Latest News
January 16th, 2012
Jiu-Jitsu Pan Ams Training Camp
Charuto Verissimo will be leading a 4 day training camp at Arsenal Martial Arts in Carbondale, March 25th-28th. Even if you are not making the trip to L.A. to compete, this is still a great training opportunity. We are also excited to support our Head Instructor Charuto as he gets back on the mat after a 11 year break from sport competition. We are going to have a blast out west!!
November 14th, 2011
Black Belt Clinic at "The BJJ Lifestyle Academy"
Chris was among the 8 Black Belts representing Nova Uniao, Rodrigo Vaghi, American Top Team and Royler Gracie teaching this BJJ workshop. It was a great turnout with over 70 students in attendance. We would like to thank Mike Rethemeyer for hosting this unique event.
November 12th, 2011
Nenad Dragovalich Promoted to BJJ Black Belt
Nenad was promoted to Black Belt by his coach Christian Uflacker this past weekend. Nenad began his Jiu-Jitsu training with Andy Sabens and Chris in 1998. Through his dedication to training, he has developed into one of the most respected grapplers in the Chicago area. Congratulations to Nenad!!
August 1st, 2011
Renato "Charuto" Verissimo BJJ Seminar
The depth and level of Jiu-Jitsu at Ohana keeps growing. Congratulations to all the BJJ Belt promotions this weekend! We would also like to thank Charuto again for his technical guidance and for being such a great example of friendship and humilty.
July 30th, 2011
New Ohana BJJ Purple Belts
Congratulations to Chris Mecker, Scott Repec, and Alex Embry who were promoted to Purple Belt this weekend. A well-deserved promotion for three very dedicated Ohana students!
July 20th, 2011
Guest Instructor BJJ Black Belt Andy Sabens
Nova Uniao Black Belt Andy Sabens will be teaching group class Thursday, July 28th at 7:15pm. This class is open to all Ohana students.
July 5th, 2011
Burton Richardson Corners Chris Leben at UFC 132
Congratulations to Chris Leben with his 27 second finish of Wanderlei Silva at UFC 132. Burton had the honor of cornering Chris in the biggest win of his Mixed Martial Arts career.
April 16th, 2011
Renato "Charuto" Verissimo Seminar
Nova Uniao Black Belt Andy Sabens hosted a Jiu-Jitsu semiinar this weekend with Charuto Verissimo. We had a blast, learned some great technique, and had a lot of laughs. We would like to thank all the Ohana students that came down to Carbondale to support the seminar!
February 27th, 2011
IBJJF Chicago Winter Open
Congratulations to the Ohana students that competed at the "IBJJF Chicago Winter Open". All our students showed great class and technique. You should be proud of yourself for just stepping out on the mat!!
Great Job Guys!
Nathan Jensen (Bronze/White Belt Super-Heavy)
Adrian Peyrot (Bronze/Blue Belt Ultra-Heavy)
Scott Repec (Bronze/Blue Belt Ultra-Heavy)
Alex Embry (Gold/Blue Belt Absolute & Bronze/Blue Belt Middle)
February 18th, 2011
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Workshop at Niles West High School
Close to 30 students signed up to participate in this intro to BJJ Workshop. Chris covered the techniques and philosophies of the art, while introducing Jiu-Jitsu to a new generation.
February 16th, 2011
Jason Foster Promoted to BJJ Brown Belt
Ohana Roots! An absolute honor to have Jason promoted to his well-deserved Brown Belt. Jason has been part of Ohana since our humble roots in a little one car garage. Congratulations on reaching this BJJ milestone!!
December 9th, 2010
Sifu Ted Wong 1937-2010
Sifu Ted Wong spent the last 30 years preserving the Jeet Kune Do concepts passed on to him by his close friend and teacher, Bruce Lee. He was a kind and generous man who set the example on how one should humbly carry themself. A teacher can only wish to have a student as loyal and respectful as he was to his.
November 6th, 2010
Andy Sabens promoted to Black Belt
It was a very exciting day at Ohana as Charuto awarded Andy Sabens his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Andy has been training for 16 years and his perseverance has paid off. Congratulations to our new Nova Uniao Black Belt!!
November 6th & 7th, 2010
Renato "Charuto" Verissimo Seminar
Another great BJJ Seminar at Ohana Martial Arts by Charuto! We learned some great new techniques and had two belt promotions. Robert Lee was promoted to Blue Belt and Andy Sabens was promoted to Black Belt! We would like to thank Charuto again for a great weekend and wish him safe travels to Brazil.
August 27th, 2010
Charuto Rocks our Academy Hat while cornering BJ Penn 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 11th, 2010
Welcoming Ohana's Newest Member, Rhys Kai Lund!
Chris is a very proud father 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 at UFC 118. 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!
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 Black Belt
