When I first started Jiu Jitsu my instructor would come to class and ask "what do you guys want to learn today?"  This method of teaching is out of date.  It is important to make sure when choosing a Jiu Jitsu school that they have a curriculum in place.  

There is so much to learn in Jiu Jitsu; GI, No-Gi, Guard, Passing Guard, Side Control, Mount, Back, Escapes, the list goes on.  A curriculum and a schedule that offers students a chance to dive into all of the Jiu Jitsu basics on at least a bi-annually basis is very important.

At De Boa Jiu Jitsu we offer a curriculum that cycles every three months.  The curriculum allows our students to learn each aspect of Jiu Jitsu several times throughout the year and eliminates holes in their individual games.  We pride ourselves in creating complete Jiu Jitsu Players.

Our Schedule is worked out to allow adequate time during the week to work on both GI and No-Gi portions of your game.  Whether you want to be the next UFC Champion or just learn something new, De Boa is the place for you!

De Boa Jiu Jitsu would like to send a big CONGRATULATIONS to Carla Esparza of Lotus Club Irvine on becoming the first UFC Women's Strawweight Champion!

Carla was a contestant on the Ultimate Fighter 20 which was the first ever female contestant season.  The winner of the show got the opportunity to fight for the belt of a brand new division.

Carla used and impressive display of wrestling to take out Rose Namajunas in the finals.  Her Jiu Jitsu looked sharp through out the show, Carla is a purple belt under Giva Santana.   Her home gym is team Oyama with head MMA Coach Colin Oyama, which is also Lotus Club headquarters in the USA.  Congrats Colin, Giva, Mo Khayat and the whole Lotus Club Irvine team!

Lotus Club has always had a great tradition of Jiu Jitsu in MMA, starting with Giva and Fabio Nagao to the late Shane Del Rosario, to Kamuela Kirk; this is the first Lotus Club UFC Champion but I don't see it being the last.

This past weekend the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) came to Phoenix for the very first time.  The UFC is the largest MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) show currently in the World.  Phoenix has hosted other large MMA shows such as Bellator, WEC, M1 Global, King of the Cage, but the UFC was the one show that took the longest to get.  

The show was a great success with a highlight card that didn't disappoint.  There were several local fighters, both veterans and up and comers.  The main event featured Heavyweights Junior Dos Santos vs Stipe Miocic, a five round war that had everyone in the stadium on their feet.

De Boa BJJ's head instructor, Andrew Gardineer, was in the corner of submission of the night award winner Ian Enty.  Gardineer worked with Ian while both were in Thailand.  Ian traveled from England to make his second appearance in the UFC.  Ian's fight was exciting, securing a first round heel hook victory, displaying great Jiu Jitsu.  The submission secured him the $50,000 bonus and I am sure a great future in MMA and in the UFC.

Come check out De Boa Academy in Surprise, AZ and start adding the tools to become a successful MMA fighter and possibly get your crack at the UFC.  Jiu Jitsu has played a large roll in MMA ever since Royce Gracie became the very first UFC Champion and introducing the art of to the world.

I'm sure after the packed house and great crowd they will be back to Phoenix soon.

Success in Jiu Jitsu is not determined by what belt you are, rather by what Jiu Jitsu has helped you accomplish in your life.  That can mean different things for everyone individually whether it be winning a match at a tournament, or helping you become closer to your child, or shaving off some pounds, the list goes on. You should not define your Jiu Jitsu career by the color of your belt.

However; belts are a representation of the time, work, sacrifice, and growth within your Jiu Jitsu Journey.  One this day, December 8th, of last year three of our instructors were promoted to their next belt.  Kids Instructor Tyson Antillon earned his Purple Belt, Female Instructor Leslie Gardineer also earned her Purple Belt, and Head Instructor Andrew Gardineer achieved Black Belt from Lotus Club's Giva Santana.  

Here is the Lineage of Andrew's Black Belt:

Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > George Gracie > Octávio de Almeida > Moises Murad > Givanildo Santana > Andrew Gardineer

Were you ever bullied as a kid?  Are you being bullied at work right now?  Is kid you being bullied in school?  Is your kid the bully at school?

About 28% of kids ages 12–18 reported being bullied at school during the school year, according to the Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2013 report, that is about one in four kids dealing with being bullied.  Bullying can cause emotional and physical harm to kids.  It can affect your kids desire to go to school, ability to gain friends and the overall happiness of your kid.


At De Boa Jiu Jitsu in Surprise we want to help your kids avoid being bullied.  It is not our goal to teach your kid to go beat up the bully but rather learn the  self confidence to stick up for themselves and find a peaceful solution to the bully. In case there is a physical confrontation your kid will be prepared to protect his/her self in an art that has been proving effective on the street.  


Bullying is often only thought to effect kids, this is a misconception in our society.   There are plenty of adults out there that posture themselves as bullies.  Jiu Jitsu builds that confidence to walk with strong posture and carry yourself with great strength.  Strength makes you less vulnerble at work and more attractive to employers.  Today is the day the day to improve your life.

Very rarely does anyone talk to the parents of the bully.  If you kids is a bully it does not mean you are a bad parent, or you have a bad kid.  More often than not the bully is trying to cover up insecurities and trying to find happiness in the wrong places.  Jiu Jitsu gives you kid an opportunity to make friends that are going to be positive influences.  Your kid will gain confidence and is less likely to pick on other kids.  Your kid will rather look to show respect and gain the respect of his or her peers.  

Parents, kids, adults, today is your day to improve your life.  Come to De Boa Academy in Surprise.

It is hard to believe 2014 is almost over, time passes fast.  Have you finished all your resolutions from last year?  Do  you have one of those resolutions that just seems to pop up year after year?  If you are anything like my friends then that dreaded resolution has something to do with going to the gym, getting in shape, and maybe even losing a couple pounds.

Do you know what the busiest month for fitness chains is?  If you guessed January you are right.  Everyone makes these fitness resolutions, very few meet there goals.  Let's examine a few reasons why these goals are so hard to meet.

• Lack of motivation, time, energy, excitement to go to the gym.
• Not seeing the results
• No one to help you achieve your goals

This year if you live in the west valley (Surprise, Goodyear, Avondale, El Mirage, Glendale, Peoria), I say try something new.  Start working towards all those fitness goals and get in the best shape of your life.  This plan is going to work this year and you can finally kick that old nasty resolution is because at De Boa Jiu Jitsu Academy we take a different approach to fitness.    

Jiu Jitsu works as a very effective body transformation tool, through the fundamental movements that target the core of the body.  Come push your body and mind with our top notch instructors.  You will be so focused and learning that you won't even be thinking about the fact that you are "working out."  The classes will you leave you excited to learn more.  The excitement brings energy and motivation, our instructors will be their to kick you in the butt if you need additional motivation.  This year let's conquer all those old resolutions and set new goals at De Boa Academy.