This past weekend down in Costa Mesa was the Joe Moreira 20 Years Tournament to celebrate Joe being in the United States for over 20 years now. We had seven guys competing from Simian Martial Arts to represent Team Moreira; six adults and our first children’s class competitor.

Matt, Ty, Paul, Ben and Jaden were all competing in their first tournament ever. All of our guys showed beautiful jiu jitsu through their attitude, patience and technique. That adrenaline dump that happens when you step onto the mats and tie up with your opponent for the first time is really hard to describe. Your heart is pounding, your mind is racing and time seems to both speed up and slow down all at the same time. It is really hard to slow the pace down, execute perfect posture and be able to listen to your coach giving instructions on the side lines all while some guy you just met is trying to make you tap out with every ounce of his strength. However, that is exactly what all of our competitors did. It makes a coach very proud when he sees all of the student’s hard work pay off in situations just like this. To be able to control yourself in a time of aggression and while fighting for control and dominance is a thing of beauty. The personal growth from situations like that cannot be measured or explained… just felt and experienced.

All guys performed extremely well. Medals and trophies are nice shiny things to be proud of, without a doubt. Just making the decision to step out onto the mats and then following through with that decision despite the nerves and the little voice in your head trying to convince you not to, is the victory all on its own. If you walk away from the tournament, win or lose, knowing a couple of new things that you can’t wait to work on in the next class then you are truly victorious.

The competition veterans of the day, Chad and Taylor, both walked away with silver medals in their blue belt divisions. First timers Ben and Paul both walked away with bronze medals in their white belt divisions. Chad also walked away with a bronze medal in his no-gi intermediate division. Matt, Ty and Jaden didn’t place in the top three of their divisions but all three fought hard matches and showed excellent technique. A huge congrats goes out to all the guys who went down and competed as well as the guys who were just their for support. Team Moreira – Simian Martial Arts was definitely representing this past weekend down in Costa Mesa. You are a wonderful example of what a true “Team” should be.

Videos will be coming soon. For more pictures, check us out on facebook.

Team Moreira – Simian Martial Arts

Los Osos, California

Rob has been invited to compete at the Joe Moreira International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament down in Rio de Janiero on August 14th & 15th, 2010.

We know that this invitation is a great honor to Rob and he is equally honored to represent Los Osos, Simian Martial Arts and Team Moreira. In addition to this exciting opportunity, this will be Rob’s first time competing as a black belt. We can’t think of a better way to break in that black belt than by competing in a truly respectable international setting!

Of course, this journey to Brazil will not be cheap. For anyone who wishes to help sponsor Rob and Simian Martial Arts – Team Moreira, please visit our “Become a Sponsor” page located below the “Our Sponsors” tab on the header… or you can go directly to the page by clicking this link here.

You can donate in the amounts of $25.00, $50.00, $100.00 or you can specify an amount that works best for you (with the last button).

If you are a business that has interest in sponsoring Rob, your business logo can be worn on his competition uniform. Please e-mail us for more detailed information: info@simianmartialarts.com or always feel free to give us a call at (805) 234-6354

Simian Martial Arts – Team Moreira

Los Osos, California

www.simianmartialarts.com

We teach your child one of the most modern forms of self defense through games and drills that not only help your child to learn but keeps things fun and interesting the whole class. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a grappling art known for using technique and leverage where a smaller, weaker person can overcome a bigger, stronger opponent using positional dominance and submissions. It gives your child the opportunity to end a violent encounter without throwing a single punch. Your first class is always free, so come check it out and see what you’ve been missing!

More pictures have been added into our gallery , which you can view here !

Simian Martial Arts – Team Moreira

Los Osos, California

If you were at this seminar, you got to witness Joe in great form. His seminars are always amazing, but this one just seemed that much more special. He was excited about it. He even went over his designated time slot because he just had to show a couple more techniques and drills that related to what we were working on. If you missed it, well… you missed out.

The gallery has been updated, please check out the photos from the seminar here!

Thank you Joe for continually being an inspiration to us all!

Simian Martial Arts – Team Moreira

Los Osos, California

The cost of the seminar is $75.00 per person. Please make sure your spot is reserved and paid for in advance.

Simian Martial Arts

Team Moreira

Los Osos, California

I will get more videos up of the other competitors soon.

Team Moreira

Simian Martial Arts

Los Osos, California

Jim West aka “The Professor” was promoted to blue belt last night! Jim has been training with me for just under 2 years now and is more than deserving of this blue belt. He is very analytical during instructional times and always helps out the newer students with all the little details. When its time to roll however, “The Professor” locks down his opponents in his shoulder of justice from which he allows no man to escape. Jim is a dedicated student that is the first one with 20 questions on every technique being taught. His desire to know every little detail of every angle and every intent is key to his tight game. I pity any student at Cuesta College who underestimates him on campus.

Jim was put in the middle of a shark bait circle last week and this week was grilled on instruction and the finer points before being put on the spot to demonstrate his self defense side of his BJJ game. At the end of the night, with pulled muscles and all, after rolling against multiple opponents, the blue belt was strapped around his waist. He walked the gauntlet and endured the belt whipping like a true warrior and didn’t even flinch once.

Jim… thank you for all of your hard work and dedication. You are an amazing example to a student of any age. The blue belt is truly your ticket on the bus. Welcome aboard, my friend.

Simian Martial Arts – Team Moreira

Los Osos, California

Well, the competition team from Team Moreira – Simian Martial Arts was in great form this past Saturday in Aptos, California for the Rumble in the Redwoods tournament. We represented and walked away with 3 medals in total. Wade took home a gold medal in the white belt light heavyweight division. Chad McCausland took home the silver medal in the blue belt lightweight division. Chad Randall took home the bronze medal in the white belt middle weight division. Kyle and Jake were in the same division which also happened to be the largest division of the tournament. Both Kyle and Jake fought well and against really tough opponents but it just so happened that their opponents had a better day. All five guys really showed their jiu-jitsu skills and fought in some incredible matches. Thanks to all the guys who decided to step on the mats for themselves and to represent our studio… You made me very proud. Special thanks goes out to the guys who drove up for the event who weren’t competing and were there just to support our team!

All in all it was a long day but it was made great by our students who chose to lay it on the line along with our students who supported the team. I got a chance to watch the little kids wearing gi’s and showing off some pretty impressive jiu jitsu skills in their own right and it put a huge smile on my face. (I must admit I also felt a little envy wishing that I had the chance to train in BJJ when I was 8 years old). I met lots of great people there, including some other Moreira students from around California. I also talked with a couple of really cool guys from Paragon who were there competing. I didn’t see them roll but I hope they won their matches as well and helped represent the Central Coast in jiu jitsu competitions. People need to know that we have quality jiu jitsu programs around Los Osos, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo and down to Santa Maria and they don’t have to drive farther south or north for good BJJ… or worse yet, have someone settle for another art simply because they didn’t know there was any BJJ in the area. I truly believe that this art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brings so many people together from all over the place and all walks of life. When you get guys together who are looking to tap each other out but can call each other ‘friend’ at the end of the day, there is nothing that can beat that.

Thanks to all the people who participate in events like this: the competitors, the spectators, kids, adults, judges, refs and all the people behind the scenes. The Pan Am’s and the Worlds are huge competitions and are definitely a wonder to behold. However, when you can make a small tournament in a damp little town like Aptos, California a success and keep those fires lit for the younger and newer competitors as well as those looking to keep their skills fresh, then you are doing the BJJ community as a whole a great service.

I will be editing the videos of the matches over the next week so look for that video soon!

Here are a few more photos of the days events:

Team Moreira – Simian Martial Arts
Los Osos, California