Winter Grading report

On December 22nd, Aspida Team held its 1st winter grading at the new academy with almost 100 people attending .

The importance of this event is that Master Pantelis Panyides, after 16 years of training BJJ was promoted by his old friend and Master, Renzo Gracie to black belt on a trip to NYC the week before.

Aspida Team Academy was founded by Pantelis in 2003 as the fist BJJ school in Cyprus. From then until summer 2011, the academy didn't have a fixed base. In 2011 Pantelis Panayides and Andreas Achniotis opened the doors of their own academy, adding more classes and more choices for their athletes like boxing, wrestling and physical conditioning. The academy is now an official affiliate academy of master Renzo Gracie.

The numbers of the students they are growing monthly and the standard of the academy is raised by younger more athletic students. Younger talents are joining, promising a great future for the academy.

The valuation of the grading was simple: hard work and dedication were the main criteria. Each athlete is different and so the expectations for us are different from each.

Last but not least, a big thank you to our students and ther families for making the Aspida Team academy possible.

Bjj for Kids

New classes for kids
From the new year 2012 aspidateam will add new classes for kids to the schedule, between the ages of 10 and 14 years old. The kids class will focus on basic techniques of Bjj, flexibility, physical fitness, self defense and team spirit.

Bjj is one of the most evolutionary sports of this century. The sport is the fastest growing and evolving sport of today, suitable for all ages, men and women, and does not require a high level physical strength.

We will aim to teach the sport in a fun and safe environment. Jiu jitsu rolling comes naturally to kids as that is the way they play at that age. My personal experience of the sport at such a young age is that it taught me self discipline, sense of community, and training and fitness became a way of life for me . My oldest friends are from my early wrestling and judo academies. Throughout my studies in university, I continued with Bjj which helped me put a training routine in my life. Competitions are also a good way to evaluate your level, set goals, and winning and losing develops sportsmanship. It teaches them to train and prepare before the competition, making them more responsible, but also teaches them teamwork and cooperation.

Aspidateam winter grading

Like every year on the 22 of December aspidateam will hold a grading where certain students will change belts. This year will be a special one as Pantelis will have just returned from NYC Renzo's academy . This is also the first graduation in our new academy and with a record number of graduates who will change belts.

This year the event will start as an open mat at 19:00 and at 20:30 the grading begins. The idea is to bring the whole team together as well as their friends and family for drinks and Christmas cake.

Please RSVP who will be attending by the 19/12

Milano challenge 2011

The numbers speak for themselves. To be able to successfully organize a bjj competition with 530 fighters, Italian and international, means that the sport is growing rapidly with a lot of fans. Andrea Baggio the host of the event has managed to to turn a small in-house competition into the biggest BJJ event in Italy, and one of the most popular in Europe. All the Milanimal members, staff and friends were working all together so the event ran well-orginised. The team spirit of the Milanimal team was evident, as all the fighters would run to help the staff before and after their fights. This is then true spirit of a hosting team, Bravo Milannimal!

The level of the competition was really high, all the athletes they were well prepared physically and technically but also strategically. A few years ago you would only see fighters using the de la riva or x guard at black belt level on YouTube clips and at world class competitions. Now you see fighters of all levels, including white belts, experimenting with these and other transitions.

As for Aspida Team, I want to congratulate all fighters. Losing or winning is part of the game, but more important was the competition experience. Well done Fantis and Tash . The girls of Aspida Team fought impressively with heart and they managed to go head to head with their opponents. Nasia in the end won the bronze metal in her weight division. Andreas Achniotis won the bonze metal in brown belt Open division.

Andreas Achniotis 3rd place, Brown belt open category.

Nasia Zannouppa 3rd place, White belt -53kg.

Aspida Team at the Milano challenge 2011 - George Phantis, Andreas Achniotis, Nasia Zannouppa and Anastasia Gerali.