I began training at the project over three years ago now, at that time it was very much in its infancy being open less than a year. But the academy was abuzz from the offset. Everyday a horde of young guys and girls from Cantagalo’s community would show up eager to have fun, learn Jiu-Jitsu, and spend time with their friends; safe in the knowledge they would also be fed. There was so much enthusiasm and an abundance of raw talent.
At this time there was a clear dividing line between the class delivered for the children and young teens and the regular adult's sessions.
Over the course of the year, I began to see some of this talent realized; a number of the teenagers graduated to train with the adults alongside training in the children’s class.
Arriving back ten months later, I would find the skills of these teens had developed exponentially. Rolling with a number of them had begun to pose some serious problems. Myself and fellow gringos would engage in brainstorming sessions to fathom the guard game of the then fourteen-year-old orange belt, Jhonathan ‘Moicano’ Marques. Who having won the IBJJF Brazilian Nationals was making life extremely difficult for all purple and brown belts.
Gabriel Took 1st place on August 28th at SJJSAF Copa Touron
Sixteen-year-old, Gabriel Areas had just received his blue belt. He had begun to frustrate not only his peers but also the adults with his relentless passing game. You couldn’t help but smile as he cartwheeled over the guards of higher belts which invariably led to the onset of their Jiu-Jitsu angry-face. His skills of guard demolition led to him acquiring the nickname ‘Godzilla’.
Arriving back at the project this year, it has been nothing short of amazing to see the evolution of these young grapplers. Once young teens, whom I first meet in the kid’s class had now graduated to training solely with the adults and were now assassinating fellow grapplers irrespective of age or belt colour.
Moicano, having been promoted to green belt had successfully defended his crown at the Brazilian Nationals and also traveled to California where he was able to achieve his biggest achievement to date, taking gold at the IBJJF Pan Kids. This incredible accolade had made him nothing but more determined. Despite this success, you could not hope to meet a more humble young man. The young whiz-kid displays absolutely no pretension as he uses his seemingly unstoppable berimbolo to become an unwanted backpack for brown and belt belts.
Moicano’s partner-in-crime, Gabriel ‘Moleza’ Bacellar had come up in the shadow of his talented friend. Since we first met, he had been on the mats daily, working tirelessly to get better. Seeking to emulate his hero Bernardo Faria, he had endlessly been working his deep-half game. His mastery of controlling the lapel has ensured that entering his guard was now a treacherous decision. Watching him train with his peers, I was delighted to see this hard work finally come to fruition.
The children’s class has always buzzed with boys and girls alike but it had always been a struggle to retain the girls as they got older. Thus, the addition of seventeen year-old, Izabella Moreia has been a revelation for the project. After only six months of training, she took bronze in the Brazilian Nationals and has since been on a tear. She is fearless on the mats, never turning down a roll regardless of size or belt level (she often has to compete above her weight class to get fights). She gives everyone a hard time, using spider guard with precision that seems inconceivable for someone that has only trained for such a short amount of time.
The team has also been joined by Leo “Bebezao” Bandeira, a fifteen-year-old orange belt, who has a passing game akin to a young Rodolfo. Rolling with him is not the most pleasant experience as he hops side-to-side, relenting only when he knows the pass has been secured. He possesses the explosive power of a bucking bronco; the look of utter surprise on the faces of higher belts after passing his guard just to have him bridge them back over.
Back at the children’s class, which is still teeming with young guys and girls. This new crop of students have the same enthusiasm and the same smiles on their faces as those that I’d met three years ago. They are training hard every day, getting ready to fill the shoes of those assassins who came before them.
Support Terere Kids Project
We are currently looking for sponsorship for to fund the next tournament which will take place September 17th in Rio. Competition lets kids see the results of the hard work and dedication that they spend coming to training everyday.
We accept donations via Paypal at TerereKidsProject@gmail.com but you can also help support our competition team by buying TERERE KID'S PATCHES.
Patches are US$10 (plus shipping) and can be ordered by emailing TerereKidsProject@gmail.com
There is a LIMITED NUMBER so make sure to order yours today!
Upon
meeting Switzerland’s most success competitor, black-belt Thomas “Mastwo” Oyarzún,
you will realize immediately, you are in the presence of a positive human
being. It is difficult not to be inspired by his enthusiasm and positivity as
he discusses a range of topics from Jiu-Jitsu, to hip-hop, to meditation and
karma.
He has been
putting this power to inspire to good use, having spent the first half of the
year traveling Europe, delivering seminars to raise money for the social
project. Arriving in Rio, he has spent the last month teaching at the project
itself where he is beloved by the young students.
How did you become involved with Terere Kids
Project?
I have been
with Alliance and Terere since I was a purple belt. I was always a part of
organizing the seminars when he came to visit Switzerland. At the start of this
year, I had just had surgery on my knee and gone through my own personal
situation in Jiu-Jitsu, I felt like I had to do something and the best thing
for me to do was help the project.
You have recently arrived in Rio after
traveling throughout Europe raising money to support the project. Can you
explain the genesis of this idea?
I had
visited the project a year and a half ago and met Nico (project director), we
got to chat a little and kept in contact. When Terere was unable to do a
seminar here (Switzerland), I did it myself.
I wanted to give the money to the project and Nico thought it was a good
idea. I organized two more seminars and from there, I thought I could do more.
I was lucky, I contacted different guys who agreed and then other people began
to contact me saying that they wanted to help too.
It was a
perfect time because surgery had taken me off the mats. The first seminars I
gave, I couldn’t even train, I could only teach. But this has helped me to
visualize my game even more as I wasn’t able to roll.
What countries did you visit?
I traveled
a lot in France and Switzerland, in the UK, and Russia. Time wise I wanted to
fit more in, but it was difficult. And now I go to the United States, I already
have three seminars booked in California. This week I will speak to some more
people and see if we can get more seminars.
How were your efforts received?
I have been
traveling and doing these seminars for the children and the whole time I have
had this energy that has been overwhelming, in a good way. People give you
recognition for all the good work you are doing, it is motivating, it makes you
want to do more.
Doing this
has given me the confidence to initiate conversation and ask academy owners for
their help, and people have been open and receptive to it. It is very hard when
people say “no, I don’t want to help kids in the favela”. But this isn’t to
judge anyone, everybody has a tough situation making money in Jiu-Jitsu. But
people have taken it in a positive way.
Spending time living within the community, what
problems have you seen that the young people here face?
I see how
people live and it is a tough life, favela life is tough, living in poverty and
things are dirty. A lot of dealers and the police, a lot of drugs. They all
have weapons and you can see all the kids just playing around in front of them.
There is always the possibility for the kids to be influenced by them, by
seeing it every day, they can choose the wrong path. The more they see
negativity, the more it can draw them in. The community is very strong, despite
all of this, people are very happy, it is crazy but it is true.
It a tough
line between the positivity and the negativity and the kids are caught in the
middle. By doing what I am doing, I hope to provide them with a little
positivity to tip the balance and send them on the right path.
What benefits does the project provide for the
children and young people of the community?
It is a
sport and it can help students escape their situation. Terere provides the
perfect example, everything that he has ever gotten from Jiu-Jitsu, he has
shared with those around him. He isn’t just a champion on the mats, he is a
champion in life.
So
important for the kids to come to the academy. I give them the same message
every day, that they are all friends, they are here to have fun, enjoy their
time and pass on the good energy, accept who you are.
Miguel conducting an interview for the mini documentary below
The project
has produced a Pan Ams Kids champion and watching purple, brown and even black
belts come to the academy and be beaten up by the young orange and green belts
of the academy. What do you put this success down to?
Moicano 2016 Pan Kids Champion and Professor Birrinho 2015
Brazilian Nationals Champion thanks to sponsorship from TKP!
They put in
the work, they understand that they can be a champion and get out of this
situation. There are a couple of students that are already getting their names
out there and I only wish them more success. There are five guys off the top of
my head that could be world champions within the next five to ten years. It is
just amazing to see that. The level they are on now is a result of motivation,
determination and being in good hands. Terere is showing them the right path
and that is very important.
Is being taught the most up-to-date technique
in class the most important thing?
The best
techniques have a lot to do with it and that is what Terere gives them. He has
always been building champions, many world champions they come from Terere. But
more than technique he has something, that he has obviously been given to him.
When I spend time with him my Jiu-Jitsu evolves so much. It isn’t just the
technique, it is more than that, it is this energy that he gives, you can’t see
it but you can feel it.
With you competing at the Masters Worlds next
weekend, at this stage what is more important to you, competitive success or
helping others through Jiu-Jitsu?
For me, it
is the life aspect, helping people is such an amazing feeling and it is a
continuous feeling, becoming a champion is fleeting, it feels good but then it
is over. And I think that the more you are a champion in life, the more you
will be a champion on the mats. The more positive I am, the more positive
outcomes will occur. Even if I lose in competition it will not take away from
what I have learned and what I have experienced doing all this work for the
project.
Any final words? Shout outs to sponsors who
have helped out with the project?
What is
best about the project is it involves kids. It is not about knowing what the
future holds but who holds the future, and that is the kids. You have to love,
you have to teach and you have to nurture and believe in all these kids, if you
don’t, there is no future. The more I give these kids the more confident I am
about the future. Give as much as you can and don’t give any negativity, just
give a smile.
I want to
thank the project, all this has been the greatest motivation that someone can
have, this has been life changing. To the project and Terere, he has shown me
the path that I have to follow. Thank sponsors Shoyoroll and Shoyoroll Europe,
everyone that is on the team. Thank you to The Arm Bar Soap Company, who have
always helped me out. Both companies have given me so much and given the project
so much, they have helped out by producing things for the project and continue
to do so. They have been a great help for the kids, I thank them from the
bottom of my heart. I would like to thank my family, my parents, my brother,
who is a great person to talk to and has always been an inspiration to me. I
also want to thank everyone that surrounds me.
Check out this mini documentary about how Jiu Jitsu has impacted the lives of kids in the Cantagalo Favela.
This week 7 athletes from the FT academy competed in the IBJJF Rio Winter Open that took place in the historic Tijuca Tennis Club.
Pretinha Santos won gold once again! Pretinha has been training at Terere Kids Project for less than a year but her enthusiasm for Jiu Jitsu has earned her a place at the top of the podium time and time again. She is a hard working student who also studies and works in addition to training. We are very proud to see her out there representing FT and setting an example for other girls in the community!
Congratulations to Alister Shirazi for winning gold in the White Belt division. Alister is a student from San Diego that has been living and training in Rio for 2 years now. He started helping out at the project by bringing snacks to for the kids class and was eventually adopted into the FT family!
Faby De Paula took 2nd place after a tough fight in the purple belt final against a girl from GFteam. Faby is a native of Bahia who recently relocated to Rio De Janeiro. In addition to representing FT on the mats Faby will be taking over some of the administrative responsibilities at the Project.
Karo Sarmento took 3rd place at the competition after a grueling weight cut.
Congratulations to who Gabriel Areas and Walter Lopes also competed but didn't make it to the podium!
While everyone else is getting geared up and ready for Summer time, we have been preparing for IBJJF Rio Winter Open that starts June 13th. TKP will be sponsoring Fabricio Da Silva, Faby de Paula, Gabriel Areas, and Walter Lopes to compete in the competition. Two of our resident "gringos", Karo Sarmento from Colombia and Alister Shoa from California will also be competing at the competition!
On July 30th we will be sponsoring 16 athletes from the kids class to compete in the SJJSAF Brasil Open. SJJSAF provides a discount to social projects which allows us to give all of the kids that are attending school and training consistently a chance to compete!
We are currently collecting donations to finish out the registration!
English Tutoring
Last month we made some progress with our English program. Tracking kids down and finding the time to get them to dedicate some extra hours to studying has been anything but easy but thanks to the help of Fightland Vice and a steady stream of volunteers we are able to match students up with a tutor that can work with their schedule.
Restructuring in the Projects
Program director Nico Ball will be heading back to the U.S. for the next 5 months to train, fight, and visit her family. Nico has been responsible for managing all of the donations that are sent via PayPal.
Stay tuned for more information on changes in Paypal account information and other updates that will be coming in the next couple of months.
Terere Kids Project Patches
In an effort to create more stability and help teach the kids in the project the fundamentals of fundraising, we have started selling TKP patches. Patches are being sold in the academy, at Connection Rio Hostel, and by our students that are looking to save up money for supplements or competition fees.
Patches are also being shipped in limited numbers to the U.S.
You can email TerereKidsProject@gmail.com to find out how you can get yours!
Proceeds from the sale of patches goes
to funding the snack program and paying for
competition fees.
Lastly, you can check out the June income statement by clicking here.
The European Charity tour is almost at an end with only one more seminar before Thomas Oyarzun travels to Brazil to deliver the money to Mestre Terere.
Recently Oyzarun made his way to Bern, the capital of Switzerland where he organized a seminar with Giuliano Haldimann the head instructor of the Gracie Jiu JItsu team of Bern. There were just about 15 participates at the seminar who raised US $605 for the kids here in the Cantagalo Favela!
After Bern, Mastwo made a quick stop in Annecy France were he was able to gather US $446 in donations bringing the grand total of the tour to US $5,326!
Mastwo will be traveling to Rio at the end of July so there is still time to book more seminars if your interested!
We would like to say a special thanks to Oyarzun for taking the time out of his schedule to make such a big commitment to helping us out here at the project and to everyone that came out to the seminars!
SJJSAF Brasil Open
On May 14th we were able to put 16 sponsored athletes into the SJJSAF Brasil open tournament. Unlike most tournaments were we select several athletes to participate for either the adults or the children’s class due to financial restrictions, we were able to sponsors EVERY SINGLE KID that was consistently training.
At 7A.M. in the morning, 10 kids meet up with Professor Fabricio and Mestre Terere to take the hour-long bus ride out to the tournament.
All of the kids that competed returned home with medals!
After competing Terere treated them to lunch and then they stuck around to watch some of the adult matches. After endless hours of cheering on their teammates, the kids piled back onto the bus with their medals around their necks and fell asleep for the ride home.
The next week in class many of them received strips for their hard work and dedication to training.
We want to thank everyone that sent donations to fund the tournament!
We would also like to thank CJ Murdock and Fernando Reals who purchased TKP patches to sell in South Carolina and New York.
Sales from the patches went to funding this tournament and our snack program for the month of May!
New Management
The Terere Kids Project Blog was started in 2013 by NicoBall, an American living and training alongside Fernando Terere in the Cantagalo favela. For the past 3 years Nico has been collaborating with sponsors and managing the finances and other operational aspects of Terere Kid Project. This July, however, Nico will be returning to the U.S. for 6 months.
In order to continue the work that we have started here at Terere Kids Project, we have decided to formally register the organization as an official NGO. Currently, TKP is registered as Academia Fernando Terere, which is considered a mico-business.Being registered as a small business prohibits us from taking advantage of a lot of government resources offered to non-profits. It's for that reason that we depend entirely on donations for people like you!
Being registered as a formal NGO will have several benefits including:
Access to funds for snack programs and other educational services like tutors.
Paid jobs for our employees that are currently working as volunteers.
Terere Kids Project bank account with tax codes for providing receipts to donors which will help us secure more big company sponsors.
Discounts on tournaments.
English Program
We have recently had several people reach out to the project with an interest in helping out with our English program. This week Adrienne Long arrived from the United States. Adrienne will be spending 6 months living in the Cantagalo Favela and managing the English program here at Terere Kids Project. We are excited about having our first international volunteer come to dedicate time not just to training Jiu Jitsu, but to helping make a difference here in the community.
In response to the recent Fightland Vice article that came out, we have also received other messages from volunteers that will be working alongside Adrienne Long. We are always looking for volunteers to help teach or tutor kids in English so if your interested in helping out at the project email TerereKidsProject@gmail.com.
The latest seminars in the European Charity tour were held May 14th and 15th in Saint-Etinne and La Grand-Croix, France. The events were organized by BJJ and Judo black betl Yvan Petiot.
There were little attendance with just about 13 participants for
the whole weekend but Yvan managed to gather US$ 1,118 of
donations which is the biggest donation we have
had since the beginning of the tour.
A big thanks goes out to Yvan
and his team for the generous contribution and for making the weekend a
great experience worth remembering.
Our
next Stop is back again in Switzerland but this time in Bern, the
country's capital on Thursday, May 19th at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Gabriel Took 1st place on August 28th at SJJSAF Copa Touron
Arriving back at the project this year, it has been nothing short of amazing to see the evolution of these young grapplers. Once young teens, whom I first meet in the kid’s class had now graduated to training solely with the adults and were now assassinating fellow grapplers irrespective of age or belt colour.
The children’s class has always buzzed with boys and girls alike but it had always been a struggle to retain the girls as they got older. Thus, the addition of seventeen year-old, Izabella Moreia has been a revelation for the project. After only six months of training, she took bronze in the Brazilian Nationals and has since been on a tear. She is fearless on the mats, never turning down a roll regardless of size or belt level (she often has to compete above her weight class to get fights). She gives everyone a hard time, using spider guard with precision that seems inconceivable for someone that has only trained for such a short amount of time.
Izabella training with new FT integrant Faby
Arriving back at the project this year, it has been nothing short of amazing to see the evolution of these young grapplers. Once young teens, whom I first meet in the kid’s class had now graduated to training solely with the adults and were now assassinating fellow grapplers irrespective of age or belt colour. 
