Rominho Barral raspa André Galvão na final da categoria, no IBJJ Pro League. Foto: Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG

Em dezembro, Romulo Barral embolsou 5 mil dólares ao vencer a IBJJF Pro League, depois de superar o amigo Otavio Sousa e André Galvão. O professor da Gracie Barra mal teve tempo de comemorar, pois os treinos não podiam parar. A meta? Conquistar seu primeiro título europeu, em Lisboa, no fim deste mês de janeiro.

Conversamos com o mineiro radicado na Califórnia sobre seus treinos para o campeonato da IBJJF. Confira!

GRACIEMAG: Já está na ponta dos cascos para o Europeu em Lisboa?

ROMULO BARRAL: Estou pronto e muito feliz de participar do meu primeiro Europeu. Vamos em busca do primeiro título em Lisboa. Minha preparação está sendo feita desde a Pro League, não parei no Natal nem no Ano Novo. Estou com um time forte na minha academia, consegui montar uma equipe de competição muito boa. Treino todos os dias com meus alunos e meus companheiros. Estou com vários faixas-pretas da Gracie Barra treinando comigo, como o Rodrigo Freitas, Bruno Antunes, Lucas Rocha, Otavio Sousa, Rafael Tinoco e o Magidinho, além dos meus faixas-pretas Cristian Belo, Larry Scot, Ben Saloman. Todos eles me ajudam, e ainda tenho meu preparador físico Leo Frincu.

Chegou a olhar quem está dentro do meio-pesado? Já sabe quem deve ser o maior obstáculo rumo ao ouro?

Ainda não olhei a categoria para não ficar nervoso. Mas tenho certeza de que vai ser só pedreira.

Qual é a sua grande meta para 2013?

Como atleta, participar de todos os principais campeonatos de Jiu-Jitsu. Como treinador, ajudar meu time e meus alunos a se preparar da melhor forma possível. Meu objetivo maior em 2013 é lutar pelo meu quarto título mundial na faixa-preta, e também pelo inédito ouro absoluto mundial.

Como você definiria o estilo Rominho Barral no Jiu-Jitsu?

É um estilo ofensivo o tempo todo. Gosto de jogar para a frente, tanto fazendo guarda como passando.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5njOYaFdvw

Romulo Barral sweeps André Galvão in divisional final at IBJJ Pro League (photo by Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG).

Last December, Romulo Barral pocketed 5,000 dollars by outdoing his friend Otavio Sousa and André Galvão to win his division at the IBJJF Pro League. The Jiu-Jitsu professor from team Gracie Barra didn’t get much time to celebrate, though, as training will not be put on hold. His goal in getting back to the grind? To win his first European Open in Lisbon, Portugal, at the end of this January.

We spoke with the Brazil-California transplant about his training for the IBJJF tournament. Here’s what he had to say:

GRACIEMAG: Are you already in tip-top shape for the European Open in Lisbon?

ROMULO BARRAL: I’m ready and really happy to get to participate in my first European Open. We’re aiming for a first title in Lisbon. I’ve been preparing for it ever since the Pro League. I didn’t stop for Christmas or for New Year’s. I’ve got a strong team at the academy. I managed to set up a really good competition team. I’ve been training with my students and teammates every day. I’ve got a number of Gracie Barra black belts training with me, like Rodrigo Freitas, Bruno Antunes, Lucas Rocha, Otavio Sousa, Rafael Tinoco and Magidinho, as well as my own black belts Cristian Belo, Larry Scot and Ben Saloman. All of them help me, and on top of that there’s my physical conditioning trainer Leo Frincu.

Have you gotten a look at who all is in the medium-heavyweight division? Do you have an idea who will be the biggest obstacle in getting the gold?

I haven’t looked at my division yet to not get nervous. But for sure everyone there is going to be tough.

What’s your big goal for 2013?

As an athlete, to participate in all the main Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. As a coach, to do the best job possible to help my team and students. My main objective in 2013 is to fight for my fourth world title as a black belt as well as to win my first world absolute.

How would you define Romulo Barral’s style of Jiu-Jitsu?

It’s non-stop offense. I like going on the attack, both playing guard and passing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5njOYaFdvw

André Galvão celebra o ouro no último Houston Open de Jiu-Jitsu, em fevereiro de 2012. Foto: Mike Calimbas

A pirâmide de Long Beach, na Califórnia, vai receber no dia 8 de dezembro a estreia do IBJJ Pro League, com prêmios em dinheiro para os melhores faixas-pretas da temporada.

Para enriquecer a disputa até 88kg, André Galvão (Atos) e Vitor Oliveira (GFTeam) confirmaram no fim de semana presença na Liga. Diariamente, a IBJJF vem anunciando alguns nomes certos na disputa pelos 5 mil dólares. São oitos atletas por categoria, brigando pelo prêmio

Confira os nomes confirmados até o momento:

Até 64kg – Koji Shibamoto, Laércio Fernandes, Daniel Beleza, Caio Terra, Rafael Barata

Até 76kg – Augusto Tanquinho, Jonathan Torres, Leandro Lo, Samir Chantre, Lucas Lepri, Rubens Cobrinha

Até 88,3kg – Bruno Antunes, Romulo Barral, Otavio Sousa, Vitor Oliveira, André Galvão

Mais 88,3kg – Gustavo Pires, Bruno Bastos

O torneio aberto Long Beach Open será realizado no mesmo dia, na Pirâmide, e quem quiser disputar as próximas edições da IBJJ Pro League não pode ficar de fora. O Long Beach Open classifica para o IBJJ Pro 2013. Inscreva-se neste novo torneio da IBJJF, aqui.

André Galvão celebrates winning Houston Open in February 2012. Photo by Mike Calimbas.

This coming December 8, the pyramid-shaped gymnasium in Long Beach, California, will host the inaugural IBJJ Pro League, with cash prizes for the top performers among a handful of competitors who placed at the top of the table the past season.

To spice up the under-88 kg division, André Galvão of team Atos and Vitor Oliveira of GFTeam confirmed that they will indeed join the running in the League. The IBJJF has been announcing the names already assured a shot at the 5,000 dollars in prize money. Each division will feature eight fighters.

Check out the names confirmed so far:

Under-64 kg division: Koji Shibamoto, Laércio Fernandes, Daniel Beleza, Caio Terra, Rafael Barata

Under-76 kg division: Augusto Tanquinho, Jonathan Torres, Leandro Lo, Samir Chantre, Lucas Lepri, Rubens Cobrinha

Under-88.3 kg division: Bruno Antunes, Rômulo Barral, Otavio Sousa, Vitor Oliveira, André Galvão

Over-88.3 kg division: Gustavo Pires, Bruno Bastos

The Long Beach Open will take place on the very same day as the Pro League, and it would behoove anyone hoping to get in on future installments of the professional competition to join in: the Long Beach Open is a qualifying event for the 2013 IBJJ Pro. Sign up for the new IBJJF tournament by clicking here.

Augusto Tanquinho (de azul) é um dos nomes confirmados no IBJJ Pro League, dia 8 de dezembro na Califa. Foto: Dan Rod

Falta menos de um mês para o IBJJ Pro League, dia 8 em Long Beach, e os nomes de alguns concorrentes já foram divulgados.

Diariamente, a IBJJF vem anunciando um ou dois nomes fortes confirmados para disputar os prêmios de 5 mil dólares – concedido ao campeão de cada uma das quatro categorias de peso, 64kg, 76kg, 88kg e acima de 88kg.

Até agora, os atletas confirmados foram:

Até 64kg – Koji Shibamoto, Laércio Fernandes

Até 76kg – Augusto Mendes, Jonathan Torres, Leandro Lo Nascimento, Samir Chantre, Lucas Lepri

Até 88,3kg – Rominho Barral, Otavio Sousa, Bruno Antunes

Mais de 88,3 kg – Nenhum nome ainda divulgado.

Cada uma das categorias terá oito concorrentes. O IBJJ Pro terá sua primeira edição realizada na Pirâmide de Long Beach, na Califórnia, com transmissão ao vivo pela IBJJF TV, no site ibjjftv.com.

No mesmo dia do evento, haverá na Pirâmide o Long Beach Fall Open, torneio para todas as faixas que já conta pontos para o IBJJ Pro de 2013. Inscreva-se hoje no Long Beach Fall Open, pois vai só até 30 de novembro. Cadastre-se aqui!

JT and Tanquinho could meet again in the Pro League, this time in the gi

The IBJJ Pro League is less than a month away and the names of some competitors are already known.

Daily, the League is announcing two fighters that will be competing for the $5,000 to be awarded to the champion of each one of the four categories.

So far, the athletes confirmed are:

Up to 64kg – Koji Shibamoto, Laercio Fernandes, Daniel Beleza, Caio Terra

Up to 76kg – Augusto Mendes, Jonathan Torres, Leandro Lo Nascimento, Samir Chantre, Lucas Lepri, Rubens Charles Maciel

Up to 88.3kg – Bruno Antunes, Romulo Barral, Otavio Sousa

Over 88.3kg – TBA

The IBJJ Pro League debut event is set for December 8 at the California State Walter Pyramid, in Long Beach, California. There will be four divisions and each of the four divisions will include eight competitors. Click here for more info on the IBJJ Pro League.

This first installment of the event is exclusively for male black belts, Gi only, and will be broadcast over the internet for free at IBJJF TV (ibjjftv.com). The winner of each division will get a US $5,000 prize. In the next days, the IBJJ Pro League will release the names of other athletes that have also confirmed presence in the event.

And reminding everyone that the champions of the black belt divisions at the Long Beach Fall Open, to take place in the same venue and date as the Pro league , will secure spots in the competition for the $5,000. The registration period for the LB Fall Open is already open and goes on until November 30th. Register now here.

Caio Terra vs. Bruno Antunes at the 2012 American Nationals

Caio Terra (Gracie Fighter) and Bruno Antunes (GB) had two duels at the 2012 American Nationals, last weekend in Carson, California.

In the adult open class black belt gi final on Saturday, Antunes came out on top by refs decision.

One day later, they met again, in the black belt open class no-gi final.

This time, Caio Terra managed to get two advantages to secure the gold medal.

Watch the IBJJF’s video of the fight.

For other results and some great pictures fo the 2012 American Nationals, go to GRACIEMAG’S Facebook page.

Marines at Camp Pendleton / Photos: Gracie Barra archives

Gracie Barra has been involved with Marines for some time, teaching them as students in Gracie Barra schools all around the country, but also going out to local Marines bases, to assist them in their Jiu-Jitsu training. The Camp Pendelton Marines, specifically, have responded well to the training they have received and regularly invite Gracie Barra back to their base for further instruction.

Most recently, Gracie Barra was invited by a San Clemente student, Staff Sergeant Marie, to go to Camp Pendleton to help improve their fighting techniques. “We are honored to be invited to Camp Pendelton to assist the Marines in their Jiu-Jitsu training,” Professor Marcelo Lacerda says, “They fight for our country and are always ready and prepared to go to war when they are called to do so, so it is an honor for us to help them train and perfect their ground combat skills in preparation for that time.”

Professor Marcelo Lacerda lecturing Marines on Jiu-Jitsu technique

Gracie Barra Professors Marcelo Lacerda, Ricardo Testai, Ricardo Moraes, Bruno Antunes, Bruno Rocha, Aldo Januario, and Rodrigo de Freitas as well as Coaches Kanai Brown and Elias Ramirez III were all on hand to assist with the class.

Bruno Antunes wrestles a tractor tire during training

Juggernaut is a strength and conditioning facility that Smith says, helps Jiu-Jitsu athletes increase their power, strength, coordination, and speed. “It’s great for their cardio,” he says, “They will have the ‘explosion’ they need, when they need it.”

Smith and his business partner, Nate Winkler, opened Juggernaut in September 2009. Smith is a two-time National Shot Put champion and is currently ranked 3rd in the world in his weight class as a power lifter. “My weight class is the 308’s,” he says, “I’m a very physically dense person.” Smith isn’t kidding. With his 6 feet tall, 300-pound frame, he’s a very solid and imposing individual.

Smith says, he had a tough start in the business. “I got laughed out of one guy’s office,” he says, “It couldn’t have been a worse experience, but then I connected with the Jiu-Jitsu community through Fabio “Gigante” Vellela. He was totally into strength and conditioning for his athletes.” After that, Smith met Mikey Gomez who took him to meet and train with Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Alexandre “Dande” Santos, Philipe Della Monica, and Ulpiano Malachias, to name a few.

“I’ve been working with the Gracie Barra athletes to increase their speed and power, so they feel confident going into their fights. They’ll know that even at the last minute of their matches, they’ll still be feeling ‘fresh-ish’ while the guys they’re fighting are gassing out.”

Smith says strength is the basis of everything. “When Jiu-Jitsu technique is the same, strength will win out,” he says, “Like Jiu-Jitsu itself, I’m helping these guys become more effective with less effort. They are doing more with less effort. They aren’t going to gas out when they need to explode.”

Fabiana Borges is excited about the No-Gi Worlds and feels her extra training is going to help her in her matches. “For the first time, I’m going to fight at the light weight division,” she says, “I’m trying to gain a lot of muscle. Since I’ve been doing more strength and conditioning, my cardio is better. I don’t get tired training anymore.”

Bruno Antunes, who’s consistently been medaling on the tournament circuit lately, hopes his additional training will push him into the gold medal bracket. “I’m very excited to fight at the No-Gi Worlds because I think I’m prepared to fight now,” he says, “I started this physical conditioning and I really feel like it’s helped me become stronger and faster. I feel ready to fight and I hope to have good results.”

Rodrigo Simoes agrees. “I feel really good because of all my extra training,” Rodrigo says, “I’m also ready to fight.” Mikey Gomez, who’s been fighting MMA for the last four years, has been training really hard for the No Gi Worlds. “I’m excited to compete in the toughest division there is – the black belt division – after four years of just fighting MMA.”

Fabricio Pitanguy, who recently came out from Renzo Gracie’s school, says, “I feel great. My training’s been awesome. The conditioning has helped me a lot and my Jiu-Jitsu training is really good too, so I just really just want to play my game and see what happens.”

Jeff Schulz says since training at Juggernaut, “I’m not afraid to get tired when I’m fighting anymore because I know I can recover fast. Going out and fighting at the Worlds will be a lot easier than coming here for the training!”

Smith is pleased with all of their results so far. “I see them improving weekly,” he says, “There’s a marketable difference in their work outs today compared to five weeks ago. It’s not even comparable.”

With the Worlds coming up quickly this weekend, it remains to be seen how Gracie Barra will do, but one thing is certain: they are primed and ready to go.

Laercio Fernandes and Giva Santana. Photos: Deb Blyth.

In the adult light featherweight final, Caio Terra of Gracie Fighter faced Laercio Fernandes of Lotus Club BJJ. Terra, coming off his big win in the open class the day before, told GRACIEMAG.com on Saturday that he was unsure whether he wouldo compete in his division on Sunday because of a back injury he suffered in his open matches. However, he chose to compete anyway, and he and Fernandes went at it, with Fernandes pulling off the big win.

Fernandes won on points, 4-2. “It was a hard fight,” an excited Fernandes says, “He’s a world champion. I trained really hard for this tournament.” This was Fernandes’s ninth tournament of the year.

“I had a good experience,” he says, “I’m very happy I got to fight Caio Terra. Thanks to my master, Giva Santana, and to my team.” Next up for Fernandes: the No-Gi Worlds in November.

In the adult featherweight division, the final was between Wellington “Megaton” Dias of Gracie Humaita and Samir Chantre of Gracie Fighter. Chantre won with an arm bar. “I pulled guard, swept him, and then fell into mount,” Chantre says, “He tried to push me off and he extended his arm. I caught it, waited for my points, and then went to the arm bar.”

Samir Chantre

Chantre says he uses this sweep often. There is no name for it, but it seems to work for him when he applies it because he recently won another tournament with it. “I’m not totally stabilized when I do it, so everyone tries to push me off and they extend their arm,” he says.

In the semifinals, he was excited to face Baret Yoshida. Chantre and Yoshida have a personal competition going. “He beat me in the 2009 No-Gi Worlds,” Chantre says, “This was a rematch. He tapped me out last time. This time I won by an advantage.”

Chantre competed in the black belt open on Saturday, but did not medal. He lost in the last thirty seconds of his match. He tried the same sweep maneuver on a heavier competitor, but he pulled his arm back, so Chantre didn’t get the submission he was looking for, but Chantre was still happy with his performance. “Caio Terra is my training partner and roommate and he has been helping me a lot,” he says.

Rodrigo Simoes and his GB Team

In the adult lightweight division finals, Rodrigo Simões from Gracie Barra Manhattan Beach competed against Zak Maxwell of Gracie Humaitá and won on points. “I pulled to guard,” a happy Simões says, “I swept him, then he swept me, and then I swept him again.” After all the back-and-forthing, it became a bit of a “dog fight” at the end as Maxwell fought to pick up points before time ran out. Simões ended up winning 4-2 to pick up the gold in his division.

Simões competed in the open class the day before, but did not medal. He won his first match by an advantage, but got caught in an arm triangle to Caio Terra in his second match.

“I trained really hard for this tournament,” Simões said, “I’ve been taking a special conditioning class with Kayron Gracie, Fabiana Borges, and Mikey Gomez. It’s really been helping.” Simões’s next stop will be the New York No-Gi Pan.

In the adult medium weight class, the division ended with Ryan Beauregard and Clark Gracie, both of BJJ Revolution, in the finals. They tried to come up with a gentleman’s agreement, but were unable to come to terms, so they decided to compete for the gold, with Gracie tapping Beauregard out to win it.

Clark Gracie

Gracie says that he and Beauregard couldn’t agree on who should take the gold and all that talk got him out of his zone. “I came out not in tune for the fight,” he says, “It was hard to go 100% against a friend, but as soon as I felt his intensity, it woke me up, and I knew I had to match it.”

Beauregard was winning 4-0 when he ended up in Gracie’s guard. “I finished the match with an omoplata,” Gracie says, “I choked him from that position.” Gracie later informed GRACIEMAG.com that the referee told him the score should have been 4-2 because he hadn’t counted Gracie’s takedown. Regardless, the points were not a factor because of Gracie’s submission.

Gracie’s first divisional match was against Marcelo Mafra. “It was a good fight,” he says, “I had never competed against him before, so I didn’t know his game. I played it safe.”

This is Gracie’s fourth time winning a gold at the American Nationals in other belts. “This is my first medal as a black belt,” Gracie says. He received his coveted belt on May 29, 2010 from his father Carley Gracie. “I’m really excited to be stepping up as a black belt,” Gracie says, “I’m getting ready to face the best guys in the world.”

Gracie is now back training and teaching at his academy, Gracie La Jolla, in San Diego, but he will be back facing all the best guys in the world at the 2010 No-Gi Worlds, which he won last year as a brown belt.

At adult medium heavyweight, Marco “Sharpei” Machado from Drysdale Jiu-Jitsu and Bruno Antunes from Gracie Barra found themselves in the final together again. They met in the same position at the Las Vegas Open, with the same results. Machado took gold again.

Machado’s first match was DQ’d, so Antunes was Machado’s first and final fight. Machado won by five advantage points. “I went to take him down, and he tried to fight on top. After a couple of minutes, I pulled to guard. I laid a lot of pressure.” Machado almost passed his guard twice and almost took his back twice.

“I had a lot of fun,” he says, “I like this tournament.” Machado is proud of his Drysdale team. “Our team is growing a lot. Everybody fights really well.” Machado will be at the Miami Open in October and then the No-Gi Worlds in November.

In the super heavy adult division, Bruno Bastos of Nova União, not fully recovered from his loss to Caio Terra in the absolute on Saturday, won his first and final match against Alberto Silva Vilanova from Gracie Barra and took home the gold for his academy.

“I swept him, then passed his guard,” Bastos says, “We both got penalties in the match because we weren’t moving. I passed his guard again and won by points.” Bastos says at one point Vilanova almost got him in a guillotine. “I almost tapped,” he says, “Then I heard Gustavo (Dantas) say ‘there’s only one minute thirty seconds left,’ so I tried to control my breathing and I was able to escape. He was a really tough guy.”

Bastos says he was still tired from the open and he refereed all day, so that had an impact on his performance, but he carried on anyway. “I have to support the sport to keep it growing,” he says, “It’s a pleasure to help grow it in the U.S.”

This was Bastos’s first time at the American Nationals. “I really liked it,” he says, “Gustavo Dantas brought lots of students and I brought some, too, but I hope to bring more next year to get a trophy. Thanks to Nova União and Octagon in Dallas for their support.”

Leandro Santos and Stephen Hall

In the adult ultra heavy weight class, Leandro Santos of Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu fought Stephen Hall of Alliance and won the gold medal for his efforts. Santos was coming off a third place win in the absolute.

Santos hadn’t competed in over a year because of a triceps injury. “I felt more confident today than yesterday,” Santos says, “Everything was clearer today. I was able to move better and think clearer. I pulled guard to feel him out and ended up in his guard. I was able to pass. I felt loose by the end of the fight.”

Santos wasn’t feeling 100% at the tournament. “I was more confident in my grip exchanging, but I can’t grip well. I missed so many competitions. I was only performing at about 40% this weekend.”

Santos says during the open class on Saturday, he felt foggy and was late getting into positions. “Competing is way different than in the gym,” he says, “Split-second decisions count and I definitely paid for my mistakes. Thanks to Saulo and Xande for being my masters, and Cory Miller, Gazze and Mica for all their support inside and outside the mats.”