Caio Terra Academy in San Jose, CA will be hosting for the first time a
Women’s ONLY Seminar
with Hannette Staak a multi-time BJJ World Champion and ADCC gold medalist.
June 9
12 noon – 3pm
855 Park Ave San Jose, CA
Main Achievements (BJJ/Grappling):
- 3x Brazilian National Champion (2x Absolute)
- 6x World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Champion
- World Champion (No-gi World Championship)
- 3x ADCC Champion (2x weight division, 1x absolute)
Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Francisco Mansur > Carlos Henrique > Andre Negao > Hannette Staack
Staack is one of the most decorated women to have ever strapped on a gi but more importantly she’s also an excellent human being. Her latest projects involves helping out people in the slums of Rio de Janeiro by providing them with a community training center equipped with mats and every other necessity. The 32-year old recently spoke about why it’s important to her to give back to her people, as well as offered up some thoughts on what else she has on tap in the future.
“I believe that the biggest prodigies in the sport have come from the impoverished communities. I am an example of that, when I started BJJ I did not have means to pay the monthly fee. My coach sponsored my training and in exchange I dedicated all my time and effort to practice. Today I reap the benefits of this opportunity that was given to me 14 years ago,” Staack began in an interview with BJJ Heroes. “I am thankful every day for having had the opportunity to learn Jiu-Jitsu and through it having become the person I am today.
The difference between myself and many other people that were given the same opportunity (even here in my academy) is that I followed through, I believed in my dream and was not discouraged in front of adversity, but I have seen many that were handed the same opportunities that I had yet stayed behind because they did not have the same determination. Our biggest objective with this project is that people value their opportunities and that we can lead by example.”
In terms of her continued career in BJJ, Staack is not looking to hang it up just yet even if she acknowledges the end will eventually comes.
“If I could I would never stop,” Staack joked. “But the truth is, we need to know the right time to stop and give rest to our bodies. After all these years competing in all different weight categories and against so many different people, the time comes to put your body at ease.”
