Samuel and Sergio

Samuel Braga and Sergio Benini, at Gracie Barra Nashvillehttp://www.youtube.com/user/soebchak?feature=mhee warming up for Worlds with some sweep drills

Graciemag

Samuel gets a blurb in Graciemag!

http://www.graciemag.com/en/2011/05/a-roll-with-samual-braga/

Saturday Training

Today we traveled down to Spring Hill Tennessee to train with black-belt and Robert Drysdale affiliate, Ray Casias. Ray owns and operates Tennessee Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy http://www.tbjja.com/  and also coaches the Rhino competition team. TBJJA is the home of Cory Robison, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, who in 2009 took gold at  The European, The Pan American, and The World Championships. Ray and Cory also train with several top-notch MMA fighters. In other words, this is a legit gym. Professor Braga led a group that included blue belts Jason Bishop from Nashville MMA, and Nord Bathon and Bradley Steinborn from Jeremy Akin's Brentwood Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Samuel was dominant as usual, but I think many of us were most surprised by the physical presence of Nord Bathon. Ray called Nord: "Maybe the strongest guy I've ever rolled with." That statement speaks for itself. But it speaks even louder when you learn that Nord is 45 years old, and weighs a mere 165 pounds. But this guy lives and breathes fitness and his diet is downright scientific. At the other end of the spectrum is Ray's kid-student, Dillon. What a skill-set. He's like a ten year-old ninja with a take-no-prioners attitude. Great group of guys, and a great day of training.

Samuel and Ray

 We are excited about this collaboration! It's always nice when you're lucky enough to share some mat time with two or more high-level black belts. Next  Saturday we are guaranteed to have at least two of them when Samuel Braga comes to Spring Hill to teach a gi class at Ray Casias' Tennessee Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy http://www.tbjja.com/. Please come out for a session of world-class instruction from a six-time World Champion and get to know Ray and his students. You will not be disappointed!

Saturday April 16th, 11 AM

Professor Samuel Braga

Samuel Braga is a Gracie Barra black belt under Draculino. He's also a six-time world champion and runs an academy in Knoxville. We are very excited about the fact that Professor Braga continues to build a student following in Nashville. We can all expect to see a lot more of Samuel in the coming months, and hopefully a new academy very soon.Until then, Professor Braga will continue scheduling classes at Fit Nashville, 125 12th ave. South in The Gulch. The schedule has been somewhat sporadic lately but will soon stabilize. His next class will be 630 pm Friday April 15th. Please come by and show your support for Samuel and his visiting students from Knoxville.

Rhino Competition Team shines at EGO

Big congrats to Coach Ray Casias' Rhino Competition Team from Tennessee Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Spring Hill, TN. Ray's team brought home several medals from this past weekend's Extreme Grappling Open in Indianapolis, IN.

Randy Huth brought home a silver and Bronze.
Tyler Baggz brought home a gold.
Rachel Casias brought home 2 gold medals.
Please join us in support of Ray's team!

What a run for Brian!

It's been quite a month for SSF Jiu-Jitsu instructor and Gracie Barra Nashville member, Brian Marvin. Brian cleaned house and brought Pan Gold back to middle Tennessee, but not before being awarded his black belt by Master Carlos Gracie Jr. Congrats Professor Marvin!