There were other belts who shined as well: brown belt Yuri Simoes of Checkmat pulled off a big open class win against Lloyd Irvin’s ultra heavy Willie Leonard, purple belt Mackenzie Dern won all three of her absolute matches, and 18-year-old Pedro Agrizzi of Striker JJ clinched a big open class win, after only receiving his purple belt two months prior.

This year at the No-Gi Worlds there were 930 competitors registered for this huge one-day event. Those numbers would seem almost impossible to pull off in one day, considering matches can run up to 10 minutes long each in the black belt divisions, but the IBJJF pulled it off flawlessly. Andre Fernandes, Event Director of the IBJJF says he tried to book the Long Beach pyramid for two days, but at this time of year the venue wasn’t available, so they had to run all the competitors through on Saturday. “We could only reserve the pyramid for one day,” Andre says, “This is a busy time of year for other sports, but we are going to try again to book it for two days next year, and we’ll see what happens.”

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Andre says they have the right team assembled to make this event happen in one day. “Last year we had 800 competitors,” he says, “this year we had 130 more. That’s 15% growth over one year and we still had to turn people away because we reached maximum capacity. We have a mathematician on staff to create the brackets.” Andre is referring to Marcelo Araujo, who seamlessly puts together the brackets so the event runs smoothly in an incredibly organized and efficient manner. In fact, Marcelo has it worked out so well, if a competitor only competes in his weight and not the open, he will be in and out of the event within a couple of hours.

Although the rise of MMA seems to constantly be pushing the No-Gi numbers higher, Andre says at this point, more people still train with the gi than without it. “Our Gi tournaments are still bigger,” he says, “But I hope the two events will eventually even out and that No-Gi will be as big as Gi. You can see here today that the level of competition is really high. That’s what you can expect at a world class event like this.”

At the first No-Gi Worlds, in 2007, Andre says they limited the competitors to a small number to provide organization for the event and to set the standards for what it is today. They wanted to establish a No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu tournament that was consistent with the same high level as their Gi tournaments, so they gave out rash guards with the sleeves the same colors as a competitor’s belts. “We wanted to show everyone the right way to do this kind of event,” Andre says, “Once everyone learned what it was we wanted, we opened up the competition and it has grown every year since. All the numbers are crazy now.”

Andre says the IBJJF invests in their system and it shows with the high quality of tournaments they are able to produce. “We put the money earned from these events back into our future events,” he says, “We have the best mats, the best venue, the best referees. We have more people working the event to keep it organized and running on time. And we send our team around the world to ensure that IBJJF tournaments are run consistently everywhere. We really invest in our events. We put the money back into the sport.”

Downtown Chicago / Photo: GRACIEMAG archives

This Wednesday the IBJJF confirmed that the 2011 installment of the Chicago Open tournament will be taking place. Due to changes to legislation in the state of Illinois requiring that Jiu-Jitsu events be sanctioned by the local athletic commission, the date for the competition was left undetermined. Now, though, the gentle art governing body has announced on its website that the Chicago Open will take place August 21 at the Odeum Expo Center.

“The event is confirmed for August 21. The Illinois State Athletic Commission responded to us and were very attentive to our cause. They gave us a brief explanation of the new regulations and the one from 2007, which included a lot of things. Once this event is out of the way, we’ll closen our relationship to further our efforts in developing Jiu-Jitsu,” stated IBJJF director André Fernandes.

Sign-ups end August 13, but anyone to register by July 30 will pay a reduced rate.

Click here to participate.

Downtown Chicago. Foto: Arquivo GRACIEMAG.

A IBJJF confirmou nesta quinta-feira e edição 2011 do Chicago Open. Devido à algumas mudanças na legislação no estado de Illinois, que seguem a regulamentação da Comissão Atlética local, o evento seguia sem data definida. No entanto, como já aparece no site oficial da entidade, a competição ocorre no dia 21 de agosto no Odeum Expo Center

“O evento está confirmado para 21 de agosto. A Comissão Atlética de Illinois nos respondeu e foram muito atenciosos com nossa causa. Nos deu uma breve explicação da nova regulamentação e da vigente desde 2007, que já incluía bastante coisa. Passando este evento, vamos encurtar nossa relação para continuar o trabalho de desenvolvimento do Jiu-JItsu”, comenta o dirigente da IBFFJ André Fernandes.

As inscrições terminam no dia 13 de agosto, mas até o dia 30 de julho estão com valor promocional. Para participar, clique aqui.

Ginásio da State University. Foto: Divulgação.

Outro evento programado é o Chicago Winter International Open, no dia 26 de fevereiro.

“Este é mais um evento no calendário da entidade e as inscrições já estão abertas. Vai ser num ginásio novinho em folha, na Chicago State University!”, informa André Fernandes

Para saber mais, clique aqui, e participe dos eventos da IBJJF.

Chicago State University / Photo: Publicity

Another forthcoming event is the Chicago Winter International Open, on February 26.

“It’s a new event on the calendar and sign-ups are already open. It will be at a brand new gymnasium at Chicago State University!” announces André Fernandes.

To find out more, click here, and participate in IBJJF events.

Guto Campos is another guaranteed to be there. Photo: Ivan Trindade

Sign-ups for the Miami Open are moving right along, with this Saturday’s deadline fast approaching. One thing guaranteed is that there will be plenty of great black belt action, just given the submission aces signed up for the October-23 IBJJF event so far.

Among them, Guto Campos is another looking good to try his luck at weight and open weight. In 2009, Luiz Felipe Big Mac was the open class champion, but he won’t be at Miami Dade College this time. Guto, European champion at weight and open weight this season, promises to head the battle.

However, there are many other hard-nosed competitors confirmed in the running. IBJJF director André Fernandes offers a taster of who’s in: Eduardo Milioli, Jonathan Torres, Diego Gamonal Nogueira, Gustavo Ramos Campos, Marcelo Conti, Marcela S. de Oliveira Macedo, Rodrigo Clark, Stephen Vincent Hall, Marco Antonio Giudice Machado, Alessandro Elisio Chalita de Souza, Daniel V. Alvarez Jr., Jason Scully, Rodrigo Antunes Guimarães, Jared Weiner, Marcos Paulo Guimarães de Barros, Rômulo Reis Pereira, Joao Moncaio, Renato Sampaio Tavares Filho and April Robinson, among others.

Do as they do and sign up for the Miami Open by clicking here.

Keep on top of the upcoming IBJJF events:
To find out more about the Miami Open, click here.
For more on the No-Gi Worlds, click here.

Guto Campos é mais um que garantiu presença. Foto: Ivan Trindade

As inscrições para o Miami Open, que terminam neste sábado, seguem a todo vapor e não vai faltar emoção na faixa-preta. São muitas pedreiras inscritas no evento da IBJJF, que acontece no dia 23 de outubro.

Entre as feras, Guto Campos deve ser mais um a tentar a sorte no peso e absoluto. Em 2009, o campeão da categoria livre foi Luiz Felipe Big Mac, que este ano não luta no Miami Dade College. Guto, vencedor do peso e absoluto do Campeonato Europeu, nesta temporada, promete esquentar a briga.

Entretanto, muitas são as pedreiras confirmadas no evento. Dirigente da IBJJF, André Fernandes adianta quem está dentro: Eduardo Milioli, Jonathan Torres, Diego Gamonal Nogueira, Gustavo Ramos Campos, Marcelo Conti, Marcela S. de Oliveira Macedo, Rodrigo Clark, Stephen Vincent Hall, Marco Antonio Giudice Machado, Alessandro Elisio Chalita de Souza, Daniel V. Alvarez Jr., Jason Scully, Rodrigo Antunes Guimarães, Jared Weiner, Marcos Paulo Guimarães de Barros, Rômulo Reis Pereira, Joao Moncaio, Renato Sampaio Tavares Filho e April Robinson, entre outros.

Faça como esse pessoal e inscreva-se no Miami Open clicando aqui.

Fique também por dentro dos próximos eventos da IBJJF:

Para saber mais sobre o Brasileiro Sem Kimono, clique aqui.

Para saber mais sobre o Mundial Sem Kimono, clique aqui.

The competition is a good opportunity to visit Miami. Photo: publicity

Moving along in the IBJJF calendar, this year’s installment of the Miami Open is coming up on October 23. The event, to be held at Miami Dade College, promises to gather great athletes, like Marco “Sharpei” Machado and Jonatas Tagarela, who has stated their intent to be there.

One of the IBJJF’s directors, André Fernandes, reminds us that the deadline to sign up with a discount is this Saturday, October 2.

For further information, click here.

A competição é uma boa chance para visitar Miami. Foto: divulgação

Acontece no dia 23 de outubro, seguindo o calendário da IBJJF, mais uma edição do Miami Open. O evento, que acontece no Miami Dade College, promete reunir grandes atletas, como Marco “Sharpei” Machado e Jonatas Tagarela, que disseram que estarão dentro. 

Um dos dirigentes da IBJJF, André Fernandes lembra que o prazo para se inscrever com desconto termina neste sábado, 2 de outubro. 

Para mais informações e inscrições basta clicar aqui.

Veteran Megaton to compete at adult again. Photo: Gustavo Aragão

Sign-ups for the American Nationals have been extended. According to the IBJJF’s André Fernandes, the deadline has been extended till Tuesday.

The tournament is to take place September 25 and 26 at CSU Dominguez Hills in California. Among those signed up at black belt are Caio Terra, Samir Chantre, Wellington Megaton, Philipe Della Monica, Marcelo Mafra, Clark Gracie, Bruno Bastos and Stephen Hall, among others.

Want a shot at the title of champion of the USA? Click here.

Furthermore, this is the last week to get in on this coming October 2’s No-Gi Pan in New York. Find out more here.

And the string of IBJJF events doesn’t end there. Starting this Monday, information on the October 23 Miami Open will be available on the IBJJF website.

O veterano Megaton (por baix0) luta entre os adultos. Foto: Gustavo Aragão.

As inscrições para o American National, que vale o título americano da arte suave, foram prorrogadas. Segundo informa André Fernandes, da IBJJF, o prazo foi estendido até a próxima terça-feira.

O torneio será realizado nos dias 25 e 26 de setembro, na Califórnia, na Universidade Estadual em Dominguez Hills. Entre as feras inscritas na faixa-preta estão Caio Terra, Samir Chantre, Wellington Megaton, Philipe Della Monica, Marcelo Mafra, Clark Gracie, Bruno Bastos e Stephen Hall, entre outras. Veja aqui quem mais está dentro.

Quer ser campeão americano de Jiu-Jitsu? Então clique aqui.

Além disso, esta é a última semana para o Pan Sem kimono, que acontece no dia 2 de outubro, em Nova York. Saiba mais aqui.

E a série de eventos da IBJJF não para. A partir desta segunda-feira, estará aberta a pagina de informações sobre o Miami Open. O evento acontece no dia 23 de outubro, em Miami.