MMAweekly.com just posted a really great article about Alexander Crispim of Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers in Pleasanton (east bay area). Please click here for the article.
We, at Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers, believe that Alexander Crispim will absolutely realize his dream of fighting for the UFC. We are very proud of the hard work, determination and passion he shows every day in his training.
Alexander Crispim and the Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team had a great time at the Downtown Pleasanton 1st Wednesday Street Fair last night. The street was packed with Pleasanton residents and people from all over the east bay area. Thank you to the Barra Brothers team for coming out and supporting our jiu jitsu and MMA students and academy.
It was a night of lots of fun, great food and our students from the Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA programs doing some INCREDIBLE DEMONSTRATIONS. Alexander Crispim conducted a mini jiu jitsu class on the mats in downtown Pleasanton for thousands of people to watch. The kids practiced and demonstrated their skills spectacularly. In addition, we had several of our kids from the Kids MMA program hitting pads and showing off their quick hands and impressive coordination and power.
It takes a lot of courage for these young students to perform in front of thousands of people and we couldn’t be more proud of them for rising to this challenge. We also met a lot of new families from all over the east bay area who we would love to welcome into the Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers family. Alexander Crispim and the Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers team would like to invite them to come visit our academy and watch and/or have their kids try out a few classes in both jiu jitsu and MMA to see how really impressive our kids program is.
We will be at the 1st Wednesday Street Fair in Pleasanton for the next 3 months and appreciate all of the support from the community and our team. On behalf of Alexander Crispim and the Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers Team in Pleasanton, we’d like to thank you all again and congratulate all of the kids who came for the self confidence and courage it takes to do this and their committment to the team and their training.
The Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers Team of Pleasanton is on fire!!! We have had many of our team members compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournaments around the bay area and fight in MMA (mixed martial art) events lately and wanted to provide you all with a re-cap of everything that has been happening over the past four weeks.
First, Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers would like to congratulate both Brooke Goldsworthy and Ryan Brown for bringing home the Gold Medals in their divisions at Jiu Jitsu By The Bay in Hayward (East Bay Area) on February 26, 2011. Their matches displayed passion, skill and experience. Alexander Crispim and the Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers Team were represented well. Congratulations again to Brooke and Ryan. THE GOLD!!!!!
Second, Alexander Crispim and Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers would like to congratulate both Jeremiah Labiano and Joe Neal for their performances at the Born To Fight MMA (mixed martial art) event at the Saddlerack in Fremont (East Bay Area) on February 20th. Both of these MMA fighters made their amateur debuts and were incredible. Alexander Crispim states that both MMA fighters fought like gladiators and showed true heart and skill. Congratulations again to both MMA fighters and Congratulations to Joe Neal for bringing home the victory.
Finally, Alexander Crispim and Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers would like to give Brooke Goldsworthy one more CONGRATULATIONS on her performance at the 2011 Abu Dhabi Pro World Trials for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in San Diego on March 5th. Brooke competed in both her Blue Belt division and the Absolute Division. She competed in 4 matches in her division and won the first by points (6-0) and the next three were all victories by submission. After earning her Gold Medal and competing in four jiu jitsu matches in one day, she moved on to fight in the absolute division. Her fifth fight of the day was also a victory which moved her into the finals in the Absolute Division. On March 6th, Brooke competed in an incredible jiu jitsu match and the fight ended 0-0, but the Referee gave the victory to her opponent and Brooke took home the Silver in Absolute! It could not have been closer than this. Her victory in the Abu Dhabi Pro Trials is a huge accomplishment for her and for the Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers Team. Alexander Crispim says, “She is a true competitor who always shows dedication, passion, motivation, and embraces the teachings of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and lives its lifestyle.”
Although we often highlight the jiu jitsu competitors and MMA (mixed martial art) fighters in these posts, we want to make sure that we also mention every single member of the Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers Team in Pleasanton, the coaches (Daniel Elias, Allan Maravilla, Josh McDonald) and the competitors’ families- without all of you, these results would not be happening. You all provide great training, support, motivation and this is all necessary for these competitors and fighters to succeed. Alexander Crispim would like to personally thank you and offer his congratulations to all of you.
Let’s continue to work hard as we have several more MMA (mixed martial art) fights and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitions coming up in the near future, including the PAN AMS. Alexander Crispim will be announcing additional days and times for specialized Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament training at Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers in Pleasanton (East Bay Area).
“UM ESTILO DE VIDA!”
Osssss!!!!!!
Alexander Crispim and Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers in Pleasanton (East Bay) are proud to have had our Kid’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Belt Promotions on February 12th. Many of our young jiu jitsu practicioners and their families turned out for this celebration and milestone in their journey down the path to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The children have worked hard, committed to learning this martial art, shown motivation, dedication and heart in preparing themselves to go to the next level. Alexander Crispim and the entire Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers team are so very proud of every single one of these children as they were awarded their new belts or their stripes on the way to their next belts.
We have seen the kid’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program in Pleasanton grow by leaps and bounds and the skill that these young children have displayed is impressive. We see teamwork, respect, discipline and passion in the kids both on the mats and off. These young martial art practitioners are the future of our team and we couldn’t be more proud.
Alexander Crispim, of Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers in Pleasanton and of the UFC-Gym in Concord, hosted a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Self Defense Demonstration at the UFC-Gym. The basis of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that it provides a means for a smaller and weaker person to successfully defend him/herself against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique. In the videos, you can see men, women and kids defending themselves through a variety of positions and techniques. Through learning the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you will learn to effectively defend yourself and also build confidence in your ability to take care of yourself. Crispim BJJ Barra Brothers provides instruction for people of all ages, gender and experience level.
In this video, Alex Crispim demonstrates Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with some of his (upper belt) students who have earned their purple and brown belts. This level of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu takes years of practice, dedication and discipline.
At Crispim BJJ, everyone can learn the techniques of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In this demonstration, Alex Crispim explains and shows a few of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu positions and movements that he teaches for self defense.
Alex Crispim demonstrates the power of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu used for self defense. It doesn’t matter what age or gender you are, Crispim BJJ can teach you to be prepared for anything. Watch Alex Crispim, the 2nd Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, guide his students through what they learn everyday at the academy.
Alex Crispim demonstrates the mixture of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and self defense with some of his younger students. Crispim BJJ academy offers classes to kids starting as young as 5 years old.
We hope you enjoyed the videos.
Crispim BJJ is proud to have Angele “AK-47″ Muther (Kasilag) as part of the team and family and would like to take a few moments to share her story with everyone.
Angele is a blue belt and has been training for about two and a half years in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Alexander Crispim. Angele says, “I had always wanted to try a martial art, but I didn’t think I could do it. I was taking boxing classes and just came by the jiu jitsu class one day to see what is was all about. I still remember the day that I came by to watch. I was questioning whether my body can move like that or if am I going to get hurt. I remember putting all these questions aside and just jumping in right away and from that day I was hooked!”
Alexander Crispim says that watching Angele come train at the academy in Pleasanton everyday is a prime example of a true BJJ lover. “She is an inspiration for all of us at the academy. Angele is always ready to train with anyone. She takes her time and helps any new beginner learn how to roll and shows them gratitude and respect for jiu jitsu. Angele is also always ready to train hard with upper belts to help improve her training and provide herself as a solid training partner.”
Angele says, “I like so many things about jiu jitsu. It’s a sport that anyone can train in, no matter what age, gender, or shape. I have gotten so much from training. This is the best shape I have ever been in my life. I have met a lot of good people. It may sound a little funny, but it also made me more confident and strengthened my belief that I can do anything I set my mind to. This is also one of the reasons I choose to train and stay with Alexander Crispim and the Crispim BJJ team. Crispim makes students feel like they can do it. Not only does Crispim train Champions, but he makes students feel like can become Champions. Just like Crispim, Daniel’s classes are great. He breaks moves down step by step. He is also an incredible instructor and coach. Getting hurt was also one my concerns about doing jiu jitsu. I know there are some injuries that are going to happen because of the nature of the sport, but here at Crispim BJJ, I know they are always looking out for us to reduce this risk greatly. ”
Angele also adds, “When you walked into Crispim’s gym, it has nice welcoming feeling. You can feel this when Crispim yells your name when you walk through the door. Everyone is so friendly. I see people when they come in and everyone gets up and shakes their hand or gives them a hug. Also when we leave, we all shake hands again or give a hug to everyone. When we roll people don’t try to hurt you and there are no egos on the mats. Everyone is so helpful. It doesn’t matter what belt you are, people are always ready to help. If you have a question or just wanna drill, anyone will say yes. It is truly a family. After a long day at work, jiu-jitsu helps me forget about the stress of the day. It’s a place where I can relax and have fun and hang out with friends. You can see how we all get along. Juan’s recent event was one of those the examples.”
Crispim sees the dedication and hard work that Angele puts in at the academy every single day. She is such a huge part of the team. Angele is always there to help in any way she can and she comes with a smile and positive energy. She always passes her energy of never giving up and will keep doing positions over and over until it becomes second nature to her. The team loves her and holds her in such high regard. If Angele doesn’t train one day, everyone is always asking, “Where is Angele?” The team always wants her to be there and loves training with her. Crispim states that Angele’s confidence has increased tremendously since she has been training in jiu jitsu and that he has no doubt that she can not only protect herself, but also anyone else. 
When Angele isn’t working or training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, she is hula dancing. She has been doing hula for about six years. Angele says, “I enjoy dancing and learning. Hula is also like another family to me. I have made a lot of good friends just like in jiu jitsu. ”
Angele finishes by adding, “I like training because it always challenges me mentally and physically. I may not catch on as quickly as others, but I am determined enough to get there. I have to laugh because I used to be so scared of falling or rolling and look at me now. I hope I will be doing jiu jitsu for a long time.”
It is very easy for us to write about Angele because she is a “true” example of a Leader!! And she is helping us lead the academy by showing everyone what dedication, determination, motivation, positive energy, the will to never give up and true love for our martial art is all about!
Ossssss!!!!!!!!
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.
Hello Team,
We just sent an email out to all of you with details on the Crispim BJJ holiday party which is scheduled for Sunday, December 19th from 12-4 at Peter Lee’s lounge, Karma, in Dublin (about 5-10 minutes away from the academy in Pleasanton). If for some reason you did not get the email, we also posted a copy of the email in the ” Crispim BJJ Students Group” which you can find on the home page on the right hand column. The email provides the details of the party and some additional Crispim BJJ updates.
Hope to see everyone there!
Alexander Crispim and the Crispim BJJ Team in Pleasanton would like to congratulate Bryant “The Rock” Pangelinan on his incredible victories at the World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship this weekend. The Rock competed in both his Brown Belt division and in the Absolute division. He earned the GOLD MEDAL in his division and the SILVER MEDAL in the absolute division (approximately 16 competitors in this division). This is such a prestigious title and we are so proud to have The Rock as part of the Crispim BJJ jiu jitsu team.
Alexander Crispim met The Rock years ago while training at Fairtex in San Francisco. He immediately saw a huge potential in his skills, abilities and drive. Crispim loves training with him because The Rock trains hard and pushes himself to always do the best he can. The Rock is the epitome of what a brown belt in jiu-jitsu should be. He is respectful, he teaches, he encourages others, and is always a positive influence at the Crispim BJJ academy and to all of the team. In addition, his skill level is extreme and his power is second to none. The Rock is highly determined, motivated and very passionate about jiu jitsu and again, we want to congratulate him on these accomplishments of achieving World Championship level in the Brown Belt division.
Here is some background on Bryant “The Rock” Pangelinan:
“I started wrestling back in elementary school and wrestled all through high school and college. I did a lot of training with many high level wrestlers in college including, US Silver Medalist Mat Ghafari, the US Army team, and many others. My career in high school was 127 wins-23 losses in four years.
I first picked up jiu jitsu when I was still in college, at Relson Gracie’s academy in Hawaii in 1995-1996, but it wasn’t until after my last wrestling tournament in 2003 that I got serious about it. It was then when Josh McDonald and I were still coaching wrestling together that he told me I should come down where he was training (at Cesar Gracie’s and Fairtex). I had to learn jiu jitsu very quick, be it that some of my first partners were Jake Shields, Dave Terrell, The Diaz Brothers, and Gilbert Melendez. I earned my blue and purple belts through Cesar Gracie. Through the years I won the California Open No Gi Advanced Division in 2004 in Half Moon Bay, I was a finalist at the Gracie Open in the No Gi Advanced Division twice (I took 2nd in 2005 and I won it in 2006 defeating a Machado black belt when I was still a blue belt). I won the No Gi Worlds in 2008 as a blue belt as well. One of the nicest things about that victory was that I was the first ever World Champion grappler from my native island of Guam.
http://www.fokai.tv/blog/?p=1211
I met Alexander Crispim while training at Fairtex in San Francisco, and not only was it his teaching that drew me towards him, but mainly our strong friendship. He has pushed me to do better and always allows me to be the best I can be. And… he gave me my new favorite other nickname “Dente de Sabre” …the Saber Tooth hahahahaa!!!
I train because wrestling/grappling has been part of my life for almost 28 years. I couldn’t imagine not doing what I do. ”
Crispim BJJ Team- please take a few moments to comment on this post and wish The Rock congratulations. The Rock, We can’t wait to see your next battle!!
We would first like to thank Charles Gracie for inviting the Crispim BJJ Team to participate in his jiu jitsu tournament today in Tracy. It was an honor to be part of his event.
We would also like to congratulate all of our competitors who showed up, fought hard and had a great time today. Many of our competitors today were the Crispim BJJ kids team and for lots of them, the FIRST tournament they ever participated in. The kids made us all very proud with their determination, courage and skill. Every single one of them did great and their results are as follows:
1st Place- Aaron Zagar
2nd Place- Niko Castillo, Brendon Beliso, Dustin O’Shea, Marcus Rivera
3rd Place- Jaco Kong, Aidan Magcale, Nico Jimenez
Congratulations to all of our young fighters!! Great job!
We also saw HUGE success with our adult team members. We had 5 1st Place victories:
Brooke Goldsworthy
AJ Ting
Joseph Spiegel
Mark Ward- Crispim BJJ/UFC-Gym
Justin Steele-Crispim BJJ/UFC-Gym
Great job to all of our competitors, you represented the Crispim BJJ Team well. Also, we would like to thank Hayden O’Shea for his help with coaching our kids and for settting such a great example as both a competitor and a coach. Also, thanks to Daniel Elias for his help in teaching and coaching. And last, but not least, thank you to all of our team members and their family and friends for showing up, cheering them on and supporting them with their competition.
If you took pictures or video today, please forward them to info@CrispimBJJ.com and we will add them to this post over the next few days.
