On Saturday April 23rd the Fox Theater in Pomona, California will again play host to John Pena’s Promotions Respect in the Cage event. On the card that evening will be 2 members of the TotalMMA fight team in Hercio Teofilo and Chris Costello. While Hercio comes back to us from Brazil with another win under his belt Chris will be looking for redemption that night since losing his pro debut last year. Both fighters though are looking great as the date approaches and the whole family here at TotalMMA Studios would just like to wish them both the best of luck!!!

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TTMMA: So Jim for our members can you tell us about yourself?

Colleran: Sure. I grew up in a number of places back East, Pittsburg was one of them then it was Boston. When I was young I was a competitive power lifter, I also boxed then I just lifted weights until my thirties and between my job where I am president and chairman of Neutrogena I didn’t do a whole lot. Then after a while I started to get injuries, had my hips replaced in May of last year and then got fat so I decided it was time to go so something, so my son wanted to do this and here we are…

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It was a great night of rolling at the BTT Long Beach location as both teams began their cross training schedule tonight. On the mat was a variety of purples, blues and white belts eager to share ideas and strategies with their follow teammates and with the Mundials just around the corner both teams with be looking to take their training to the next level.

For more information on the cross training schedule please see professor Adriano or professor Juliano.

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Last sunday the Massachusetts BJJ Federation organized the first Caxcudo Gi World Cup.

The tournament was held at Milford High School / MA and competitors
from all over New England competed.

Brazilian Top Team Boston Competition Team did a great job finishing in second overall with a lot of gold medals.

Already recognized by the CBJJ (Confederação Brasileira de Jiu Jitsu) and IBJJ (International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation) as a 2nd degree Black Belt, Prof. Daniel Gazoni received the diploma from MASSBJJF (Massachusetts State Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation).

Congrats to the whole team!

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After an impressive showing Saturday both Professor Adriano and Professor Juliano surprised the BTT purple belt by promoting him to brown belt after winning his division.

The whole family here at TotalMMA Studios would like to congratulate Brett on the win and his recent promotion, both were well deserved

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Official results:
Marcelo Salazar – 1st place
Brett Collins – 1st place
Tom Vadakan – 1st place
Omar Sabha – 2nd place
John Petri – 3rd place, also placed 3rd in open weight class

BTT would not only like to congratulate those who took home medals this weekend but also would like to say thank you to those on the team who fought their hearts out and left it all on mat, keep training guys only through hard work shall we achieve our goals!!!

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TTMMA: We are here with BJJ black belt and Brazilian native Christian kanakamanishi, so Christian what brings you here to California? Can you tell us about yourself?

Christian: I was born in Brazil; I am Brazilian and half Japanese. I started training jiu-jitsu in Japan in 1997 with Takanasa Wakanabi, a black belt under Rickson Gracie. But in 2001 I came back to Brazil and started training with the Brazilian Top Team with Murilo, Nasal, Noguiera, Arona and all the legends from the team. Then in 2006 I received a black belt under my teacher Wakanabi in Japan and in 2004 I started fighting professionally in MMA in Japan and in 2009 I won the HEAT heavyweight tournament. Now I come here to fight in the Pan Ams, my last Pan Am was in 2004 in Carson. In that tournament I took 3rd place in the open weight division, I lost to Andre Galvao by an advantage in the semi finals.

TTMMA: So did you know Nasal was here, how did you find us?

Christian: My student is in the US Military, I teach him in Japan and now he has moved here to Tustin, California but I believe next week he will be moving again to Maryland. So I came here to stay with him and he introduced me to this place and I checked out the webpage and saw Adriano and I was like man I know this guy and want to come say hello to him and if possible come train with him for the Pan Ams.

TTMMA: Now I heard you were in Japan for the earthquake that just happened, can you tell us about it?

Christian: Yes I was there during the time of the earthquake, everyone there was scared and after 2 days the whole thing started with the nuclear plant in Tokyoshima blowing up so a lot of people went south because they were scared of the radiation. I stayed in Yokohama, it was a little father out and on Sunday I arrived here in California.

TTMMA: So tell us about your training leading up to this tournament?

Christian: I have been training really hard in Japan for the Abu Dhabi trails but they cancelled them and after the earthquake everyone disappeared so they closed the academy so I could not train for one week. Today though when I trained I felt my stamina wasn’t that good maybe because of jetlag but I am hoping training here with BTT Orange County it will help me out for the few days I have before I compete.

TTMMA: Well thank you Christine for your time and good luck at the tournament.

Christian: Thank you very much for all the help.

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Mashiro Goto was born at the same city as Mitsuyo Maeda (Conde Koma), the great japanese fighter who taught Carlos Gracie. Goto went to Brazil in 2002 to train jiu jitsu at Brazilian Top Team, stayed for months and made immediate connection with brazilian people and culture.

Used to face adversities in life, he is now facing one of the biggest challenge of his life in Japan after the tragedy. We got in touch with him, read the interview below and help if you can.

1. BTT: Tell us how jiu jitsu enter your life, how long have you been practicing and your actual belt

Goto: Jiu-jitsu for me is the way to get the power of ravage.Even comparing to normal Japanese people, I’m short & powerless. Therefore I suffered a lot by power harassment from childhood because of academic talent. The birth place was very conservative, something outstanding talent was not welcome to the public at that time.I was born in Hirosaki city where Conde Koma was born. I didn’t know that before UFC had appeared.I started Brazilian Jiu-jtsu career in 2002 at BTT, Rio de Janeiro. (Under Prof. Murilo Bustamante, Prof. Mario Sperry, Prof. Luis Roberto Bebeo-Duarte).

Before that, I trained Daido-juku Karate in Okinawa (Full contact, MMA style) for 3 years wearing yellow belt (intermediate), Shooto, Kali & JKD at Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts in LA.I stayed in Rio for 5 month just for training.After I came back to Japan, I joined AXIS Jiu-jitsu Academy in 2003.I re-visited Rio in 2006 for 3 month, just for training at BTT. This visit was unforgettable, I spent really good time not only in BTT academy but also in slum just behind the academy because of my financial situation.

They always gave me a smile, power to live. I love the people living there very much.After coming back to Japan, especially after the year 2007, I faced difficulty which was the result of long term deflation. It was really difficult to keep training because I had to work quite a long time just to keep my life, therefore my actual belt is still blue (under Prof. Takamasa Watanabe).
2. BTT: The Japanese market opened the doors for a lot of BTT fighters, tell us about this relationship BTT/ Japan

Goto: When there was a Pride FC, the relationship between BTT and Japanese market was very strong. They called some of BTT fighters for each event. At that time, Brazilian fighters’ dream was definitely to fight in Japan for the fame and money as well.

But everything has changed in 2007. US fight market grew too quickly, got over Japanese fight market which was slowly getting weak. (I think it was linked to weakening Japanese economy by deflation.)

It seemed to be partly cause of BTT’s disruption in 2007.After the year 2008, no Japanese fight organization including K-1 could not call Brazilian fighters who needed expensive fight money.Japanese audience still really want to watch the best fight in the world as it used to be but it is already far beyond
# What and where were you when the earthquake/tsunami happened?

Goto: When the earthquake happened, 14:46 PM March 11th, I was in Tokyo, sleeping in the bed because of night time shift work. It was huge, long shake but very slowly like lying on the water bed.

I’ve got to know immediately huge disaster happened, turning on my MacBook started gathering information about it.Quite a huge numbers of people died not because of earthquake itself but tsunami.

As I have experienced big earthquake in 1983 (M 7.7) when I was in Hirosaki, I didn’t get any shock from earthquake itself but shocked by the death of quite a huge numbers of people.Fortunately, no big destruction has happened in Tokyo but all the train & airplane has suspended, many of industrial workers have got refugees to go home.

I went to work as usual by motorcycle at 5 PM, because it was easy to imagine that many of coworker could not come by worst transportation.
# Tell us what are the major necessities right know

Goto: Donations for the victims (money, foods, water, clothes etc.) are the major necessities right now and near future.
# Feel free to leave a message to all the world. We’ve learned the word GANBARE (The Japanese word for cheer up, keep fighting or don’t give up ) so GANBARE to all Japanese people.

Goto: 3 huge crisis (earthquake, tsunami, nuclear power plant) had come at the same time. Each one has the power to destroy this country totally.

Also Japanese economy has already heavily damaged by the deflation lasting for 20 years (I myself became unemployed since beginning of this year.) However I believe God give only the problem which people can solve.

I always passed difficult time in Japan personally & socially but still love this country because of my (also your) roots called “Jiu-jitsu”.

So, please keep focusing on & cheering up our recovery.
PS: Some of NPO is helping the victims. I describe links below;

JEN (EN)

http://www.jen-npo.org/en/index.html

Institute of Advanced Studies in Universal Design (JP)

http://www.facebook.com/nucct

Japanese Red Cross Society, of course, accepting donations. (EN)

http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/index.html

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After weeks of hard work the team is looking prepared for this weekend’s tournament as those who entered look focused and ready to try and take home metals in their own weight categories.

These last 2 weeks have been hell for many of them as the coaches turned up the intensity, pushing them to new limits making sure they give their absolute best out there!

The staff @ TotalMMA Studios wishes them the best of luck and looks forward to seeing them compete well.

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As we continue to grow as a gym we are starting to see more and more of our members starting to meet their fitness goals as we watch their technique and conditioning improve with every class. An example of this is our Saturday morning Cardio Kickboxing class, when you watch this class you immediately can feel the positive energy bouncing off the heavy bags as our members kick, knee and punch their way to their goals.

The Total MMA Studios staff would just like to say keep up the great work everyone and may this year be the year you find a healthier you!!!

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