Team Crispim BJJ had a very successful weekend!

First, Alexander Crispim and Team Crispim BJJ would like to congratulate Jordan Porter for his victory at the Ultimate Reno Combat 20 Fights in Reno on Friday, December 10, 2010.  Jordan made his debut at this fight against Paul Hubble.  Jordan dominated the first two rounds and finished his fight when he tapped out his opponent with an arm triangle choke at 1 minute 22 seconds in the second round.  Jordan trains under Allan Maravilla and with Alexander Crispim.  Congratulations for this exciting victory.

Next, Team Crispim BJJ of Pleasanton had multiple team members compete in the Grappling X Gi and No-Gi Tournament in Sacramento this past Sunday.  Tim Lovato took first in his no-gi division and second in his white belt gi division.  Erico Monteiro earned third in his purple belt gi division.  And Brooke Goldsworthy was awarded 1st place in her women’s blue belt division.  Brooke also made her debut in the men’s division and put on an incredible show.  She dominated most of her matches and the crowd wouldn’t stop coming up to her congratulating her performance against the men in her division.

As you all know, we like to highlight a team member periodically and this month, we would like to put the spotlight on Tim Lovato.  Tim joined the Crispim BJJ team about four months ago and he just entered his first tournament, and took home a gold and a silver.

Tim has a wife and two teenage daughters and lives here in the east bay.  Tim works for the United States Army as a Military Intel Analyst at Camp Parks in Dublin (east bay).  He joined the Army in 1991, served 2.5 years and then decided to attend Cameron University where he received his BA in Criminal Justice.  He then re-entered the Army in 1997 and has been serving our country ever since then.  Tim also served in Iraq from 2008-2009.

Tim’s background in sports was with wrestling during high school and unit level softball and football in the Army.  In August of 2010, two other soldiers who work with Tim at Camp Parks in Dublin mentioned that they were training with Crispim BJJ in Pleasanton and Tim decided to give it a shot.   Tim immediately became part of the “family” and everyone loves to be around him.  He is dedicated and motivated to doing well and he has achieved very fast improvements in his game, which was clearly demonstrated this past Sunday.   Tim won 1st place in the No Gi Super Heavyweight Division and 2nd place in the Gi division.  Two of his matches were won by submission and one of his matches was won by points.   In one of his matches, he competed against an opponent who was over 120 pounds heavier than Tim, which clearly shows how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu works allowing a smaller competitor to dominate a larger opponent through skill and technique.  The entire Crispim BJJ Team is so proud of Tim’s accomplishments and to have him as part of our team.  He brings a very positive energy to the academy and encourages others to push hard and train a lot.  Alexander Crispim says that Tim is incredibly strong and learns very quickly.  In addition, even as a newer white belt, he is constantly focusing on his strategies and thinking about developing his game plan.

We asked Tim why he started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and here is his response:

“I have always wanted to train in BJJ, since I saw Royce Gracie in UFC 1.  I love watching BJJ and MMA.  When I first got married and had kids, we could
not afford for me to train.  Then when we could afford it, there were no BJJ Academies to train where I lived.  When I was reassigned to Dublin in July of
2010,  I was talking to 2 of the Soldiers that work in my building and they both told me they had just started training at Crispim’s.  There were many training academies to choose from, but I decided to tag along with them to watch a training session, and between Crispim’s personality, the team’s friendliness, and the way everyone made me feel like part of the team from the first day, I knew this was my home.  The place I wanted to train.  Looking back over the last three months I would be disappointed if I would have choose any place other than Crispim’s.  It is definitely my home away from home.”

Team, please feel free to add any comments to this post to formally congratulate Tim and the other Crispim BJJ Team members who fought and competed this past weekend.   They all represented well!!!  Let’s keep training and working hard and 2011 is going to be even better.

Also, just a reminder that our potluck holiday party is this Sunday, the 19th, at Karma in Dublin.  The fun starts at noon.  We hope to see you and your families there.

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