Latest News
August 28th, 2010
New Ohana BJJ Affiliate School
We would like to welcome our newest Ohana BJJ Affiliate school, "Forsythe Center of Martial Arts/Final Round MMA" in West Allis, Wisconsin. We are excited to have you part of our Nova Uniao Ohana!
August 27th, 2010
Charuto Rocks our Ohana Academy Hat at UFC 118
We have a handful of Ohana/Nova Uniao-Team Hawaii "Walk Out" hats left for sale.
August 21st, 2010
Arsenal Martial Arts Grand Opening
Nova Uniao Brown Belt, Andy Sabens, officially opened his new Academy this weekend. Charuto came out to support the grand opening fresh from the BJ Penn training camp in Costa Mesa, CA. We all had a great time training and celebrating. If you are looking for high level BJJ training in Southern Illinois, check out "Arsenal Martial Arts".
July 31st, 2010
New Women's Muay Thai Kickboxing Program
Ohana's new Women's Muay Thai fitness class begins Saturday, July 31st at 12:30pm. This striking and fitness focused program will be taught by Jennifer Lopez-Itoku. Feel free to stop by for a free trial class.
July 11th, 2010
Welcoming Ohana's Newest Member, Rhys Kai Lund!
Jami and Chris are the very proud parents of a healthy and beautiful baby boy.
July 8th, 2010
Charuto training BJ for rematch at UFC 118/August 21st Jiu-Jitsu Seminar
Charuto is getting BJ ready for his rematch with Frankie Edgar and will be cornering him at the August 28th UFC show. On his way to Boston, Charuto will be stopping by our southern Illinois affiliate, "Arsenal Martial Arts" to teach a Jiu-Jitsu seminar on August 21st. There will be a car pool for Ohana students that would like to attend the seminar.
June 27th, 2010
Burton Richardson corners Chris Leben at Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale & UFC 116
Ohana's Jeet Kune Do/Striking mentor Burton Richardson (red shirt) cornered Chris Leben to victory at the "The Ultimate Fighter" finale. Then, just 2 weeks later, cornered Chris to victory as the co-main event at UFC 116. Burton has been working with Chris in Hawaii tightening up his striking and Jiu-Jitsu game. Awesome job Chris and Burton!
"Leben has made one of the most unlikely, yet genius, decisions in his career. He has enlisted the help of a virtual encyclopedia of martial arts. Burton Richardson is one of the worlds most knowledgeable trainers and is now feeding that knowledge to the Crippler himself. With Leben under the wing of Richardson, it will be hard to see any challenge too tough for him in the future." -Hawaii MMA Magazine
March 15th-18th, 2010
Charuto Verissimo Teaching Ohana Group Classes!
BJ Penn's Jiu-Jitsu Instructor & UFC Veteran Charuto Verissimo will be teaching ALL Ohana group classes on Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday night. Charuto is the Head Jiu-Jitsu Instructor at the Penn Academy in Hawaii and is kind enough to spend the week training with us. Ohana students don't miss this great opportunity!
March 13th & 14th, 2010
Charuto Verissimo Seminar at Ohana Martial Arts
Charuto's seminar was a huge success! We would like to thank all our friends that came out to support it. Congratulations to our new BJJ Blue Belts Alex & Dan and big congrats to AJ who was promoted to Purple Belt. Awesome job guys!
February 12th, 2010
Training with 7X World Champion Robson Moura
We had a great time training with Robson Moura this weekend. If you every get an opprtunity to train with him, take it. Robson is one of the most fluid and technical BJJ Black Belts out there!
December 5th, 2009
Training in Hawaii at the BJ Penn Academy
Ohana's Mark Arcilla spent 10 days training with Charuto at the Penn Academy and brought back some great techniques.
November 8th, 2009
Chris Lund BJJ Seminar at Combined Martial Arts
Chris taught a BJJ GI Workshop at Combined Martial Arts in Marion, Illinois
July 18th, 2009
Chris Lund Promoted to BJJ Black Belt!
At the close of his seminar at Ohana Martial Arts, Charuto Verissimo promoted Chris Lund to Black Belt. This makes Chris one of Charuto's first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts outside of Hawaii.
"Congratulations to JKD Unlimited Instructor Chris Lund, who was promoted to Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Charuto Verissimo of Nova Uniao in July 2009. Chris is a great student and teacher of the arts and deserves this recognition of his talent and skill."
Burton Richardson, JKD Unlimited Founder/BJJ Black Belt
"Dude! Congrats on a well deserved accomplishment! We shall roll again soon I hope!"
Chris Haueter, 4th degree Rigan Machado BJJ Black Belt
"Congratulations Chris! Your Jiu-Jitsu is awesome! Can't wait to roll with you again."
Sam Kressin, Machado BJJ Black Belt
"Congrats Chris!!! I don't know anyone as passionate as you about the art!! Well deserved, and to think, it only took 16 years! hahaha. Awesome man!"
Andy Sabens, Nova Uniao BJJ Brown Belt
