Last week Alliance won double gold at the IBJJF World Master, Gold in the Women’s division and Gold in the men’s division.
It was an honour to be apart of this great event and supporting our Alliance teammates from all over the world and they supporting us.
Congratulations to all of the competitors and coaches.
Alliance has over 300 academies around the world. They came together at the IBJJF World Championships and did the unthinkable by winning the Team World Championships for an astounding 14th time.
All of the team winners combined in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have not come near 14 x time World Champions.
The Alliance methodology of teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is taught in every school around the world.
Congratulations to all of the competitors and coaches who competed.
* Proud Coach Moment *
We had our kids competing at the BC Absolute in Kelowna in April We had 10 competitors and they brought back 8 medals, 4 x Gold Medals, 2 x Silver and 2 x Bronze medals. All the kids won their first matches but the ones that lost their second match had hard battles and showed the true spirit of future champions.
They did their team proud and we look forward to seeing them compete again in April in Kamloops and Kelowna.
#proudcoach #seanmchugh #proudcoachmoments #hardwork #kidsbjj #alliancekids #jitskids #kelownajiujitsu #bjjkelowna
We had only a few competitors at the Champions Choice BJJ Series tournament in Kamloops last Saturday but everyone did the team proud.
We had 4 Kids compete and here are the results:
Mila - Gold in Gi and Gold in No-GI
Victoria - Gold in Gi
Beckett - Bronze in Gi
Kingston - Bronze in Gi
Adults we only had 2 competitors
Randa - Silver in Gi
Congratulations everyone!
Watch 6 year old Mila’s 9 x second Armbar win in her first match in her first ever Jiu-Jitsu tournament. Mila went on to win a Silver medal in Gi and a Gold medal in No-Gi.
We had 10 little warriors competing at the BC Absolute 2 weeks ago in Kelowna. They all fought their hearts out and brought back 8 medals to our club.
Results kids
Beckett - Gold
Blake - Gold
Victoria - Gold
Mila - Silver in Gi and Gold in No-Gi
Capri - Silver in No-Gi
Vivian - Bronze
Dion - Bronze
Good job everyone! Our team is so proud of all of you. 👍
Congratulations to Jimmy Maguire who earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt on Nov. 21st 2023.
Jimmy started his martial arts journey back in Ireland. After moving to Vancouver Jimmy found a home at Alliance Vancouver where he earned his Purple Belt from World BJJ Champion Thomas Lisboa. In 2018 Jimmy moved to Kelowna and joined the Alliance Kelowna Team.
Jimmy is the 6th x Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt we have at our academy.
Kelowna has 3 x new Purple Belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Congradultations to Anthony, Jackson and Thomas who earned their Purple Belts with Alliance. They boys have been putting in the hard work and it’s paying off.
Good job fellas! Your team is proud of you.
Check out a heart warning review from one of our students who trained with us for 2 years and has finished University and moved to England. This is our 129th 5 x STAR Google Review.
If you’re interested at all in starting or improving your BJJ or learning kickboxing, Alliance Kelowna is the place to go. For context, I started there in March 2022 and trained consistently with Alliance until recently moving out of Kelowna.
From the moment I walked through the doors - despite knowing no one and having no previous martial arts/combat sports experience - I felt so welcomed and a part of the team there. Gym owners Sean and Melissa are some of the friendliest and most generous people I know - from when I first started, they helped me with anything I needed and were always encouraging of all questions. The culture at the gym is fantastic - everyone is friendly, respectful, and wants to help each other out. There is an atmosphere of encouragement so that everyone feels both motivated to try their best but also can take it at their own pace and within their personal comfort zone. I would highly recommend this gym for women wanting to train in particular - this is a very safe place for you!
All BJJ instructors I’ve had at Alliance (including Jimmy, Kristian, and Kody, and Kleber) are incredibly patient and also incredibly knowledgeable. The current coach, Kleber Brito, is a fourth degree black belt; he not only is very technically skilled but is an excellent teacher. He does a fantastic job of breaking down complex techniques into steps for beginners to understand, often adding extra detail for those more experienced, so that everyone can come away from class having learned something new. Kleber is always happy to roll with his students and always makes it a great learning experience for all levels.
I’d recommend this gym to everyone, regardless of experience. The high quality of instruction and wide variety of training partners at all belt levels helps create a great learning environment for anyone looking to compete, demonstrated by the many kids and adults bringing back metals from local competitions. I competed in BJJ twice under Alliance Kelowna at local BC Absolute competitions and felt very supported in the weeks leading up to them, with coaches and all training partners (especially higher belts) going out of their way to help me improve, discuss a game plan, and allow me to refine specific techniques.
My experience kickboxing with Alliance has also been phenomenal. My coach, Paul, has been an excellent teacher and mentor since I started. Similar to my BJJ experience, Paul was so patient and made me feel so comfortable and supported each class I took. He does a great job of teaching a class of mixed experience levels, such that you’ll learn something new regardless of skill level. There is the option (but no obligation) to live spar Wednesdays for the last ~15 mins at the end of class which really challenged me to improve in a safe and supportive environment. As with BJJ, there is a huge culture of respect and encouragement in these classes. In addition to these classes, Paul also has gone out of his way to support me when I inquired about sparring in boxing at a different gym to supplement my training. He volunteered time one-on-one with me to make sure I felt comfortable and prepared for boxing, which ultimately resulted in a fantastic and rewarding experience for me.
It’s also worth noting that the gym itself is very clean, and I’ve never heard of anyone getting any sort of infections from dirty mats (which I’ve heard horror stories about at other gyms!).
Overall, I can’t say enough good things about Alliance Kelowna. It was very bittersweet leaving this gym and the wonderful people who train there, but I hope this review will be the final step of encouragement for someone to take that scary first step and try out a free class! For someone with no prior experience - like me when I started - I would HIGHLY recommend giving Alliance Kelowna a shot. You won’t regret it!
Kate Arpin
Congratulations to Mike Griesbeck who was award his BJJ Black Belt By Kleber Brito and Sean McHugh on Saturday August 12th.
Stacy's Jiu-Jitsu journey is a remarkable tale of growth, perseverance, and personal development. From her initial curiosity about the martial art to becoming a dedicated practitioner, Stacy's journey has been filled with challenges and triumphs.
Like many beginners, Stacy started her Jiu-Jitsu journey with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. She was eager to learn the techniques and strategies but also apprehensive about stepping onto the mat for the first time. However, with the guidance of her experienced instructors and the support of fellow students, Stacy quickly overcame her initial nervousness.
As Stacy progressed in her training, she encountered various obstacles along the way. There were times when she struggled to grasp complex techniques or felt frustrated with her progress. However, she never let these setbacks discourage her. Instead, Stacy approached each challenge with determination and a growth mindset.
One of the most transformative aspects of Stacy's Jiu-Jitsu journey has been the development of her physical and mental strength. Through regular training, she has honed her technique, improved her flexibility, and built endurance. Beyond the physical benefits, Jiu-Jitsu has also helped Stacy cultivate mental resilience, discipline, and focus.
Stacy's journey has also been enriched by the supportive community she found within the Jiu-Jitsu world. She has formed lasting friendships with her training partners, who have been there to motivate and push her during both good and challenging times. The camaraderie and shared passion for the sport have made her Jiu-Jitsu journey even more fulfilling.
In recent years, Stacy has not only become an accomplished practitioner but has also started competing at local and regional tournaments. These competitions have allowed her to test her skills against other talented individuals and have further fueled her passion for Jiu-Jitsu.
Looking ahead, Stacy's Jiu-Jitsu journey continues to evolve. She has set new goals for herself, including earning higher belt ranks and even exploring the possibility of teaching Jiu-Jitsu to others. With her dedication, resilience, and love for the sport, there is no doubt that Stacy's Jiu-Jitsu journey will continue to be an inspiring and impactful one.
Video credit to Arc Media House
Stacy who is a Blue Belt in our academy talks about what her Jiu-Jitsu journey has been with us over the last 3 years.
Video credit to Arc Media House
Did you know that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the fastest growing sports in the world especial for women.
Check out this female Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tribute with some of the Female champion competitors.
We are so excited to be announcing and Introducing our new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, 5th degree Black Belt Kleber Brito. Kleber will be running the adult/teen Jiu-Jitsu classes starting in February 1st, 2023.
Kleber is flying in from Sao Paulo Brazil and is going to be new resident of Kelowna. His wealth of knowledge will make him the highest ranked and Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor in Kelowna.
Book your free class now and stay tuned for more info on Private Classes being offered with Kleber.
See you on the mats!
Our Kids did us proud again competing at the Kelowna Winter Absolute BJJ tournament.
Results
* Tanner - Gold
* Ayden - Gold
* Addison - Silver
* Little Nic - Silver
* Liam - Bronze
* Ari - Bronze
Good job Team!
We are excited to hosting 2 x seminars with Professor Norm Leung on Saturday Nov. 26th.
Norm Leung is a BJJ Black Belt and assistant coach at Alliance Vancouver Academy. Norm has competed from local to international BJJ tournaments including winning the Gold medal at 2019 Abu Dhabi Pro | Brown Master 2 Middleweight
* Seminar #1 11am-12:30pm Seminar will cover Half Guard - focusing on having an active and aggressive bottom Half-Guard
* Seminar #2 1pm-2:30pm will cover Pressure Passing
Cost is:
* 1 x seminar $75
* 2 x seminar $115
Cash proffered please
This open to all clubs and the general public
Contact Sean at alliancekelowna@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
4 competitors and 4 medals. Our kid/teen showed-up at the Kamloops Champions Choice BJJ Tournament and did their team proud. They showed the heart of champions and the class of sportsmanship to be proud of.
* Jack - Gold Medal and fastest submission win of the entire tournament, via armour in 20 seconds. Jack has competed at 4 tournaments and won 3 Gold Medals and 3 times has had the fastest submission win including adults.
* Anika - Gold Medal
* Victoria - Gold Medal
* Tanner - Silver Medal
Good job Everyone!
I was honoured to get my 2nd degree BJJ black Belt stripes from Fabio Gurgel in Las Vegas last week at the Alliance JIu-Jitsu Team conference .
I earned my BJJ Black Belt in Nov. 02, 2014 from Master Marcus Soares. Fun fact Master Soares was just given the great honour to be promoted to BJJ Red Belt just a couple of weeks ago. They’re only maybe a few dozen BJJ Red Belts alive in the whole world. Such a great honour!
Thank you for all the kind words and everyone who has supported me over the years.
So exciting that Alliance Team won #1st Place on overall men’s and 2nd Place overall in the women’s category.
Congratulations to all the competitors and coaches making this possible. Also a big congratulations to the Alliance Team as a whole in supporting each other and making this amazing accomplishment happen.
All of our Kids Jiu-Jitsu classes are running all summer long.
If you’re looking to start your child in the Fall please contact us today as space is limited and we are not far off full capacity in all of our classes.
See you on the mats!
Here is an inside look at what it’s like to be a BJJ/martial arts school owner. Kenny Kim is a world-level BJJ competitor and school owner. Here he talks about what it’s like when your passion becomes your job as well.