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’s Jimmy Collins and Tho Vu make the headlines!  We are very proud of both Jimmy and Tho for their accomplishments but more importantly their dedication and their character.  They are true representatives of the Kimura spirit and examples for the entire team.  Congratulations once again Jimmy and Tho, we are behind you all the way!

Tho Vu put forth another stalwart showing at the European Jiu-Jitsu Championship Cup held in Lisbon , Portugal last month. Never taking the easy route, Tho fought in three divisions! Tho, who fights at super featherweight, made an outstanding showing in the Open Weight Division, defeating a middleweight  and two medium heavyweights with three different submissions — triangle, choke, and armbar! Way to go, Tho. He eventually lost to a super heavyweight from Abu Dhabi , giving up 80 pounds.

In the master’s super featherweight division, Tho ended up taking third place, with one memorable victory by triangle submission over a Brazilian competitor from Portugal .

“I’m so proud to be a part of the Kimura team,” said Tho. “Kimura Switzerland and Kimura Brazil were by my side the entire time. They had been with me in Japan , too. It feels like Master Jean is by my side in spirit.”

Tho is now looking to compete in the Pan-American Championships and three tournaments in Brazil this summer, including the Rio Open International as part of the French Nation team at under 76kg. Sponsors looking to support this champion should contact him at 1-781-558-0057 or bjj.tho@gmail.com.

Tho Vu won five of seven fights at the Asia Jiu-Jitsu Championship recently held in Tokyo, Japan. In the master’s blue belt division, Vu submitted three straight opponents and lost his fourth fight 2-0. In the open division, Vu defeated a 181-pound opponent 2-0 and then lost a close decision by one advantage in his second fight.

It was an outstanding performance for a very competitive tournament. The Kimura Switzerland team also competed with seven competitors taking home 12 medals. Vu wanted to thank all of his friends and instructors in Boston who helped prepare for the tournament and his sponsor, WIKIGAZETTE. 

To call 2008 a banner year for Tho Vu would be an understatement.

After studying jiu-jitsu under master Jean Kleber for less than two years, Tho has amassed a total of 13 medals, ceremonial swords, and trophies over 2008, competing in 10 tournaments that took him everywhere from California to Abu Dhabi.

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The academy schedule has been updated for Wednesdays and Saturdays to include our new Muay Thai class.  We are proud to offer this class which is being taught by Kimura BJJ’s very own Harut Arutyunyan.  Harut has trained with us in BJJ for quite some time and the few students who do not know him by name will most likely recognize him by sight as he is almost always at class, training diligently.  What students may not know however is that Harut is also a world class Muay Thai competitor and instructor!

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An excellent article/interview has been written about Kimura BJJ Academy’s Jeff Hsu and his recent win at the 2008 World Jiu Jitsu Championships. Congratulations again to Jeff and to the Kimura team!

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Yet again Tho Vu has brought home a medal to Kimura Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, taking 3rd place at the prestigious Abu Dhabi Cup. Tho traveled to the United Arab Emirates for the most prominent jiu-jitsu competition in the Middle East (May 9-10). He won 3 fights all by submission on the tournament’s first day. In the semifinals, he dropped a razor tight 3-2 decision to his division’s eventual champion, and he ended up in third. Congratulations again, Tho.

Congrats to all the Kimura BJJ competitors who traveled to Carson, California to compete in the 2008 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship (March 28-30). An extra congratulations goes out to Tho Vu, who took home top honors in his division. Tho started the three-day tournament by defeating a former Pan Jiu-Jitsu champion by a score of 12-0, and he then went on to win two more fights to claim the tournament’s championship for the Super Feather Weight (141 lbs) Master Blue Belt division. What is even more remarkable is that Tho has only been training in jiu-jitsu at Kimura BJJ for 15 months! Congrats to all the Kimura BJJ competitors who traveled to Carson, California to compete in the 2008 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship (March 28-30). An extra congratulations goes out to Tho Vu, who took home top honors in his division. Tho started the three-day tournament by defeating a former Pan Jiu-Jitsu champion by a score of 12-0, and he then went on to win two more fights to claim the tournament’s championship for the Super Feather Weight (141 lbs) Master Blue Belt division. What is even more remarkable is that Tho has only been training in jiu-jitsu at Kimura BJJ for 15 months!
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