This week, photographer William Burkhardt takes us inside Academia Fernando Boi. If you have never trained in Brazil or want to see what the atmosphere is like, this is a great piece that represents the essence of BJJ in Brazil. Check it out!

Congratulations, you’ve found a location, mats, and people to train with. What now?

I've never been to Brazil. In my imagination it all looks like Ipanema Beach. But the Favelas never make it onto the postcards. It's a side of life most of us will never see, much less understand. But it's a reality for thousands of kids who grow up there, just like Robson Moura did.

Earlier this month I spoke with Jon Thomas (no relation) about the organization he's started called Tap Out Cancer. It sounds like he's doing some great work, and he's going to be donating all the money they raise to organizations dedicated to fighting cancer. Read on for more details...

Marcio “Macarrao” Stambowsky practices old school Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. When you walk into his Gracie Sports Academy in Norwalk Connecticut you are immediately overwhelmed with the amount of BJJ history fighting for space on the walls. Pictures, magazine clippings, newspaper articles, diplomas and certificates. Marcio truly learned at the source.

Elie Challita

My never quit moment came three years ago when I was still in college. I was rolling with a much heavier rookie before class to give him some pointers when I slipped and dislocated my shoulder completely. I had to spend that night in the hospital.

My name is Andy Lushman and I first started training BJJ two years ago when I moved from Canada to Switzerland. My story tells of my discovery of BJJ and the difficulties I encountered while training abroad. Below you will find my story which, in my opinion, is full of never quit moments...

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’s history, though short, has been incredibly rich and has supplied tremendous material for researchers. From the early feuds with “Luta Livre Esportiva”, through the problems amongst the Gracie family, the break ups in the biggest teams (Carlson Gracie Team, Alliance, BTT, Gracie Barra, etc) and the tragic deaths and stories of such fighters as Ryan Gracie, Marcelo Behring, Rufino Gomes and others, not mentioning the heated rivalries between teams and competitors (“Pé de Pano” vs. “Terere”, “Macaco” vs. Ryan Gracie, Wallid Ismail vs. Edson Carvalho), the list is absolutely endless.

If you read a lot of BJJ related blogs, I’m sure you’ve heard about Christian Gruagart, a danish BJJ instructor who is currently doing an around the world trip and blogging about his experiences. He talks about the places he’s visting (Transnistria? come on Christian, did you just make that country up?) the people he’s meeting, and the food he’s eating.