match to see who comes on top.

Enjoy!

Slow Motion

Who says you can’t go home (LOL! yeah I just quoted a Bon Jovi/Jennifer Nettles song)! I’m super excited to announce this… Shawn Williams will be conducting a seminar at Serra BJJ Levittown this Sunday (July 1st, 2012)!!!

Shawn Williams was a brown belt when I first started in 2001. Back in those days, blue belts were bad asses, purple belts were untouchables, brown belts were demi-gods, Matt and Nick Serra were GODS, and well Renzo was… Renzo. The reason I’m so excited is because Shawn was one of my original instructors back when I was a lowly white belt at Renzo Gracie NYC. Given that I was a white belt, he was (and still is) one of my idols. I owe a lot of my fundamentals to this guy, Renzo Gracie and the Serra Brothers!

Shawn helped me a lot with things like the upa, elbow escapes, cross collar chokes, straight arm bars, De La Riva Guard, etc… Fast forward a few years, Shawn left for Cali to spread the gospel of Renzo Gracie; this Sunday is the first time I’m learning from him after 7 years. I’m stoked!

For those who are within the 100 mile radius of Serra BJJ Levittown, don’t miss out on your chance to learn from this great instructor and champion of the sport. Click on the image below for more details!

Also, enjoy the match and the lesson from Shawn Williams!

Today, we feature a brilliant philosopher, instructor and competitor… Saulo Ribeiro!

I had the pleasure of interviewing this champion of the art at this year’s Mundials. In this short interview, he talks about the current state and the future of the sport, the Brazilian dominance in the BB level, his method of running a successful academy and the Jiu Jitsu life style.

Enjoy the interview and better yet enjoy my brain fart (mark 1:15)!

Sorry about the technical issues in the beginning of the video.