Professor Lemos Dominates His First MMA Fight!

Last Saturday night proved to be another milestone victory for Professor Carlos Lemos Jr as he fought a dominating fight to win his MMA debut in two minutes and fourteen seconds! Carlos exchanged blows with his opponent, Jason Rine, for forty-nine seconds, then he caught a leg and the fight went to the ground. Carlos immediately took mount and released a barrage of punches, forcing his opponent to give up his back. Once Carlos had his back he maintained control, transitioning to mount once to release more strikes, which again caused Jason to give up his back, leading to a finish by rear naked choke barely two minutes into the first round! It was a textbook exposition on the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and groundfighting in MMA, and surely there will be more to come from Professor Lemos!

Carlos would like to offer the following thanks:

First thanks always go to God.

Thanks to Doctors Ryan Headley, Jason Davidson, Russ Manney, Erik Dodson, and Michael Morgan for the invaluable medical support and services.

Thanks to my striking coaches Lou Tobar, Dean Bustami, and Hector Vargas.

Thanks to Professor Filipe Jerry Oliveira and Pablo Ortega for grappling advice.

Thanks to Condrat Lamcov for judo and takedown training.

Thanks to Brandon Gardner for MMA coaching and training.

Thanks to my sparring partners Tommy Mikowski, Jr Reyes, Hector Vargas, Jon Tutaj, Brian, Joel Gordils and Erick Waller.

Thanks to my student and friend David Marcos for the support and sports psychology consultation.

I'd like to thank Niclas Gustavsson, Peter Berglund, Andreas Widen, Johan Olsson, Matthias and Pele from my students at Gracie Barra Sweden.

I'd like to thank Jukka Lemola, Markku Tapiola, Tattu, Loni and Temmu from my students at Gracie Barra Finland.

I'd to thank Salvo Pace, Jason, Rich Wev, Pat, Ali Mason and Nicolai Holt from my students and friends at Gracie Barra Bath Spa UK.

I'd like to thank Gibran Alvarez my student from Gracie Barra Cancun/Playa del Carmen.

I'd like to thank Ryo Ominami my student from Gracie Barra Japan.

Thanks to Joe Goytia for believing in me and for giving me the opportunity to participate in that wondeful event Total Fight Challenge, the best local MMA show in Chicago.

Thanks to Master George Sky and Sky Martial Arts Center.

Thanks to my senseis from Tohkon Judo, Doug Tono, Condrat Lamcov and Sensei Majeeme.

Thanks to Gracie Barra The Loop, Gracie Barra Decatur and Gracie Barra Springfield for all the support.

Thanks to my sponsors Hypoxico, Powerbalance, and On The Mat.

Special thanks to all my students at Countryside BJJ, who without their support, love and dedication none of this would be possible.

Finally, extra special thanks to my wonderful wife Miryan for putting up with all the trials and rigors of a husband in a fighting camp.

No Classes on Martin Luther King Day

CBJJ will be closed on Martin Luther King Day--we will resume normal scheduling on Tuesday. Enjoy the holiday and we hope to see you soon!

Congratulations to Professor Lemos on his MMA Victory!

We would like to proudly announce the victory of Professor Carlos Lemos Jr on his MMA debut--he won his fight via rear naked choke in the first round. Stay tuned for a full report and pictures, coming soon!

Professor Salvatore Pace receives his Black Belt from Professor Lemos!!!

Gracie Barra Bath in the United Kingdom started the year on the right foot!  Not only did the end of 2010 bring a seminar with one of the best BJJ instructors and competitiors in the world, Professor Carlos Lemos Jr, but Salvatore Pace, head instructor at GB Bath, received his Black Belt from Professor Lemos, with the blessing of Master Carlos Gracie Jr.  Professor Pace has been a student of Professor Lemos since he was a White Belt, so this was a momentus occasion for both teacher and student!

Professor Pace began training with Carlos when Carlos first came to the UK in early 2005.  At the time Salvo was a chef in an Italian restaurant and also ran a Thai Boxing/MMA school in Bath.  Salvatore traveled to train with Carlos as often as he could, including traveling over Europe with Carlos to help train and teach at seminars, and his love affair with the gentle art grew deepened quickly.  The more he trained with Professor Lemos in the Gracie Barra way the more he desired to make learning and teaching Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu his life style!

Salvatore's competitive career has also been a good journey, In 2005 he competed in everything available at the time from MMA to Submssion Grappling and BJJ in the UK.  Salvo won most of the British championships at open weight winning all his fights in that year via submission, demonstrating the effective power of his skill as a fighter using Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu!

Next came Brazil in 2006 when he spent six weeks training with Professors Lemos and Giuseppe Schembri at GB HQ in Rio!  He then competed in the BJJ World Championships, where again under the watchful eye of his mentor Prof. Lemos he won gold!!

Salvo then went back to Europe, where he founded the first Gracie Barra school in Sicily, Gracie Barra Sicilia, still open today.

In 2008 Salvo returned to the UK setting up and continuing the BJJ legacy that his professor had installed in him.  He established Gracie Barra Bath which is one of the most well achieved and respected schools in Southern England today.

Bath is one of the epicenters of rugby in the United Kingdom and Salvo has trained several top rugby world players in Jiu Jitsu, who use the gentle art to improve their skills on the field, including captain of the English National Squad Matt Stevens, one of the best players in the world.

In 2010 Salvo returned to international competition capturing medals at Grapplers Quest in May, and in December now as a Black Belt under Prof.Lemos he captured his first Black Belt title at the NAGA European Championships in Paris, only ten days after his graduation.  Professor Pace not only thoroughly embodies the warrior spirit of the Jiu-Jitsu fighter, but his history with Professor Lemos demonstrates the power of the student-teacher relationship in Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu to transform lives for the better.  Now that Professor Pace begins to walk the path of a Black Belt instructor it is assured that he will continue this Gracie Barra tradition with pride, respect, and authenticity.  Congratulations to Professor Pace for his promotion and achievements, and to Professor Lemos for his continuing work in keeping our tradition strong and alive through teaching authentic Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu to people all over the world!