Don't miss 2012 at Nava Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

It is that time of the year again! We are preparing to start a new year for Nava Brazilian Jiu Jitsu! This year will bring a lot of excitement, victories, and new beginnings for the Nava BJJ family. We pride ourselves on not just being a team, but a family as well. This year we will come together to support each other as we put our hearts into the sport that makes us better people in every way. I am extremely fortunate that this year I was able to open my very first location! I have been even more fortunate that I have had the opportunity to stand a long side some very talented men, and women.  You guys are the reason I am very excited about each new day, and what the impending future holds for our school as a whole!

To kick start the new year Nava BJJ is running several different promotions to inspire people to do something that will change their lives! For any new female students who come in and purchase a Gi directly from the school they will automatically get the months of January, February, and March free! This is a savings of over $300! For all male students we are offering the month of January free, and the month of February half off with a contractual sign up of one year. These savings are a great way to test out Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and all the other classes Nava BJJ currently has going on. It’s a fantastic way to get healthy in 2012. I have many students of whom I am very proud of this year for changing their current lifestyle to a healthy one! Our school caters to people of all types, and backgrounds. We come in many sizes, and athletic or non athletic abilities. So don’t think that you have to meet a certain criteria to join!

We are jumping off 2012 by moving right into competition season for those who enjoy competing at Jiu Jitsu tournaments regularly. Our first tournament will be the ALLSTAR tournament in Santa Cruz, California. Then we will continue competing every month 1-2 times until the month of October. These tournaments will be made up of local, and out of state tournaments. These events are always great opportunities to meet, and greet the Jiu Jitsu community. We have had fun as a team getting to support each other, and our fellow Jiu Jistu teammates! It is VERY important that you keep up a consistent training schedule. This will keep you on top of all the most current techniques that are being taught in the weekly classes. It also insures that you are staying one step ahead of the game! Even for those not competing or off season training it is important to stay consistent when coming to classes because it will keep you inspired, and motivated for great things.

This New Year holds many goals, and dreams for the team of Nava BJJ. Working together to build each other up has been what has provided us the most success this past year of 2011. As a team we started off in 2010 placing 14^th in the Arizona State Brazilian Jiu Jitsu federation under the banner of Nava BJJ and Kaju az/Nava BJJ. In 2011 we moved into 9^th place in the AZS BJJF! This is awesome and puts us in a range of being one of the great schools in Arizona! My personal goal for 2012 is to make the top 5! This team has made us become the school we now are. We should always aspire to be better because in doing so we won’t ever put a limit on how big we dream. Happy New Year team Nava BJJ.

Nova União Invitational a success; Shaolin and Robson join Hall of Fame

Graciemag Newsroom
December 7, 2011

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Paul Nava outpointed Rod Wilson in senior 1 black belt division. Publicity photo.

The weekend of December 3 and 4, 2011 was a memorable one for the Nova União team in the United States, as the inaugural Nova União Invitational, a two-day tournament open only to NU schools, gathered 85 competitors in a very friendly atmosphere. Competitors of all belts fought their hearts out displayed tremendous attitude. The highlight of the tournament was the senior 1 black belt match where Paul Nava (AZ) defeated Rod Wilson (NV) by 2 to 0.

From left to right, old friends Vitor "Shaolin", Gustavo Dantas and Robson Moura / Publicity photo

During the tournament, Gustavo Dantas inducted the team’s two greatest IBJJF champions, Robson Moura and Vitor “Shaolin”, into the Nova União USA Hall of Fame. “Besides the fact that they are my favorite Jiu-Jitsu competitors to watch, they are also personal friends. So it was very emotional for me to have them here supporting the event and seeing how my hard work is paying off.”

On Sunday, 90 lucky attendees participated in the Fusion Seminar with Robson Moura, Vitor “Shaolin” and Gustavo Dantas. “It was a great event overall. We are producing a DVD from the event, which will include 26 final matches from the NU Invitational, the Hall of Fame Ceremony, and the Seminar. Bonus features with more advanced positions, behind-the-scenes footage and more will be available.”

Check out the full results at novauniao.com.

Team Nova União USA to Gather in Arizona for Special Weekend

October 21, 2011 by scoop   

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With significant results at IBJJF tournaments over the past couple years, it’s not hard to see that the Brazilian-based, Jiu-Jitsu team, Nova União, is continuing to grow and expand in the US. With GMA Gustavo Dantas at the frontline of the Team’s organization, some may say that expansion was inevitable. One of the first 3 Andre Pederneiras Black belts to venture into the US in 1999, 12 years later the Nova União USA pioneer continues his efforts and is set to present the very first Nova União Jiu-Jitsu Invitational on December 3, 2011. With the tournament being open to only Nova União members, Dantas hopes to further build and strengthen the Team bond and comraderie with all its affiliates under one roof. The tournament will also serve as a way to introduce Nova União’s “New School” members to its legendary “Old School” Champions, inducting its first two honorees into the Team’s Hall of Fame: Robson “Robinho” Moura and Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro. Between the two fighters, Robinho and Shaolin hold a combined number of 10 IBJJF World Championship Titles. In a very competitive Black belt division, securing a spot on the podium is difficult enough, but aquiring multiple Gold medals is simply beyond amazing.

“I credit a lot of my success to Robinho and Shaolin. When I was still active in competing and living in Brazil, Shaolin was one of my biggest influences and role models. I have never met someone who is so focused and hard-working. When Robson moved to the US, we started to work with each other more and he quickly became one of my main sources for Jiu-Jitsu instruction. He knows so much Jiu-Jitsu and his knowledge is always innovative and expansive. Because of their role in my Jiu-Jitsu, my students have also been able to benefit and find success in their own journeys. I’m happy that I can give back to them for all they have done for me and my students and for all they have accomplished,” states Dantas.

The next day, December 4th, the celebration of Jiu-Jitsu will continue with the first ever Super Fusion Seminar featuring Robson Moura and Gustavo Dantas, along with Special Guest instructors, Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro and Bruno Bastos, who has been competing in the Adult divison since he was 14 and is currently the most active Black belt in Nova União. Unlike the tournament, the Fusion Seminar will be open to ALL schools. Seminar participants will be able to learn from and train with World Class instructors who each have extensive knowledge in competition specific Jiu-Jitsu.

Click here for more information http://www.strongvon.com/nuinvitational/m_tournament_main.jsp?page=home.html

PAUL NAVA’S FIRST BLACK BELT MATCH RESULTS IN GOLD

This year at the 3rd Southwest BJJ Classic Team Nava BJJ represented Jiu-Jitsu in fine style. The team took 14 competitors and won 12 medals including a gold for Nava’s first fight since being promoted to black belt. When asked how it felt to have your first black belt fight Paul said, “It felt great! I spent a lot of time training at Nova Uniao headquarters and fine tuning things with the students from my school.” Those same students worked really hard to prepare for this tournament and their hard worked paid off. The team brought home six gold, two silver and four bronze medals not to shabby for a weekend of tough competition. Nava BJJ blue belt Aaron Wilson took the gold in his division and his fellow teammates Brandon Walker and Daniel Rodriguez also won the gold in their respective white belts brackets. Jose Bufanda also put on a great show in the white belt feather weight division submitting his opponent via collar choke in about two minutes of the final match securing another gold for the team. Watching these young men compete really gives you an idea of the great training that Paul Nava has at his new school which has been open for almost six months now. “I believe our team is finally settling in to our new location, we are starting to grow and we now have kid’s classes and wrestling classes available,” Paul said. Many of the students take advantage of all that Nava BJJ has to offer which also includes Judo taught by Jeremiah Heistuman. The young Judo black belt has been with Nava for over two years now and loves to teach the art which specializes in throws and takedowns to immobilize or subdue an opponent. Jeremiah is currently a blue belt under Paul Nava and his insight to the team is invaluable.

Paul has followed his dream to be a Jiu-Jitsu instructor for some time now and one of his students has a dream of his own. Aaron Wilson is a blue belt under Paul and he is preparing hard for his first MMA fight which will take place this Saturday in Scottsdale. When asked how it feels to have a student training to be a mixed martial arts fighter Paul said, “I am very excited that Aaron is pursuing his dream to become a professional MMA fighter. He dedicates all his time and energy preparing himself for his first cage fight, I couldn’t be prouder.” Aaron Wilson trains MMA with Coach Ray Steinbeiss out of Power MMA in Gilbert. Nava will be in Aaron’s corner along side Ray helping coach Wilson who has dreams of one day fighting in the UFC. When asked what is in store for Nava BJJ going into 2012 Paul said, “Our kids program is really growing and next year I plan to have my first young students competing in their first tournaments, it’s going to be a great year for Nava BJJ!” Stay tuned for updates on all things Nava Jiu-Jitsu.

RYAN HEILMAN CELEBRATES HIS 21ST BIRTHDAY AS DOUBLE NATIONAL CHAMPION

Anyone who trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will tell you that it’s probably the toughest martial art to achieve great success in. Furthermore, competing in a BJJ tournament can be a daunting challenge even for the veteran fighter. Winning just one match at these packed tournaments is sometimes the greatest test for a Jiu-Jitsu fighter. Unlike karate tournaments BJJ events all have single elimination rules and some matches last just a few seconds leaving the defeated frustrated at the fact that he or she will have to wait another month or two before they get another shot at going to the finals. Ryan “Scoop” Heilman does not have to wait as he secured not one but two National Champ Titles at the IBJJF’s annual event. Ryan first won the gold in the gi division having battled three tough opponents all of the matches would go the full time limit. “I won all my gi fights by points…Israel Ceron was my toughest opponent that day,” Heilman said. Ceron defeated Ryan in the final match at the Las Vegas International Open this year but it was “Scoop” who had more points when the buzzer went off this time becoming the National Champion at adult brown belt. Most people would have been more than happy to be National Champ and call it a day but Ryan is not most people when it comes to Jiu-Jitsu. With only a few days before celebrating his 21^st birthday Scoop would jump back on the mats this time in the No-Gi division and submit both his opponents becoming the No-Gi National Champion. Heilman beat his first guy with a kimura and followed that up with a toe hold in the final match. When asked how he prepares for a tournament Heilman said, “I try to imagine myself winning in various situations then I visualize how I want the match to go, I never think of anything negative the day of the fight.” Currently Ryan is preparing for No-Gi Worlds which will take place in November.

Today you can find Ryan teaching at Nava BJJ in Mesa Arizona, where he teaches the morning BJJ classes and No-Gi in the evenings. Paul Nava brought the recently promoted brown belt to his school as assistant BJJ instructor, in addition Ryan just celebrated his 21^st birthday. “I love coaching at Nava BJJ it’s a great opportunity for me to expand my teaching skills and I look forward to watching students I train succeed,” Ryan said.