Daniel Burzotta
Encyclopedia
Dan Burzotta; Born on 28 December 1974 in Mazara Del Vallo, Italy
is a Mixed Martial Artist. He is the Founder and Head Instructor of the TSG MMA (Team Sure Grip Mixed Martial Arts) Schools. He is also the Co-Founder of UWC - Ultimate Warrior Challenge which promotes and organises MMA events.
Burzotta has a black belt
in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a black belt in Judo
, and has trained under Royce Gracie
and Renzo Gracie
. He has won the UK Brazillain Jiu Jitsu Championship twice as well as the Europe
an Jiu Jitsu beating Remco Pardoel.
Burzotta has won the International Jiu Jitsu Gold Medal 8 times. He won the United Nations Heavy Weight Championship twice, the Open Combat Championship and the UK Gold Medal in Judo. Burzotta's further achievements are winning the MMA UKMMAC Title Belt.
, Italy
to Salvatore & Patricia Burzotta (née Helsby). He has 3 brothers, Alex, Riccardo & Davide. Salvatore Burzotta moved to the UK when Daniel was 14 years old. He opened an Italian Restaurant in Southend On Sea called Il Pescatore (The Fisherman) which is run by Members of the Burzotta family. Salvatore's wife Patricia Burzotta was a Jazz Dancer and loved music
, perhaps this is where Daniel's Brother, Davide, gets his music
al skills from. Davide Burzotta is an Opera
singer and his talent is often performed at the Family Restaurant. While Alex, with whom Daniel co-founded UWC - Ultimate Warrior Challenge with, manages the promotional side of the MMA Events in the UK and abroad.
Daniel started Karate
lessons at the age of 13. In 1993, he took on Kick Boxing and reached Black Belt. In 1997, Burzotta decided to turn to Judo Jiu Jitsu and subsequently won the UK Gold Medal
.
, naming it Team Sure Grip Mixed Martial Arts. The School started teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Vale Tudo
and expanded to Mixed Martial Arts and Muay Thai
.
At the TSGMMA School, Burzotta saw the potential in many of his Trainees. This was the mental attitude rather than the physical side of Fighting. Burzotta would train his Pupils hard to achieve results but he believes that their mental attitude is paramount. He always refers to the Buddha
proverb: "The man that conquers himself is superior to the man who conquers a thousand man in battle".
Burzotta's School went on to produce many Fighters who won Title Belts including, Valentino Petrescu, Ivan Serati
and Stav Economou
.
Burzotta trained Ian Freeman
in 2008 in order to regain his British Cage Rage Light Heavyweight title prior to Freeman's retirement from MMA. Ian trained at the TSGMMA School under Burzotta to fight Paul Cahoon on May 10, 2008, for the title. He won after three rounds with a unanimous decision.
Following his retirement, Freeman now hosts Burzotta's UWC - Ultimate Warrior Challenge events throughout the UK
Burzotta refers to the TSGMMA Fighters as a Family rather than Fighters.
Burzotta's TSG Family has now expanded. There are TSGMMA Schools in Thurrock
& Harlow
in the UK, in Norway
, Italy
and Dubai
. The latter being the first full MMA
facility in Dubai which is run and managed by Tam Khan
.
and traveled to Los Angeles
, U.S in 1997 to join them for 2 weeks of constant training.
Ever since, Burzotta kept training with them and especially Royce Gracie
who subsequently awarded him the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt.
Rarely given, Burzotta enjoys the status of being the only European to date to have a Black Belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
Burzotta is now very close to the Gracie Family
and even mentions the Legendary Hélio Gracie
on his TSGMMA website front page.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
is a Mixed Martial Artist. He is the Founder and Head Instructor of the TSG MMA (Team Sure Grip Mixed Martial Arts) Schools. He is also the Co-Founder of UWC - Ultimate Warrior Challenge which promotes and organises MMA events.
Burzotta has a black belt
Black Belt
Black Belt may refer to:*Black belt , an indication of attainment of a high rank of skill in martial arts**Black Belt Magazine, a magazine covering martial arts news, technique, and notable individuals*Black Belt Black Belt may refer to:*Black belt (martial arts), an indication of attainment of a...
in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a black belt in Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, and has trained under Royce Gracie
Royce Gracie
Royce Gracie is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, a UFC Hall of Famer and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. A legend and pioneer in the sport of mixed martial arts, he is widely considered to be the most influential figure in the history of modern MMA.Gracie gained fame for his...
and Renzo Gracie
Renzo Gracie
Renzo Gracie is a Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr. and a former mixed martial arts competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He is member of the Gracie family of Brazil. He is the son of Robson Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie, nephew of Carlos...
. He has won the UK Brazillain Jiu Jitsu Championship twice as well as the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Jiu Jitsu beating Remco Pardoel.
Burzotta has won the International Jiu Jitsu Gold Medal 8 times. He won the United Nations Heavy Weight Championship twice, the Open Combat Championship and the UK Gold Medal in Judo. Burzotta's further achievements are winning the MMA UKMMAC Title Belt.
Early life
Burzotta was born on 28 December 1974 in Mazara Del ValloMazara del Vallo
Mazara del Vallo is a town and comune in southwestern Sicily, Italy, which lies mainly on the left bank at the mouth of the Mazaro river, administratively part of the province of Trapani....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to Salvatore & Patricia Burzotta (née Helsby). He has 3 brothers, Alex, Riccardo & Davide. Salvatore Burzotta moved to the UK when Daniel was 14 years old. He opened an Italian Restaurant in Southend On Sea called Il Pescatore (The Fisherman) which is run by Members of the Burzotta family. Salvatore's wife Patricia Burzotta was a Jazz Dancer and loved music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, perhaps this is where Daniel's Brother, Davide, gets his music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
al skills from. Davide Burzotta is an Opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singer and his talent is often performed at the Family Restaurant. While Alex, with whom Daniel co-founded UWC - Ultimate Warrior Challenge with, manages the promotional side of the MMA Events in the UK and abroad.
Daniel started Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
lessons at the age of 13. In 1993, he took on Kick Boxing and reached Black Belt. In 1997, Burzotta decided to turn to Judo Jiu Jitsu and subsequently won the UK Gold Medal
Gold Medal
Gold Medal is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band The Donnas, released in 2004 on Atlantic Records. It was one of the first albums released in the DualDisc format, but was recalled due to a mastering error which resulted in the final track being partially omitted from the CD...
.
Personal life
Daniel Burzotta is married and has 2 boys. He is very close to his Family. The Burzotta's restaurant is run by Members of their Family and Daniel is always there.TSGMMA Schools
In 2002, Burzotta opened his first Fight School in Southend On Sea, EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, naming it Team Sure Grip Mixed Martial Arts. The School started teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Vale Tudo
Vale tudo
Vale tudo are full-contact unarmed combat events, with a limited number of rules, that became popular in Brazil during the 20th century. Vale tudo has been considered a combat sport by some observers...
and expanded to Mixed Martial Arts and Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
.
At the TSGMMA School, Burzotta saw the potential in many of his Trainees. This was the mental attitude rather than the physical side of Fighting. Burzotta would train his Pupils hard to achieve results but he believes that their mental attitude is paramount. He always refers to the Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
proverb: "The man that conquers himself is superior to the man who conquers a thousand man in battle".
Burzotta's School went on to produce many Fighters who won Title Belts including, Valentino Petrescu, Ivan Serati
Ivan Serati
Ivan Serati is an Italian mixed martial artist, Serati previously fought for promotons UWC and Cage Rage. He has a current record of 11 wins and 3 losses. Serati fights in the Heavyweight and light-heavyweight divisions. He has won nine times within the first round of the fight by either TKO or...
and Stav Economou
Stav Economou
Stavros Economou is an English mixed martial artist of Cypriot descent, who fights at heavyweight. He is known for his rotund figure, strange hairsyles and nickname "Crazy Bear".-Mixed martial arts career:...
.
Burzotta trained Ian Freeman
Ian Freeman
Ian William Freeman, a.k.a. "The Machine," is a retired English mixed martial artist. He used to fight as a light heavyweight for Cage Rage. He was their final British Light Heavyweight champion....
in 2008 in order to regain his British Cage Rage Light Heavyweight title prior to Freeman's retirement from MMA. Ian trained at the TSGMMA School under Burzotta to fight Paul Cahoon on May 10, 2008, for the title. He won after three rounds with a unanimous decision.
Following his retirement, Freeman now hosts Burzotta's UWC - Ultimate Warrior Challenge events throughout the UK
Burzotta refers to the TSGMMA Fighters as a Family rather than Fighters.
Burzotta's TSG Family has now expanded. There are TSGMMA Schools in Thurrock
Thurrock
Thurrock is a unitary authority with borough status in the English ceremonial county of Essex. It is part of the London commuter belt and an area of regeneration within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The local authority is Thurrock Council....
& Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
in the UK, in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
. The latter being the first full MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
facility in Dubai which is run and managed by Tam Khan
Tam Khan
Tam Khan also known as the "Brown Bomber, is a British mixed martial artist of Afghan descent who fights for Team Sure Grip Vale Tudo. Khan has fought in multiple promotions including ADFC, UWC, Cage Rage and Extreme MMA Championships...
.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Burzotta trained with the Gracie FamilyGracie family
The Gracie family is a prominent sporting family from Brazil known for their founding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu . They have been successful in combat sport competitions including mixed martial arts, vale tudo and submission wrestling events...
and traveled to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, U.S in 1997 to join them for 2 weeks of constant training.
Ever since, Burzotta kept training with them and especially Royce Gracie
Royce Gracie
Royce Gracie is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, a UFC Hall of Famer and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. A legend and pioneer in the sport of mixed martial arts, he is widely considered to be the most influential figure in the history of modern MMA.Gracie gained fame for his...
who subsequently awarded him the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt.
Rarely given, Burzotta enjoys the status of being the only European to date to have a Black Belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
Burzotta is now very close to the Gracie Family
Gracie family
The Gracie family is a prominent sporting family from Brazil known for their founding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu . They have been successful in combat sport competitions including mixed martial arts, vale tudo and submission wrestling events...
and even mentions the Legendary Hélio Gracie
Hélio Gracie
Hélio Gracie was a Brazilian martial artist who, together with his brother Carlos Gracie, founded the martial art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, known internationally as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...
on his TSGMMA website front page.