#TeamYemaso News & Updates

If You are Looking for Activities for Families

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu just might be everything you are looking for in an activity, that you don’t know about.  Until now.  Parents understand that sports provide great benefits for their children.  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers many of the same benefits that other sports, like little league soccer for example, offers to kids, but Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu does much more.

We are excited about the new kids program, and that is coming along very well.  We are happy to be able to provide the community of Sacramento with a service that extends beyond the mats.

Jiu-Jitsu can provide children and families an activity that brings them together like no other.

At El Dorado Hills BJJ, an affiliate and satellite school of Yemaso BJJ, one of the newly promoted shared a sentiment that was truly beautiful.  Aiza, a recent recipient of a blue belt, marking the ascension into the intermediate ranks, talks about how her family got involved in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

The plan was to have Angelo (our son) do Jiu-Jitsu so he can work on balance/falling in basketball.  All three (of our kids) ended up doing it, followed by Jerel (my husband/their father) a week after.

I used to sit and watch them train and when we got home, I’d say, “I want to do Jiu-Jitsu.”  He’d respond with, “Go for it.” but I’d respond with an excuse about my shoulders and back hurting.  He’d tell me, “You know what will fix that? Jiu Jitsu.”  I tried one class and felt nauseous from rolling.

I gave up.

A year after, I caved in to my adventurous side.  I was determined to do Jiu-Jitsu because I was bored just sitting and watching.  I told him I was out of shape and I wanted to get used to the feeling of rolling on the mat, so in between the kids and adults class he showed me the basics.  A ladies class was formed shortly and I took advantage of that.  When class was over and it was time to go home, I’d tell him I wanted to go back and do the next class, he’d say, “You got your second wind?”  I was excited when he ordered my first gi!

The boys used to do 2 classes a week, that’s our second home now-we’re there everyday (except when Angelo is doing a school sport).  When I started, I knew I wanted a blue belt.  Yes, I felt sad when I didn’t get it in spring of 2013, but Eliot told me that he knows how hard I worked, and knew that it wasn’t easy to train with the big men, that I would get it at the next promotion.

Sadness took over me at the end of that month when my husband had his heart attack.  I quit training, hated being at Jiu-Jitsu, but endured it watching my kids continue to train.

I quit for 6 months, didn’t get the blue.  Jerel started training again when he got the ok from the doctor, I followed a month after.  Angelo (my son) used to tell me, “Are you gonna sit and watch again? D ad’s fine mom…”

I got promoted to a blue belt last night. It’s more meaningful to me now than it would have been a year earlier.

My family does Jiu-Jitsu for health, challenge, fun, and for the people in class I consider our second family.  I love being surrounded with the positive people and families.

 

Huge congratulations to all of the newly promoted, and all the jiu-jitsu families at EDH!

If you are in the El Dorado Hills area, make sure to check out EDH BJJ for one of the best family friendly activities you can find.  Likewise, in Sacramento, come down to Yemaso BJJ and start a journey your family will always remember!

 

Yemaso BJJ 2014 Accomplishments

We started 2014 on a good note.  For the second year in a row our Sacramento Jiu-Jitsu academy went to the San Francisco International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation tournament, and brought back a team title.  Our small team was able to accomplish a second place team trophy with some outstanding efforts from the entire team.  We shared the podium with two other powerhouses in Caio Terra & Atos, both of which boast international associations and teams that are larger than our small squad of dedicated athletes.

 

A video posted by Marcos “Yemaso” Torregrosa (@yemasobjj) on Feb 2, 2014 at 8:49pm PST

 
Following the team trophy, we kept that momentum leading into the year of competitions.  After having made our mark locally, our athletes were able to earn some pretty notable accomplishments abroad.  We had some very ambitious athletes go out and compete in the biggest tournaments the world has to offer. 

Major Tournament Medalists:

Pan Ams

• Billy English – White Belt Lightweight Silver Medalist
• Sourikone Nhingsavath – White Belt Lightweight Silver Medalist
• Rich Bothun – Purple Belt Middleweight Silver Medalist
• Marcus Boness – Brown Belt Middleweight Champion
• Marcos Torregrosa – Black Belt Lightweight Champion
• Steven Tafoya – Black Belt Middleweight Champion

Worlds

• Bernard Turner – White Belt Featherweight Champion
• Billy English – White Belt Lightweight Silver Medalist

American Nationals

• John Tai – White Belt Lightweight Bronze Medalist
• Jerry Hickman – White Belt Lightweight Silver Medalist
• Bernard Turner – Blue Belt Featherweight Bronze Medalist
• Bernard Turner – Blue Belt Absolute Bronze Medalist
• Donny Le – Purple Belt Light-Featherweight Champion
• Sean Gonsolin – Purple Belt Featherweight Bronze Medalist
• Rich Bothun – Purple Belt Medium-Heavyweight Champion
• Rich Bothun – Purple Belt Absolute Champion
• Eliot Kelly – Black Belt Heavyweight Silver Medalist
• Eliot Kelly – Black Belt Absolute Bronze Medalist
• Marcos Torregrosa – Black Belt Lightweight Champion
• Marcos Torregrosa – Black Belt Absolute Bronze Medalist

NoGi Worlds

• Billy English – Blue Belt Lightweight Bronze Medalist
• Rich Bothun – Purple Belt Medium-Heavyweight Silver Medalist
• Marcos Torregrosa – Black Belt Lightweight Champion

Master Worlds

• Carlos Machado – Blue Belt Light-Featherweight Bronze Medalist
• Billy English – Blue Belt Lightweight Bronze Medalist
• Allan Scott – Blue Belt Middleweight Silver Medalist
• Rich Bothun – Purple Belt Middleweight Champion
• Eliot Kelly – Black Belt Heavyweight Bronze Medalist
• Steven Tafoya – Black Belt Medium-Heavyweight Silver Medalist

 
Below is a list of Yemaso BJJ athletes who have managed to rank in the top 20 of their respective divisions.  These rankings are comprised of belt, weight, and age divisions for the whole world.  To be able to rank in the world means that you have to consistently win at tournaments.  These guys have been competing often and winning just as much.

Yemaso Athletes Ranked in Top 20:

 Angelo Suetos Tengan

• #1 Gi Teen3 Yellow Male
• #1 Gi Teen3 Yellow Male Feather

 

Bernard Turner

• #8 NoGi Master1 Blue Male Feather
• #20 Gi Master1 Blue Male Feather

 

Billy English

• #11 Gi Master1 Blue Male Light
• #13 NoGi Master1 Blue Male Light

 

Carlos Saquic Perez

• #18 Gi Adult Purple Male Rooster

 

Celina Malabanan

• #19 Gi Master1 Blue Female Feather

 

Donny Le

• #9 Gi Master1 Purple Male LightFeather

 

Eliot Andrew Kelly

• #3 NoGi Adult Black Male SuperHeavy
• #9 Gi Adult Black Male Heavy

 

Jerry Hickman

• #8 Gi Master2 White Male Light

 

Kyle Roberts

• #9 NoGi Adult Purple Male Heavy
• #17 Gi Adult Purple Male Heavy

 

Marcos Torregrosa

• #1 Gi Master1 Black Male Light
• #1 NoGi Master1 Black Male Light
• #2 Gi Master1 Black Male
• #2 NoGi Master1 Black Male

 

Marcus Boness

• #5 Gi Master3 Brown Male Medium
• #6 NoGi Master3 Brown Male MediumHeavy
• #14 Gi Master3 Brown Male Open

 

Randy Lacy

• #8 Gi Master2 Blue Male Light
• #8 NoGi Master2 Blue Male Light
• #20 NoGi Master2 Blue Male Open

 

Richard Selmar Bothun

• #1 Gi Master2 Purple Male Open
• #1 Gi Master2 Purple Male Medium
• #2 NoGi Master2 Purple Male MediumHeavy
• #5 Gi Master2 Purple Male MediumHeavy
• #6 NoGi Master2 Purple Male Open

 

Richard Wing Fu Wong

• #1 Gi Juvenile Purple Male
• #1 Gi Juvenile Purple Male Medium
• #1 NoGi Juvenile Purple Male Open
• #1 NoGi Juvenile Purple Male Medium

 

Sourikone Nhingsavath

• #3 Gi Master2 White Male Light

 

Steven Edward Tafoya

• #4 Gi Master5 Black Male Medium
• #8 Gi Master5 Black Male MediumHeavy
• #10 Gi Master5 Black Male Open

 

2015 Will be bigger. Join us.

The acquirement of a new affiliate of Puerto Rico means Yemaso BJJ is now an international team. You can expect to see our athletes competing on the east coast regularly in addition to our west coast efforts. Having a team in Puerto Rico will also allow us to coordinate some great Jiu-Jitsu vacations to train and enjoy the beaches of beautiful Puerto Rico (a traincation, if you will). Stay connected with us as we begin logistical planning in 2015. This is an exciting time for everyone involved with Yemaso BJJ!

 

A photo posted by Yemaso Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (@sacramentobjj) on Feb 2, 2014 at 8:57pm PST

Yemaso BJJ went to support an event for autism awareness in Rocklin at Infinite BJJ.  It was a fun event where we got to strengthen friendships with other local brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes with a lot of socializing, and, of course, a lot of rolling!  But, more importantly, we were glad to be able to contribute in some way to the cause of autism.  Good times!

 

Congratulations to Prentice in recognition of all the effort he put in to receive his blue belt!