Our Kids Bringing Home the Medals

We had 10 little warriors competing at the BC Absolute 2 weeks ago in Kelowna. They all fought their hearts out and brought back 8 medals to our club.

Results kids
Beckett - Gold
Blake - Gold
Victoria - Gold
Mila - Silver in Gi and Gold in No-Gi
Capri - Silver in No-Gi
Vivian - Bronze
Dion - Bronze

Good job everyone! Our team is so proud of all of you. 👍

Frazer From Alliance Kelowna Helps UFC Champion!

A Kelowna sports psychology consultant was on the sidelines as UFC champion Raquel Pennington captured the bantamweight title at UFC 297 in Toronto last week.

Frazer Atkinson started Kaizen Mental Performance after obtaining his PhD in sport psychology and has spent the last four years building his business in the Okanagan

He works with athletes across several different sports to help maximize their mental performance in sport.

"It's an online sports psychology service that supports a range of athletes from high school, amateur and professional athletes to improve the mental side of sporting performance. I help with variables such as confidence, anxiety, motivation, grit and determination," explained Atkinson.

Before connecting with Atkinson, Pennington held a professional UFC fight record of 10-9, had lost three of her last four fights and was struggling mentally to compete to the best of her ability.

“Her record was very up and down," Atkinson said.

"Now it’s been consistent. For me it just highlights the importance of the mental side of performance and putting your trust and faith into an expert."

Before turning a corner and becoming the physical fighter she is today, Atkinson tells Castanet there's a whole different fight happening in the mind of Pennington and other athletes; a mental fight.

“There’s a lot of anxiety that comes about because it’s not playing chess or checkers. It’s fighting," he said.

"For anybody to get locked in a cage it’s a very daunting experience, so it’s trying to simplify it and not over exaggerate the scenario. Keep it on the nuances of the sport and making sure she feels confident and established."

Atkinson says prepping for a fight is one thing, but dealing with everything that comes with fight weekend is something else entirely.

With all eyes on the fighters, the weekend comes with extra demands that can be mentally exhausting, including the stress of weight-cutting, taking interviews, press conferences and dealing with the overall hustle and bustle of the event.

In Toronto, Pennington reached her goal of becoming UFC champion by defeating Mayra Bueno Silva in a 25-minute slugfest that ended by unanimous decision.

It was a physical battle for Pennington, but it was her mental strength that helped her take the championship fight to its absolute limit, staying calm and composed until the final bell.

“I went bananas when she won. I was very excited and happy when she won... It’s been a long journey, it’s been an emotional journey. I want to enjoy the moment, embrace it and see what we can do. We did it, there’s room for improvement, but it was a very fun and rewarding experience," said Atkinson.

Kelly Lance LoudounComment
New Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt in Kelowna

Congratulations to Jimmy Maguire who earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt on Nov. 21st 2023.

Jimmy started his martial arts journey back in Ireland. After moving to Vancouver Jimmy found a home at Alliance Vancouver where he earned his Purple Belt from World BJJ Champion Thomas Lisboa. In 2018 Jimmy moved to Kelowna and joined the Alliance Kelowna Team.

Jimmy is the 6th x Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt we have at our academy.

Brining in the medals Home for the BC Winter Absolute

Again our competitors did our team proud and showed their warrior spirit on the mats.

Here are the results of the BC Winter Absolute

We Had 6 Kid Competitors

  • Vivian(first tournament) - Gold

  • Dion - Gold

  • Mass(first tournament) - Silver

  • Bryson(first tournament) - Bronze

  • Caitlin9first tournament) - Bronze

We had 5 Teenage Competitors

  • Jack - Gold - algae a 11 second armbar win

  • Tanner - Gold

  • Darcy - Silver

  • Ayden - 2 x Silver Medals

We only had 1 adult Competitor

  • Keaton9first tournament) - 2 X Gold Medals

Labour Day Holiday Schedule

We will be closed Saturday September 3rd and Monday September 5th for the labour Day Holiday Weekend. We will be back to our regular class schedule on Tuesday September 6th

Have a fun and safe time with your family and friends

Heart Warming Google Review

Check out a heart warning review from one of our students who trained with us for 2 years and has finished University and moved to England. This is our 129th 5 x STAR Google Review.

If you’re interested at all in starting or improving your BJJ or learning kickboxing, Alliance Kelowna is the place to go. For context, I started there in March 2022 and trained consistently with Alliance until recently moving out of Kelowna.

From the moment I walked through the doors - despite knowing no one and having no previous martial arts/combat sports experience - I felt so welcomed and a part of the team there. Gym owners Sean and Melissa are some of the friendliest and most generous people I know - from when I first started, they helped me with anything I needed and were always encouraging of all questions. The culture at the gym is fantastic - everyone is friendly, respectful, and wants to help each other out. There is an atmosphere of encouragement so that everyone feels both motivated to try their best but also can take it at their own pace and within their personal comfort zone. I would highly recommend this gym for women wanting to train in particular - this is a very safe place for you!

All BJJ instructors I’ve had at Alliance (including Jimmy, Kristian, and Kody, and Kleber) are incredibly patient and also incredibly knowledgeable. The current coach, Kleber Brito, is a fourth degree black belt; he not only is very technically skilled but is an excellent teacher. He does a fantastic job of breaking down complex techniques into steps for beginners to understand, often adding extra detail for those more experienced, so that everyone can come away from class having learned something new. Kleber is always happy to roll with his students and always makes it a great learning experience for all levels.

I’d recommend this gym to everyone, regardless of experience. The high quality of instruction and wide variety of training partners at all belt levels helps create a great learning environment for anyone looking to compete, demonstrated by the many kids and adults bringing back metals from local competitions. I competed in BJJ twice under Alliance Kelowna at local BC Absolute competitions and felt very supported in the weeks leading up to them, with coaches and all training partners (especially higher belts) going out of their way to help me improve, discuss a game plan, and allow me to refine specific techniques.

My experience kickboxing with Alliance has also been phenomenal. My coach, Paul, has been an excellent teacher and mentor since I started. Similar to my BJJ experience, Paul was so patient and made me feel so comfortable and supported each class I took. He does a great job of teaching a class of mixed experience levels, such that you’ll learn something new regardless of skill level. There is the option (but no obligation) to live spar Wednesdays for the last ~15 mins at the end of class which really challenged me to improve in a safe and supportive environment. As with BJJ, there is a huge culture of respect and encouragement in these classes. In addition to these classes, Paul also has gone out of his way to support me when I inquired about sparring in boxing at a different gym to supplement my training. He volunteered time one-on-one with me to make sure I felt comfortable and prepared for boxing, which ultimately resulted in a fantastic and rewarding experience for me.

It’s also worth noting that the gym itself is very clean, and I’ve never heard of anyone getting any sort of infections from dirty mats (which I’ve heard horror stories about at other gyms!).

Overall, I can’t say enough good things about Alliance Kelowna. It was very bittersweet leaving this gym and the wonderful people who train there, but I hope this review will be the final step of encouragement for someone to take that scary first step and try out a free class! For someone with no prior experience - like me when I started - I would HIGHLY recommend giving Alliance Kelowna a shot. You won’t regret it!

Kate Arpin

Results at the BC Absolute

Our Alliance competitors represented at the BC Absolute.

Our competitors won many medals but more important win or lose, everyone showed the heart of champions.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support your team

Kids Results

  • Hayden won Silver

  • Brosi won Bronze

Adults/teens Results

  • Eric won Gold and Bronze

  • Kate won Gold

  • Addison won a Silver and Bronze

  • Luca won Silver

  • Jackson won Bronze

Kelly Lance Loudoun
Video: Meet 4th Degree Black Belt Kleber Brito

Meet 4th degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Kleber Brito. Kleber started as our new Head BJJ Instructor back in February of this year. He comes from an elite school in Sao Paulo Brazil Alliance Mooca. under the guidance of 2 x World Champion Luciano “Casquinha” Nucci

Kleber brings a wealth of knowledge to the mat but his attention to detail and easy going deminor makes him easy and fun to learn off.

Come out and try a free class today and see what all the excitement is about.

4th degree Black Belt Kleber Brito

Video: Stacy's Jiu-Jitsu Journey

Stacy's Jiu-Jitsu journey is a remarkable tale of growth, perseverance, and personal development. From her initial curiosity about the martial art to becoming a dedicated practitioner, Stacy's journey has been filled with challenges and triumphs.

Like many beginners, Stacy started her Jiu-Jitsu journey with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. She was eager to learn the techniques and strategies but also apprehensive about stepping onto the mat for the first time. However, with the guidance of her experienced instructors and the support of fellow students, Stacy quickly overcame her initial nervousness.

As Stacy progressed in her training, she encountered various obstacles along the way. There were times when she struggled to grasp complex techniques or felt frustrated with her progress. However, she never let these setbacks discourage her. Instead, Stacy approached each challenge with determination and a growth mindset.

One of the most transformative aspects of Stacy's Jiu-Jitsu journey has been the development of her physical and mental strength. Through regular training, she has honed her technique, improved her flexibility, and built endurance. Beyond the physical benefits, Jiu-Jitsu has also helped Stacy cultivate mental resilience, discipline, and focus.

Stacy's journey has also been enriched by the supportive community she found within the Jiu-Jitsu world. She has formed lasting friendships with her training partners, who have been there to motivate and push her during both good and challenging times. The camaraderie and shared passion for the sport have made her Jiu-Jitsu journey even more fulfilling.

In recent years, Stacy has not only become an accomplished practitioner but has also started competing at local and regional tournaments. These competitions have allowed her to test her skills against other talented individuals and have further fueled her passion for Jiu-Jitsu.

Looking ahead, Stacy's Jiu-Jitsu journey continues to evolve. She has set new goals for herself, including earning higher belt ranks and even exploring the possibility of teaching Jiu-Jitsu to others. With her dedication, resilience, and love for the sport, there is no doubt that Stacy's Jiu-Jitsu journey will continue to be an inspiring and impactful one.

Video credit to Arc Media House

Stacy who is a Blue Belt in our academy talks about what her Jiu-Jitsu journey has been with us over the last 3 years.

Video credit to Arc Media House

Video: Jiu-Jitsu in Kelowna

Here is a short video of some of the rolling in Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Academy - Kelowna.

Come out and see what all the excitement is about.

A short video of our Jiu-Jitsu classes in Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Academy - Kelowna

Kelly Lance Loudoun
New Head Black Belt Instructor

We are so excited to be announcing and Introducing our new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, 5th degree Black Belt Kleber Brito. Kleber will be running the adult/teen Jiu-Jitsu classes starting in February 1st, 2023.

Kleber is flying in from Sao Paulo Brazil and is going to be new resident of Kelowna. His wealth of knowledge will make him the highest ranked and Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor in Kelowna.

Book your free class now and stay tuned for more info on Private Classes being offered with Kleber.

See you on the mats!

2 X BJJ Seminars w/ Professor Norm Leung

We are excited to hosting 2 x seminars with Professor Norm Leung on Saturday Nov. 26th.

Norm Leung is a BJJ Black Belt and assistant coach at Alliance Vancouver Academy. Norm has competed from local to international BJJ tournaments including winning the Gold medal at 2019 Abu Dhabi Pro | Brown Master 2 Middleweight

* Seminar #1 11am-12:30pm Seminar will cover Half Guard - focusing on having an active and aggressive bottom Half-Guard
* Seminar #2 1pm-2:30pm will cover Pressure Passing

Cost is:
* 1 x seminar $75
* 2 x seminar $115
Cash proffered please

This open to all clubs and the general public

Contact Sean at alliancekelowna@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

Bring Home the Medals From Kamloops

4 competitors and 4 medals. Our kid/teen showed-up at the Kamloops Champions Choice BJJ Tournament and did their team proud. They showed the heart of champions and the class of sportsmanship to be proud of.

* Jack - Gold Medal and fastest submission win of the entire tournament, via armour in 20 seconds. Jack has competed at 4 tournaments and won 3 Gold Medals and 3 times has had the fastest submission win including adults.
* Anika - Gold Medal
* Victoria - Gold Medal
* Tanner - Silver Medal

Good job Everyone!