With significant results at IBJJF tournaments over the past couple years, it’s not hard to see that Brazilian-based Jiu-Jitsu team Nova União is continuing to grow and expand in the US. With GMA Gustavo Dantas – one of the first three Andre Pederneiras black belts to venture into the US, in 1999 – , the Nova União USA pioneer forges ahead with his efforts, getting set to present the very first Nova União Jiu-Jitsu Invitational, on December 3, 2011.
With the tournament open only to Nova União members, Dantas hopes to further build and strengthen the team bond and comraderie by getting 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 Nova União Team Hall of Fame: Robson “Robinho” Moura and Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro.
Between the two fighters, Robinho and Shaolin hold a combined 10 IBJJF World Championship titles. In the highly competitive black belt division, securing a spot on the podium is difficult enough, but aquiring multiple gold medals is nothing short of amazing.
“I credit a lot of my success to Robinho and Shaolin,” says Dantas,” When I was still actively 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 4, 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 Nova União’s most active black belt. 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.
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