GFTeam star Rodolfo Vieira in photo by Raphael Nogueira

In the spaghetti western that was the 2012 European Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Rodolfo Vieira and Bernardo Faria had a late-afternoon showdown, a repeat of their duel in the absolute division final at the last World Championship.

Check out how it went this time around, and let all the other readers know: what is the main lesson you derived from this latest chapter of the Rodolfo Vieira-Bernardo Faria saga?

Scene at European Open 2012 / Photos: Raphael Nogueira

Take a look at the first photos showing the mood and scenery at day one of the   European Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2012 in Lisbon.

Plenty of hard-working folks have already captured medals, and there was even a daring choke worth learning for white belts.

And the first absolute champion of the tournament has already been crowned: Finnish blue belt Risto Vesanto of team Alliance.

Check out the results so far here and the photos by Raphael Nogueira below.

Ecuador, a land of landscapes, simple and interesting people, and Jiu-Jitsu / Publicity photo

Find inspiration in the lessons and eyeful images from the Jiu-Jitsu trip championship-winning duo from team Alliance Gabi Garcia and Luanna Alzuguir took to Ecuador, and try to remember: what was the last place you and your Jiu-Jitsu partners visited to compete, teach or learn?

Let us know about your own travel and exchange of experience in the comments field below. That too is what Jiu-Jitsu is about.

View of gymnasium during 2011 European Championship / Photo by Ivan Trindade

Sign-ups for the 2012 European Open, only just opened today, so now’s the time for you to show what you’re made of and get in there. To help out anyone who hasn’t made up their mind yet, GRACIEMAG.com put together a list of 10 good reasons for you to be a part of the first Grand Slam event of the season, coming up late this January.

1. THE NEW JIU-JITSU RULES

This will be the first IBJJF championship since the rule book was revamped, and it’s expected to be an even better tournament for the athletes, the teachers and the crowd. But only those who are there will notice it. “I love the new rules. I expect the best. We believe it will be the biggest European Championship in history; let’s wait and see,” says referee Muzio de Angelis.

2. BERNARDO AND LÉO NOGUEIRA AGAINST LAGARTO

A lot of top-tier athletes are signed up in the men’s adult division, like Carlos Esquisito, Andrea Verdemare, Francielio da Costa, Bruno Frazatto, Denilson Pimenta, Eduardo Ramos, Wellington Megaton, Jonathan Torres, Roberto Tussa, Igor Araújo, Nivaldo Lima and so many others. But the super heavyweight division brings a show all its own.

On one side, superstar Bernardo Faria (Alliance), world runner-up in the absolute division. On the other, Lucio Lagarto (Gracie Barra), who didn’t make it to the Worlds because he couldn’t get his US visa. To make things more complicated, Bê will be heading over with his training partner Léo Nogueira, a world champion, to tip the scales. Who wins it?

3. PRECISION AND TECHNIQUE IN MIDDLEWEIGHT WARFARE

There just isn’t a more exciting division to watch than the middleweight one. So far there are but 15 names on the list, all of them to be taken very seriously. Jot them down: Victor Estima, Clark Gracie, Otavio Sousa, Gabriel Goulart, Luis Gustavo, Gabriel Rollo, Jake Mackenzie, James Harbison… The competition will be stiff, and the gold medalist will return home from Lisbon all the more respected. Who do you think takes it, dear reader? Post your pick below.

4. FEMALE DIVISION

The presence of “local” black belt Ida Hansson, a Swedish competitor who gets more technical with every day, is worth watching all by herself, as are Fernanda Mazzelli and Monica Vanessa. And then there’s world champion Michelle Nicolini, to spice up the tournament even more. At brown belt, the always consistent Mackenzie Dern rounds out the list.

5. LISBON

The Portuguese capital is major fun. Get inspired by Lisbon’s historic sites, get to know the excellent restaurants, have fun with the locals, and return home with even more culture from this piece of Brazil in Europe.

6. YOU ON BRAZILIAN TV

With “Sensei Sportv”, the martial arts show on Brazil’s biggest sports channel, covering it, the Euro will be your chance to rocket to stardom in the Jiu-Jitsu world. All you have to do is put on a show.

7. ALEXANDER TRANS

The formerly promising brown belt will be making his gi-clad debut at black. Will the Danish steamroller be able to impose the same pace? “We’ll see,” said the super heavyweight to reporter Junior Samurai.

“I don’t want to make predictions on what I’ll be like at black belt. I did win the Europeans, Pan, Brazilian Nationals and Worlds without losing a single match at brown, though; so it’s time to move ahead. I have faith in my coaches, and if they feel I’m ready, that’s that. I’m excited about competing; I trained every day, in Denmark and in Sweden, and everyone will see a much different fighter than from the last time I competed; that’s all I can say.”

8. THE MASTERS

Once again, the veterans division will be brimming with aces, like Eduardo Santoro, Rodrigo Munduruca, Antonio Canudo, Felipe Costa, Janne-Pekka Pietilainen and so many others. Anyone privileged enough to behold their performances won’t just be dazzled, they’ll learn more than they ever dreamed of learning.

9. JIU-JITSU IN EUROPE

It’s a chance to check out the work the teachers in Europe have been doing, from Braulio Estima’s GP to CheckMat overseen by Leo Vieira. Roger Gracie’s students in England and Royce’s in Italy also want to show their stuff. Last year, the winning schools were: Alliance (adult), CheckMat (female), CheckMat (masters and seniors), Icon JJ (beginners) and Ilan Turjeman Academy (juvenile). Who’s going to shine at this year’s championship?

10. GLOBAL JIU-JITSU

With a bevvy of fighters flying in from places like Bahrein and Japan, Hungary and Holland, the plains of Texas and Paraiba, the multicultural melting pot that is Jiu-Jitsu is just waiting on you to bring the temperature up even more. Join the mix, and tell us how it went afterwards.

If you can think of any better reasons to go to the European Open, share them with us in the comments field below.

He is now teaching the gentle art he learned with his master Fernando “Soluço” Di Pierro, back in Ecuador.

And, as Soluço, Sinistro decided to join the GMA.

Now his students will be able to have the full Jiu-Jtsu experience.

Welcome to Sinistro BJJ.

For more info, go to sinistrobjj.com

Cobrinha always stood out for his deft movement. Photo: John Lamonica.

If tying your belt is the first thing you need to know in Jiu-Jitsu, the second is to roll. At his Los Angeles academy, our GMA Rubens Charles “Cobrinha teaches that the movement is as important for cushioning a fall as for gaining mobility for getting stacked and escaping sticky situations. The trick is to roll over the shoulder and cushion the fall with your hand, as you can see in the video below.

Bernardo Faria bursts in jubilation at South American Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Photo by Ivan Trindade.

Settled in at a table at Bibi Sucos juice bar in Rio de Janeiro, his T-shirt slung over his shoulder, Bernardo savors a cup of açaí in the company of  Alliance training partners Luiz Gustavo and Elan Santiago. Having just stepped out of the barber shop next door, it dawns on the GRACIEMAG.com reporter that he’s hungry for a little Jiu-Jitsu, so he orders an açaí with honey and guava, pulls up a seat and makes the most of the moment to get some learning in.

The talk turns from the European Jiu-Jitsu Championship, late this month of January, to UFC 142. But Bernardo has other concerns—geopolitical and anthropological ones:

“Shoot, if I lived in Rio de Janeiro I’d never train on a sunny day like this. I’d be at the beach!” said the Fabio Gurgel-trained native of Minas Gerais state spending a few days at the academy of Alexandre Paiva.

But GRACIEMAG.com wants motivational and training tips, not ones on how not training; so the banter moves along.

Bernado reveals that he resolved to compete at the 2011 European Open after receiving an invitation to teach seminars in Finland as a result of the success he saw in competition last year: he won the European Open, took runner-up at the Worlds, won the absolute division at the South American Championship, and qualified for the Abu Dhabi WPJJ.

“Finns… Dang those are tough people. They pick up on positions so quick, I think they’ll make a meal of that European Championship some day,” he wagers.

The subject turns to MMA, and Faria gets excited. “I train a lot of boxing and love self-defense but it’s not the right time yet. One guy from Alliance who’s good at throwing down and is quick is  Bruno Malfacine.

Bruno Malfacine. They’re coming up with a flyweight division; even if he doesn’t train standup, I think he’ll beat a lot of guys!” he touts his friend.

So the reporter recaps Bernardo’s year and reached the two matches against Rodolfo Vieira, the current heavyweight and absolute champion of the world. Rodolfo too is tipped to be at the European, vying to win a title that has so far eluded him, and a likely showdown in the final would be reminiscent of the classic European finals, like Roger vs Jacaré and Bráulio Estima versus Xande Ribeiro. Another stalwart submission whiz confirmed for the championship who could make things hard on Faria is Lucio Lagarto.

A breeze whisks in from Leblon beach, and the reporter asks, “After a string of losses to Rodolfo, what makes you believe you can beat him?”

Unflustered and cheerful, Big Bernardo offers three reasons:

1. HE’LL HAVE STRONGER JIU-JITSU—PHYSICALLY EVEN

“I suffered a bit to make heavyweight, and now I’m comfortable at super heavyweight. I’ve won tournaments before like this; my game is still good at a heavier weight. Hence I think I’ll be stronger. But I’ll stick with the same game I like best—on top or on bottom,” he says.

“I always like starting out a match with my strong positions. If I pull guard, I aim to pull to land in my best sweep or submission. If the other guy pulls, I want to position myself for my best pass positions. It’s all about trying to be a step ahead of the opponent—to be in your game, what you do best.”

2. CONFIDENCE IN HALF-GUARD SWEEPS

“If you rewatch my matches, I actually sweep Rodolfo; I have managed to get my sweep to work. I just haven’t managed to got on top of him and stay. I feel heavier and stronger; I’m going to manage to come up with that detail that’s been missing,” he asserts.

3. “IT’S THE RESULT I’VE BEEN MISSING”

“Look… I’ve lost to him by getting shafted, lost getting submitted, lost by advantages, and lost on points. I’ve lost by very little and lost by a washout. The only result missing for me is victory! Now I’m not usually one to whine about a bad call, but the ref was tripping for the first match we were in together.”

Now what about you, dear reader, how do you build up your confidence to take on an opponent who always gets the better of you? Comment below!

Léo Nogueira attacks: the world champion will fight for absolute gold in Portugal. Photo: GRACIEMAG.com.

The next European Jiu-Jitsu Championship, in Lisbon, Portugal, will be one rocking party. Besides the glory of being champion, the winners will automatically gain millions of fans in Brazil, since the event will be broadcast on television on the “Sensei Sportv” program.

The January 26-29 championship will gather a constellation of stars, like Bernardo Faria, Leonardo Nogueira, Jonathan Torres, Bruno Frazatto, Otavio Sousa, Carlos Esquisito, Rodrigo Simões, Francelio da Costa and Yuri Simões, as well as masters-class competitors Rodrigo Munduruca, Jared Weiner, Lúcio Charly Brown and Francelino Gonçalves.

GRACIEMAG.com had a word with some of them and asked what they learned while training over the holidays and what tactics they use in competition. Here’s what they had to say:

SELF-KNOWLEDGE, GAS AND JIU-JITSU

1) “One of the greatest secrets is to learn to train tired. Training when you’re fresh is easy; what’s hard is to see how your body and head respond when you’re panting” Léo Nogueira (Alliance)

2) “My strategy for the European Open was to train in every possible situation. I play guard, defense, on top, standing, submission attacks—all aspects of Jiu-Jitsu” Léo Nogueira

3) “My tactics for championships are always the same: go for it. The respect and admiration I have for my opponents stays on the sidelines when I’m in the match area. When I’m in there things get rough. That’s the way I’ve been competing since I was a blue belt, and it’s been working” Yuri Simões (CheckMat)

4) “When competing, I feel athletes should have their game well defined, so when they step into the match area they know exactly what they intend to do” Francelino Gonçalves (Nova União)

5) “Don’t skip studying the rules, so when you get there they’re fresh in your head and can be used in your favor” Francelino Gonçalves

6) “Being well prepared physically is an obvious one for anyone wanting to compete at a high level. But I suggest you test yourself a lot to get to know your capacity, how far your gas tank will take you. If you know when it’s right to step on the gas, you’ll be more confident in your moves. Another tip is to ask yourself, ‘Is this really what you want?’ If it is, then be prepared” Francelino Gonçalves

What about you, dear reader? Will you be at the IBJJF European Championship? Let us know what you’ve learned during your preparations, in the comments field below.

GMA member school Alliance Georgia will host one month of in-house tournament in January.

On Saturdays, from the 7th to the 28th, white, blue purple and brown and black belts will face each other for the submission.

The rules of the championship states that no points will be allowed and the fights will have no time limits.

The prize is promotions for white and blue belts and the IBJJF’s Pan 2012 fees for purple, brown and black belt champions.

Students from all Alliance academies are eligible to compete.

The registration fee is $40 and the proceeding will go to the building of the new team’s HQ.

For more info, go to alliancebjj.com

Lepri at No-Gi Worlds / Photo by Luca Atalla

Despite his craving to be there, Alliance black belt Lucas Lepri contacted GRACIEMAG.com to make known the fact that he will have to sit out the European Open coming up January 26-29 in Lisbon, Portugal. The current holder of the lightweight title of the event, having shut the division out with his teammate Michael Langhi, reported the reason for his absence:

“I’m moving from New York to Atlanta. I’ve got so much to do and haven’t been able to focus on training the way I’d like to. Now I’ll be teaching at Alliance Atlanta alongside Master Jacaré.

“I’m really pleased with this new phase I’m going through, and I hope 2012 will be just like 2011—loaded with conquests,” said Lepri, who besides the European title, this year won the Jiu-Jitsu Pan, not to mention the No-Gi Worlds.

To get a glimpse of how Lucas Lepri’s campaign went at the 2011 Europeans, watch his semifinal match against JT Torres:

The male black belt and female brown/belt champions of the South American Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2011 were defined last Sunday, and Bernardo Faria was the great champion.

In a tense fight, the Alliance fighter won by ​​7 × 4 over Antonio Braga Neto to get the absolute black and win a ticket to Lisbon for the European contest in 2011, at the end of January.

Braga Neto started better in the fight, attacking with an omoplata and applying a sweep. Faria tied with a take-down and then passed the guard. Braga scored with a sweep, but Bernando closed the battle with another sweep.

At the end, Braga Neto lost his temper and swore at the opponent, which earned him some boos from the audience.

The other ticket to Lisbon, drawn out among the black belt and brown/black belt champions, was taken by David Helms (Atos JJ), featherweight champion.

In the brown belt, great performance by Felipe “Preguiça” Pena, a student of Draculino and Romulo Barral. The fighter had eight fights between weight and absolute, ending the fight in five of them. Last Sunday, Pena scored ​​14 x 0 in the finals to secure the second gold.

In the purple belt, highlight to João Miyao. The featherweight disallowed heavier opponents and reached the top of the podium in the open. Along with his brother Paulo, the two got three golds back to Cicero Costha academy in São Paulo, where they live.

In the other categories of black and brown/black, the champions were:

Bantam

Marcus Adriano (GB) x Leandro Luiz da Silva (Checkmat)

Leandro took the title after Marcus was disqualified for crossing the leg over the opponent’s knee.

Pluma

Francielio da Costa (Alliance) x Erick Raposo (Soul Fighters)

Fabio Gurgel’s student debuted in the black belt with the title in unanimous decision after 2 x 2 tie in points and advantages.

Pena

David Lemes (Atos JJ) x Cristyan Martins (Nova União)

A sweep and a ticket guaranteed the 5 x0 by David Lemes, a pupil of Claudio Calasans Jr.

Light

Gabriel Goulart (Alliance) x Vinícius Marinho (GFT)

Vinicius Marine accumulated sweeps to make 6 x 0 over Gabriel.

Middle

Luis Gustavo Lima (Alliance) x Vinícius Corrales (GFT)

In a balanced combat, a sweep more guaranteed the 4 x 2 score and the title to Corrales.

Light Heavy

Rodrigo Fajardo (GB) x Pedro Regis Mello (G. Fpolis)

In another fight with a little movement, Fajardo won by 2 x 0 with a sweep.

Heavy

Alan Regis de Assis (GB) x Nivaldo Lima (Checkmat)

Nivaldo Lima was superior all the time and scored 6 x 0 easily.

Super Heavy

André Campos (GB) x Bernardo Faria (Alliance)

Faria imposed his condition of world champion and won by 14 x 0.

Pesadíssimo

Henrique Marcos (N. União) x Thiago R. Souza (Behring)

With Braga Neto out by WO, Thiago Reinaldo did not miss the chance and submitted Henry with a kimura.

Absolute

Bernardo Faria (Alliance) x Antônio Braga Neto (Ralph Gracie)

Bernardo scored 7 x 4 over Braga.

Female

Feather

Angélica Vieira (Atos JJ) – the only registered fighter.

Light

Marília Vieira (BSB) x Lauriane Mendes (CM System)

Lauriane streched Marília’s arm.

Middle

Leticia Segueto (Checkmat) – the only registered fighter.

Light Heavy

Gisele Moreira (G. Fpolis) – the only registered fighter.

Heavy

Andressa Correa (Alliance) x Luzia Fernandes (GB)

Andressa imposed the pace and scored 10 x 5 over Luzia.

Absolute

Andressa Correa (Alliance) x Luzia Fernandes (GB)

In the response, Andressa was even more efficient and submitted with a choke within the guard.

Results by Team:

Adult

1. Gracie Barra

2. Alliance

3. Nova União

Female

1. Alliance

2. Gracie Barra

3. CM Systems

Juvenile

1. BTT

2. Alliance

3. Nova União

Master & Senior

1. Gracie Humaitá

2. Gracie Barra

3. Ataque Duplo / Sul JJ

White Belt (Newcomers)

1. Nova União

2. Ataque Duplo / Sul JJ

3. Michel Maia JJ

Gabi Garcia between Corinthians' big boss and Aranha. Photo: Disclosure/Personal Record.

After being champion of everything in 2011, from the Worlds to ADCC, Gabrielle Garcia (Alliance) had a quick chat with GRACIEMAG.com this week. As topics, her role as a Corinthians athlete, her meeting with Anderson Silva and the plans for 2012.

What will be your role in Corinthians? Athlete & Jiu-Jitsu professor in the academy led by Anderson Silva?

Yes, but they will still make an appointment to set everything right, about the team, schedules, and how I will make part of the club. The board and Corinthians are investing heavily in the fighting, and this will open many doors for Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil. I hope to continue winning with the new shirt, and I will dedicate myself even more to honor the club’s shirt.

How was the press conference at the club? Did your years of experience being interviewed by GRACIEMAG help?

Of course! It was very rewarding to spread the word of female Jiu-Jitsu in the company of Anderson Silva. This is recognition after years of work, and I hope it is just the beginning. With Corinthians and other Brazilian soccer clubs investing in Jiu-Jitsu and MMA athletes, I feel it will be good for us all. GRACIEMAG has always helped me and still does it, is our biggest display and one of the largest media of our sport.

What is your next appointment wearing a gi?

I went through troubled phase in my life this holiday season. I have lost a loved person in September (her brother) and was full of bruises, at least everything came at the end of the season. I’ll come back with full force in the training, with more gas and more skills next year. I’ll fight during Abu Dhabi trials, in Rio de Janeiro, and everything else yet to go on. I wanna win the Word Professional JJ Championship in Abu Dhabi and the World Championship 2012, weight category and absolute, and I will devote a lot for this. I know I’ve been only collecting great results only because I devoted myself, and I want to stay on track. I know that 2012 will be even more complicated because the girls are studying a way to beat me. But I can already promise a change, you will see a new Gabi in 2012!

On the video below, you learn with Gabriel Rollo how to perform this movement. Check it out, and only practice it under the supervision of a Jiu-Jitsu instructor.

Class at Alliance Campinas. The team is in mourning.

A fast Audi, a drunk driver, and young Kaio César on the way.

The 23 year-old Alliance Campinas athlete with a brilliant future in the Sport died ran over by a car when he stopped to use a public telephone, early morning this Friday, in Campinas, São Paulo. He was coming back from his girlfriend’s house when was hit on the sidewalk. According to the police, the car was being part of an illegal car race when the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Kaio, Brazilian runner-up champion and São Paulo champion in the brown adult category, was preparing to compete on this weekend in São Paulo state and was dreaming with the World Championship in 2012.

According to his father, Gilberto Muniz Ribeiro, the young man was teaching at gyms to collect money to travel to the U.S. “A part of me is gone. My life is over”.

His professor Elias Abdalla Neto talked about Kaio and his relationship with Jiu-Jitsu. “He was humble, simple, quiet. Didn’t like to fight outside a combat, never said bad things about anybody. He was very nice, no addictions, didn’t go to nightclubs at night. He had never put a drop of alcohol in his mouth. It’s cowardice. If it was a common accident… but an illegal car race, it’s very sad”.

Kaio César Alves Muniz Ribeiro was rescued by firefighters and taken to the hospital Dr. Mario Gatti, but didn’t resist. He was buried Saturday morning in the Cemetery of Saudade, in Campinas. The informations are from the website www.eptv.globo.com.