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.