Jiu Jitsu in Utah Shines at NAGA tournament

Absolute MMA entered thirteen competitors at the North American Grapplers Association (NAGA) tournament last weekend. We took home 19 medals! Twelve 1st place finishes, four 2nd place finishes and three 3rd place finishes. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the foundations of our program. Under Professor Rob Handley, we learn and demonstrate the quality of his instruction and teaching methods. We are constantly improving our technique and challenging each other to improve our game. This is evidenced in the performance of our team last Saturday. Here are the individual results from the event. Congratulations to all our competitors, win or lose. We are proud of you all.

Mens NO-GI Novice Feather Weight
3rd Place Matt Belchak
Mens GI White Belt Feather Weight
2nd Place Matt Belchak

Mens NO-GI Intermediate Feather Weight
1st Place Denver Merrifield-Nirva
Mens GI Blue Belt Feather Weight
1st Place Denver Merrifield - Nirva

Mens NO-GI Expert Light Weight
1st Place Cameron Dansie
Mens GI Purple Belt Light Weight
1st Place Cameron Dansie

Mens NO-GI Intermediate Super Heavy Weight
2nd Place Ryan Williamson
Mens NO-GI Expert Super Heavy Weight
3rd Place Ryan Williamson

Womens NO-GI Expert
1st Place Rebecca Rodriguez
Womens GI Expert
1st Place Rebecca Rodriguez

Mens GI Blue Belt Light Weight
1st Place Justin Mitterling

Mens GI Blue Belt Cruiser Weight
1st Place William DaBell

Mens GI Blue Belt Super Heavy Weight
3rd Place Jared Fackrell
Mens GI Masters White Belt Super Heavy Weight
1st Place Jared Fackrell

Mens GI Purple Belt Cruiser Weight
1st Place Bentley Garner

Mens GI Masters Blue Belt Light Weight
2nd Place Eric Ciffone

Mens GI Directors Expert
1st Place Pedro Sierra

Kids NO-GI Beginner 49.9 lbs. and Under 7 & 8 year olds
2nd Place Mason Ciffone
Kids GI Beginner 49.9 lbs. & Under 7 & 8 year olds
1st Place Mason Ciffone

Utah MMA Gym Sparks Weight Loss.

Ruben Cervantes is one of our student successes. Ruben has been a student here since March of 2011. In that time, he has lost 20 pounds and drastically improved his fitness. Ruben came to us with the goal of losing 30 pounds, going from 185 to 155. As you can see he is well on his way. One of our regulars for the morning class, Ruben trains four days a week, both Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He trains hard, pushing himself when his body wants to give up and breaking the physical limits he used to have.

Ruben is one of many stories at Absolute MMA that have achieved their goal of weight loss. There are many more on our team that could tell a similar story. The positive attitude and teamwork that is present every day helps us all to better ourselves and each other.

We are proud of Ruben and all our teammates who have made progress with weight loss and improved fitness. We look forward to sharing more success stories with you. See you on the mat!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Student Spotlight

Our student spotlight this month is Hassan Campos. Hassan is seventeen and a student at Copper Hills High School. Hassan is quiet, respectful and serious about learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which he has been doing since March of 2011. He comes to class ready to learn and has been doing so quietly and well. The first hurdle any person has to face when learning BJJ is how to survive. Hassan has met this challenge and is starting to overcome it. More and more people are mentioning how difficult it is to submit him and how increasingly difficult it is to maintain control and position on him. Hassan also comes regularly to the take down class on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm. There also he has steadily improved both his offense and defense in this very demanding and difficult discipline.

In a time when many try to draw attention by talking loud or often about themselves, Hassan stands out by being quiet, working hard and respectfully seeking out instruction. Hassan asks intelligent questions, puts time and effort into practicing the repetitions that improve his skill and doesn't complain. While this is refreshing in any individual, it is especially so in one his age.

At Absolute MMA, those of us who have more experience share what we have with those who are less experienced. That means helping new people understand movement and techniques, gym etiquette and giving them just the right amount of resistance when working as a non-cooperative partner. Hassan does this well and without ego. He is an excellent example of a martial artS student. We are proud to have Hassan as a part of our Absolute MMA team.

Hassan just competed in his first Jiu Jitsu tournament Saturday,The 2nd Annual Wasatch Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Youth Tournament. He took 2nd place! Congratulations, Hassan! Well done.

Grand Master Flavio Behring Seminar in August!

Grand Master Flavio Behring is coming to Utah! Absolute MMA will be hosting a seminar by Grand Master (GM) Flavio on August 6th. This will be a gathering of all Flavio Behring Jiu Jitsu schools in the United States bringing students and instructors from Arizona, California, Montana and Utah.

There will, of course, be instruction from GM Flavio, one of the leading experts on the planet in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. GM Flavio always provides details and specifics about all of the techniques he shares as anyone can attest to that has participated in one of his seminars. GM Flavio is an open and giving teacher and will share his wealth of knowledge with a first week beginner the same as he would a twenty year veteran practitioner of the art.

Promotions are always a part of the excitement at GM Flavio's seminars. We all get to share in the pride and accomplishment of our teammates. It's a great feeling to be a part of each other's success, knowing that we all rely on each other to improve. Their improvement is a direct result of working with each and every one of us. It is also prestigious to be promoted by one of the few Red Belt Grand Masters in the world. Bragging rights and authenticity insured.

Absolute MMA invites all who want to gain skill and be a part of a great experience to sign up for this fantastic event. Call (801) 255-1166 for details or stop by the gym at 7800 South 1338 West in West Jordan, Utah. Don't miss meeting and working with a Jiu Jitsu Legend.

Excellent weight loss at MMA gym in Utah!

Pedro, "Hey Ivan! How are you today?"
Ivan, "I'm doing so damn good it would kill a mortal man!"

Hey gang! Remember Ivan? He was our student spotlight a little while ago. This is an update on his progress. As of June 1, 2011 Ivan has lost 30 pounds in his three months with us! He has also been directed by his physician to cut his high blood pressure medication in HALF! Ivan continues to be positive in every interaction he has with the staff and every other member here. Ivan is famous for his quotes as you can tell from the above statement. What a remarkable story. Ivan is one of many of our students who have been able to achieve and far exceed their goals as a result of their dedication, hard work, consistency and the training they receive at Absolute MMA. We are proud to have Ivan with us as one of many who have used us as a means to make positive change in their life. I know of many more Absolute Team Members who can give similar accounts of their achievements. We are proud of you all.

So you think girls can't fight?

Here's Rebecca and Rickey working on their Jiu Jitsu. Absolute MMA teaches Jiu Jitsu to men, women and children. Young and old, no experience needed. You don't have to want to be a fighter to learn everything the fighters do. Statistics show that women and girls who play sports have higher self-esteem, which leads to more confidence, fewer teen pregnancies, and a host of other positive side effects. Choosing Jiu Jitsu as your sport also increases your ability to defend yourself should the need arise. What are you waiting for?

Open Guard.

William and Feki working open guard. These two work hard as we all know at Absolute MMA. William is progressing his open guard technique and Feki is improving his survival skills. It's never easy but the results are worth the effort.

Student Spotlight - Ivan

I would like you all to meet Ivan, a newer student at Absolute MMA. Ivan is 50 years old and has been with us for 6 weeks now. He has made some significant life changes in the last little bit and decided to add physical fitness to the list of positives in his life.

Ivan came to us drinking two liters of Dr. Pepper a day! He has since completely removed carbonated drinks from his diet and has started to clean up his diet. Ivan was not in good physical condition when he began his training with us. He could not finish the rounds of Jiu Jitsu without stopping for breaks or sitting out a round. Just yesterday he worked through all four, 5 minute rounds with 15 push ups and 15 sit ups during the break! He has also lost 13 pounds in the 6 weeks since becoming a member!

Ivan always has a positive attitude and an incredible work ethic. He trains four days a week, no matter what. We all know how hard it is to keep working when the soreness and pain of training tells us to quit. We are proud to have Ivan with us at Absolute MMA. He inspires us and motivates the students and staff to give everything we have to improving ourselves and each other.

Absolute MMA rated on top ten list.

Check out our current ratings on http://www.the-top-tens.com/lists/best-martial-arts-studios-utah.asp. We love the positive feedback we're getting from our students! Thank you for rating us so high. We'll keep the high standards and progressive teaching methods coming your way. GO TEAM ABSOLUTE!

http://www.absolutemma.com

Absolute Grapplers win at Throwdown Grappling Competition

Congratulations Gang!!

Most Gold
1st: Throwdown ETC = 4 (1 beginner, 2 novice, 1 kids)
1st: Fusion Academy = 4 (1 intermediate, 1 beginner, 1 teen, 1 kids)
3rd: Absolute MMA = 3 (1 advanced, 1 beginner, 1 masters)

Advanced Open-Weight

1st: Harold Lucambio (Absolute MMA)
2nd: Fritz Borchardt (Paul Tom’s Behring Jiu-Jitsu)
3rd: Marc Brewer (Throwdown ETC)
4th: Cody Udy (West Side Jiu-Jitsu)

Intermediate Heavy-Weight
1st: Noah Jenkins (Fusion Academy)
2nd: Ma’afu Fosita (Ultimate Combat)
3rd: Jared Coleman (Taggard Combat Grappling)
4th: Ben Garner (Absolute MMA)

Beginner Light-Weight
1st: Riley Petersen (Absolute MMA)
2nd: Denver Merrifield-Nirva (Absolute MMA)
3rd: Drake Mattingly (Paul Tom’s Behring Jiu-Jitsu)
4th: T.J. Clyde (Fusion Academy)

Novice Light-Weight
1st: Ryan Norman (Westside Jiu-Jitsu)
2nd: Mathew Cannon (Absolute MMA)
3rd: Eric Tobler (Throwdown ETC)
4th: Jake Chappell (BYU Jiu-Jitsu)

Novice Middle-Weight
1st: Justin Taggert (Throwdown ETC)
2nd: Josh Miller (Westside Jiu-Jitsu)
3rd: Konrad Jones (Mushin Self-Defense)
4th: Edwardo Rivera (Absolute MMA)

Masters Light-Weight (age 30+)
1st: Harold Lucambio (Absolute MMA)
2nd: Jerry Ku (Paul Tom’s Behring Jiu-Jitsu)
3rd: Richard Cesena (Westside/ Unified)
4th: Eli Steele (Throwdown ETC)

Champion's Challenge VII Results

Champion's Challenge VII Results (May 31, 2008)

ABSOLUTE TAKE'S HOME 9 MEDALS WITH ONLY 11 PARTICIPANTS!!

Kids (age 7-12)
1st: Tyson Davis (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
2nd: Ashton Lewis (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
3rd: Shaylie Brewer (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)

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Teen Boys (age 13-18)
1st: Shimomura Kenta (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
2nd: Collin Teague (Fusion Academy, Eddie Edmunds)
3rd: Piotr Sauerbronn (Fusion Academy, Eddie Edmunds)
4th: Yilong Zou (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)

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Beginner Light-Weight
1st: Sam Kem (Rad Martinez)
2nd: Josh Siyavong (Rad Martinez)
3rd: Denver Merrifield-Nirva (Absolute MMA, Rob Handley)
4th: Thomas Williams (Stick & Bones BJJ, Chuan Donell)
5th: Piotr Sauerbronn (Fusion Academy, Eddie Edmunds)
6th: Rachel Chantry (BYU Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)

Beginner Middle-Weight
1st: Mario Garcia (Academy of MMA, Paul Tom)
2nd: Eli Steele (Pedro Sauer Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Ricky Lundell)
3rd: John Curtiss (Pedro Sauer Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Ricky Lundell)
4th: Yilong Zou (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
5th: Julie Chamberlain (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
6th: Levi Lloyd (Absolute MMA, Rob Handley)

Beginner Heavy-Weight
1st: Ben Garner (Absolute MMA, Rob Handley)
2nd: Trevor Windhorst (Behring Jiu-Jitsu, Paul Tom)
3rd: David Hamblin (Behring Jiu-Jitsu, Paul Tom)
4th: Jerry Bowling (Behring Jiu-Jitsu, Paul Tom)
5th: Collin Teague (Fusion Academy, Eddie Edmunds)
6th: Timothy Carr (BYU Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)

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Intermediate Light-Weight
1st: Camrann Pacheco (Absolute MMA, Rob Handley)
2nd: Simon Ioane (Pedro Sauer Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Ricky Lundell)
3rd: Sejin Seol (Behring Jiu-Jitsu, Paul Tom)
4th: Shimomura Kenta (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
5th: Chaun Donell (Fusion Academy, Eddie Edmunds)
6th: Race Sawyer (???)

Intermediate/Advanced Heavy-Weight
1st: Marc Brewer (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
2nd: Ben Garner (Absolute MMA, Rob Handley)
3rd: Jared Coleman (Throwdown, Griffin Raynaud)
4th: Benjamin Anderson (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
5th: Seon O’Donnell (Pedro Sauer Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Ricky Lundell)
6th: Kyle Cross (Absolute MMA, Rob Handley)

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Absolute Open-Weight Women
1st: Rebecca Rodriguez (Absolute MMA, Rob Handley)
2nd: Julie Chamberlain (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
3rd: Erin Sais (BYU Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
4th: Rachel Chantry (BYU Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)

Absolute Open-Weight Beginner Men
1st: Jared Coleman (Throwdown, Griffin Raynaud)
2nd: Trevor Windhorst (Behring Jiu-Jitsu, Paul Tom)
3rd: Eli Steele (Pedro Sauer Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Ricky Lundell)
4th: Cabeb Robinson (BYU Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)

Absolute Open-Weight Advanced Men
1st: Dayne Aristizabal (Throwdown, Griffin Raynaud)
2nd: Steve Sharp (Absolute MMA, Rob Handley)
3rd: Marc Brewer (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
4th: Sejin Seol (Behring Jiu-Jitsu, Paul Tom)
5th: Benjamin Anderson (Champion Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Pease)
5th: Camrann Pacheco (Absolute MMA, Rob Handley