Caio Terra against Bruno Bastos in photo by Deb Blyth

The fourth installment of the American Cup tournament promises plenty of great matches this weekend in San Jose, California. On the list of submission wizards on the roster are two top black belts: Caio Terra and Rafael “Formiga”.

Caio generally competes in the rooster or light feather weight divisions, where most diminutive athletes face off, but he always catches the fighters at the other end of the weight spectrum off guard in the absolute. Hence his being dubbed a “fiesty little ant” by his bigger victims. At the 2010 American Nationals Caio plowed through the competition, winning gold in the open weight class. Now his ant counterpart (“formiga” means “ant” in Portuguese) competes at either middle or lightweight, and he won the open weight group at the recent New York Open.

There may be some surprises standing in the way of a showdown between “ants,” though, like Cassio Werneck black belt Marco Torregrossa.

Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com, and keep up on all the goings-on at the event here.

In the video below, the teacher at Clube Barra and long-time resident of California reveals how the championship is set up, between images of past championships.

http://www.vimeo.com/22576366

Photo: Luca Atalla

This Friday is the last day to pay a discount rate to sign up for the fourth installment of the American Cup.

For further information on the tournament in San Jose, California, click americancupbjj.com.