Gracie Barra Channel Islands
Fort Regent Leisure Centre
www.graciebarraci.com/About
Gracie Barra Channel Islands was formed in 2001 after Rob Staples and Andrew Toporis (Topo) approached Mauricao Gomes at Gracie Barra (London) with an interest in becoming part of the growing Gracie Barra network. After this meeting and a bit of training, Rob & Topo returned to Jersey and invited Mauricao Gomes over to hold a seminar in October of 2001.
The seminar was a great success and it was at this time that Gracie Barra Channel Islands was formed under Mauricao Gomes. Rob & Topo were also awarded their blue belts during this seminar with Rob Becoming head coach of GBCI.
Mauricao came to Jersey to hold seminars on several occasions including once with his son, Roger Gracie. Other seminars were held whilst Mauricao was the immediate up-line to GBCI in the Gracie Lineage with some of host other students taking charge including Jude Samuel, Felipe Souza and Sal Rangal, all great BJJ fighters and teachers.
In 2002, Chris Goldsbrough of Guernsey was awarded his blue belt from Mauriciao and established himself as head coach of the Gracie Barra Academy in Guernsey.
In 2004 Braulio Estima came to hold a seminar and during this time talks started to move the lineage so that GBCI came directly under Braulio. Rob received his purple belt from Maurciao Gomes in October 2005 with the lineage change being completed and GBCI now directly under Braulio Estima.
Topo received his purple belt off Braulio Estima in April 2006. Chris Goldsbrough received his purple belt from Braulio in 2007 and then in 2009, both Rob & Topo were awarded their brown belts. Chris was soon to follow and received his brown belt in 2010.
During this period GBCI started to see a growth in the number of students walking through the doors in both Jersey & Guernsey. The majority are still here today and doing well in competitions themselves, a testament to the instruction that Rob, Topo, Chris and the instructors who visit us to hold seminars.
The club has always shown a great interest in getting people through the doors regardless of age or gender. Respect to all students FROM all students is always a must. This is clearly evident when seeing any of the training sessions and seeing how everyone helps. As someone one wrote in a comment on one of our junior training videos, “How sweet is it that these kids are trying to help one another??? :) Obviously the club is doing something right, teaching the merits of helping one another.â€
This is what GBCI is all about. If you are ever in Jersey or Guernsey and you want to train, just check the time table and pop in to the class. All are welcome.
Rob Staples is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Braulio Estima. Rob is the head Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor at Gracie Barra Channel Islands and teaches all of the BJJ classes in Jersey, along with the help of some of the higher graded students.
Rob is a very thorough instructor and ensures that all the students learn all the tiny details in the various techniques.
Along with the regular BJJ classes, Rob also teaches private lessons in Gi and or no gi. Private classes can be one on one or small groups.
The Gracie Barra Fundamentals Program teaches these basic principals of effective fighting to individuals like you. Its structure condenses an immense diversity of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into core fundamental moves combined intelligently and safely to optimise your learning.
The fundamental classes are taken by Paul Gomes.Categories: Martial Arts.
