Michelle Nicolini armbars Monica Vanessa at European Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Photo: Raphael Nogueira/GRACIEMAG.com.

The black belt Michelle Nicolini (CheckMat) won the women’s absolute division at the IBJJF European Championship this past weekend, outdoing two opponents. In her first match, she submitted Monica Vanessa with an armbar. In the final, she went up against her teammate Ida Hansson, who is soon to become a medical doctor, and won by 16 to 4.

Even after a near perfect campaign, the new queen of Portugal sees her conquest through the lens of a champion: she doesn’t want to rest on her laurels; she wants to pursue new questions. Perish uncertainty, in with the next queries.

The Rodrigo Cavaca-trained champion, who literally lost count of how many gold medals she has in Jiu-Jitsu, remained in Europe, where GRACIEMAG.com caught up with her for a chat about errors, training, strategies and her evolution.

“I’m in Germany, then I’ll head to Switzerland, Sweden, and then Brazil. On February 11 I have a seminar with Andrei Andrezzo in São Paulo; all the readers are invited,” said Michelle in invitation.

IF GOLD IN JIU-JITSU COVERS UP MISTAKES, ABSOLUTE GOLD COVERS UP ABSOLUTELY

“I agree in full that victory covers up mistakes. And that doesn’t happen only in Jiu-Jitsu. In competitions of all kinds, the ones who win most are the ones who make the least mistakes, or know how to capitalize on the opponent’s mistakes best. But the error will always be there! As professional athletes we can realize where we went wrong and tune in to our trainers’ orientation regarding it. With so many years competing, I can tell how victory is something complex that depends on a lot of different factors, which mount up starting from concentration, controlling anxiety, patience, even mental and physical conditioning, the referee’s state of attention and the state the opponent’s in. Often we make mistakes, veer off the path we had set for ourselves but the opponent can’t capitalize on the situation and we get a chance to get back on track during the match.”

CHAMP MICHELLE NICOLINI’S MISTAKE

“Yes, I messed up at the Europeans. It was in the absolute final. I made a mistake, Ida scored, but I managed to keep up the pace and stay ahead on the scoreboard. This situation of risk is there the whole time in Jiu-Jitsu, and we have to keep on our toes to make sure we don’t repeat the mistake—after all, we might not get a chance to correct it during the course of the match.”

HOW TO ANALYZE MISTAKES IN JIU-JITSU

“With one keyword: Study. In my opinion, study via observing and analyzing matches are the tools that help us to be more keen to mistakes. I always ask for technical opinions from people who watch my matches and observe my opponents in action. I always see things in a different light that way. I also talk to Cavaca a lot about how my game is evolving. And there are some folks on my team who have a good strategic vision, like Leo Vieira and Carlos Holanda [also European champion]. I really like listening to what they have to say about my opponents. As they are very familiar with my style of fighting, they can point out where I might run risk, what the best strategy is for each match, and the best way to try and win.

NUMBER OF JIU-JITSU MEDALS

“I’ve been in lots of competitions in the main division over the last few years, besides the medals I won at the lower belts; that’s why I have to confess that I have no idea how many medals I’ve won. But you got me curious, I’m going to count them all as soon as I get back to Brazil!”

A Jiu-Jitsu purple belt in action at San Diego tryouts: last all-expenses-paid berths in Abu Dhabi are coming to an end. Publicity photo.

The main WPJJ event in Abu Dhabi will only happen in April; still the climate is already heating up for the big Jiu-Jitsu stars already this February and March, when three more tryouts for the big event will take place to determine who gets free airfare, food and board for their trip to the United Arab Emirates.

The first of the three will be in Europe—Finland, to be specific—on February 18.

If you eligible and want to compete, click here.

MAJOR JIU-JITSU STARS IN ACTION IN BRAZIL AND CALIFORNIA

On March 3 and 4—with Rodrigo Minotauro in attendance, as you read here on GRACIEMAG.com yesterday—the picturesque town of Gramado will host the aces of the gentle-art world for the final qualifying event in Brazil.

Among the favorites: Tarsis Humphreys, winner of the absolute at the maiden WPJJ, back in 2009; Fernando Margarida, Marcus Bochecha, Celso Venícius, Bruno Frazatto, Guto Campos, Mário Reis, and a bunch of other hard-nosed competitors.

In the female division, according to the promoters, current world champion Gabi Garcia will be there—the Alliance ace always makes a point of competing in her birth state.

To compete alongside the big names in Gramado, click here.

Another shortcut to Abu Dhabi is the San Diego trials, on March 10 and 11, for which sign-ups only go till Sunday. Among the stars expected by the organizers, the likes of Xande Ribeiro, Lucas Leite and Clark Gracie.

Click here to compete in San Diego.

Jiu-Jitsu, inspiration and health / Photo: Vulkan publicity

Our buddies with the twitter account @BRblackbelt, responsible for some of the most interesting and exotic Jiu-Jitsu camps in Brazil and abroad, issued this poll a little while ago:

#BJJ is not about who you beat, but what you conquer. What have you conquered so far?

GRACIEMAG agrees and applauds the query, and it echoes the question here: what have you conquered in Jiu-Jitsu thus far, dear reader?

Discipline? Confidence? Patience? Trimmed some pounds off the belly? More muscle in the right places? Share your conquests with us in the comments section below, so the rest of the site’s readers can see Jiu-Jitsu conquering even more fans.

Nick Diaz is one of the headliner's at the UFC this Saturday in Las Vegas. Photo: UFC/Publicity.

In the wake of a lukewarm show in Chicago, expectations for UFC 143 on Saturday are high—at least, to our trainee.

“Boss, I predict an array of different finishes, a night Jiu-Jitsu fans won’t be forgetting anytime soon! There will be triangles, back attacks, and even never-before-seen subs—even picking “Submission of the Night” will be tough, you can count on it,” he said, flapping his arms like a seal.

Now what about you, who do you think will be the big standout of the night? Do you agree with the predictions below? Comment and let us know.

UFC 143
Mandala Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
February 4, 2012

Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit – Pick: Nick Diaz
Roy Nelson vs Fabricio Werdum – Pick: Fabricio Werdum
Josh Koscheck vs Mike Pierce – Pick: Josh Koscheck
Renan Barão vs Scott Jorgensen – Pick: Renan Barão
Ed Herman vs Clifford Starks – Pick: Ed Herman

Card preliminar

Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier – Pick: Dustin Poirier
Alex Caceres vs Edwin Figueroa – Pick: Edwin Figueroa
Matt Brown vs Chris Cope – Pick: Matt Brown
Matthew Riddle vs Henry Martinez – Matthew Riddle

Preliminary card (Facebook)

Rafael Natal vs Michael Kuiper – Pick: Rafael Sapo
Dan Stittgen vs Stephen Thompson – Pick: Dan Stittgen

Anders, Michael

GMA member school Choke BJJ had two competitors at the recent European Open, in Lisbon.

Professor João Pedro Santos celebrated the results.

“Two of my students conquered medals for Denmark. Michael Pedersen, my assistant, was the master brown belt middleweight champion. He won four fights without allowing a single point against him”.

A purple belt completed the row of medalists, as JP tells us: “Anders Rosendal finished third at the master purlpe belt lightweight. he won the first two fights and lost in the semifinals for last year’s champion”.

For more info, go to ChokeAcademy.com

GMA member Sergio Vita invites all for the Lisboa/Cascais Portugal WPJJ trials.

The event is scheduled next february 25th-26th, at Pavilhão dos Lombos, Cascais.

The winners of each division will compete at the main event with all expenses paid, next April.

For more info, go to worldpro-portugal.com.

Augusto Ferrari sweeps Theodoro Canal in final of absolute division at Abu Dhabi tryouts. Photo: GRACIEMAG.com.

On the 22nd of January, at Clube Canto do Rio club in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State, the World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship (refresh your memory here) was held to determine the last batch of Brazilians to earn all-expenses-paid trips to the big event in Abu Dhabi next April.

Champions like Rodolfo Vieira, Gabriel Willcox and Gabi Garcia, among others, earned their way to the United Arab Emirates. Now the winner of the absolute division, team Cicero Costha’s Augusto Ferrari, netted himself a cool 400 dollars for his efforts, to boot.

In the open weight final, Augusto pulled Theodoro Canal into his guard and got the sweep, before going on to finish. Watch and learn from Ferrari:

GMA member Sergio Vita has some great news about the recent European Open.

Icon JJ Team, formed by Vita JJ and other schools, had a great showing in Lisbon.

The team finished first for the second year in a row at the white belt division and also won the Master and Seniors division.

Vita talked about the accomplishment: “That shows that our organization is evolving nad getting better. Our goal for next year is to win again.”

Individually, Vita also excelled, as he tells us: “I finished third at the lightweight and was the runner up at the absolute, fighting Saulo Ribeiro at the final.”

GMA member Sampa BJJ has launched a women boot camp.

It is scheduled to begin this March.

If you register now, you will get free 30 days trial and a free DVD.

For more info and to register, go to sampabjj.com/womenbootcamp.htm

GMA member Attack Team travelled to Lisbon for the European Open Championship.

Instructor Kleber Crus celebrated the results: “It becomes a great habit to annonce the number of medals collected by the Attack Team every time. We have obtained 2 second places in the European Championship: Lorenzo Ávila and Sabrina Taleb, without forgetting the efforts and good moments given by our others coyotes.”

Now the team is preparing for the France’s Cup, on March.

For more info, go to atbjj.blogspot.com

One of the most traditional BJJ tournaments in the US East Coast, the Long Island Pride will be back on March 3.

The 14th installment of the event organized by GMA members Eloy Santos and Milton Almeida will be held at the York College, in York, NY.

Registrations are already open.

The cost until February 24 is $95 for one division and $115 for two divisions.

For more info and to register, click here.

Rodrigo Minotauro, special guest at WPJJ tryouts in Gramado / Publicity photo

Besides funding an outreach project for needy kids in Rio de Janeiro with his own money, Jiu-Jitsu and MMA star Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira is now using his image to draw society’s attention to young people in other places, as GRACIEMAG.com found out.

Ever since he first started appearing in the media, the onetime interim champion of the UFC heavyweight division has gone out of his way to share his life experience with kids needing inspiration. At 11 years of age, as is now common knowledge, Rodrigo suffered a serious accident in which he was run over by a truck, and martial arts was the path he sought to making a full recovery.

RODRIGO MINOTAURO’S 40

At the invitation of the Jiu-Jitsu federation of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, Minotauro is set to take part in a workshop for kids during the March 3 and 4 Gramado leg of the South American tryouts for the WPJJ. The federation will pick 40 kids from four municipalities to participate in the tryouts, take a tour of the city, and later meet with the superstar at a mat set up in the city center.

The idea arose at a meeting between the tryouts organizers and sponsors, who brought up the need for the event to address social responsibility.

DILMA, JIU-JITSU AND SOCIAL ADVANCES

Kevin Krieger, president of Fundação de Assistência Social e Cidadania (foundation for social assistance and citizenship) of the city of Porto Alegre, implemented Projeto Arte Suave (gentle art project) in high risk areas of the city, and now Jiu-Jitsu has joined the fight against society’s problems in the metropolis. Krieger commented on the idea:

“Minotauro is undeniably a national hero. His story speaks for itself. We’ve made some major advances and our goal is to get kids off the street by appealing to them through Jiu-Jitsu, and he is here to help us out in our efforst. I hope more public administrators join us in sharing our vision for the good of the children,” said Kevin, who has already presented some of the strides they have made to President Dilma Roussef.

Governor Tarso Genro and Mayor José Fortunati discuss Projeto Arte Suave with President Dilma Rousseff, as presented by Kevin Krieger: Jiu-Jitsu as a tool for social change. Publicity photo.

For athletse interested in competing at the tryouts in Gramado, they are open only to South Americans, and sign-ups can be performed at www.abudhabiprojj.com,

The winners earn a trip to Abu Dhabi for the main event in April.

In the USA, the final qualifying tournament for the main event in the Emirates will take place March 10 and 11 in San Diego, California. You can register by clicking here.

GMA member Chris Savarese has some good news.

Former UFC fighter Kurt Pellegrino and No-Gi World Champion Raphael Chaves stopped by Savarese BJJ recently.

The two wound up giving Savarese’s students a free two hours seminar.

Here is a picture of the event.

For more info, go to  njbjj.com

GMA member Claudio França invites for another of his already traditional Jiu-Jitsu tournaments.

The Winter Jiu-Jitsu by the Sea is scheduled next February 11.

It is to be held at the Claudio França Dojo, in Santa Cruz, California.

Registration costs are $35 for kids and $50 for juveniles and adults until February 2.

For more info and to register, click here.

Jiu-Jitsu and ADCC 2007 star Demian Maia had a crack at the UFC middleweight title back in 2010, even racked up five back-to-back submission wins in the promotion.

Now after his participation in the main card at UFC on Fox 2 last Saturday, the Brazilian black belt had a chat with GRACIEMAG.com in which he recognized where he went wrong. Coming up, Demian Maia addresses his tactics and points out the mistakes he has identified and the lessons he has derived since dropping a unanimous decision to the tough young Chris Weidman, another ADCC alumnus.

Demian Maia absorbs a kick from Weidman at UFC on Fox 2, in Chicago. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC.

OVERCONFIDENT STANDING

“I really put a lot of faith in my standup, since I felt quick and heavy handed, and thought I could knock him out boxing. I based my strategy on that confidence, which in fact wasn’t what I had agreed to do with my trainers,” said Demian. “I was confident and believed in it; that’s why I took that risk. That was my belief at that time,” he admitted to reporter Junior Samurai, while also remembering that Weidman is quite a piece of work on the ground himself.

Fired up to win the fight by knockout, the Jiu-Jitsu champ ended up running out of steam and unable to rally back.

“I was in great shape for this fight, really well prepared. Now I don’t know if it was the adrenaline from wanting the knockout too much; that could have sapped my energy,” Maia added.

TARGET VICTORY, NOT JUST THE KNOCKOUT

“The lesson I ended up learning was that all I should be thinking about is winning. In this fight, I went in dead set on getting the knockout and, after staggering him standing, getting him to the ground to finish him. But I think I have to start fighting with winning on my mind, fighting to always be in a dominant position, and that’s not what I did. I went in there thinking about ending the fight, and that wore me out a lot, hindered me. I should have fought thinking about winning, no matter what. Because I already knew he’d taken me down, so my goal should have been to score too, to get a takedown back on him, like I always used to do,” recalled the Fabio Gurgel black belt.

What do you think, dear reader, do you agree with him? Comment below.

Jiu-Jitsu ace Charles do Bronx sinking the fight-ending calf-crunch, to Eric Wisely's chagrin / Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

The calf crunch, a weapon of surprise in Jiu-Jitsu, finally had its moment in the sun last Saturday in Chicago, when Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira used one to swiftly bring his fight at UFC on Fox to a close.

IT’S WRAP IT UP, GRAB THE WAIST, AND WRAP UP

An expert on the position in sport Jiu-Jitsu, Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes (Soul Fighters) got his girl’s dad to help him show GRACIEMAG.com readers how it’s done, on his break between seminars in Lyon.

So, direct from France, Tanquinho and Megaton go over the details of the move Charles honed so smoothly in São Paulo. Or was it in the Bronx?