Jimmy Collins continued his undefeated streak from the amateurs to the pros, winning a unanimous decision over Matt Casio on July 17 at Reality Fighting’s Ignition event in Plymouth, Mass. Going 3-0 as an amateur, the 155-pounder used his superior wrestling and ground and pound to earn the victory in his professional debut. Continuing to train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Kimura Academy, Jimmy also trains in MMA with Team Aggression, the camp of UFC veteran, Joe Lauzon. Way to go, Jimmy!

Kimura BJJ will compete in the Grapplers Quest tournament at the UFC Fan Expo on August 28. ALL Kimura competitors should be training to compete in this tournament. Let’s train hard and improve our games. Register as soon as possible and see Master Jean for more information.

What: GrapplersQuest

Where: Veterans Memorial Convention Center

When: August 28 for Gi Competition (all day)

Website: www.grapplersquest.com/events/ufc-fan-expo-boston-2010

Visit the website to register and for rules and divisions. This will be an amazing opportunity as held on the same weekend of the first UFC event in Boston. Let’s get ready to fight!

Kimura Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has announced a stripes promotion for this July. The BJJ school will also be implementing a new promotion system in which stripes will be awarded during the summer and belts and additional stripes during the winter.

The upcoming promotion will be held on Thursday, July 29 at 6:30pm. White belts who have been training for three months and averaging two practices a week will receive a stripe and two stripes if they have been training twice a week for six months. Blue, purple, and brown belts will receive a stripe if they have been averaging three practices a week for the past six months and two stripes if they have been training three times a week for the past year. Master Jean encourages everyone at all branches to continue to train hard for the promotion.

The belt promotion is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 4 at 1pm. But please check our website in the future for more information and for a description of the official new Kimura Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt promotion system.

Cabeca wins gold with Renzo Gracie fighter in third

Kimura BJJ had another banner tournament at the New York Open, hosted by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation May 1 at City College in New York City. Taking just 16 competitors to the tournament, Kimura took home 12 medals, including four golds! Marcos “Cabeca” Silva put on another dominating performance, becoming the absolute brown belt champion. Joey Bell also took second as a lightweight in the brown belt division. This was the first tournament for Joey and Cabeca as brown belts. Amazing! Master Jean gives his congratulations to all the competitors.

Master Sa awards Kimura and Master Jean

Sixth degree black belt, Master Francisco Pintos Sa, led an outstanding seminar at Kimura Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu earlier in April. Master Sa said he was highly impressed with the level of Kimura students as well as the facility, the Kimura philosophy, our organization and our standing as the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Boston. More than 75 students attended the seminar.

“This was one of the most important seminars in Kimura history,” said Master Jean Kleber. “Master Sa is one of the best teachers in Brazil. We are very proud to have him here and thank him for his wisdom and support. He is an amazing individual.”

In addition to teaching Kimura students over three days, Master Sa also promoted Master Jean Kleber to 3^rd degree black belt. Congratulations Jean. We are so happy to have you as our master, teacher, and brother. Master Jean wanted also to thank all of his teachers and students, including Marcos Silva, Rodrigo Macedo, Carlos Rosales, Joey Bell, and Michael Fontes for their support.

Master Jean first received his black belt in 2001 from Jair lourenco and Andre Pederneiras through Kimura and Nova Uniao academies in Brazil. As Master Sa is the president of the BJJ Federation in his state, he honored Master Jean by promoting him to a third degree black belt. Master Jean will receive his official certificate in July when Master Jair Lourenco visits our school. Jean now has nine years as a black belt. We are so fortunate to have him as our teacher.

Kimura fighters at Pan-Ams

Kimura Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sent four students to the prestigious Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Irvine, California April 8-11. The small squad scored big wins, as three of the competitors brought home medals. Marcos “Cabeca” Silva won gold in the in the purple belt heavyweight division. Dave Keefe placed third as a purple belt middleweight and Fabio de Oliveira placed second as a white belt in the ultra-heavyweight division. Way go Kimura!

Looking for the best BJJ in Boston? First class Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructors can be found at Kimura locations in Watertown, South Boston, Framingham, Marlborough, and Medford.

Master Francisco Pinta Sá

Kimura is overjoyed to announce an unbelievable opportunity, as Master Francisco Pinto Sá will be teaching a once-in-a-lifetime seminar at the Kimura Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Watertown branch on April 16-18. Master Sá has more than 24 years as a black belt master, having trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for more than 35 years! Coming from Fortaleza, Brazil and Team SAS, Sá has strong ties to Kimura and has known Master Jean since he was just a white belt. Jean encourages everyone to attend. There will be four sessions over the weekend for various levels.

Instructors Seminar: Friday, April 16: 6pm-9pm
Higher Levels Seminar: Saturday, April 17: 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
White Belts Seminar: Sunday, April 18: 12pm-4pm

Costs: $80 for one session
$120 for both Saturday sessions
$150 for all sessions (either Friday & Saturday or Saturday & Sunday)

Please see Jean right away to register for the seminar. Note that white belts who absolutely cannot join the Sunday session are welcome for Saturday. Likewise, higher levels who cannot make it on Saturday can join the Sunday session. Besides instructors, any higher levels with aspirations to teach BJJ one day are welcome to the Friday evening session. There will be a $25 late charge for those who pay at the door. All regular classes for April 16-18 are canceled for the seminar. We look forward to seeing you and learning from Master Sá.

Kimura takes home another trophy

Kimura Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy again showed why it has the best jiu-jitsu in Boston and greater New England after winning the Long Island Pride Championships in New York. Kimura brought a staggering 50 competitors and earned more than 30 medals at the tournament held at Queens College in Flushing, New York March 7. Out of 40 schools, Kimura finished in first place for adult competitors.

“Congratulations to all our competitors and students,” said Kimura Master Jean Kleber. “The best thing about our school is that everyone fights for the team and not just themselves. We have developed a great unity and fighting spirit.”

Besides the competitors, more than 20 others in the Kimura family came to support the team. It was a fantastic tournament, and Kimura extends its gratitude to all of the other schools, sponsors, and organizers. Jean also thanked Kimura’s other instructors, Michael Fontes, Carlos Rosales, Rodrigo Macedo, Marcos Silva, and Joey Bell. He urged everyone to keep training hard for upcoming tournaments.

Jimmy Collins won a tremendous fight at the Full Force Caged Combat 30 held in Westport, Massachusetts last Friday night, February 19. After three explosive and exciting rounds, Jimmy won a unanimous decision over Boneyard fighter, Sam Elliot. The bout earned Fight of the Night honors and keeps Jimmy’s undefeated amateur record (3-0) in tact. Scoring takedowns in every round, Jimmy mixed a lethal dose of wrestling, ground and pound, jiu-jitsu, and improving boxing skills. In the second, he amazingly escaped out of a deep arm-bar attempt that caused many in the audience to cringe and would have forced most fighters to tap. Also avoiding a guillotine, he went on to decisively win the third round and the decision. Jimmy trains with Lauzon MMA, Peter Welch Boxing, and Kimura Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Way to go! Looking for the best BJJ in Boston? First class Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructors can be found at Kimura locations in Watertown, South Boston, Framingham, Marlborough, and Medford.

Kimura will be changing its schedule slightly starting next week, Monday, Feb. 22.

• Mondays and Wednesdays: All levels are now welcome for both the early evening (6:15-7:30) and the later (7:30-9:00) classes. However, beginners should note that the second class will be more rigorous with higher levels.
• Tuesdays and Thursdays: The early evening classes will be extended by 15 minutes (6:00-7:15) for beginners and all levels and so will the second class (7:15-8:45) for all levels. The late evening (8:30-9:30) class will be cancelled.
• Sundays: Class will start 30 minutes earlier (12:00-1:30) at noon.

All other times and days remain the same. See the schedule online or Jean for more details. Thanks!