Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero; EAFocus Communications; 248-260-8466; barbara@eafocus.com
Plymouth, Mich.— June 9, 2016 – The Plymouth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy is under new ownership. Lawrence G. (L.G.) Almeda, a long-time student and competitor (Silver medalist at 2014 Pan-Am Championships), purchased the Academy from head instructor Elihu (E.J.) Ledesma who relocated to Florida. Almeda continues as an intellectual property attorney and shareholder in the Ann Arbor office of Brinks Gilson & Lione.
Located in Downtown Plymouth, the Plymouth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy is an affiliate of Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu, a renown world-wide association of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies founded and run by Saulo Ribeiro (6 world titles) and Xande Ribeiro (7 world titles). Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Association of Plymouth was established in 2010 and serves students from youth to adult. Almeda’s four children, three boys and a girl ranging in ages from 7 to 14, are all students at the Academy.
“The Plymouth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy has been a part of my family’s life for several years and I see the multiple benefits of preparation, strategy, composure, wit, athleticism and confidence that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brings to my children and to me,” said Almeda, who first took up the martial art and combat sport in 2009.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on grappling, with the goal of gaining a dominant position, and uses joint-locks and chokeholds to force an opponent to submit. The main emphasis in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is to dominate the opponent through application of technique and force him or her to quit (‘submit’). It promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person using leverage and proper technique can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training can be for self-defense, sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Sparring, commonly referred to as ‘rolling’, and live drilling play a major role in training. By using the techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a smaller practitioner, male or female, can control much larger and stronger opponents and actually force the larger opponent to submit. Jiu-Jitsu literally translates to, “the gentle art.” The supporting philosophy is that one not only can but should learn to avoid the use of strength. Instead, the individual should be able to obtain a position of dominance to make the opponent submit.
“Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu got mainstream attention as an offshoot of the martial arts family in the early 1990’s when Royce Gracie, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert, took several titles in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, which were then single elimination martial arts tournaments,” Almeda said. “It’s growing in popularity, as evidenced in part by the increasing number of participants in the PanAm and World Championship competitions as well as its advantages in anti-bullying efforts,” Almeda said.
Whether focused on fitness, self-defense or competition, the Plymouth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy helps male and female students of all ages reach their goals. The address is 584 West Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, 48170 and the phone number is 734.709.8454. To learn more or to register for a summer session, visit http://www.rjjplymouth.com/index.html.
About the Plymouth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Located in Downtown Plymouth, Mich., the Plymouth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy is a member of the Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Association and trains male and female students of all ages, from youth through adult. Learn more at http://www.rjjplymouth.com/index.html.
