Gracie Barra San Diego

We just wanted to remind all students of the importance of pulling their attendance cards before class.

Pulling your attendance cards is a way for the Professors to be able to accurately track you attendance and work together with you towards your goals.

We also use your attendance cards as a way to monitor if you are enrolled on the program that will better fit your needs at the moment.

So please remember to always pull your attendance cards.

Sincerely Gracie Barra Encinitas Staff!

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Hello dear students,

Talking a little bit about the Brazilian Culinary one of the most famous subjects is the:

Brazilian Barbecue

More than 400 years ago cattle ranching was introduced to the Rio Grande do Sul region of Brazil. Cowboys, called Gauchos herded these cattle, and like the cowboys of Texas created a new style of cooking. They called it Churrasco, which is Brazilian Barbecue. Though this style of Barbecue wasn’t based on smoke like that of the United States, it has all the traditions and elements of an American Barbecue. Churrasco started in the 16th and 17th centuries and spread throughout all of Brazil in the 1940’s as the Gauchos spread across the country.

Originally the standard formula for Brazilian style barbecue was to coat meats in coarse salt. The meat would then sit for about 30 minutes to absorb the salt and then was placed over the fire. Later a salt-water baste was used to keep meats moist during the cooking. Beef was typically never seasoned. Poultry and lamb, however are spiced with a rich marinade the night before cooking. Meats are places on long sword-like skewers and cooked over an open fire. Now days with the growing popularity of this style of grilling you can even buy a churasco grill.

Churrasco is much more than a way of cooking in Rio Grande do Sul it’s a way of life. The Barbecue capital of Brazil is the city of Nova Brescia which has a statue of a man cooking barbecue in the central plaza. In the 1940’s this city had a population of about 150,000. Since then the population has dropped to about 30,000 due to the mass exodus of people leaving to open Barbecue restaurants across Brazil.

The popularity of Brazilian Barbecue has lead to the founding of dozens of restaurants, popping up all over the world. If you get the chance I whole-heartedly recommend that you give one a try. On the menu you will usually find prime rib, linguica (a Portuguese sausage), lamb kebabs, chicken legs, fish and a whole host of other dishes.

All meats are cooked on long skewers placed on racks over the fire with fattier items placed on top so that the juices will drip down and flavor the other cuts. When the meats are cooked waiters carry the skewers around table to table carving off pieces onto your plate. Without moving from your table you can experience virtually unlimited dishes until your stomach fails you and it’s time to lumber home. This is truly a great dining experience.

Enjoy,

Grace Barra Encinitas Team.

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Gentlemen,

Yesterday was a huge day for Babalu and Gracie Barra Cerritos. More and in my humble opinion and more importantly, yesterday was an even bigger day for Gracie Barra. The morning started around 8 or so, when I met the journalist and camera man from NBC television at Babalu’s house. They wanted to capture some family time with him, before his day’s training began.

As you know, Babalu trains more in a day than most do in a week.  As an example, his heart rate monitor reflected that he burned 2,000 calories yesterday.  It is amazing.  For example, if one is on a diet, a nutritionist recommends a caloric intake of 2,000 per day.  Imagine burning 2,000 calories all the while having to train at an elite level and be cognizant of an upcoming weigh in. After leaving his house, the camera crew followed Babalu to his speed workout.  A workout that takes place outdoors with one of Nike’s top speed coaches, namely Rick Haggerdon.  This work out consists of 45 minutes of high intensity explosive drills on a track.

The journalist is a self-attesting mma industry expert and her comments summarized it best when she simply put: “I have never seen anything like that before”. In between the speed workout and his mma drills/sparring session with Josh Barnett and Erik Paulson, Babalu managed to have a protein shake and some egg whites at the Fitness Grill.  After a brief rest and the above-referenced mma workout, Babalu was back on the road to GB Cerritos for his third (and supposedly final) workout of the day. His strength workout took place at GB Cerritos under the guidance and direction of coach Erik Arevalo of Virtus strength training.  His work out consisted of kettle bells, one armed ring push ups with his feet elevated on a box, one arm power cleans with part of the movement laying down with the bar still extended overhead and then exploding back to his feet, and hoisting an approximately 20 foot thick pipe filled with water above his head and walking around with it for 5 minute rounds.

Spectators in attendance were tired from watching him. After a brief “rest”, Babalu changed into his kimono for what amounted to his final workout of the day, namely teaching the kids class.  This too was all on film and was amazing.  One of the most amazing things about the class is how many kids showed up from GB America to support Babalu.  The mats were packed and for this we thank Professor Marcio.  For, without your permission and support this would not have happened.  NBC was amazed. Special thanks to Instructors Kayron and Jeff for making this happen.

Special thanks of course to Master Carlos, who although unable to attend, gave us his support.  Last but definietely not least, thanks to all the parents who braved the drive in rush hour traffic to Cerritos to support Babalu and the Gracie Barra family. After the kids class, Babalu took it upon himself to give all kids in attendance and autographed picture.  Many of the kids asked him to sign their rash guards and patches on their kimonos.  All of their requests were naturally met with adoration.

The network is now producing the piece.  It will air on NBC Sports (date tbd), NBC sports online, aol’s mma segment and then again on NBC when they show the strike force fight.  It will also be used as an introductory piece as an entrance to the fight on November 21. In short, thanks again for your support.  Yes we are organized like a team. And, if anyone out there  doubts that we fight like a family, those doubts should have been resolved yesterday.  If not, when Babalu brings the lightheavy weight title belt to Gracie Barra on November 21, those doubts will be gone.

Here is a picture from a class at GB Cerritos

Best regards

Gracie Barra Encinitas.

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Congratulations guys!!!We are really proud,

Prof. Nelson and Rafael.

Gracie Barra Encinitas Family.

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Over 300 athletes of dozens Gracie Barra schools attended to our South Cal Classic Tournament on this Saturday, October 25, at Irvine Valley College, Orange County, CA. What a great time we had!

Here is a group picture from the Amazing Staff that made our tournament possible.

Here is a picture from  a GB Student showcasing a great armbar. The fight were outstanding!

  The next Gracie Barra Competition Network Tournament is scheduled for February.

Profs Nelson and Rafael are very proud of all the GB Encinitas students that competed this weekend and also the students that took some time from their families to go to the tournament and support their training partners (what a great family/team we have!!!!)

See you on the mats and let’s prepare even better for the next one,

Gracie Barra Encinitas Team.

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