Latest news with #BrazilianJiuJitsu
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Khaleej Times
Jiu-jitsu, football: How Brazilian expats in UAE are shaping country's cultural landscape
A vibrant community of over 12,000 Brazilians is quietly reshaping the cultural landscape of the UAE, building bridges between two nations separated by oceans yet bound by shared values of "warmth, family, and (a deep sense of) community". What began with the arrival of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coaches has since evolved into a diverse and thriving expatriate population spanning fields such as engineering, medicine, fashion design, and the arts. This evolution, according to Brazilian Ambassador Sidney Leon Romero, reflects a deeper cultural affinity that makes the UAE feel like 'Latin America' to his countrymen. "We don't feel like foreigners here. We feel embraced — and this is very rare," Romero told Khaleej Times."The way we are embraced by the UAE is very special. It feels like Latin America." The ambassador estimates 1,500 Brazilians work directly in jiu-jitsu as coaches, contributing to regular championships and teaching the sport across the UAE. The martial art has found particular resonance with the UAE's royal family, with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed's daughter practising the sport. "We feel very proud because Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the martial art that is adopted here. It's respected — and that brings us a lot closer to each other,' Romero noted. Cultural connection Beyond the sporting arena, Brazilians in the UAE have found long-term success in high-skilled, technical professions. Many have lived in the Emirates for over a decade, drawn not only by opportunity but also by the lifestyle. For many, the safety, order, and daily optimism of life in the UAE are reminiscent of home — or perhaps, a better version of it. "It's very safe here. It's a very predictable country, and it brings a lot of confidence and positivity to our routine life. You open the newspapers, and you see good news every day," said Romero. Romero also highlights striking cultural parallels between Emirati society and Brazil's northeastern region. Both cultures evolved under arid climates and share nomadic roots. This has resulted in surprising linguistic overlaps: Brazilian Portuguese retains several Arabic-derived words such as algirda, matula, and algebra. "Both societies are family-oriented, warm, and emotionally expressive," he said, explaining: "There are strong community ties, respect for traditions, and emotional connections that are shared traits." These shared values have helped fuel a blossoming of cultural and artistic exchange. A group of 10 Brazilian women in Dubai regularly writes poetry, fiction, and short stories. Meanwhile, Brazilian actress and influencer Sabrina Petrovsky, who boasts 1.5 million followers, has become what the ambassador calls "the best promoter of the UAE in Brazil today". Brazilian footballers have also contributed to the UAE's sporting landscape, with several playing for Al Ain FC, helping the club qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup. 'We have a bunch of players playing in the UAE, but Al Ain is my team here. It represents the country. It's traditional. I'm proud Brazilians played a role in that," Romero said. The Brazilian Embassy is currently working on a project in the cultural field and plans to expand its efforts. "There is real demand for more cultural exchange," Romer noted. "This people-to-people diplomacy is very important. It opens doors for economic sectors, science, and technology, but starts with people and their demands."
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- Daily Record
Renfrewshire personal trainer sets up free self defence classes for local mums and daughters
PT Katrina Craig has set up free self-defence classes for mums and daughters following an unprovoked attack on a thirteen year old girl in Erskine. A Renfrewshire personal trainer has set up free self-defence classes to help mums and daughters. When Katrina Craig heard about a terrible unprovoked attack on a young girl in Erskine, she was 'shocked' that such a thing could happen in her home town. Motivated to do something and show that the community cared, Katrina decided to set up free self-defence classes for women to be equipped in challenging situations. Based at Reaper Grappling martial arts gym in Linwood, Katrina is a trained mental health and exercise coach, a yoga teacher and a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The day after the disgusting attack on 13-year-old Hope Lyden from Clydebank Katrina set up a social media account entitled 'Savage and Safe Scotland' to see if there would be any interest in attending a free self-defence session. Hope had arranged to meet a friend at Erskine's Boden Boo beauty spot when she was ambushed by a group of girls unknown to her. The young girl was reportedly hit on the head from behind, causing her to fall unconscious. She was then subjected to multiple blows and kicks before her body was dragged across a field by the alleged assailants. Katrina, who now lives in Johnstone, said: 'Like everyone, I was appalled and couldn't believe that young girls would do such a thing. 'I wanted to show that people in the community really do care that these things are happening. The response was overwhelming and more than 80 people registered to take part in the first class. 'In my experience, boys don't think twice about participating in sport but there's a lot more anxiety around girls taking the first step. 'I wanted to create a welcoming and safe space where mums could enjoy time with their daughters, and it's been great. We've formed our own wee community.' The hour-long classes take place each Saturday at 1pm and a new block of six weeks is due to start shortly. Katrina, who is helped by her husband Cameron – also a coach – and gym owner Chris Doran added: 'I love coaching and it's great to see everyone's confidence increase. 'We practise lots of potential situations, like if someone attacks you from behind or if someone tries to choke you. 'I don't mind giving up my time and I'd like to set up a social enterprise eventually so that we can perhaps fund back into the project as people have been keen to pay. 'I've also been in touch with schools to see if I can help there. It's awful that we have to think this way but it's so much better to be prepared and, wherever possible, always avoid conflict.'
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
12-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu star aiming for world championships
A 12-year-old athlete is making a name for herself in the fiercely competitive world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Taya Jones, who trains at Gracie Barra Salisbury and Gracie Barra Frome, was recently named a Gracie Barra UK ambassador athlete for 2025. Advertisement The title is reserved for the most promising young athletes within the organisation. Taya secured silver at the IBJJF Rome Open, narrowly missing gold in a close final against an experienced Brazilian opponent. Read more Taya has her sights set on the world championships. (Image: Gracie Barra Salisbury) She only recently moved up to her current yellow belt division, marking the match as a significant step forward in her career. This achievement follows her first European gold win in October 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. Taya has also competed in invitation-only events this year, including Tanto in Weston-super-Mare and ENYO, the UK's leading all-female grappling showcase, where she secured a dominate victory on Saturday, June 7. Advertisement The recent competition had a star studded audience including actor and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor Tom Hardy, who signed Taya's gold medal. Her coach at Gracie Barra Salisbury, Callum Swift, said: "Taya trains with unmatched dedication — almost every day of the week — and has shown the mindset and talent to compete at the very highest levels. "She represents the future of Gracie Barra and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the UK, and I wager that she will become a future black belt world champion." Taya is now focused on the World Championships in Abu Dhabi this November and has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover travel and accommodation costs. Advertisement She continues to train and compete almost daily as she prepares for the international stage. Fans and supporters can follow her journey on Instagram at by searching 'tayaj_bjj_tagb'.
Coin Geek
27-05-2025
- Business
- Coin Geek
Proof of work
Homepage > News > Editorial > Proof of work Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... If there is one thing I've emphasized again and again in my work, my writing, and my life, Bitcoin is not magic Internet money for passive investors. It is a system built on proof-of-work (PoW) , and the truth embedded in that phrase is far more literal than most people realize. Over the last 10 years, we have seen a strange cultural shift. Americans increasingly fantasize about easy wins. Overnight riches. Lambo-filled TikToks. Bots and airdrops. Outsource everything. Drop-shipping success. Passive income for a generation that has never worked a 60-hour week. I was raised differently. My upbringing was rooted in the Protestant work ethic: a belief that building a meaningful life was a form of worship and dominion. For some, that meant becoming a mechanic and living within your means. For others, it meant building an empire. Either way, the path forward was paved in work… hard, sometimes thankless work. When I found Bitcoin in 2012, it wasn't because I was trying to get rich quickly. I was running a print marketing business, tinkering with side hustles in IT, managing B2B logistics, and still bartending at TGI Fridays. I was a college student by day, a talk radio host in the afternoons, and working the third shift in a box factory to get ahead. Starting in 2010, I was also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu student (and then a coach), so I would have a skill to keep me in shape and fall back on if I needed to do something else eventually. None of this is to brag. It's context because people seem to have forgotten what it means to grind. Now, at nearly 40, I've had the good fortune of successful exits and the hard lessons of a brutal bankruptcy. I've built real companies, earned a black belt in the most demanding martial arts, and raised a family I'm proud of. None of it was accidental. None of it was easy. Every inch was earned. And that's precisely why I find today's obsession with get-rich-quick schemes so hollow. Anyone can rent a Lambo, buy a fake watch, and push affiliate links. But you can't fake a black belt, you can't fake a 300lb bench press, a clear mind on stage, or a profitable company that employs real people. These are the kinds of things that don't get vaporized when the market dips. This brings me to the cultural and economic crisis we're living through. Young people don't want entry-level jobs. They lived in a generation with inflated belts in martial arts schools and participation trophies in park district soccer, and they were taught that their emotional fragility is actually a strength. Today, the DEI bureaucracies are more concerned with optics than performance and feelings over facts, and they shout that the economy bends to the demands of mediocrity. We've created a generation allergic to discomfort and resentful of merit. I mean, look at this headline! This is absolutely ridiculous. Gender? Protein builds muscle, period. There isn't women protein. There isn't men protein. There is just PROTEIN, a macronutrient every man and woman in the gym trying to build muscle needs. It doesn't care about who you vote for. It doesn't care… — Joey Swoll (@TheJoeySwoll) May 5, 2025 The Chinese want to win. That's uncomfortable for people to hear, but it's true. Their workforce outpaces ours in hours worked, education, and productivity. So we cry foul and demand tariffs—not as a strategy to increase American output, but as a crutch to preserve the illusion of competitiveness while ultimately demanding higher wages for less work for the sake of social fairness. It's economic denialism, and it won't last because it can't last. This cultural softness infects the Bitcoin economy, too. The BTC subculture has convinced itself that wealth is simply a function of early adoption and commitment to the culture. HODL and wait. Do nothing. Be rewarded for your piety. The protocol is sacred (for now), immutable (until it's not), and success comes from adherence and purity—not action. It's funny because, as a longtime Protestant, BTC has become little more than the prosperity gospel dressed in cyberpunk drag. But that's not what Bitcoin was built for. Bitcoin is a utility. A network for value, communication, and data integrity. Essentially, it's a tool for commerce. A tool, when wielded by serious entrepreneurs, that can change the entire world to be more wealthy, more efficient, and more free! It was designed to create opportunity. Not redistribute it to the idle. It rewards action, not idolatry. If we don't use it, it will die. If we don't build with it, businesses, services, commerce, communication—it will become a digital relic. A failed experiment clutched by nostalgic bag-holders who thought they were front-running a revolution while refusing to participate in it. Everything degrades when not used. Your body. Your mind. Your skills. Your economic system. Proof-of-work isn't just about mining. Satoshi used the term 'work' to make a point about fitness, honesty, and strong signals. Why? Because, at its core, proof-of-work is a worldview. An ethic. A call to arms for builders and doers and competitors who believe the future is something you build , not something you buy and wait on. So my challenge is simple: Pick something hard and do it every day. Do it consistently and get better than most others just by attrition and focus. Then, it becomes easy. Build something. Sell something. Learn something. Invest in your body. Fix your relationships. Be someone who adds value, competes with excellence, and can be trusted with the weight of the future. That's how you become antifragile. That's how you build a life worth living. And that's how Bitcoin wins: when we stop waiting for magic and start doing the work. Watch: Why Proof of Work is the most secure model of consensus title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""> Bitcoin BTC China HODL Proof of Work Satoshi Nakamoto Tariffs United States
Time Business News
14-05-2025
- Health
- Time Business News
Boost Your Confidence with Professional Combat Sport Training
Confidence plays a big role in living a good life, but lots of people deal with self-doubt. Have you ever felt proud and strong after doing something hard? That feeling is what a combat sport training can give you. It's not just about getting in shape- it helps you build real confidence. As you learn new moves and skills, you become stronger, tougher, and more sure of yourself. Plus, you'll learn how to protect yourself, which is a powerful feeling all on its own. Let's get into it! Joining combat sports like boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts can help you grow in powerful ways. Exercise is known to boost confidence and improve mental health. Regular physical activity is strongly linked to increased happiness and confidence levels. Training in combat sports also teaches important skills like discipline, focus, and not giving up. These skills can help you in everyday life, not just in the gym. Picture yourself walking into work or a social event feeling confident and ready to handle anything that comes your way. Many individuals start combat sports for fitness, but discover additional advantages: Learning self-defense helps you feel stronger and more in control. It gives you the skills to protect yourself if you ever need to. That kind of power can boost your confidence in everyday life. When you join a gym, you become part of a team. You meet people who support and encourage you. Over time, those friendships can help you feel more connected and included. Working out is a great way to let out stress. Moving your body helps your mind feel calmer and more focused. After training, you often feel happier and more relaxed. Combat sports provide goals, like learning a new move or achieving a fitness level. Hitting those goals makes you feel proud and driven. It also helps you believe in what you can achieve. When considering professional combat sport training, explore a variety of disciplines offering distinct techniques. For example, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and traditional Karate each have unique aspects that can cater to different preferences and goals. Consider researching Brazilian jiu jitsu classes in Houston area to find a reputable training location. These classes not only teach you effective self-defense strategies but also build your confidence. You'll learn to rely on strategy and technique over brute force, which is incredibly empowering. People often forget how much mental strength combat sports take. Training helps you build focus and learn how to bounce back when things get tough. Over time, you get better at staying calm under pressure, which helps in everyday life too. Combat sports also mix physical movement with smart thinking. This mix helps you grow both mentally and physically. The tough moments in training can teach you how to handle problems outside the gym as well. Adding combat sport training to your life is a way to invest in yourself. It's about building confidence as well as strength. Starting training initiates your journey to self-improvement. Whether you pick boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or something else, you're choosing a path that helps you feel more sure of yourself. Walk into the gym, stick with it, and see how your confidence grows. Is this article helpful? Keep reading our blog for more. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
