Athletes at the match-area entrance at the 2011 Pan, in Irvine, California. Sign-ups for this year's event end today. Photo: Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG.
The deadline to sign up for the 2012 Pan is just hours away, and from the look of the roster, it will be an event for the ages. Check out the official sign-up list for the next major IBJJF tournament of the year, coming up March 29, by clicking here.
Yesterday and today, such monsters of gi-clad combat as Marcus Vinicius Bochecha, André Galvão, Rafael Lovato Jr, Zak Maxwell, Lucas Leite, Abmar Barbosa, Rafael Barata, Bia Mesquita, Luanna Alzuguir, Luiza Monteiro and Sophia Drysdale have all added their names for contention.
Still expected to join the fray today before the registration window closes, featherweights Rubens Cobrinha and Mário Reis, middleweight ace Kayron Gracie and others should put their names in before 11:59 pm Pacific time.
As one would surmise, preparing for the biggest Pan of all times is also inspiring excitement in all the teachers and athletes from the top teams in gentle-art competition: Gracie Barra, Alliance, Gracie Humaitá, CheckMat, Carlson Gracie, Lloyd Irvin and so many others, all of whom will be vying for the trophy for best team.
At GB America, Professor Zé Radiola is heading up training alongside Marcio Feitosa, getting into the technical nitty-gritty in sessions that boost endurance and resistance, so the folks in Irvine will be at their best.
And it’s not just in the dojo that things have started to heat up. “Anyone who only started keeping up with Jiu-Jitsu recently, through websites and in magazines, may not remember it, but Gracie Barra has won a lot more championships than any other team today,” Professor Marcio Feitosa told the Budo Videos crew.
Check out Kayron, Flavio Cachorrinho and Ricardo Cachorrão and Co. training in the following clip by Budo Videos, who will be broadcasting the entire event over the internet.
At team Alliance, training is going full throttle at the academy of Rubens Cobrinha, with Marcio Reis there to deepen the talent pool.
It’s from the team leader in Atlanta, however, that the war cry came: “To all the Alliance teams throughout the world, the time has come. Wipe clean your weapons; war is declared. Let’s get ready for battle in California,” said Romero Jacaré, the team’s red-and-black belt, via Twitter. “Here in Atlanta we’re training hard and focused, with over ten black belts per training session. The Eagle is hungry and ready to hunt in Irvine!”
What about you? You wouldn’t miss the chance to compete alongside the superstars, would you?
To secure your spot at the 2012 IBJJF Pan, click here.
Now who’s going to be the big name of the event? Let us know your picks in the comments field below.
