Women first competed in the World Jiu-Jitsu championship in 1998. First they all competed in the same division, without any separation of belts.

In 2007, the first open class division took place and Michelle Nicolini grabbed the gold medal. Only in 2012, black belt women had a division exclusive to them, without the presence of brown belts.

In 2014, the IBJJF inducted its first ever Hall of Fame class and six ladies received the highest honor in Jiu-Jitsu: Gabrielle Garcia, Kyra Gracie, Michelle Nicolini, Bianca Andrade, Leticia Ribeiro and Hannette Staack.

As we approach the 21st edition of the Worlds, we look back to see who are the most accomplished female competitors in the history of Jiu-Jitsu’s most important event.

Michelle Nicolini 

With 8 gold medals as a black belt since 2006, Nicolini leads the pack in terms of appearances on the top of the podium. She is also the lightest competitor to win a black belt open class belt, which she took home in 2007. Michelle announced that the 2016 Worlds will be her last one, as she transitions to MMA. We will sure miss her.

Beatriz Mesquita

With six gold medals, Bia competes in the black belt division since 2010. She won the lightweight division four times (2012-2015) and topped the podium at the open class in 2013 and 2014. A black belt under Leticia Ribeiro, Bia was not in the first class of the IBJJF Hall of Fame, in 2013, but should be in the second one.

Gabrielle Garcia

With six gold medals at the black belt division at the Worlds, Gabi also has two open class titles. She’s been competing in the black belt division since 2008, when she won the heavyweight division for the first time. Gabi’s last appearance at the Worlds was in 2013, as she is now dedicating herself to a successful MMA career at Rizin FF.

Hannette Staack

A seven-time world champion, Hannette Staack built an impressive career on her way to the hall of fame. She won her first gold medal in 2002, when black belts competed with brown belts and purple belts. After that, she lined up titles in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011. The only thing missing was an open class gold medal, but that does not make Hannette’s run less amazing.

Letícia Ribeiro 

Another seven-time world champion, Leticia Ribeiro kept on top of the game between 2000 to 2012, with three titles in the featherweight division and four in the light-featherweight. Leticia built her legacy and is also responsible for the formation of talents like Bia Mesquita, Ana Carol Lebre, among others.

Bianca Andrade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQIpVdC9C5E

Six-time world champions, Bianca Andrade (later Barreto) is another of the original hall of fame members in the female division. She won six world titles from 2001 to 2009, become the athlete with the most titles in the female featherweight division.

Luanna Alzuguir

With five world titles from 2009 to 2013, including an open class title in 2010, Luanna is definitely part of the team of great champions in the female division. She was one of the most consistent competitors of her generation. She had thrilling battles with Kyra Gracie and Michelle Nicolini, just to name two.

Kyra Gracie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9spWHoBx8uA

With four titles including one open class gold medal, Kyra Gracie also made to the hall of fame. Her greatest year was 2008, when she walked out of the Long Beach Pyramid with two gold medals. She almost repeated the feat in 2009, but Michelle Nicolini and Lana Stefanac got in her way. Kyra made her final appearance at the Worlds in 2010, closing a five-year run at the podium with another gold medal at the lightweight division.

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Saulo Ribeiro finishing with an armlock during the 2013 Worlds Masters

The 2014 World Jiu-Jitsu Masters Championship takes place at the Long Beach Walter Pyramid, on November 1-2.

The registration period closes next October 23 so you have to hurry to be a part of the most important event of the calendar for athletes over 30 years old.

Last year, Saulo Ribeiro was one of the stand outs of the event.

The six-time world champion in the adult division, put on the gi once again to show people why he is a living legend.

Watch one of his fights and see how he imposes his game to reach the armlock finish with easy.

Don’t forget to register here for the 2014 Worlds Masters

The 2014 World Master Championship is still a bit far away, scheduled November 1 -2.

Even so, we have put a list together of ten competitors that we would like to see displaying their technique at the Long Beach Walter Pyramid.

We tried to list names of athletes that are not competing in MMA and also skipped those who have competed recently in other IBJJF events.

Besides being great champions, the members of the list have in common the fact that they are all still active, teaching classes, seminars and camps worldwide.

Here we go.

Marcio Feitosa – Three-time world champion as a black belt (1997, 2001, 2002), Feitosa is the field general for the Gracie Barra team. A devoted pupil of Master Carlos Gracie Jr, he is currently teaching at the headquarters school, in Irvine, California. Known for a highly technical game, Marcinho had his last appearance in the Worlds in 2006, when he was defeated in the final by Rubens Cobrinha, then a rising star in the featherweight division. Feitosa is now 38 years old and would compete in the Master 2 division.

Lana Stefanac – The main name of the 2009 Worlds in the female division, Lana Stefanac became famous when she defeated Kyra Gracie in the open class final still as a brown belt. Now a black belt and owner of Trinity BJJ, in Oakland, CA, Lana has been away from the IBJJF circuit for some time. She also ventured in MMA and has a 6-0 record, with her last fight in 2008. Lana is now 39 years old and would compete in the Master 2 division.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72yBo_9JJxQ

Robert Drysdale – World champion in 2005, Drysdale is one of three USA-born athletes to have ever reached the top of the podium of the event as a black belt (BJ Penn and Rafael Lovato Jr being the other two). A black belt under Leo Vieira, Drysdale is also a ADCC open class champion (2007) and is now venturing into MMA, having recently signed with the UFC. He owns Drysdale BJJ and teaches in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is 33 years old and would compete in the Master 1 division.

Bianca Andrade – Four-time world champion (2005, 2008, 2009, 2010), Bianca is one of the most important names in female Jiu-Jitsu history. From Alagoas, in the northeast of Brazil, she was also a professional bodyboarder before putting on the gi. Famous for her armbars and energetic celebrations, Bianca now teaches at Gracie Barra Maceió, in Brazil, with her husband and also black belt Diojone Farias. She is now 41 years old and would compete in the Master 3 division.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQIpVdC9C5E

Fernando Pontes “Margarida” –  The only one in our list with a adult black belt open class title in the curriculum (2001), Margarida is always a sight to be seen. Considered one of the most talented fighters in the early 2000’s. He had memorable battles with so many great competitors that it’s almost unfair to name just one, but Saulo Ribeiro and Fabio Gurgel come to mind. Margarida is now 34 years old and would compete in the Master 1 division.

Fabio Gurgel – The General is a four-time world champion (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001). Co-founder and co-leader of the nine-time teams world champion Alliance, Gurgel competed for the last time in a IBJJF event in 2010, when he conquered the heavyweight division of the European Championship. An expert in guard passing, Gurgel is known for going head to head with much younger black belts at training. He is now 44 years old and would compete in the Master 3 division.

Leonardo Vieira – Two-time ADCC champion (2003, 2005) and world champion (1999), Leozinho is another of those guys who helped build the history of competition in Jiu-Jitsu. Owner of an exciting game, the founder and leader of Checkmat is known as a skilled strategist and highly technical athlete. In one of his last appearances, Leozinho rose again to the occasion and managed to finish second in the -77kg division of the 2011 ADCC. Leozinho is now 38 years old and would be competing in the Master 2 division.

Vinicius Magalhães – Draculino is a three-time Pan champion (1995, 1996, 1998), but his most important accomplishments came as a Professor, forming new talents. One of the three breeding grounds for the Gracie Barra team (alongside Rio and Recife), his school in Belo Horizonte (or one of his affiliates) revealed such talents as Romulo Barral, Felipe Preguiça, Pablo Silva, Samuel Braga, Cristiano “Titi” Lazarini, among many others. Draculino, now leader of Gracie Barra Texas, is 43 years old and would compete in the Master 3 division.

Roberto “Gordo”Correa – World champion in 1996, Roberto Correa is a black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr. He is well known as the first developer of the half-guard and its techniques to attack and defend after a knee injury. Responsible for the developing of many great black belts such as Nino Schembri and Celso Venícius, Correa is for sure one of the most highly regarded Jiu-jitsu Professors in the game. He is 43 years old and would compete in the Masters 3 division.

Royler Gracie – The Gracie on the list, Royler is the leader of Gracie Humaita and for sure one of the protagonists in the history of the gentle art. Four-time world champion (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999) and still the lightest athlete to ever reach the black belt open class podium in a world championship, the son of Helio Gracie is known for being the light guy with a heavy pressure. Currently teaching in San Diego, California, Royler is 48 years old and would compete in the Master 4 division.

What about you, dear reader? Which athlete would you like to see back on the mats at the 2014 Worlds Master?

The Deluxe Book Jiu-Jitsu Worlds–A Tale in Photos is out; pass by GRACIEMAG booth at the 2013 Worlds to get your copy

When I decided to pull up my sleeves to produce the book “Jiu-Jitsu Worlds–A Tale in Photos,” I faced the classic challenge of choosing how to define the editing criteria.

Who should be in the book, and how much space should they be given? It’s impossible to be absolutely objective, but regarding history and the athletes that made that history in the course of these 17 installments that contain the scope of my research, I strived for Utopian justice.

Obviously other cognoscenti may disagree and argue, but my cut was based on data I have gathered during all these years, which helped me organize the athletes into the following groups:

Absolutely amazing

This is the very select group of 10 fighters who have won the most important title in our sport – the black-belt open. They are:

1. Roger Gracie (2007, 2009 and 2010)
2. Xande Ribeiro (2006, 2008)
3. Márcio Pé de Pano (2002, 2003)
4. Ronaldo Jacaré (2004, 2005)
5. Amaury Bitetti (1996, 1997)
6. Rodrigo Comprido (1999, 2000)
7. Zé Mario Sperry (1998)
8. Fernando Margarida (2001)
9. Rodolfo Vieira (2011)
10. Marcus Buchecha (2012)

The Outliers:

Restricted to those with four or more black-belt titles in their weight class. In my opinion, they belong in this order:

1. Saulo Ribeiro (5 titles, 10 podiums)
2. Marcelo Garcia (5 titles, 8 podiums)
3. Robson Moura (5 titles, 6 podiums)
4. Bruno Malfacine (5 titles, 6 podiums)
5. Fabio Gurgel (4 titles, 8 podiums)
6. Roberto Roleta (4 titles, 7 podiums)
7. Rubens Cobrinha (4 titles, 7 podiums)
8. Royler Gracie (4 titles)

Standouts:

At least three titles in their weight class at black belt. I used the number of podiums
as a tiebreaker.

1. Romulo Barral (3 titles, 9 podiums)
2. Márcio Feitosa (3 titles, 8 podiums)
3. Fredson Paixão (3 titles, 5 podiums)
4. Bráulio Estima (3 titles, 6 podiums)
5. Celso Venicius (3 titles, 5 podiums)
6. Vitor Shaolin (3 titles, 4 podiums)
7. Rafael Mendes (3 titles, 4 podiums)
8. Guilherme Mendes (3 titles)

The notable:

These fighters have two titles, or one title plus several medals*

1. Mario Reis (2 titles, 10 podiums)
2. Leonardo Leite (2 titles, 6 podiums)
3. André Galvão (2 titles, 5 podiums)
4. Fernando Tererê (2 titles, 4 podiums)
5. Fabrício Werdum (2 titles)
6. Caio Terra (1 title, 5 podiums)
7. Leo Vieira (1 title, 5 podiums)
8. Rafael Lovato, Jr. (1 title, 6 podiums)
9. BJ Penn (1 title)
10. Murilo Bustamante (1 title, 4 podiums)
11. Ricardo Libório (1 title, 2 podiums)

*In fact, there are several other athletes with one or two titles at black belt which were not included on this final set, because of the limited space available; so for this last group I opted for a more subjective criterion, looking for champions with an important history in the pre-Worlds period. BJ Penn was included for the feat of being the first non-Brazilian champion at black belt. Rafael Lovato Jr. would go on to match his achievement and even add five other medals to it.

Naturally, the history of the BJJ Worlds is not limited to the black belt, but including other belts would make the editing criteria massively complex, and I would be hardpressed to be totally fair trying to select a few among the thousands of participants over 17 years.

Disagree with this selection? Feel free to join the conversation below:

Bianca celebrates with a roar, in a photo by Alicia Anthony

Alagoas state native Bianca Andrade Barreto did it again: upon beating teammate Fabiana Borges in the featherweight final in Long Beach, she brought her world title tally to three in a row.

Congratulations, Bianca!

Don’t forget to check out the complete coverage of the Worlds 2010 on the GRACIEMAG at the Worlds Blog.