Meet Fabricio Da Silva

Fabricio Da Silva is a 30 year old brown belt and cousin of Mestre Fernando Terere.

He is a quiet guy that is known for keeping to himself. Most days he arrives at the academy with one or two small children in tow; he often has to juggle the responsibilities of caring of a new born child on top of handling our morning classes and kid's program here at the academy.

Birrinho has been teaching Jiu Jitsu here in the Cantagalo community since he was an 18 year old blue belt. Naturally, coming from the Favela, life hasn't always been easy for him, but Jiu Jitsu was a way for him and his friends to escape the drama in the favela. When his cousin, Terere, began to struggle with drugs and he also took a small hiatus from the sport.

He spent his days working to make ends meet, taking small jobs like parking cars for less than minimum wage and trying to stay out of trouble. When Terere re-opened his gym at the base of the Cantagalo favela, Birrinho starting training seriously again. Together with Terere, Birrinho began teaching Jiu Jitsu to the kids of Cantagalo/Pavao/Pavaozinho free of charge. With the help of donations sent from abroad the project is beginning to thrive. Birrinho arrives at the academy to find a wild bunch of kids waiting for him to open the doors so they can tumble onto the mats with soccer balls before class starts.

Now as Terere Kid's Project continues to grow, Birrinho hopes that his career as a competitor and instructor will grow along side of it. His goal this year is to develop his Jiu Jitsu curriculum by competing in more high level IBJJF competitions. Birrinho will be representing FT academy this month at Rio Open as well as taking two of our sponsored athletes to compete  Brasileiros in Sao Paulo at the end of April. 

Birrinho rolling with HT from BJJ Hacks

Thanks for stopping by TerereKidsProject.com

New Years News

Before breaking for the holidays, FT academy held their annual graduation ceremony. Friends from the community stopped by to watch and take pictures as students were called up to receive new belts or strips. We would like to give a special congratulations to our student Alexandre, who finally received his brown belt and to Professor Nogueira for receiving his first stripe on his black belt. 

Shortly after the ceremony, we had a special visit from Eduardo Telles, founder of  99 academy, who stopped by to visit his old friend and teacher. In 2002 when the Alliance team split, Telles and Terere formed the TT Jiu Jitsu team, unfortunately, despite their early success, the team broke up when Terere started to experience personal problems in 2004.

Since then, Telles moved to San Diego and started the 99 academy. The name 99 is symbolic of being one step away from perfection, or 100%, something that every jiu jiteiro strives to achieve in the endless hours that they put in on the mats mastering techniques. Although he is a successful gym owner, Telles has been waiting for the return of his long time friend and teacher, Terere, to graduate him and finally give him 3 stripes on his black belt. 

We also have to give a big thank you to Cascagrossa kimonos from Sao Paulo and I Aint No Saint Tattoo Studios, in England, for  providing kids kimonos for the academy. We received a total of 20 kimonos from Cascagrossa in Sao Paulo so that we can provide uniforms to kids in the Cantagalo community that want to start training Jiu Jitsu. Our sponsored athlete, Caue, has recruited in several of his friends from the soccer fields. 

Kids from the social project wearing new kimonos

for the graduation ceremony

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CBJJO RIO OPEN CHAMPIONS

Lucca, Moicano, Professor Nogueira, Vinicius, Gabriel

Although we are only 2 weeks into 2015, the FT team has already started competing. Thanks to donations sent from abroad, 5 kids entered into CBJJO's Rio Open tournament that took place Saturday, January 10th, all of whom brought home medals!

Although it is summer time here, and kids are on break from school our athletes don't mess around. Moleza, Moicano, Lucca, Gabriel, and Vinicius have been training twice a day in order to prepare for the first competition after their belt promotion. They will be returning to the mats again with our younger students for FJJD Rio's first ranking competition of the year on January 1st and February 2nd.

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Favela Jiu Jitsu

Lastly, we are proud to announce the release of the first set of technique videos, Favela Jiu Jitsu, that was filmed by Budo Videos. The first set of videos covers all of Master Terere's guard passing secrets so be sure to buy your copy today.

The Art Of Giving Thanks

Although we do not celebrate Thanksgiving here in Brazil, November is definitely turning out to be a month to give back and be grateful. We have had an amazing opportunity to work with international sponsors in order to provide more services to the students at Terere Kids Project.

We would like to thank all of the people that have been supporting the kids here in the Cantagalo Favela. 

Deus Fight Co

DeuS fight company is a religious, based fitness brand that out of California that puts their faith into action by supporting social projects in the favelas of Brazil. Find out more about the work they have been doing in the communities here in Brazil through their Favela Kids Project.

DeuS Fight currently provides on-going financial assistance from the sales of their products by giving 10% to social projects. This support not only provides our students here at Terere Kids Project with the equipment, food, and supplies they need to keep their programs going, but it also allows them to participate in local competitions here in Rio.

I Ain´t No Saint Tattoo Studio

I Ain´t No Saint Tattoo studios is run by Iaint (pronounced Ian) a Jiu Jitsu practitioner who recently spent some time training with Terere in the Cantagalo community. Since his visit to Brazil, Aint has made several generous donations to help kids compete in the FJJD Ranking Competitions here in Rio and well as to start up our new kimono closet initiative that will allow us to keep a set of kimonos to lend out to new students here at the academy!

When he is not on the mats or generously donating to our kids here it Terere Kids Project, you can find Iaint tattooing in Abbots Langly just 20 minutes outside of London. Check out his website or Facebook page to find more information on how to get some of the best tattoos in the London Area.

You can also follow him on:
- Twitter @IAintNoSaintTat - Instagram @IAintNoSaintTattooStudio - Pinterest I Aint No Saint

Budo Video

Academy Fernando Terere recently had the pleasure of hosting Budo Jack and the Budocrew here in Rio while they filmed 9 technique DVDs and a new episode of Rolled Up. What started off as an amazing business endeavour ended up as a strong friendship with Mestre Terere! Even after completing their work here in Rio Budo videos continues to support the Terere Kids Project through charity events like this one!

BJJ Hacks
Last, but most definitely not least, we have to give a big shout out to Hywel Teague better known as HT  from BJJ Hacks. BJJ Hacks is a video company that tracks down and films some of the biggest names in Jiu Jitsu. Unlike normal technique videos, BJJ Hack´s objective is to inspire Jiu Jiteiros to "hack out" their own style of Jiu Jitsu by using the ideas, philosophies and favorite techniques passed on by the best athletes in the game.

HT came through the academy to film a 3 part mini documentary on Terere. He has since then offered his advice, his friendship, and his cameras to help support the kids from the project!

You can find the rest of the 3 part documentary series under 

the video section of the site!

Terere Kids Project

It's been a busy month at the FT academy. The social project has been steadily growing (we even took on a new name "Terere Kids Project") and the incoming donations have allowed more students to compete than ever before.

The kids meeting with professor Birrinho at 7:30 AM to leave for the SJJSAF South American tournament

FT Team heading to the Metro

In the month of September FT team competing in 3 different competitions thanks to donations sent to TerereKidsProject. The breakdown of sponsorship out to be the following:

CBJJO Mundials with R164 (2 1/2 kids)

FJJD Rio Minheirinho R720 (13 kids)

SJJSAF Sulamericano R550 (11 kids)

Along with receiving donations to cover competition fees, the project is developing in other areas as well. We have recently been able to reinstate the snack program which allows us to provide after training refreshments 5 days a week to the kids in the project.

Snacks bought with money sent from France

We are also currently raising money to purchase loaner kimonos here for the kids in the community. The idea behind the drive is to maintain a small supply of kimonos at the academy for kids who want to try out new classes, or those who don't have the means to keep and clean their own kimonos. The disconted cost of a new Cascagrossa kimono for the project is only R100!!! We have already started to receive donations to help buy the first load of kimonos! In addition to buying new gear for our smaller fighters, we have been receiving a large quantity of used kimonos and training gear from guests and gringos that have stopped by to visit the academy. So we'd like to take some time now to tell you how much we appreciate the support here in the community!

Clothes donated to the project from DeusFightCo

Money donated for kimonos will help supply the academy with armor for our smallest fighters!

Tournaments

FJJD Rio Ranking 

Thanks to donations we were able to register a total of 15 athletes for the tournament. Every athlete that requested sponsorship due to financial issues was able to fight. 5 months ago the project was only able to sponsor 1-2 athletes for competitions like this one. 

The Ft team along with another social projects, and some gringos visiting from Connection Rio at the FJJD Rio 5th ranking competition.

Professor Nogueira with sponsoring athlete Vinicius at his first competition.

Despite the fact that Vinicius is new to jiu jitsu, he has progressed a lot in the short time that he has been training with us. He has even developed his own unique style due to the fact that he is deaf and mute. 

Sulamericano

Professor Fabricio aka Birrinho 2nd place 

Berrinho is runs the academy when Mestre Terere is giving seminars. He is also in charge of the kid's class. On top of competing Berrinho attends competition to coach the kids from the project from the sidelines. 

Sponsored athlete Daniele at the Sulamericano competition after receiving her medal she stayed on the sidelines to help coach fellow teammates. 

Video of Thuany Paulla who submitted her opponent to get the gold medal at the SJJSAF Sul Americano tournament

Thanks for supporting Terere Kids Project

Soon we will have more athlete profiles up and running.

OSS

September Sponsors

The FT team is currently seeking sponsorship for competitions listed below:

Due to insufficient funds the social project has had to suspend the snack program that was once in place. In addition to covering competition cost, the academy is looking for a sponsor that might proportion a monthly donation to reinstate the snack program.

Estimated monthly value

Brazilian Real	R 350
US Dollar	$ 155
Bristish Pound	£ 94
Euro	€ 120

CBJJO Sul Americano

Brazilian Real	R 85
US Dollar	$ 38
Bristish Pound	£ 22
Euro	€ 28

SPONSORSHIP RECEIVED

Athletes: Daniele Da Silva and Moicano

FJJD Rio Mineirinho

Brazilian Real	R 70
US Dollar	$ 30
Bristish Pound	£ 18
Euro	€ 22

Date: September 21st 

Deadline: September 12th

Athletes: we would like to provide sponsorship to anyone interested in fighting. 

SJJSAF Sul Americano

Date: October  

Deadline: September 10th 

Brazilian Real	R 50
US Dollar	$ 22
Bristish Pound	£ 13
Euro	€ 16

Make a donation today!!

Terere on Top

Rio Open

Competition season has started in Brazil with some of the most important IBJJF tournaments already down for the count and several more around the corner. Renan Gabriel, an FT athlete and Cantagalo resident, represented the FT academy in the purple belt division at Rio Open.                                                                       Competing at high level tournaments like Rio open and the demanding training that it requires to prepare often presents a serious problem for athletes from the Cantagalo community. In addition to evening training session, Renan also has a full time job and is studying busy at a local university. This year has marked mainly highlights in Renan´s life; not only did he recently receive his purple belt from Mestre Terere, his wife and he were also blessed with their first son (who we expect to see here on the mats soon). 

One of Renans fights from Rio Open

Sao Paulo Open
With only a little over a month left here in Brazil Mos, our resident gringo, hopped in the car and headed to Sao Paulo and Mestre Terere for a road trip to Sao Paulo. Mos competed Saturday and Sunday, tackling two tough divisions in both Gi and NoGi. Saturday Gi division did not bring the desired results, but in the true cascagrossa* spirit, Mos stepped back onto the mats determined to bring some medal back to Rio with him.

And he did....
He stepped off the mats victorious with two fights and two finishes and a elated Terere cheering him on.

*Casscagrossa: literally translated means hard shell. It is a term commonly used in the BJJ community to for someone that is persistent, who never gives in, who is resistent, and who is hard to be defeated. 

FJJDRIO Brasileiros

As we go down the list of competitions, we also go down in size. The FT kids team from the Fernando Terere social project compited the weekend of the August 16th in the 4th ranking competition for FJJD Rio. The project received sponsorship for 12 athletes who in turn brought home 10 medals. This wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for the donations sent from supporters of the academy that covered the competition. If interested in sponsoring an athlete from FT academy and lending a hand to help the kids of the Cantagalo community please contact the academy or donate via PayPal.

Meet some

Athletes from the Cantagalo Community

There are not many females that train at Academy Fernando Terere, but sponsored athlete Daniele Silva doesn't let that stop her from getting in some serious training. While most girls spend their time gossiping on the street and doing their hair and nails, Daniele is working on berimbolos and balloon sweeps. As a female in a male dominated sport, Daniele often has trouble finding girls in her division, but this time around that was not the case. Daniele won her first fight in the FJJD Rio Brasileiros via Armbar. Unfortunately, she faced the same girl in the finals and lost a tough fight on points.

Daniele on the podium this at FJJD Rio

Brasileiros

Vinicius is one of the new athletes on the FT team, but we are happy to have him here at the academy. Vinicuis is both deaf and mute, but he does not let that come in between him and his love for Jiu Jitsu. Although he is only 15, Vinicuis trains 2-3 times a day attending both children's and adult classes which has allowed him to develop quite a BJJ game. His unique style of Jiu Jitsu proved to be very effective on the mats in his first tournament as a white belt!

Stay tuned to Tererebjj to get updates on the rest of the FT team.
We are currently gearing up to compete in the 5th ranking competition, where awards for individual rankings will be distributed. In addition FJJD Rio, some of our older athletes are also raising money to compete in SJJSAF South American Open a new international federation recently established this year.

Kids relaxing with professor Nogueira after 6pm training

Purple Belts and Patrocinio

Mestre Terere has been busy running the academy while also preparing the team for the upcoming competitions. Things have been hectic at the academy since athletes from Terere´s will be competing in IBJJF Rio Open at the end of July and the FJJD Rio 4th ranking competition in August. Many of the kids from the social project have been putting in extra hours on the mats with Mestre Terere to prepare for the upcoming competitions. 

Terere still manages to find time to fit in private lessons with "gringos" that are here visiting for the World Cup. 

Congratulations to Andrew Morris, AKA, Moz who received his purple belt this month. Moz is our resident "gringo" who abandoned his job and his (very understanding) girlfriend in England  to come to Brazil and train with his hero here in Brazil. Over the last 11 months Moz has made his presence known on the mats, attending both morning and evening sessions 5 days a week rain or shine. When he isn't traning Jiu Jitsu at the academy he is probably drilling techniques at home or watching WWE videos.While most tourists leave Brazil with souvenirs from Copacabana, Moz will be leaving with a suitcase full of medals. Since joining the FT team Mos has been actively competing and has racked up a number of medals here in Brazil as a blue belt including: IBJJF Gold medal No-Gi Brazilian Nationals, IBJJF bronze medal Brazilian Nationals , FJJ Gold medal Rio State championships, CBLP Gold Medal South American Championships, FJJD Rio gold medal 5th Etapa 2013, Alfa Barra silver medal, Alfa Barra No-Gi bronze medal.

Before giving him his purple belt Mestre Terere commended Moz for having an amazing spirit and bringing positive energy to the academy every time he steps through the door. Although he is now a resident of the Cantagalo community, for the first six months, Moz put himself at the mercy of Brazilian bus drivers in order to make the hour long journey (4 hours on a bad day) to Ipanema from his hostel in Barra da Tijuca. Nothing has deterred him from his training here in Brazil. He has overcome rain, bus drivers, mosquitos, heat, and language barriers, but still manages to make it through the doors with a smile on his face. He has definitely earned his right to a new belt and the beating that ensued. 

Again we would like to take the time to say thank you to our supporters from all over the world. We continue to recieve donations via Paypal that go towards funding competition and transportation fees for our students. In addition to actively competing, athletes like Pablo Dos Santos and Moicano have been taking the initiative to write their BJJ Resumes and start sending their information out in order to obtain patrocinio, or sponsorship from local companies. You can go to their athlete pages to check out part of their resumes!