Gracie Barra Texas hosted a great event last saturday, October 10th. It was the first Kids and Juniors tournament. The little champions did an amazing job! Lots of people including parents, adult students and competitors were really happy with the turnout and the technical level. Eventhough was the first competition for most of the boys, they showed an excelent display of drive, determination and respect.

Each one of the competitors did great. No exeptions!

One word for the future oponents of this kids in outside tournaments. Watch out!

Pictures of the event  http://photobucket.com/stotskys

Gracie Barra Texas and BH, sisters schools directed under Professor Draculino, once more proved to be among the best. The team brought home 10 medals from the Pan Ams NOGI, held at the NY City college stadium in Manhatan.

In the Black Belt, our assistant instructor and main coach at GBBH, Marcelo Uirapuru Azevedo got the Gold in the Adults Middle weight simply submitting all of his oponents, including 2007 world BJJ champ Lucas Lepri in the finals. Our very own Claudio Caloquinha Mattos, got the Bronze Medal in the same division.

Gracie Barra Texas ex instructor, Samuel Braga, got the gold on the adults Black Belt Super Feather division, mantaining his status as the best super feather weight of the year.

Moving up two weight classes , Professor Vinicius Draculino Magalhaes got the Gold on the Black Belt middle weight, Senior 1 division, winning his matches by submission(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnNajKu9Lt0&feature=related). Carlos Terrinha, GBBH student for 10 years and head instructor at GB New England got the Silver in the Black Belt Middle weight, Senior 1 and the GOLD in the Absolute. Carlos was considered the best competitor overall at the Black Belt Senior 1 division.

Rafael Sapo Natal came all the way from Belo Horizonte to capture the Gold in the Brown Belt heavy weight class and a Bronze in the absolute Brown Belt. Sapo will be training with Ricardo Big dog Almeida for his next UFC fight and might come to Houston for a couple of weeks next month. Elcio Reis, also from Belo Horizonte, got the Gold in the Brown Belt light weight Senior 1 division and a silver in the absolute.

Congrats also to Bruno Villas boas who did a great job representing the team.

In the overall teams titles, our friends Renzo Gracie Team came in first, Alliance in second, ATT in 3rd and GRACIE BARRA TEXAS in forth place! For a school 7 months old it is a BIG deal!

Thanks for all the competitors who represented the team in NY and remember, this is just the beggining....HUGE things are about the happen!

The Parents and Kids class of the next saturday, 10/04 is cancelled due to the Pan Am NOGI Tournament to be held in NYC. Professor Vinicus Draculino and Claudio Matos will be there competing and representing the school. The adults classes on the same date will happen normally as always. In the advance class, a huge Live training will take place. Be ready!

The new Gracie Magazine issue just came out and it contains a incredible number of techinques and it's little tricks by the hands of great Masters and Professors such as Master Carlos Gracie Jr., Marcio Feitosa, Fabio Gurgel and many, many others. This is a great complement for what you guys learn in class. Also, there is the history of Master George Gracie, brother of Masters Carlos Gracie Senior and Helio Gracie. He was known to be the most agressive of all the brothers and did great in the rings of Brazil.Hurry up to get your issue, we have just around 6 left.

All the best guys and see you on the mats.