07.11.2008 US Open XIIIA glimpse at America's most traditional BJJ tournament
Photos by Luca Atalla
On the 18th and 19th of October, the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium hosted the 13th US Open, the most traditional Jiu-Jitsu tournament in the United States. While you await the December issue of GRACIEMAG, bringing complete coverage of the competition, check out this gallery of photos of the event and read the letter from its organizers.
The rocks off West Cliff Drive.
A typical day of surfing off West Cliff Drive.
The Santa Cruz surf museum.
Downtown Santa Cruz.
Historical Capitola city.
The region's most traditional BJJ academy, Claudio Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Refereeing clinic prior to the event.
GMA's Franjinha (Paragon) and Eduardo Rocha (Rocha BJJ) kicking back before the event.
The OTM booth doing its good-natured business.
Extremes: The lanky Bruno Paulista (Gracie Barra) versus Fredson Paixao (Gracie Barra Las Vegas) in the black belt absolute.
Felipe Jerry (Gracie Barra) and Augusto Tanquinho (Claudio Franca Santa Cruz) also battling in the absolute.
Young Nathan Mendelsohn (Claudio Franca Santa Cruz) took off in the middleweight purple belt, showing the strength of the local talent.
Already well known in Jiu-Jitsu, former Giants player Jarrod Bunch (in blue) won the master absolute purple belt; here he fights with Alexandre Ballesteros.
Adam Piccolotti, of GMA Half Moon Bay BJJ, was the greatest revelation of the championship and took the absolute purple belt, as well as his category, lightweight.
The Civic Auditorium hosted the event.
Traditional producer of featherweight talent, like Jeff Glover and Bill Cooper (now in other categories), Paragon now reveals Matt Magana, champion at adult blue belt.
The eventual absolute blue belt champion Elias Ramirez (Gracie Barra America) concentrates.
Long boarder Joel Tudor (BJJ Revolution), surfing legend, drew the local media and didn't let them down.
Eduardo Rocha (Rocha Jiu-Jitsu) against local Daniel Thomaz (Claudio Franca Santa Cruz).
Gary Monroe (Gracie Barra Alaska) came from far away to face local Michael Vann (Claudio Franca Santa Cruz) in the brown belt master.
Tudor on the stand with organizer Claudio Franca.
Gilberto Faria (right) and Jiu-Jitsu Pro Gear: present at the event the last 9 years.
Absolute winners' podium: Tanquinho, Fredson, Bruno and Jerry.
Jonathan Torres (Lloyd Irvine) plays guard to win the absolute brown.
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