Aaron Simpson will be at the Food Drive

Undefeated (7-0) UFC Middleweight standout, Aaron “The A-Train” Simpson, will be joining the AZSBJJF Food Drive for the United Food Bank at the 5th Arizona International Open of BJJ on March 13th from 10am-12pm at Westwood High School in Mesa, AZ. Simpson will be available for pictures and autographs. Promoted by the owner of GD Jiu-Jitsu Events, Gustavo Dantas, the sold out event will feature National and International talented competitors, drawing in 530 athletes to compete during this two-day event.

Making its debut as an International event, the 5th Arizona Open welcomes four World Class Black Belt competitors. Kron Gracie (Rickson Gracie), is set to compete against Gracie Barra Stand-Out, Philipe Della Monica (Gracie Barra), in a Middleweight match. Witness all the action, along with the Featherweight match-up between 7x World Champion Robson Moura (Nova Uniao) and 2009 Japanese National Champion Nobuhiko Kitahara (Axis JJ).

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Nova Uniao Founder, Andre Pederneiras

Source: www.graciemag.com

Known for his involvement in the promotion of Jiu-Jitsu events around Arizona, with the Arizona State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (AZSBJJF) and his GD Jiu-Jitsu events company, and the solid results his team of gi-clad warriors achieves in competition, Gustavo Dantas is also recognized for the charitable endeavors he performs around the state where he resides, collecting food for the needy and the like.

A recent article published on the NovaUniao.com website and written by Dantas’s girlfriend Kristina Barlaan -current American National No-Gi and Arizona State Champion at blue belt – sheds light on a likely origin of Gustavo’s sense of moral obligation. On a recent trip to Gustavo’s birthplace of Rio de Janeiro the couple witnessed the end-of-the-year banquet the black belt leader of Nova União Arizona’s master and mentor Andre Pederneiras held for elderly residents of the Santo Amaro low-income housing area in Rio de Janeiro’s southern zone. The following is Barlaan’s account of the proceedings.

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American Red Cross in response to the earthquakes that devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010 is currently accepting donations. Your gift makes it possible for the Red Cross to provide comfort and hope to disaster victims across the affected region, helping to meet critical needs such as for shelter, food, relief supplies and other emergency assistance.The earthquake in
Haiti and the almost total destruction of the country has shocked the world. The UN estimates that close to 100,000 people has died, but there is no way to reach an exact number.
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523 lbs of food was raised in 2009

2009 was the inagural year for the GD Jiu-Jitsu Food Drive with the United Food Bank. The United Food Bank is responsible for distributing your food donations to over 240 agencies such as churches, youth and senior programs, crisis centers, and soup kitchens. Held during 3 tournaments, the 1st AZ Kids Cup, 2009 AZ BJJ State Championship, and the 1st Southwest Classic, your food donations helped to feed not just the hungry, but the many people in need in our community. 523 pounds of food was raised, which equates to 409 meals put onto the tables of people who are struggling in our neighborhoods. GD Jiu-Jitsu Events hopes to continue working with the United Food Bank and donate even more food in 2010. Your next opportunity to donate food will be during the 5th Arizona International Open of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Westwood High School in Mesa, AZ on March 13-14, 2010.