With the 2016 World Jiu-Jitsu championship rapidly approaching we still have time to look back into last year’s edition.

As always, there were all kinds of thrills and drama and we have the images to prove it.

Here are 50 pictures covering the camps before the action all the way to the celebration after all champions were crowned.

Just roll the page down and relive what happens when the best Jiu-Jitsu competitors in the world gather in the same room.

Don’t forget to register for the 2016 World Jiu-Jitsu championship.

The deadline is May 24.

Click here to sign up now.

1. Before all the action, Rafael Mendes (right) gave all he got at the Atos JJ camp against Ed Ramos (left).

2. Friends Marcus Buchecha and Lucas Leite rolled with joy at the Checkmat camp

3. Alliance leaders, Gurgel, Gigi and Jacaré joined forces to build a strong team at the 2015 Worlds.

4. Once the action was underway, the pressure on the referees was non-stop for the four days of the Worlds.

5. Example of overcoming life’s hurdles, blue belt Kyle Maynard signed autographs after his match.

6. Jonnathas Gracie da Silva got his middle name in honor of the family and proved he’s worthy of it at the blue belt open class.

7. Nicholas Meregalli could not believe what he had done after the double gold campaign at the purple belt division

8. Sometimes the hug of the idol after a big win is better than the medal itself, as it was the case of blue belt Gustavo Batista.

9. After so much hard work, celebrating is a right every competitor has and Jackson Rubens fulfilled his to the maximum.

10. You can resist an attack to your foot, arm or knee, but you simply can’t resist a choke. Either you tap or you go to sleep.

11. After winning, say thanks to whom you think helped you achieve your goal.

12. After three years of pure joy and triumph, Marcus Buchecha experienced drama and pain at the 2015 Worlds when a twisted knee caused a ligament injury.

13. There’s a common face expression Jiu-Jitsu fighters show when the choke is in place, as you can see here.

14. Jackson Sousa goes for a takedown at the black belt open class.

15. Leo Nogueira also had a 2015 Worlds he’d want to forget after getting hurt in the early stages of the black belt open class.

16. Keenan Cornelius did what he had to do to keep the match against Tim Spriggs inbound at the black belt open class.

17. You can actually see on Lo’s face all the effort it took to escape Keenan Cornelius’ triangle and armlock at the black belt open class.

18. Luiza Monteiro and the “I’m ok” face during the match against Mackenzie Dern at the black belt open class.

19. No free hands? No problem. Dominyka Obelenyte shows how to use her teeth to get the lapel where she wants it to go.

21. Kisses all around from Monique Elias after she secured her spot at the oepn class final.

22. Bernardo Faria screams that Lo’s arm is about to break at the open class semifinal.

23. Luiza Monteiro at the exact moment she realized the refs pointed her as the winner of the match against Monique Elias.

24. Wellington Megaton, 20 World championships as a black belt.

25. Xande Ribeiro, seven world championship titles in 11 years.

26. Tim Spriggs properly celebrates his win over Keenan Cornelius at the heavyweight division.

27. Michael Langhi celebrates on the hollow ground of the Worlds.

28. After a knee surgery, Tarsis Humphreys came back big time to finish second at the medium-heavy division.

29. Alliance never had a performance as team that came close to the one it had at the 2015 Worlds.

30. Mackenzie Dern celebrates her first gold medal as a black belt and her father Megaton joins the moment in the back.

31. Luiza Monteiro covers her face with joy after winning her first gold medal as a black belt.

32. Dominyka performance at the 2015 Worlds was really above ground level.

33. João Miyao’s expression while looking at the referee was a prediction that something bad was about to happen after the roosterweight final.

34. Bad for João, great for Bruno Malfacine, who went on to celebrate his 7th world title as a black belt.

35. Paulo Miyao focused on achieving his goal of becoming a black belt world champion.

36. Rafael Mendes vs. Rubens Cobrinha is always a treat for the crowd.

37. Clinched teeth and a fierce battle for the lapel.

38. Cobrinha defended his neck in a superb way and then talked about it with Rafael mid-action.

38. In the end, another page of the history book of the Worlds was written with Rafael and his fifth title in the featherweight division.

39. Claudio Calasans Jr. used the judo learned from his father to win his first title at the Worlds.

40. Lo caught mid-sweep during the victorious campaign at the medium-heavy division, his fourth title in three weight classes.

41. It comes a moment when all defense attempts cease and the tap is the only way out.

42. Xande vs. Lucas Leite was one of those matches where no one really lost, despite one of then coming out as the winner.

43. “Thank you, Lord,” Daniel.

44. I won, dammit!

45. Technique and strength!

46. Time for some advice.

47. Mario Reis resisted the wrist lock until right about that moment.

48. And she’s only 19!

49. João beat cancer and is right back where he belongs!

50. Victory tastes even better when you can share it with those you care about!

As the year of 2015 comes to an end, we look back to the thrills we lived in the past 12 months. So, what about trying to point out what was the best Gi match of 2015. We pre-selected five instant classics and we will let you chose your favorite. Just vote away on the comments. Even if you have a different match to suggest, please do. Here we go!

Gabrielle Garcia vs. Mackenzie Dern (2015 European – Black belt open class final)

The first great moment of 2015. Brave Mackenzie and mighty Gabi battled for the ultimate glory in Lisbon. Seven minutes of hair-raising action. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5vyu1z-5GE

Bernardo Faria vs. Alex Trans ( 2015 Pan – Black belt open class semifinal)

A battle of giants for the chance to be on the open class final. Faria and Trans had the crowd on their feet the whole time.

 Leandro Lo vs. Keenan Cornelius (2015 Worlds – black belt open class quarterfinals)

This is Jiu-Jitsu at its best. Just watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvSgiMuK_3Q

Rafael Mendes vs. Rubens Cobrinha (2015 Worlds black belt featherweight final)

It’s all there. Strategy, drive, effort, respect. A classic.

Bruno Malfacine vs. João Miyao (2015 Worlds roosterweight final)

The drama at the end alone is enough for this match deserving a spot among the best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyYrfJa6gzw

So, what’s your favorite?

Alliance has been on the top of the ladder of the male teams competition of the World Jiu-Jitsu championship since 2008.

In 2015, they won the 10th trophy at the male division as well as the 8th in the female division.

Jacaré, Gurgel and Gigi had a film crew following their every move and here’s the result.

Go behind the scenes of the most accomplished Jiu-Jitsu team in Worlds history.

Dominyka Obelenyte is celebrating her 20th birthday this Thursday, July 30.

By all means a prodigy in Jiu-Jitsu, in 2015 she became the youngest competitor to achieve the gold medal at the black belt open class division of the Worlds.

After the double gold campaign in Long Beach last June, she was compared to Roger Gracie for her powerful top game with strong passes and accurate finishes.

“I accept that comparison because it’s freaking awesome. Who doesn’t want to be compared to Roger Gracie. We are both very lanky and use our length to our advantage,” said Dominyka about the comparison in an exclusive interview on GRACIEMAG #220.

A world champion in all belts, Dominyka has a very bright future ahead indeed.

Let’s celebrate her birthday watching her greatest moment so far, the 2015 Worlds black belt open class final against Monique Elias.

The 2015 Worlds was one of the most thrilling moments of the season.

Watch the highlight video here and relive the great things that took place in the Long Beach Pyramid.

If you are over 30 years old, don’t forget to register for the 2015 Worlds Master.

The price will change after this Wednesday, July 29.

Click here to register now.

The Long Beach Pyramid at the 2014 Worlds

The IBJJF announced this week a big incentive for black belts in the adult division.

At the end of the 2015/2016 season, the entity will award the leaders of the male and female rankings with $10,000.

The immediate reaction to the news was mostly positive with a few critics.

On GRACIEMAG’s Facebook page, the post with the news had 45 shares and 124 likes.

Some readers thought the money should go to more people on the rankings, not only the leaders.

Various athletes welcomed the great news.

Gabi Garcia wrote a comment on GRACIEMAG’s Instagram account: “Now you’re talking, IBJJF. I knew I was not going to retire.”

Mackenzie Dern, the current female black belt leader, also left her comment: “I’m gonna go after that! Not only for the money, but to be the actual number 1 in the world. Thanks IBJJF.”

Many people celebrated the fact that both men and women will receive the same amount.

“Due to a fantastic effort from Dominyka and her equal pay for women movement, the IBJJF has reached their demands,” wrote reader Chris Klahn, mentioning the campaign started by the 2015 black belt open class champion Dominyka Obelenyte in favor of equal pay for men and women in BJJ.

Kim Terra, bronze medalist in the light-feather division of the 2015 Worlds, found unfair for men and women to receive the same amount of money: “It’s absurd for the female ranking leader to get the same amount as the male ranking leader. No offense to the girls, the level of male Jiu-Jitsu is infinite times superior to female Jiu-Jitsu. There’s no dispute to that. Overall, it’s a great initiative by the IBJJF, but they should have done a better job “slicing that cake”. To use a legal term of “equity”: treat those equal in a equal way and treat those unequal in a unequal way.”

Kim’s opinion generated a heated debate on social media.

World champion Hillary Williams posted a comment on her Facebook page giving her opinion on why men and women should get the same prize: “Most of the current female black belt champions have been grappling every bit as long as the men. Bia Mesquita has 16+ years of training under her belt. We pay the same fees for training, competing, traveling, and as shown in this thread, still receive less than men. If you’re not using that logic to justify less for men’s super light weight divisions as well as the super heavies (the light-middle heavy are the most stacked divisions), then it shouldn’t be applied to the women.”

Gabi Garcia also posted on her Facebook page about the issue of men and women receiving the same amount: “You train just like the men do or sometimes even more. You are victim of prejudice when you chose a career said to be for men. You give up the body and the life of a regular women to live your dream. You get paid less your entire life. Then when some kind of equality comes along, you have to deal with this kind of mentality. I’m in a new moment in my career, but I will try to conciliate both [MMA and BJJ] and compete for that I fought so hard to see happen. Congratulations to the IBJJF”

Bernardo Faria at the 2015 Worlds

The United States Anti-doping Agency confirmed that Bernardo Faria was clean of any prohibited substances at the 2015 Worlds.

The black belt open class  and superheavy champion received an email message this Monday with the good news from theUSADA.

Faria reacted to the news on his social media channels:

“As an athlete and as a person my biggest pride is to know that everything I’ve ever accomplished- I did without the use of any performance enhancing drugs. This is the letter I just received from the USADA saying I tested clean at the World Championships in 2015. I was born like this, I have lived like this & I’ll die like this,” wrote the champion.

Heavyweight champion Xande Ribeiro also received a letter from the USADA saying nothing illegal was found on his sample after the Worlds.

Turns out Bernardo Faria never lost his crown of leader of the IBJJF adult male black belt rankings.

A technical glitch last Saturday made the system miscount the points for the 2015 Worlds and alter the standings.

With that, Paulo Miyao appeared in first place with 699 pts.

After the point count was fixed, Bernardo was back in the lead with 837 pts.

Miyao is still second with 762 pts.

Click here for the complete adult male black belt ranking.

Lo vs. Keenan at the 2015 Worlds

Leandro Lo is a man with a mission. Even after four world titles in three different weight classes of the black belt division, he still wants more.

Lo talked to GRACIEMAG’s Vitor Freitas about the 2015 Worlds and his bold plans for the future.

“Since I was a kid, I always wanted to be a three-time world champion. Thank God, I won it four times now, but I still have a dream to fulfill, which is to be an open class world champion.”

In order to do that, Lo already has a strategy down: “I’m thinking of moving up to the heavyweight division. My plan is to get my weight up to 198 lb. and then see what happens. It’s still far away.”

In 2015, Lo managed to make his way to the absolute semifinals for the first time in his career. He had to pass through Keenan Cornelius in the quarterfinals, a match many consider the best one of this year’s edition of the Worlds.

Lo vs. Bernardo Faria at the 2015 Worlds

Leandro comments on how tough it was to pull off that win.

“It was an all-out-war. I really did not expect that flying triangle. He had done that once during a training session and I tapped. At the Worlds, I gave up my arm so I could escape my head. I am able to resist to attacks to my arm. I have to tell you that there was not much technique there. It was pure heart. It was a really tough fight.”

Then, along came Bernardo Faria, the same opponent Bernardo faced in the 2015 Pan, and unfortunately the outcome was similar at the open class semifinal.

“I still need to improve a lot to beat Bernardo and all the other guys who are open class champions. I need to be stronger and I need to be able to resist against their power for longer. My power runs out and theirs go on! I’m not able to hold them using only my technique once they are also very skilled and strong. I also need to get better at Jiu-Jitsu. I really want to beat those guys. I want to be a black belt open class world champion as well.”

Another big name was forced to pull out from the 2015 ADCC.

Alexander Trans, winner of one of the European Trials, announced this Friday on his Facebook page that he’ll not be able to compete in the +99kg division.

He wrote: “Because of the knee injury that I suffered at the Worlds, I won’t be able to compete at the ADCC this year. I’ve been doing everything I could to try to recover, but unfortunately, there is just no way I’ll be ready to fight in less than 2 months. I won’t be able to compete anymore this year, so now I will focus on recovering from my injury, to be ready for the new challenges next year. Thanks to everyone who supports me, I hope to be back on the mat training and competing again soon!”

Trans suffered the injury during the ultra-heavyweight quarterfinals against Rodrigo Cavaca.

The same injury forced Trans out of the black belt open class final at the Worlds, against Bernardo Faria.

Click here for the most complete list of names qualified or invited for the 2015 ADCC.

The 2015 ADCC is scheduled August 29-30, in São Paulo, Brazil.

With double-gold campaigns both at the Pan and the Worlds, the black belt is living the best moment of his career.

Here’s one of his trademark techniques, the double-under guard pass.

Take a close look and add to your game.

Don’t forget to subscribe to GRACIEMAG to receive GM #220 and learn five other of Bernardo’s favorite techniques.

Brazil 021 crew at the 2015 Worlds

GMA members André Terêncio and Hannette Staack got really proud with their students at the 2015 Worlds.

Five competitors brought back medals from the mats in the Long Beach Pyramid.

Lucas Santiago finished third in the juvenile 1 blue belt middleweight division.

Nathan de Jesus Rocha also got bronze at the juvenile blue belt heavyweight division.

Both Nathan and Lucas are part of the social work the academy does at underprivileged communities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Know more here.

From the school headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, Kirsten Martin finished third at the adult female purple belt light-feather division.

Kristin Mikkelson also finished third in the adult female purple belt llightweight division.

Finally, Sharon Gosun managed to place third in the adult female brown belt roosterweight division.

For more info, go to brazil021.com