Aaron Simpson picking the raffle winner

So far in 2010, GD Jiu-Jitsu Events has been able to raise 444 lbs of food to the United Food bank, which 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 2 tournaments this year, the 5th AZ International Open, and the 2nd AZ Kids Cup , your food donations helped to feed not just the hungry, but the many people in need in our community. With the help of UFC Fighters, Aaron Simpson and Jesse Forbes, 444 pounds of food was raised, which equates to 341 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. Last  year we raised 523 lbs of food, which equates to 409 meals. Your next opportunity to donate food will be during the 2010 AZ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu State Championship at Westwood High School in Mesa, AZ on June 26th & 27th, 2010. For every 5 items that you donate, you will receive a raffle ticket, to have a chance to win a prize and help out your community.

UFC Fighters Aaron Simpson and Jesse Forbes supporting the Food Drive

Autographed Official WEC 48 Jose Aldo Banner

Nova Uniao Black Belt and current WEC Featherweight Champion of the World, Jose Aldo, is continuing his efforts to give back to his community. With the success of his first auction, where he auctioned items from when he defeated Mike Brown for the Belt, and with the proceeds gathered from Nova Uniao merchandise sales, 40 Jiu-Jitsu Gis were able to be purchased for the students in the Nova Uniao Community Program. Now, with his latest dominating win over Urijah Faber in his first Title defense, Aldo hopes to again raise funds that will further the development of the program.

- Autographed Official WEC 48 Jose Aldo Fight Banner (4′x6′ Banner)

- Autographed Official WEC 48 Jose Aldo Gloves

ALL the proceeds will be donated to the Nova Uniao Community Program in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the funds can be used to purchase equipment, such as gis and mats. The Non-profit program is focused on teaching Jiu-Jitsu to underprivileged youths living in low-income housing developments situated on the hills of Rio de Janeiro. Referred to as “favelas”, life in these slums is hard and makes it very easy to fall into drugs, gangs, and violence. Through this program, aspiring fighters can take steps in the right path to begin their journey to follow in the footsteps of Aldo and be Champions of the future. Organized by Nova Uniao Co-Founder, Andre Pederneiras, the program is currently operated in two locations: “Morro Azul” with classes taught by Black Belt, Fabiano “Babu” Freitas, and “Morro Santo Amaro” with classes taught by Sengoku fighter and Black Belt, Marlon Sandro.

You can also take part in helping by purchasing Nova Uniao merchandise. 10% of each purchase will be donated to the Nova Uniao Community Program. To see the full line of Nova Uniao products, go to http://www.novauniao.com/gear

Want to do more? For more information on how you can help this noble cause, contact Gustavo Dantas at Gustavo@Novauniao.com.

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).

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, the 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

Here is a list of Food Items needed by the United Food Bank. Any other Non-Perishable food items would be greatly appreciated. Every person will receive a raffle ticket
to win prizes for every 5 items donated.

Current Needs:

Granola Bars
Nutrition Bars
Juice Boxes

Always in Need:

Oatmeal
Enriched Pasta
Chicken
Tuna
Chili con Carne
Beef Stew
Apricots
Peaches
Peas
Asparagus
Kidney Beans
Black-Eye Peas
Pinto Beans
Refried Beans
Peanut Butter
Tomatoes
Prunes
Nuts

As Aaron Simpson is preparing for an upcoming fight in May, he will also be having an upcoming Takedown Seminar on April 3, 2010 in East Mesa, AZ. Please visit www.azsbjjf.com for more info.

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.

On Sunday, December 20, 2009, Andre Pederneiras, co-founder of Nova Uniao and owner of the Brazilian fitness gym, Upper Sports Club (www.uppersportsclub.com.br), held the 3rd Annual Holiday Banquet for the Senior Citizens of Morro Santo Amaro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Morro Santo Amaro is known as a “favela” which is a low-income neighborhood built upon the hills of Rio. Many of the people who live in these favelas, such as Morro Santo Amaro, cannot afford to have a nice meal in celebration of the holidays, but Andre has made a way to a provide a special holiday meal for the Seniors of the hill community.

The morning before the Banquet, Andre headed to the open food marketplace in Sao Cristovao at 6AM to purchase all the food and supplies necessary to feed at least 300 people. When all the purchases were made, and the food packed into his SUV, Andre personally delivered the food to the venue where the food would be prepared and the Banquet would take place: a small, cement building sitting in the heart of Morro Santo Amaro. Upon looking at the building, a person might wonder, “Why here? Why not find a better venue?” Andre’s work in the community does not stop with this Banquet. The building is also where Andre provides programs to enhance the quality of life for the people of Morro Santo Amaro. These programs include Aerobics Classes for the Senior citizens, taught by the high-caliber instructors from Upper, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes for the youth and young adults, instructed by Nova Uniao Black Belt and Pro-MMA fighter, Marlon Sandro. So, despite the size of the facility, the little building has become a meeting place for the people of Morro Santo Amaro to forget about their troubles, for even just an hour.

On the day of the Banquet, the line of people waiting to eat was almost staggering. The doors did not open until 12PM, but some of the people started lining up as early as 9AM. Inside the building, tables and chairs were set to seat 30-40 people at a time with enough room to squeeze in a sound system to provide diners with cheerful music. Along the walls, volunteers prepared plates of rice, beans, fish, ham, beef, and vegetables to serve to the many hungry men and women present; Fresh cut fruits and drinks were also provided. To a full room, Andre stepped to the microphone to give his thanks to everyone present for supporting and gave his warmest wishes for everyone to enjoy the food, but it was the many in attendance that were thankful; Thankful for Andre and thankful for the many things he has worked hard to provide forthem. The line outside did not recede until the night, and throughout the day, the Holiday Banquet successfully fed over 300 Senior citizens in Morro Santo Amaro.

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.

The American Red Cross works to improve the lives of vulnerable people in Haiti and around the world. They speed relief to disaster survivors and help communities to prepare for the next emergency. They lead programs to prevent deadly diseases such as measles, malaria and HIV/AIDS. They reconnect families separated by crisis or conflict, and promote understanding of the global humanitarian principles that guide our work. Each year, the American Red Cross and our Red Cross and Red Crescent
partners worldwide improve the lives of millions of people. Please visit them at http://www.redcross.org/ for the most current disaster updates and information about our programs worldwide.

Your generous support means the most to the people who rely on the Red Cross to help them through some of the most difficult times of their lives. Their work can only be accomplished because of compassionate donors like you.

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.