Jiu Jitsu de la Costa

eXtreme Cabarete is proud to be home to Jiu Jitsu de la Costa and Dominican Pro Mixed Martial Arts Fighter Papo Sone and his partner Joe Neurauter.

Papo

Tomas Papo Soñe is a black belt from Santo Domingo, where he trained under Abraham Tabar, who is famously known in the Dominican Republic as being the first Dominican Black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and is credited for having brought BJJ and Mixed Martial Arts to the island. Papo began competing in MMA pro fights in the Dominican Republic in 2001. His record is 9 wins 3 losses. Papo is credited as being the first Dominican MMA fighter to compete internationally.

As Papo’s skills developed he traveled to the United States to train in Washington DC under Yamasaki at the Yamasaki Academy, focusing on the correct BJJ techniques. Papo returned to Santo Domingo and continued to compete and train. That is when he met Joe.

Joe Neurauter is Papo’s sempi and partner in Jiu Jitsu de la Costa. Joe is also credited for bringing BJJ to the North Coast of the Dominican Republic and opening the first academy in Cabarete. He is a family man with 2 happy children and lovely wife. When not rolling on the mats Joe is a Business Consultant. He moved to Cabarete with his family and was longing for Jiu Jitsu on the north coast. That is when he founded Jiu Jitsu de la Costa.

Joe’s business started to get busy, and that’s when Joe convinced Papo to move from Santo Domingo to Cabarete and consider taking over Jiu Jitsu de la Costa. After traveling internationally for 7 years, Papo was searching

Joe

the Dominican Republic for the correct place to lay down roots. When Joe pitched moving to Cabarete to Papo, Papo came up for a visit. He fell in love Cabarete’s cosmopolitan allure, and the fact that it is much easier to get closer to the entire community. The athletic nature of Cabarete was ideal place for setting up Jiu Jitsu de la Costa. Papo decided to retire from MMA to focus on his BJJ school and run the Academy.

Papo also has a non profit foundation that is involved with the children of the community. As part of his love for his countrymen and BJJ, he takes on youth at risk and trains them in BJJ, giving them focus, dedication and discipline. It is a labor of love and an example of the compassion and humanitarian side of Papo.

All the GIs have been donated by the Yamasaki Academy students and instructors, who pooled together to purchase the much needed gis and jiu jitsu gear in general. The Academy is grateful for all the support in helping to improve the lives of numerous troubled youth in Cabarete.

Jiu Jitsu de la Costa has grown to become a top contender Nationally with international fighters including pro MMA fighter Alex “The Animal” Garcia being the most famous to come from here.

We host competitions 3 times annually and encourage all other Academies as well as individuals to come visit and train with us. For more information, email us!