Augusto Tanquinho in the match against Isaque Paiva in Pan 2013. Photo: Ivan Trindade/ GracieMag

Augusto Tanquinho used the IBJJF Pan in March as a trial of fire for the WPJJC, a professional event scheduled for April 13 and 14, in Abu Dhabi.

In the Pan, the black belt from Soul Fighters was stopped in the featherweight semifinal by Rubens Cobrinha. It did not shake the fighter, who ensured that he will go to the UAE with a mission: regain the title in the up to 65kg category.

GracieMag: You are going to the WPJJC in Abu Dhabi with the bronze in Pan 2013. Are you ready to win?

AUGUSTO TANQUINHO: I am ready. The last time I attended was in 2011, and back then it allowed anyone to fight the trials anywhere in the world. I think the event was filled with beasts for that reason, and it was the most difficult year. And yet, I won. In 2012, I couldn’t fight because I was recovering from a cervical surgery, and now in 2013 I’m going there to regain my title. I’m very excited to travel.

How is your training for the tournament?

I am keeping the same preparation I did for the Pan and I will keep it until the Worlds. I’m working out at the gym MMA Lab, with the same guy that trains Ben Henderson, so my cardio is great. And the Jiu-Jitsu training with Megaton Dias is in full swing.

How many hours are you training daily?

An average of six to eight hours. I like to train all aspects of the fight, I want to feel comfortable in any area. Anyway, it depends on the day, some days I train more takedowns, other times I do more guard passes or moves in some specific area. The training is very complete.

What is a tip that you can offer the reader who is starting in the art?

The best tip is to relax and don’t think that you are good in some area. Train everything and I guarantee you will be a complete athlete. Nowadays, I see blue belts and purple belts just wanting to play bottom, do the berimbolo, but when they are on top, they don’t know how to pass the guard. Do the modern game, but do not forget that in order to be a champion you have to be complete.

Who are the main opponents in your division in Abu Dhabi?

I haven’t checked the list of athletes, but I’m sure I’ll just have tough opponents. I’ll be ready to face anyone and I intend to bring the title back.

The post Tanquinho trains with Ben Henderson’s coach ahead of Abu Dhabi first appeared on Graciemag.]]> https://www.graciemag.com/wjjc-trials-san-diego-weigh-ins-tonight-brackets-up-now/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wjjc-trials-san-diego-weigh-ins-tonight-brackets-up-now Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:56:03 +0000 https://www.graciemag.com/?p=69432 The Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials in San Diego, CA are set for Jan 26-27 with divisions for kids to seniors and many available prize tickets to compete in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Cup of 2013. The brackets are up on the website now, see who you will be facing here: http://www.t360reg.com/Brackets.aspx?TournamentID=25 Weigh-ins are to…

FGB Arena in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials in San Diego, CA are set for Jan 26-27 with divisions for kids to seniors and many available prize tickets to compete in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Cup of 2013.

The brackets are up on the website now, see who you will be facing here: http://www.t360reg.com/Brackets.aspx?TournamentID=25

Weigh-ins are to be held today at 858 Fight Shop from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The address is 7128 Miramar Rd San Diego, CA 92121. Phon: (858) 530-8181

NOTE: You may also weigh in at the venue one (1) hour before your fight time. All athletes are weighed in without the gi!

The venue is located at the large gymnasium at Miramar College: 10440 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92126.

Schedule will be announced shortly on the website! All information regarding the San Diego Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials can be seen here: www.prosportsbjj.com

See everyone tomorrow!

The post WPJJC Trials: San Diego Weigh-Ins Tonight, Brackets Up Now! first appeared on Graciemag.]]>

Travel package winners of the 2012 Sweden Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials

The Sweden Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials were held in Stockholm, Sweden on November 25, this past weekend. The scandinavian natives fought it out to win paid-for tickets to the main event in Abu Dhabi. Contestants will be headed to the spectacle in April 2013.

This was a 4 star event with travel packages only going to winners of certain divisions. In order to qualify athletes had to place in their weight divisions so that they could be entered into their appropriate absolute divisions. Only after winning the gold in the absolute would they be awarded the golden ticket.

Open Class White Belt Male – Marcus Buksinski of MMA Gerke

Open Class Blue Belt Male – Max Lindblad of Prana

Open Class White / Blue Belt Female – Ambar Villagrán of Checkmat

Open Class Purple Belt Male- Sasa Srndovic of Checkmat

Open Class Female Purple / Brown / Black Belt : Ida Hansson of Checkmat

Open Class Brown/ Black Belt Male Light: Sebastian Brosche of Frontline

Open Class Light Brown/Black Belt Male Heavy: Iran Mascarenhas of Checkmat

The next trials to be scheduled are coming up soon! See some of the locations & dates below!

December 1 – Argentina (3*)

December 1 – Portugal (5*)

December 15 – Italy (3*)December 15 – Hong Kong (3*)

January 19-22 – Rio de Janeiro (5*)

January 26-27 – San Deigo, CA (5*)

February 2 – Hawaii (4*)

For more information please visit: www.uaejj.com

The expectations get higher as the date, April 12, approaches.

“We are ready,” says an excited Lubomir Guedjev, one of the organizers of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. “We are waiting for over 400 players from all the corners of the world, besides a high number of media representatives, including three TV crews. We have also some big news to announce that will make the athletes even happier,” promises Lubo.

This will be the fourth installment of the event that started in 2009 and is the Jiu-Jitsu tournament with by far the biggest payout there is.

Defending absolute champion Rodolfo Vieira is confirmed along with many other BJJ superstars. GRACIEMAG will be fully represented there to get the full coverage of the event.

Fernando Paradeda. Photo: Publicity

Fernando Paradeda is working hard ate organizing the South American Qualifiers for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup on this weekend of the 13th and 14th, in Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul, and on the 27th and 28th in Rio de Janeiro, for which registration is now open. The organizer is excited about the events, to be broadcast live over the internet for the world to see. Check out the chat with the event’s organizer, who discusses what’s to come:

What has changed in relation to how things went last year?

I think first of all the credibility, from sponsors, athletes and the Abu Dhabi organization itself. Last year our tryouts were considered the best and it was really great for all the athletes. We brought all the media to a Jiu-Jitsu event and managed to gather a lot of top athletes, some who were focusing on MMA, but who were doing so because of the payoff. This lent credibility to other events to do something through sponsors and is an opportunity for high-level fighters to make a living through Jiu-Jitsu. The result of this credibility is now that there are two qualifiers in Brazil and it gives a greater number of athletes a chance at winning.

From a global perspective, what are the plans for the event?

Last year there were six qualifiers throughout the world. This year there were 11 and, besides places where Jiu-Jitsu is going strong, we managed to put the competition in other places where it is still in its infancy, such as New Zealand and South Africa. This, besides making Jiu-Jitsu grow, gives a chance to fighters of other nationalities, since our intention is to hold events with fighters from all over the world. We want a Brazilian fighting a Frenchman, against an African … Our project is to make a truly global professional Jiu-Jitsu circuit. That’s our goal. To put together a circuit with the same prizes now rewarded at the main event, with the final in Abu Dhabi.

What do you expect from the qualifiers in Gramado and Rio de Janeiro?

I don’t even know where to begin talking about the location in the south. Gramado is a place geared towards events and this will be a big sporting event. The temperature here is very pleasant and Gramado provides the public and athletes a chance to not be stuck in the routine of the gymnasium. You can take the family and friends to walk in a beautiful place and the event is not so massive. Saturday will be the competition and Sunday will be a true show, with the best of Jiu-Jitsu. All this to be broadcast live over the Internet, with coverage on SporTV and major media outlets. This is how we will improve the event more and more. I think it will be even better in Rio for being in  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s birthplace, because everyone breathes the sport. I think we’ll have even more top athletes in Rio, and the best part is that this year, with two tryouts, double the number of people will have a shot at winning. 

What does being broadcast over the internet add in value to the event?

It opens a lot of doors. The folks in Abu Dhabi will watch the event and see how things are going and the athletes can keep an eye on what lies ahead for them, in addition to promoting the image of the fighters and their sponsors. The whole world will be watching the Brazilian qualifiers, because everyone’s main opponents are here. It’s also really important for the organization and it means we have to pay greater attention to detail with the event. It has to run smoothly. Our sponsors will be watching.

Would you like to make any other comment?

It is the transformation of Jiu-Jitsu pulling other events along with it, like what FEPA and the folks in Jordan do. I hope everyone can make it work out so we can get investment from big companies and give more opportunity for fighters to live exclusively Jiu-Jitsu.

For more information about the event, visit www.abudhabipro.com.br.