Autographed Official WEC 48 Jose Aldo Banner

Nova Uniao Black Belt and current WEC Featherweight Champion of the World, Jose Aldo, is continuing his efforts to give back to his community. With the success of his first auction, where he auctioned items from when he defeated Mike Brown for the Belt, and with the proceeds gathered from Nova Uniao merchandise sales, 40 Jiu-Jitsu Gis were able to be purchased for the students in the Nova Uniao Community Program. Now, with his latest dominating win over Urijah Faber in his first Title defense, Aldo hopes to again raise funds that will further the development of the program.

Autographed Official WEC 48 Jose Aldo Gloves

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Gracie Mag # 155

2009 was the inagural year for the GD Jiu-Jitsu Food Drive with the United Food Bank. The United Food Bank is responsible for distributing your food donations to over 240 agencies such as churches, youth and senior programs, crisis centers, and soup kitchens. Held during 3 tournaments, the 1st AZ Kids Cup, 2009 AZ BJJ State Championship, and the 1st Southwest Classic, your food donations helped to feed not just the hungry, but the many people in need in our community. 523 pounds of food was raised, which equates to 409 meals put onto the tables of people who are struggling in our neighborhoods. GD Jiu-Jitsu Events hopes to continue working with the United Food Bank and donate even more food in 2010. Your next opportunity to donate food will be during the 5th Arizona International Open of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Westwood High School in Mesa, AZ on March 13-14, 2010.

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Andre Pederneiras

Source: www.graciemag.com

Known for his involvement in the promotion of Jiu-Jitsu events around Arizona, with the Arizona State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (AZSBJJF) and his GD Jiu-Jitsu events company, and the solid results his team of gi-clad warriors achieves in competition, Gustavo Dantas is also recognized for the charitable endeavors he performs around the state where he resides, collecting food for the needy and the like.

A recent article published on the NovaUniao.com website and written by Dantas’s girlfriend Kristina Barlaan -current American National No-Gi and Arizona State Champion at blue belt – sheds light on a likely origin of Gustavo’s sense of moral obligation. On a recent trip to Gustavo’s birthplace of Rio de Janeiro the couple witnessed the end-of-the-year banquet the black belt leader of Nova União Arizona’s master and mentor Andre Pederneiras held for elderly residents of the Santo Amaro low-income housing area in Rio de Janeiro’s southern zone. The following is Barlaan’s account of the proceedings.

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American Red Cross in response to the earthquakes that devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010 is currently accepting donations. Your gift makes it possible for the Red Cross to provide comfort and hope to disaster victims across the affected region, helping to meet critical needs such as for shelter, food, relief supplies and other emergency assistance.The earthquake in
Haiti and the almost total destruction of the country has shocked the world. The UN estimates that close to 100,000 people has died, but there is no way to reach an exact number.

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Jose Aldo (Nova Uniao Black Belt)

Nova Uniao Black Belt and the new WEC Featherweight Champion of the World, Jose Aldo, has not forgotten where he came from. Aldo has gone from being a struggling Jiu-Jitsu student living inside his gym, to  now an MMA champion revered around the world. Remembering his humble beginnings he now strives to give back to the very community that helped him reach his full potential.

Aldo will be auctioning off several autographed items on eBay from the night he defeated Mike Brown for the Belt, including: