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Perseverance, determination, overcoming adversity… These are familiar grounds for many jiu-jitsu practitioners. As the unprecedented events surrounding COVID-19 continue to unfold, these qualities have become more important than ever before. In the jiu-jitsu community, academy owners are among the businesses who are hit hard by this pandemic.Professor Kawika Yoneda and his wife, Jamie, are the owners of Roma Jiu Jitsu Academy, Atos Hilo in Hilo, Hawaii. When COVID-19 made its way to the islands, …

It’s no secret that major changes have surfaced within all aspects of our communities. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu itself has experienced a sudden pause with the complete cancelation of the 2020 tournament season, which included: the IBJJF Pan Americans and Worlds. As weeks turn into months, questions were raised about how our athletes have maintained a leveled state during these times. For the 25-year-old BJJ black belt, Rolando Samson, this is what we’ve come to find.With the closure of all gy …

Joining our team this year is 3rd degree black belt, Guto Campos. At age 18, he felt the need to learn a self-defense martial arts sport. Growing up and being in Brazil all his life, he found Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His first professor was Carlos Aveline, also Master Walter Mattos' student. One day, Campos' mom told him to find a job to help make money for their household. He was afraid that this would interrupt his training, so he began to teach in their living room. Campos' mother w …

We first saw Rolando Samson back in 2011 as young Juvenile Blue Belt, he was fast and crazy athletic, win or lose you were guaranteed to be awed.  One of the things that attracted us the most to this young man was his humility and respect toward others, a true sign of a young person upbringing and values instilled by his parents and loved ones.Through the years we have gone through the Journey together, one match at a time, one stripe at a time, through Blue belt, Purple belt, Brown belt an …

Calgary Alberta, Canada is home to the infamous Andre Galvao's first Canadian affiliate academy, whose owner is also Galvao's first Canadian black belt, Tim Blanchard. Tim's story began by the inevitable curiosity towards Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu caused by watching fights in the MMA. Sadly, there were no BJJ academies where he grew up (Sudbury Ontario); so, when he moved to Calgary in 2005, he immediately looked for a gym. After his first class, he was hooked! He was always an admirer of …