Archive for category: News

Chris Savarese – Best Matchmaker in Grappling History

Chris Savarese is The Best Matchmaker in Grappling History according the Grapplers Quest promoter Brian Cimins. Savarese, a blackbelt under Royler Gracie (see pic above) was the Grapplers Quest super fight divisions matchmaker from 2001-2007. He helped Grapplers Quest assemble some of the best talent in the grappling world to compete through guidance and sponsorship.  Read the article here:

http://www.grapplersquest.com/blogs/briancimins/chris-savarese-best-matchmaker-grappling-history-proud-sponsor-supporter-and-frien

Grapplers Quest

The Grapplers Quest is the World’s Largest Submission Grappling & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Events and has been home of the World’s Best Submission Fighters Since 1998. The Grapplers Company, Inc. was founded by Brian Cimins for his Senior Marketing and Public Relations Thesis at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. The Company produces The World’s Grappling Competition Super shows for the Ground Fighting Sport of Mixed Martial Arts, DVD and VOD PPV Video Production and Distribution, Apparel Development, Design and Production, Tradeshow Sponsorships, Exhibitor Sales, and much more.  The GQ as it is also called, is the Ultimate Ground Fighting Tournament that includes martial arts of all styles including Grappling, Jiu Jitsu, Sambo, Judo and Wrestling Competitions for all ages and skill levels.

Savarese Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy

The Savarese BJJ Academy is located at 40 park Ave in Lyndhurst and is home to over 300 students. The Academy has one of the top competition teams with the adults and kids team both winning over 10 team titles since it’s opening in 2006. The Academy has had World and Pan Am jiu-jitsu champions and students qualify for and compete in the ADCC World Submission Championship. Savarese is highly regarded within the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Community. BJJ practitioners, grapplers of all styles, UFC fighters and just every day people travel to the school regularly to train there. If you are interested in trying out a free class at this Academy, call 201 933-5134 or email [email protected] to set one up

Congratulations to Brandon Adragna! The North Arlington child receives a Martial Arts Award this month, the Savarese Jiu-Jitsu student of the month. Brandon has been a student in the Savarese Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Children’s program since September of 2015. He started out very quiet and reserved, content to sit on the wall and just be a part of the room. Over the last few months, he has really stepped out of his shell and changed into quite the young Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Since earning his Junior Grey belt back in March, he has made a tremendous amount of progress on and off of the mats. Brandon has some of the best Defense in the program, showing patience, confidence in his technique and never panicking. Brandon alongside his brother T.J. can be found training almost every day of the week in all of our different youth programs. He is also a leader among the other students his age in the class. You are doing an awesome job Brandon, keep up the great work!

About Savarese BJJ’s Kids Program:

At the Lyndhurst Martial Arts School, the children learn practical self-defense techniques that are effective especially when defending against a larger attacker. During class they learn how to de-escalate potentially dangerous situations. The focus is not on teaching the children how to fight, but more so how to avoid the fight entirely. Confidence is built in the program by using proven teaching methods for children. If you are looking to start your child in an award winning Children’s martial arts program in Bergen County. Call today and set up their FREE INTRO CLASS! 201-933-5134 or you can email [email protected].

Parents Help your kids on their BJJ Journey

Parents Help your kids in their BJJ journey.  I haven’t written a blog in a couple of years. Whenever I feel the need to write one, I want it to be something I am passionate about. I have been practicing BJJ for 17 yrs now. I have been teaching for over 10. I wanted to write a blog about something that helps and makes some parents see some common mistakes they are doing in your child’s journey through BJJ. In the beginning, it is important to help your child with some very simple things…first, bring your child on time!!!! Nothing is worse than when a parent brings their child late to class, in many schools, there is a “punishment” for this like pushups or burpees. You cannot expect your child to act with discipline if you aren’t disciplined yourself.  Encourage your child to stay in the beginning. Most kids today quit things at the first sign of difficulty. Your child is learning things in BJJ that can help them later in life like discipline, confidence, respect, how to succeed, how to fail and overcome it, a competitive spirit (something that is becoming lost in the “everyone gets a trophy” youth sports these days). If you are into it, they will be as well. (My school offers free training to parents if their child is training at the school or vice-versa) As they get more seasoned, many will want to compete or many schools will push this. Here is where the biggest problem lies. Hopefully your child is competing because he wants to and not for you. If you didn’t realize your sports dreams, do not put that pressure on your child. Your child should have his own set of dreams and goals and maybe he or she is not mature enough to know what those are yet. If you are pushing your child to compete or make your child’s training all about competing (or worse, if your school is a win at all costs, only cares about competition kids training facility, you are in the wrong place), you have lost sight about why you brought your child to martial arts. Competition can be a good thing…if you have learned how to lose and learn from it. Royler Gracie used to tell a story of Grandmaster Helio Gracie making them compete as children w/ a built in lesson. He would give them $5 if they won and $10 if they lost in competition to ease the fears, make it fun and make a game out of learning something from the experience. Most adults learn the most from their losses in competition. Most champions are made through failure. It’s OK if they lose, stop looking for an excuse or someone to “blame”. (The ref, your coach, the rules etc) Learn from your mistakes and own them. Sometimes, even you the parent, has to realize that you have to take some responsibility. It is not always “the coaches fault” if they lose. Just like when they are in regular school, the teacher gives them homework and they are not there to help them do it. The teacher taught them HOW to do the homework but if it doesn’t get done correctly, is that the teachers fault? Kids learn at different paces, you do not pull them out of a school or off a team at the first sign of adversity. How does anyone learn from that? One of my favorite sayings in from the great Michael Jordan who once said “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Let your child learn the same way, allow them that. Everyone loses…another quote “The only person who does not lose in the one who doesn’t fight.” so be supportive, teach them to win or lose with class. Teach them that tantrums, crying after a loss or showboating during a win is something that nobody has respect for. Also, let your coaches do what you pay them for, let them coach. Let them handle refs calls, no matter what, keep your attitude positive. Do not put your own feeling onto your kids, they are nervous enough. It takes guts to compete, they should be rewarded for testing themselves, not everyone is cut out to be a champion. They are a champion if they are trying to be the best they can be. If they are having fun, great! Too much intensity or pressure can create negativity towards competition or BJJ and will push them away. You then are creating an environment in which they quit or don’t try future endeavors. Being positive and encouraging will not make your child a wimp, it will help them train more. BJJ has so many benefits, it is something you want them in for the long haul.
Professor Chris Savarese

Savarese BJJ Academy

Congrats to Savarese Jiu Jitsu Competition team!!

Congrats to the Savarese BJJ Competition Team on another FANTASTIC showing at the NJBJJF Tournament today. Every single person on our team (kids and adults) who competed came home w/ a hard earned medal. Our kids competition team took 2nd Place Overall in the Team standings w/ only 9 competitors going!! Special shout out to Harun, who has not lost a match in 3 tournament now and has had only 2 points scored against him!! Coach Sean J L Bermudez is doing an awesome job w/ the program. Also big congrats to the Adult team who has a great showing as well. We are waiting on results of the team Standing for adults. Special mention goes to “El Matador” himself, Anthony Del Guercio who defeated 2 super Hwts while winning the purplebelt Absolute, Jerome Jardiniano who won his division w/ the best fight on the day IMO, coming back from 7 points behind to mount and finish his opponent in the finals and Coach Sean, who fought great in the Super Fight in his first time under the spotlight of the crowd against a very seasoned competitor. I am very proud of everyone who tested themselves today, you never know what you can accomplish until you try. “Win or learn, there is no failure.”

Savarese Jiu Jitsu Competition Team

The Savarese BJJ Competition Team is now regarded as one of the leading teams on the East Coast. The competition team has not had a disappointing showing at a tournament since our first tournament as a team in 2007. We train and strive for excellence, pushing the limits of each of our athletes to ensure continued growth and success of each individual and as a team. The proof can be seen on the walls of the gym, which bears multiple team trophies and banners. We will continue to make a name for ourselves on the competition circuit and look forward to the continued success.

You do not have to be a competitor to be a part of our Academy. Anyone who wants to try a free class, call 201 933-5134 to set one up.

Congrats to Savarese Jiu Jitsu Competition team!!

Congrats to Savarese Jiu Jitsu Competition team!!