Artwork: Alex Gomez

Gustavo Dantas is offering privates and semi-privates classes for GD Jiu-Jitsu Students and Non-Students. The hours are flexible and rates may vary. For more info, contact Gustavo @ (480) 310-5483 or Gustavo@gdjiujitsu.com

Private Rates (45 Minutes):

Student:

1 class: $80

5 classes: $375 ($75/class)

10 classes: $700 ($70/class)

Non-Student:

1 class: $100

5 classes: $450 ($90/class)

10 classes: $800 ($80/class)

Semi-Private (2 people) Rates (45 minutes):

Student:

1 class: $120 ($60/person)

Non-Student:

1 class: $140 ($70/person)

Gustavo won the Black Belt/Feather/Master

From: www.novauniao.com

The 2010 Vegas International Open and the U.S. No-Gi Nationals took place in Las Vegas on August 14th. Team Nova Uniao had an awesome performance taking 2nd place at the Vegas Open (Gi), and 3rd place at the U.S No-Gi Nationals. Thanks IBJJF for promoting another great event, and special thanks to Nova Uniao instructors Gustavo Dantas, Steve Rosenberg, Paul Nava, Pedro Diaz, John Lewis, Chris Lopez, Bob Merriman, and Bruno Bastos.

Here are the standouts of our Team:

Las Vegas International Open

Team GD Jiu-Jitsu:

Steve Rosenberg in 2nd place

Nova Uniao Arizona’s leader, Gustavo Dantas, contributed 9 points to the Team by winning his division in the Black Belt/Master/Feather. Kids Program instructor, Steve Rosenberg, placed 2nd in the Black Belt/Adult/Light, with the Adult division always offering the toughest competitors. After testing his new Purple Belt by becoming the 2010 AZ BJJ State Champion, Issa Able was able to continue his winning streak by claiming victory in the Purple Belt/Adult/Light. Issa took 3rd place in the Open Class.

Issa Able took 1st in the Purple/Light

Nava BJJ:

Nava BJJ Well represented!

Gustavo’s Brown Belt, Paul Nava, was able to represent his team alongside 4 of his students. The 5 competitors were able to bring home 4 Golds and 1 Bronze. Aaron Wilson was the standout of the Team, winning all 3 of his matches to become the White Belt/Adult/ Light Division Champion.

Tigers Lair AZ:

Pedro Diaz, Gustavo’s Purple Belt, competed with one of his students, Jason Estep, and were able to take 3 Silver Medals back to AZ. Although competing for the first time, Jason performed well to place 2nd in the White Belt/Master/Middle.

J-Sect Jiu-Jitsu:

Christopher, GD and Christian Broadnax

Newly promoted Purple Belt, Christian Broadnax had an outstanding first time performance in his new belt by placing 2nd in the Purple Belt/Adult/Middle.

ISMA:

Represented by only 3 competitors, the Chris Lopez Blue Belts won 5 medals. 2 of those medals came from Dan Krpata who won the Blue Belt/Senior 1/Medium Heavy and placed 2nd in the Open.

East West MMA:

A student of Gustavo Dantas and Bob Merriman, Kelly Fiori fought hard to place 2nd in the White Belt/Senior 1/Heavy.

Bruno Bastos Jiu-Jitsu:

Traveling from Texas, Bruno Bastos Blue Belt, Nicolas Nuila, represented his team and his instructor very well by becoming the Blue Belt/Adult/Middle Division Champion.

US No-Gi Nationals

3rd @ U.S Nationals & 2nd @ Vegas Open

Team Nova Uniao was only represented by 8 competitors, but was still able to claim 4 Golds, 2 Silvers, and 2 Bronze to repeat their 2009 performance and placing 3rd overall in the Team Division. The standouts of the team include father and son duo, Steve and Ryan Heilman, Christian Broadnax, and Kristina Barlaan who all won their respective divisions.

Check out the Full Results:

Black Belt

Gustavo Dantas – 1st place (Master/Feather/Gi)
Steve Rosenberg – 2nd place (Adult/Light/Gi) & 3rd (Adult/Light/No-Gi)

Brown Belt

Paul Nava – 1st place (Senior 1/Brown/Gi) & 3rd place (Senior 1/Open/Gi)

Purple Belt

Issa Able - 1st place (Adult/Light/Gi) & 3rd place (Open/Gi)
Christian Broadnax – 2nd place (Adult/Middle/Gi) & 1st place (Adult/Middle/No-Gi)
Ryan Heilman - 1st place (Adult/Light/No-Gi)
Steve Heilman – 1st place (Master/Light/No-Gi) & 3rd place (Master/Light/Gi)
Pedro Diaz - 2nd place (Senior 3/Medium Heavy/Gi) & 2nd place (Senior 3/Open/Gi)

Blue

Nicolas Nuila – 1st place (Adult/Middle/Gi)
Dan Krpata - 1st place (Senior 1/Medium Heavy/Gi) & 2nd place (Senior 1/Open/Gi)
Kristina Barlaan – 1st place (Female/Feather/No-Gi), 3rd place (Feather/Gi) & 3rd place (Open/Gi)
Alex Centner - 2nd place (Adult/Open/Gi) & 3rd place (Adult/Ultra Heavy/Gi)
Arnold Monterroso – 2nd place (Adult/Light Feather/No-Gi) & 3rd place (Adult/Light Feather/Gi)
Josh Rodriguez – 2nd place (Adult/Feather/Gi)
Zack Surdyka – 2nd place (Adult/Middle/No-Gi) & 3rd place (Adult/Open/No-Gi)
Jonathan Van Buren - 3rd place (Adult/Feather/Gi)

White

Aaron Wilson – 1st place (Adult/Light)
Summer Begay – 1st place (Female/Heavy)
Vincent Ortega - 1st place (Master/Feather)
Michael Leonard - 1st place (Master/Super Heavy)
Jason Estep - 2nd place (Master/Middle)
Kelly Fiori – 2nd place (Senior 1/Heavy)
Kevin Duran – 3rd place (Adult/Light Feather)

Classes located at CrossFit Prescott

Gustavo Dantas is proud to announce his newest location, GD Jiu-Jitsu Prescott, located at CrossFit Prescott @ 3260 Tower Rd., Prescott, AZ 86305. The classes are taught by GD’s black belt, Steve Judson.

To celebrate the grand opening of GD Jiu-Jitsu Prescott, we are offering a special rate of $ 99 per month for unlimited training when you sign up with a 1 year agreement. We will also waive the sign up fee if you take advantage of our Grand Opening Special.

This represents a savings of over $360 per year based on the month-to-month rate!

The unlimited training rate allows you to participate in any of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes at GD Jiu-Jitsu Prescott.

This is hands down one of the best deals in the industry and a one time only special! The offer is good only through the end of December, 2010.

Not comfortable signing a long term contract? No problem! GD Jiu-Jitsu Prescott also offers extremely reasonable rates and programs for everyone. Contact us to find out more! Steve 480-250-1232

*$99 special requires a signed 1 year agreement with GD Jiu-Jitsu Prescott.

Here is the schedule:

Gustavo, Kristina and Jonathan Dantas

The 2010 International Master and Senior Championship and the Rio International Open took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 22nd to 25th. Our team was represented by Gustavo Dantas and Kristina Barlaan. Gustavo won the Black Belt/Senior 1/Feather Weight Division, and Kristina won the Blue Belt/Female/Feather Weight, and took 3rd place in the Open Division. Kristina went 5-1 with five submissions. Special thanks to our sponsors Many Weapons and Crossfit Southwest.

GD Submitting 2010 Brazilian National Champion Alcenor Alves

GD Jiu-Jitsu Events and the AZSBJJF are proud to announce the 2nd Arizona Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Kids Cup on April 24, 2010 at Westwood High School in Mesa, AZ. The tournament will feature Kids (4-15) and Juvenile (16-17) Divisions ONLY. Pre-Registration prices for Kids are $40 ($50 after April 16th) and Juveniles are $50 ($60 after April 16th). The Final Registration Deadline is April 21st, but will be closed sooner if 230 competitors is reached. Don’t wait until the last minute to register, the kids division was sold out at the 5th AZ Open. All Juvenile and Pre-Registered Kids competitors will receive a FREE tournament T-Shirt. 3.5″ Medal for Juvenile Medalists and ALL Kids Competitors. ALL Kids competitors will also receive a Performance Certificate. ALL Competitors will receive the chance to win a Nintendo Wii, regardless of win or loss. The Top 5 Teams will also be awarded trophies. Registration is ONLINE ONLY. Click here to register.

The 5th AZ International Open of BJJ took place at the Westwood High School on March 13th and 14th, in Mesa,AZ. Team GD Jiu-Jitsu had an amazing performance with 9 Medals in the Kids Division (3 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze), and 45 Medals in the Adult Division (17 Gold, 15 Silver, and 13 bronze), taking the first place,  Adult Division Trophy home once again.

Here are the standouts of the Team:

White/Adult/Feather – Matt Mamolen and Stephen Barnes repeated the finals of the Kaju AZ/Nava BJJ Tournament, when they closed out the division.

White/Adult/Middle – In the biggest bracket of the tournament, Jeremy Larsen and Mark Garland went at it, and Jeremy won,  securing the gold.

Kristina wins Feather and Open Class

Blue/Female – Kristina Barlaan repeated her No-Gi US Nationals performance, winning again the feather weight division, and the Open Class. Kristina submitted both her opponents at Feather with triangles from upside-down guard and surpassed her Middleweight opponent in the Absolute 11-0.

Issa had 6 matches (6 submissions)

Issa and Christopher sharing 1st place

Blue/Middle/Open – Issa Able went up one division, and still dominated his opponents at Middle. With a total of 6 matches, Issa closed out the Open Class with Christopher Broadnax.

Jacob wins after his two year hiatus from BJJ Tournaments

Brown/Medium Heavy – Jacob McClintock won both of his matches by submission.

Here our Team’s Results:

Click Here for full results

Some of our AZ Open Champions

Team Many Weapons members Gustavo Dantas and Steve Rosenberg prepare GD Jiu-Jitsu kids for the 5th AZ International Open of Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu.  Check out all the pictures at Many Weapons Website

Issa won 7 matches!

The Abu Dhabi West Coast Trials took place in Santa Cruz, CA on January 24th. Acting as a qualifier for the richest and most prestigious Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu event on the planet, the Abu Dhabi Pro, the West Coast Qualifier featured the best of the best congregating upon the shores of Northern California in the United States.

The winners from the American event will compete against the best grapplers and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes from across the world and for the chance at winning a massive USD$145,000 in cash and prizes at the Abu Dhabi Pro on April 15th to 17th. The 2009 AZ BJJ State Champion, Issa Able (GD Jiu-Jitsu/Nova Uniao), will represent Arizona Combat Sports in Abu Dhabi. Issa had seven matches to win the Blue Belt Light weight, and the Blue Belt Open Class under 161 lbs.

Propelled by the support of the government of Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Pro supported personally by his Highness the SupremePrince and Commander In Chief of the United Arab Emirates National Army, H.H. Sheik Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Winners of the qualifiers will have allairfares,accommodation, and meals paid for and they will also have a chance at the cash and prizes in Abu Dhabi.

Issa Able, who is only 19 years old, was born in Iran, but he has been living in the United States since the age of 11. With only 18 months of training, Issa already has an impressive resume. Since July 2009, besides his AZ State Title, Issa won the 2009 U.S. BJJ Nationals, U.S. No-Gi Nationals, 1st Southwest BJJ Classic, and finished the year winning his first World title at the No-Gi Worlds in Carson, CA, making his instructor, Gustavo Dantas, and his sponsor, “Many Weapons”, very proud. In Abu Dhabi, he will be competing for a chance to win $6000 (Weight class and Open).

Issa’s accomplishment was also accompanied by outstanding performances from other fellow AZ champions.

In the Black Belt Division, Steve Rosenberg went all the way to the finals, but ended up losing by referee’s decision (2 x 2) in a very close match to Marcos Torregrossa.

Even though the 2009 Southwest Classic standout, Christian Broadnax won the Blue/Middle Divsion, he lost in the “Heavy” Open Class over 161 lbs, not being able to qualify to the Pro Tournament, since in the blue belt division, only the winners of the Open “Light” and “Heavy” would go to Abu Dhabi. His brother, also a 2009 Southwest Classic Champion, Christopher Broadnax, lost to his team mate Issa, in the finals of the Blue/Light. Christopher lost his second match in the “Light” Open class.

2009 AZ State Champion, Kristina Barlaan, took 3rd at the Female/Under 139 lbs. Kristina lost by a referee’s decision (4 x 4).

Here are our team’s full results:

Issa Able – 1st place (Blue/Light) and 1st place (Blue/Open under 161 lbs)
Christian Broadnax – 1st place (Blue/Middle)
Steve Rosenberg – 2nd place (Black/Light)
Christopher Broadnax – 2nd place (Blue/Light)
Kristina Barlaan – 3rd place (Female/Under 139 lbs)

GD JIU-JITSU Events in association with the Arizona State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (AZSBJJF) is proud to announce the 5th AZ International Open of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The competition will take place on March 13-14 at Westwood High School located at 945 W. 8th St. in Mesa, AZ 85201.

Gracie Mag will be covering the event. Don’t forget to check out the December issue which features an article on the 1st Southwest BJJ Classic.

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition will offer kids, juveniles, Adult (Male and Female), Masters and Senior Divisions. There will be international competitors from Mexico, as well as Black Belt competitors representing Brazil. The Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Japan will also send their 2009 National Champion to compete in the Black Belt Division.

Kids Division competitors will now receive the improved 3.5″ medal.

The AZSBJJF Award Ceremony for the 2009 MVP Competitors of the Year and winners of the 2009 Overall School Rankings will be held during the tournament. Winners will receive trophies for their achievements and MVPs will receive a plaque and sponsorship to ALL AZSBJJF tournaments for the year of 2010. GD Jiu-Jitsu took 1st place Overall in the Adult Division, and Derling Gonzalez won the Adult MVP Award.

Adult Division

1st place - Team GD Jiu-Jitsu (444 points)
2nd place - BJJ Revolution (241 points)
3rd place – Team Megaton (197 points)

MVP of the Year – Derling Gonzalez (Team GD Jiu-Jitsu)

Register to the 5th AZ International Open