Latest news with #BJJ
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Springs MMA youngster named SA champion at just 10 years old
At just 10 years old, Danté de Beer from Springs has claimed the title of South African MMA champion after competing in the SA MMA Nationals held in Greyville, KwaZulu-Natal. Representing his local club, House of Tinkerbell, the young athlete proudly took home the gold medal. His father, Juan de Beer, recalled the thrilling moment when Danté clinched victory. 'I was incredibly nervous during one of his final fights. My hands were shaking. I knew every single move in that ring could determine the outcome. Just seconds after the fight began, his opponent made a small mistake, and Danté immediately saw the opening,' Juan said. A rush of excitement surged through Juan as he watched his son execute a rear naked choke. At that moment, he knew Danté was going to win. 'My hands were shaking so much that when his opponent finally tapped out, I forgot I was recording a video and didn't capture the moment. That memory will stay with me forever. The moment my son showed true skill, focus, and heart in the ring,' he added. Danté's victory earned him a spot to represent the national team in Dubai. Unfortunately, he was unable to travel with the SA team to the UAE World Championships due to not having a passport yet. 'After winning his nationals fight, I asked him if he knew what happened next. He simply said, 'I won the tournament and got gold.' I looked at him and said, 'No, my boy, you're the SA Champion in your category.' 'That's when the reality hit him. His eyes welled up with tears as he realised the full meaning of what he had accomplished that day,' Juan shared. Danté first joined House of Tinkerbell after his parents saw an advertisement promoting anti-bullying classes. They wanted him to learn self-defence. His coaches, JP Kruger and Gift 'The Day' Walker, encouraged him to try a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) tournament, where he won his first gold medal at the age of eight. 'That moment changed everything. His mindset completely shifted. He became more focused, more competitive, and truly fell in love with the sport,' said Juan. Despite his early success, Danté remains humble and grounded, described by his father as a busybody by nature. Danté cites rugby star Cheslin Kolbe and his coaches as role models who continue to teach him valuable life lessons. JP Kruger expressed pride in Danté's achievements: 'We are so proud of him. Jesus gets all the glory for everything great that happens from our gym.' Looking ahead, Danté's goal is to compete at the nationals again next year for another chance to represent South Africa. 'With his dedication, heart, and discipline, we have no doubt he will make his parents, coaches, and country incredibly proud,' Juan concluded. ALSO CHECK: Applying for 2026 Grade 1 or 8 in Gauteng? Here's what you'll need ALSO CHECK: Emergency services on high alert as bitter cold hits: Here's how to stay warm safely At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ashlie is revved up to compete thanks to Porsche backing
Porsche Centre Bolton is sponsoring technician and competitive Jiu-Jitsu athlete Ashlie Fowler as she prepares to compete at the BJJ British Open 2025 in Coventry. Fowler, who works as a technician at Porsche Centre Bolton, will represent Stealth BJJ Bolton in the Master 1 blue belt division at the UK's largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu event, held this weekend at the University of Warwick. Advertisement She will compete in the light-featherweight or featherweight category. A blue belt in the Master 1 (30–39 years) division, Fowler has previously secured gold at the 2024 European No-Gi IBJJF Championship and competed in multiple national and international events, including the 2025 European IBJJF Championship. No-Gi or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is where fighters wear a rash guard and shorts instead of a traditional kimono. She said: 'The support from Porsche Bolton means a lot. 'The competition kit looks great and makes a real statement - it's something I'll probably wear for all my future comps. 'I've got big goals, like maybe competing in Vegas one day, but it all adds up - travel, entry, hotels - so every bit of help matters.' Advertisement Fowler began training three years ago after attending a women-only class and now helps coach at Stealth BJJ - a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club in Manchester. She currently trains six times per week. She also leads a closed-door Jiu-Jitsu class for women. The number of regular female participants in her class has grown from two to nearly 20. Alongside competition, she continues to advocate for greater female inclusion in both martial arts and the automotive industry. Dealer principal at Porsche Centre Bolton, Steve Webb, said: 'Ashlie's story really stood out to us - she's working hard here as a technician while also training, coaching and competing at national level. Advertisement 'It's great to be able to support her and see Porsche Bolton represented on the mats.' The BJJ British Open 2025 is open to all belts and categories, drawing competitors from across the UK and overseas. The tournament is a key ranking and development opportunity for both Gi and No-Gi athletes. Then, in October, Fowler will travel to Rome to compete in the IBJJF European Championships.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trainer Reveals the Muscle Activation Trick That Instantly Makes Every Exercise More Effective
If you've never stepped foot in a gym, odds are the lingo used by gym bros sounds like a foreign language. Terms like "muscle hypertrophy," "RDLs," and "muscle activation" get tossed around like everyone's in on the secret. Of them all, "muscle activation" might be the most confusing. After all, don't all exercises activate your muscles? Technically, yes. But muscle activation specifically refers to getting certain muscles primed and ready to work. When a muscle is activated, your nervous system sends stronger signals to that muscle, telling it to contract and contribute to the movement. This improves coordination, increases blood flow, and helps you recruit the right muscles at the right time. So, how do you actually activate your muscles? Different trainers use different methods, but one of the simplest and most effective ways is to perform the movement you're about to do, just using your bodyweight. Take squats, for example. If you dive straight into a heavy set, your quads might dominate the movement while your glutes and core stay underused. But by doing a few slow, controlled bodyweight squats beforehand, you're essentially telling your glutes, 'Hey, it's go time.' That small step can help make your lifts safer, more efficient, and more a recent video, former UFC fighter, BJJ world champion, and founder of The Maximus Gym and Project Maximus, Bobby Maximus, walks through a simple warmup anyone can do on their leg day to properly activate their muscles. "You're going to do 20 air squats. 20 nice, clean, controlled air squats," he says. "This isn't a race. Nobody wins the warmup. You're going to go to slightly below parallel. You're going to have a proud, upright chest. You're going to stand back up to full extension." Once you've finished your squats, Maximus recommends moving on to lunges. Together, these two movements help prep your body for the rest of your lower-body workout, especially barbell back squats, Romanian deadlifts, and Bulgarian split squats. "When you're done your 20 air squats, you're going to do 20 reverse lunges," he adds. "You're going to lunge back. Touch the back knee to the ground. Your body's upright and proud. You're going to come forward. Then you're going to do the other leg. This is 20 reps, but it's not 20 on each leg. It's going to be 10 on each leg." Trainer Reveals the Muscle Activation Trick That Instantly Makes Every Exercise More Effective first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 9, 2025
Hypebeast
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Albino & Preto and MEDICOM TOY Unveil 1000% Kimono BE@RBRICK
Summary Albino & Preto(A&P) is gearing up to release a new collaboration withMEDICOM TOY: a 1000% KimonoBE@RBRICKthat blends martial arts authenticity with collectible artistry. This marks the culmination of a six-year passion project that first appeared as a hidden 'Secret B@' in Series 38, now fully realized in an upscale, standout release. Standing approximately 2.3 feet tall, the figure is dressed in a white kimono-style gi inspired by A&P's signature Jiu-Jitsu uniforms —clean and crisp. The gi features a thick black collar and black inner sleeve lining, echoing traditional martial arts attire. Tied around the waist is a black belt representing 1st Dan rank, complete with a red bar detail that pays homage to belt grading in Brazilian Jiu -Jitsu—a subtle nod appreciated by BJJ practitioners. The BE@RBRICK itself is rendered in a warm, light brown tone across its head and hands, finished with a glossy look that lends a premium, earthy feel. A white nose accent adds a touch of contrast, elevating the overall aesthetic. Branding is tastefully integrated: the A&P logo appears on the upper sleeves and the right foot in orange and blue outline, The BE@RBRICK logo appears on the left leg and across the back of the gi, both rendered in a similar color but with a bold, block-text treatment that contrasts cleanly against the white base, with both co-branding elements standing out cleanly against the gi. A small NOGI-style patch of the BE@RBRICK logo is also visible at the back of the uniform, reinforcing A&P's identity as a gi-focused label. Balancing tradition with design-forward execution, this BE@RBRICK not only scales up in size but also in storytelling— offering fans of both brands a collectible that's rich in detail, culture, and craftsmanship. The collaboration will be available on July 9th at 11 a.m. PST/2 p.m. EST exclusively on theA&P website.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Marcus Almeida vs. Martin Buday headed to UFC on ABC 9 in Abu Dhabi
"Buchecha" is UFC-bound. A standout ONE Championship fighter and decorated BJJ star, Marcus Almeida, is aligned for a three-round heavyweight bout vs. Martin Buday at UFC on ABC 9, which takes place July 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Two people with knowledge of the matchup confirmed it to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Robert Tellez first reported the fight was in the works. In each victory, Almeida (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has finished his opponents in the opening round; four came by submission, and one by ground-and-pound TKO. "Buchecha" is a multiple-time ADCC and IBJJF grappling champion, and has proven since his MMA debut in 2021, that his skills translate well in the heavyweight division of MMA competition. Almeida, 35, was last in action at ONE 169 in November, where he submitted Amir Aliakbari with a rear-naked choke in the opening round. That fight was the last on his contract, and he opted not to re-sign with the promotion. Prior to the fight, "Buchecha" told MMA Junkie he was frustrated with inactivity. After he completed his first four MMA fights in 11 months, Almeida hoped he could maintain the same level of activity, but the promotion did not meet his expectations. After he submitted Kirill Grishenko at ONE Fight Night 1, Almeida only had two more fights in 26 months. Buday (15-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) aims to extend his winning streak to three after consecutive victories over Andrei Arlovski and Uran Satybaldiev. His lone UFC loss came against Shamil Gaziev in December 2023. With the addition, the UFC on ABC 9 lineup includes:
