Here are 92 images that will help you relive the thrills of the black belt (brown/black for women) open class at the 2016 WPJJC.

You will catch the best moments tnat led our four finalists (Felipe Pena, Jose Junior, Tayane Porfirio and Bia Mesquita) to earn their spots in the gold medal deciders.

You will also see amazing images of top notch black belts like Leandro Lo, Claudio Calasans Jr, Andre Galvão, Erberth Santos, Roberto Cyborg, Luiza Monteiro, Fernanda Mazzelli, Jessica Trindade, etc.

Just browse and get ready for more action until all champions are crowned this Saturday, April 23.

Follow the complete coverage on GRACIEMAG’s social media channels.

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The Long Beach Pyramid at the 2014 Worlds

The IBJJF made an announcement this Friday that it has decided to raise the the value of the prizes for the best black belt competitors of the 2015/2016 season.

The winners will be the leaders of the male and female adult black belt rankings.

Each one will receive $15,000, with 2nd places getting $4,000 and third places getting R$ 1,000.

Initially, the IBJJF announced prizes of $10k for the ranking leaders.

As of today (Jan. 15), the leaders are Paulo Miyao (937.5pts) and Mackenzie Dern (1260pts).

The season ends on the day before the start of the 2016 World championship.

Athletes add points via their results in every one of the IBJJF events throughout the season.

Here’s the IBJJF statement:

The IBJJF is proud to announce that it has increased the CASH PRIZES for the Black Belt Adult competitors for the 2015/16 season!

Effective today, top ranking Male and Females athletes for the 2015/ 2016 ranking season will receive the following:

1st place – $15,000 (USD)
2nd place – $4,000 (USD)
3rd place – $1,000 (USD)

The 2015 NY BJJ Pro rocked the grounds in Manhattan this Saturday.

We already posted some amazing pictures of the black belt finals, but there was a lot of great matches before that.

Here are the best images of what happened leading to the finals. Click on the arrows and browse through the images.

The IBJJF introduced a few months ago the requirement of background checks for the issuing of black belt certificates in the USA.

The requirement aims to give more safety to the Jiu-Jitsu community when joining an academy or competing  in a tournament.

Here’s what the measure includes.

BACKGROUND CHECK

Who needs to provide their background check?

Black Belt Certificate applicants that reside in the US.

Professors and instructors who apply for an academy registration with USBJJF.

Why is IBJJF/USBJJF requiring a background check?

The background check is one more action taken by USBJJF / IBJJF in an effort to increase the safety of BJJ practitioners inside academies and tournaments.

How to request your background check?

You can apply for your background check online through the SSCI website. You will need to provide your full name, date of birth, address, SSN or other form of identification. 

Background check fee:

The fee for the background check is $18.50 and it is paid directly to SSCI.  SSCI is responsible for running the tests and informing IBJJF the results. Background check process may take up to 5 business days.

Disqualifications based on the background check:

A person should be disqualified and prohibited from serving as a volunteer/professor/certified Black Belt if the person has been found guilty of the following crimes:

For purposes of this policy; Guilty shall mean that a person was found guilty following a trial, entered a guilty plea, entered a no contest plea accompanied by a court finding of guilt (regardless of adjudication), or received court directed programs in lieu of conviction.

SEX OFFENSES• All Sex Offenses – Regardless of the amount of time since offense.

Examples include: child molestation, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sodomy, prostitution, solicitation, indecent exposure, etc.FELONIES• All Felony Violence – Regardless of the amount of time since offense.

Examples include: murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated burglary, etc.

• All Felony offenses other than violence or sex within the past 10 years.

Examples include: drug offenses, theft, embezzlement, fraud, child endangerment, etc.PENDING CASES• Individuals found to have pending court cases for any of the disqualifying offenses will be disqualified. If the disposition of the pending case does not meet the criteria for the disqualification as listed above, the individual would then be cleared and reinstated.

For more info, go to ibjjf. com

Osvaldo Queixinho will fight the Long Beach BJJ Pro. Photo: Ivan Trindade / GRACIEMAG

The Long Beach BJJ Pro, last IBJJF championship of 2014, has already formed its squad of athletes. The Professional Jiu-Jitsu tournament will be held next Sunday, December 14 in California.

Besides the beautiful medals, the organization will give prize money of more than $ 30,000.

The troop of black belts that have confirmed their presence in the event includes: Osvaldo Queixinho and Samir Chantre (Brasa) in the featherweight; Rodrigo Freitas (Gracie Barra), Marcelo Mafra (Checkmat), Vitor Oliveira (GFTeam), Magid Hage (GB) and Nathan Mendelsohn (Coalition 95) in the middleweight division; Lucas Rocha (GB), Eliot Kelly (Yemaso) and Gabriel Vieira (GFTeam) at heavyweight.

The ultra heavyweight has Yuri Simões (CTA), James Puopolo (Lovato), Carlos Farias (Roberto Traven) and Gustavo Pires (GB).

Ana Laura Cordeiro (GB) and Mackenzie Dern (Gracie Humaita) are the female stars confirmed.

At brown belt, the new generation comes with Isaac Doederlein (Alliance), Yago Espindola (Gracie Humaita), Luke “Hulk” Daniel (Marcio Rodrigues) and Jonathan Van Buren (Nova União).

To see all confirmed athletes, click here.

Who will steal the spotlight, reader?

FGB Arena in Abu Dhabi

The UAEJJF has announced changes in the qualifying system for the 2015 WPJJC.

Athletes will have to take part in one of the national championships set to be held worldwide.

Each championship will appoint 10 male competitors and 6 female competitors for the world event in the UAE.

There will also be wildcard spots.

Around 1000 athletes are expected in Abu Dhabi in 2015.

The UAEJJF will be holding around 35 national championships from August 2014 to March 2015.

More info at uaejjf.com.

Here is the list of countries that will hold national championships:

North America

USA

Canada

Mexico

South America

Brazil

 Europe 

Greece

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

UK

Ireland

Poland

Portugal

 Africa

Angola

South Africa

 Oceania

Australia

 Asia

Kuwait

India

Kazakhstan

Korea

Japan

Uzbekistan

China

What started as a trial run in 2009, is now a widespread project reaching almost all schools of the Emirate.

In this footage you can see the black belts who teach the kids in Abu Dhabi in a get together for pictures and a light roll.

It’s an impressive sight to see 150 black belts on the mat at the same time.

Demian mounted in his most recent performance. Photo: Carlos Arthur Jr / GRACIEMAG

Two more Jiu-Jitsu black belts are confirmed for future combats in the UFC. Coming off wins, the brazilians Demian Maia and Thales Leites were appointed to perform in the UFC in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on August 26. The event will have Ben Henderson x Rafael dos Anjos as the main event.

Mike Pyle (26v, 9d, 1d) will be Demian’s opponent (19v, 6d). The Brazilian is coming off a win over Alexander Yakovlev, this year in May, while Pyle, in his last fight, defeated TJ Waldburguer by TKO in February.

Thales Leites (23V, 4d) faces the tough Francis Carmont. Thales has three straight wins in his return to the Ultimate, the latest against Trevor Smith. Carmont (22v, 9d) accumulates two consecutive defeats against Ronaldo Jacare and CB Dollaway, respectively.

So, reader, do you like the fights scheduled for UFC card in Tulsa? Comment here!

Felipe Preguica attacks Galvao in the Worlds 2014 Photo: GRACIEMAG

Overweight as a child, Felipe ” Preguica ” Pena (Gracie Barra) though he was clumsy in Jiu-Jitsu, but like an ace he proved to himself he was wrong. Absolute world champion at purple belt and runner-up at brown, the Brazilian kid from Minas Gerais already showed everyone that he would bring trouble to whoever crossed his path as a black belt.

Last weekend in Long Beach, California, Felipe fought his first IBJJF Worlds as a black belt and exited with gold, beating the star Andre Galvao in the finals of the heavyweight by 6-4, with a festival of sweeps and attacks on the foot.

What the new phenomenon of Jiu-Jitsu learned from the World title? GRACIEMAG uncovered.

GRACIEMAG: Felipe, what made a difference in your conquest of the World?

FELIPE PENA: I was complete; I played top and bottom, wherever I felt confident. Just believed and everything worked. It was my first worlds as a black belt so it could not be better. In the heavyweight division I had five bouts and finished all my fights but the final match against Andre Galvao. I was fighting at light heavyweight, but it already had Romulo Barral and Braulio Estima, so I decided to take my chances on the heavy and it felt great, I think I’ll stay in this category. I do not want to keep losing weight for every tournament, so I prefer to fight in the category accordantly to my body weight. I want to reach the superheavyweight division one day to become stronger in the absolute.

You played open in the Worlds, top and bottom. The bread and butter were the secret?

The basic Jiu-Jitsu is without any doubt the most important, but I also think it is necessary to monitor the development of the sport. I love the modern Jiu-Jitsu and different positions. I putted in my head that I would be champion. No matter what your opponent has won or how many times he was world champion, at that time in the fight it is only you against him, the winner will be the best in the fight that day.

In your opinion, how was the fight against Andre Galvao? Have you received any hints from Barral?

Rominho gives me a lot of confidence. I always ask him about what to do in my fights and he always says the same thing: “Brother, do anything. You are good in every position, you will be the champion “[laughs]. I think I surprised everyone in the pyramid. Who knew me, knew I could be champion; but most of the viewers were expecting André to be the champion. It was an honor to fight him, always been a fan of his Jiu-Jitsu and fighting against him at the Worlds final is amazing. It was a bustling and beautiful match without stalling, and I think that was what everyone wanted to see. The end of the fight was “hell” [laughs]. Galvão took me down, but I got under him fast to attack his foot. I need to sweep to win, so I managed to get up at the end and score 2 points.

What lesson did you learn after the world’s gold, Felipe?

When I became champion I saw a movie in my head, everything I’ve been through to get there. I was “chubby”, lazy and clumsy in Jiu-Jitsu; so that day turned out to be the best day ever. If I am a champion, it is because I never stopped believing. It’s all about if you’re willing to pay the price. Now I’ll rest a bit, focus on seminars and working at my gym. Next month, I begin to train hard again for the “Copa Podio” in September. Anyone interested in seminars, just look for me on Facebook.

Lower belts wait for their mat assignments at Pan Ams

While the black belts are always the headlining event at the Pan American Championship each year, the colored belts should never be ignored. Often it’s the matches in the lower belts that provide the most action, risk and passion.

Sign up for the 2013 Pan Ams and go ahead, steal the show. Whether you have one year of experience or five, every athlete deserves the opportunity to get on the mat, feel the roar of the Brenn Event Center, be supported by teammates and peers and put Jiu-Jitsu techniques to the test against a viable opponent.

Head over now to the IBJJF website to register today only.

Click here to register now.

The 2013 Pan Ams will be held from Mar 20-24. Be sure to check the pre-schedule to see when you will be competing in order to make your arrangements.

The location is at the UC Irvine Brenn Event Centere 100 Bren Event Center Irvine, California 92617.

Check out some action-packed matches from previous years in the brown and purple belt divisions:

The IBJJ Pro League will be offering 15,000 dollars in prizes to black belts.

A new Jiu-Jitsu event looks set to gather the cream of the gentle-art crop in Long Beach at the end of 2012.

The maiden installment of the IBJJ Pro League will go down December 8 in the famed California State University Long Beach pyramid-shaped gymnasium.

The tournament is exclusively for black belts and will pay out a total $15,000 in prize money to the champions.

According to the organizers, to start there will be three weight groups; however, that number may see a hike, as may the prize money.

Each division will include eight world-elite Jiu-Jitsu athletes.

In the coming days, GRACIEMAG.com will bring you further exclusive news regarding the IBJJ Pro League.

Stay tuned!