One of the best matches at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu Tour, in Tokyo, two weeks ago, was between Roberto Satoshi and Celso Venícius.

The two black belts battled for the 74kg division gold medal.

Watch here how the match played out.

Don’t forget to register now for the next leg of the Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu Tour, in Los Angeles.

It takes place next October 18, in Azusa, CA.

Click here to register now and compete for great prizes at the event organized by the UAEJJF.

Check the table below for the prizes:

Tokyo, Japan

If you are thinking of competing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu Tour in Tokyo, Japan, you have only four days to register.

The final deadline is August 24 and the event organized by the UAEJJF is open to all nationalities.

Click here to register.

Some pretty big names are already confirmed to compete at the first leg of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu Tour, in Tokyo, Japan.

Paulo Miyao, Erberth Santos, Mike Fowler, Roberto Satoshi, Celso Venicius, Lucio Lagarto, Clark Gracie, Gregor Gracie, Rodrigo Caporal, Faisal Alkitbe, among others will be on the mats next August 29.

If Japan is too out of your way, know that the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu Tour will also make a stop in the greater Los Angles area on October 18.

The registration period for that event is already open and the final deadline is October 12.

Click here for more info and to register now.

The event will take place at the Azusa Pacific University, in Azusa, CA.

Once again, there are some big money prizes on the line (check table below).

Caroline Gracie presents another issue of the best Jiu-Jitsu magazine in the world.

This time, we went after world champion Celsinho Venícius for a class on the half guard.

You’ll also find great tips about weight loos for athletes, massage, the coverage of the American Nationals and much more.

Subscribe now and get amazing gifts.

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:

This Saturday night the professor at Ryan Gracie SP left another opponent in his wake.

In the main event at Moema FC, Celso tapped out Henrique Morgan via rear-naked choke at 3:50 min of the first round.

“It wasn’t a big event, but it was a well-organized event,” remarked Celso.

Udi Lima in MMA action / Photo: personal archive

A student of Jiu-Jitsu black belt Celso Venícius, Udi Lima came up spades in MMA last Saturday at Dragon Fight, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.

The ace from Ryan Gracie academy had to fight thrice on the same night to capture the under-70 kg GP title and get his hands on a spanking new motorcyle. “He got the finish in all three of his fights and got the championship belt. Udi now has 27 wins on his record,” reported Celso, who’s showing he’s got ts as a trainer as well.

“Another student of mine, Viscardi, won his fight at the Brazil Combate event, too, beating Horito [Cia Paulista/Chute Boxe team]. Visconde has 20 wins on his record, 12 of them coming in his last 13 fights,” he added.

Check out Udi Lima in action at the Dragon Fight GP:

Ao vencer a final com o campeão mundial sem kimono Justin Rader (Lovato), Celsinho Venícius (Gracie SP) foi o grande nome do Ultimate Absolute 2, em Nova York, no fim de semana.

Confira a campanha do campeão clicando aqui.

A seguir, veja as melhores fotos do evento sem kimono, feitas pela fera Cristian Buitron.

[flickr set=72157629097353884]

Black belts Fernando Belatio, Celsinho Venicius and Carlos Russo with students Mauricio, Christian and Rafael at Ryan Gracie academy. Another good choice for training in the country's biggest city.

Practitioners and enthusiasts of Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing and MMA will be treated to a new place to train in June. Located in the southern part of the city of São Paulo, Ryan Gracie/Veras TK plans to shake things up in the Moema neighborhood, which will feature the first official octagon in São Paulo proper, boasting the same measurements as the UFC stage.

Jiu-Jitsu, the most efficient method of self-defense in the world, will be under the charge of black belt Carlos Russo, while muay thai will be overseen by seasoned teacher Francisco Veras. Boxing will be taught by Junior “Babu” Belém, the teacher at the Olympic training center.

Celso Venícius’s story in the Worlds black belt division began back in 2005. Since then the Rio de Janeiro native who relocated to São Paulo went through a roller coaster of emotions. The highs were the titles he won on the year of his debut and in 2006 and 2008. By the same token, he fell to Lucas Lepri in the semifinals in 2007 and took runner-up in 2010, following a 0-0 draw that the judges awarded to Michael Langhi. He only refrained from competing in 2009.

Some weeks ago Celso announced the 2011 Worlds could be his final attempt to lay claim to a fourth lightweight world title, an unprecedented achievement in the division. In an exclusive GRACIEMAG at the Worlds Blog interview, the heir to the São Paulo academy of the legendary Ryan embodied the controversial spirit of the late Gracie in the intensity with which he responded to questions pertaining to his retirement, past, present and even his future.

Spilling his heart, Celso criticized the current framework for Jiu-Jitsu championships, identified his greatest adversary, remembered his finest hour at the Worlds (when he took the chance to jab at another of the gentle art’s big names), and revealed that his retirement may not be final, as he has not yet fulfilled some of his aspirations in gi-clad competition.

A história de Celso Venícius na faixa-preta do Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu começou em 2005. De lá para cá, o carioca hoje radicado em São Paulo viveu uma montanha-russa de emoções. Os pontos altos foram os títulos no ano de estréia, em 2006 e em 2008. Por outro lado, foi finalizado por Lucas Lepri na semifinal de 2007 e ficou com o vice em 2010, em decisão dos juízes após um 0 x 0 com Michael Langhi. Apenas em 2009 ele não esteve presente.

Há algumas semanas, Celsinho anunciou que o Mundial 2011 pode ser a sua última tentativa de garantir o tetracampeonato no leve, feito ainda inédito na categoria. Em entrevista exclusiva ao Blog GRACIEMAG no Mundial, o herdeiro da academia paulistana do lendário e saudoso Ryan encarnou o espírito polêmico do Gracie para responder com intensidade aos questionamentos sobre os motivos da aposentadoria, seu passado, presente e também seu futuro.

De peito aberto, Celsinho criticou o modelo atual dos campeonatos de Jiu-Jitsu, elegeu seu maior adversário, relembrou seu grande momento no Mundial (quando aproveitou para alfinetar outro grande nome da arte suave) e revelou que a aposentadoria pode não ser definitiva, já que tem alguns desejos ainda não satisfeitos quando se trata de competir de kimono.

Celso in match with Durinho / Photo: Luca Atalla

Three-time world champion Celso Venícius had gone since the 2010 installment of the event without competing and only managed to get two week’s of intense training in for this year’s World Pro. Once in Abu Dhabi, the Roberto Gordo black belt beat some of the trickier opponents in the under-74 kg division, stopping only at Leandro “Lo” Pereira in the final. In the following interview the teacher at Ryan Gracie academy confirmed he will be at this year’s Worlds, which may mark his competition farewell.

We spoke before the World Pro and you said you were hardly able to train for the event. So was second-place a good result for you then?

It’s always nice to win. I lost in the final but do feel I did have a good run up till then. I faced a bunch of really stalwart opponents and managed to beat them. Considering how little I trained, I feel I did well. I had four really tough matches on the first day, and having only trained for two weeks, I exceeded my expectations. But regardless of the physical form I’m in, I always fight to be champion.

So what do you think happened in the final against Leandro?

I already knew Leandro from around here in São Paulo because he’s faced a number of my students. I’ve had my eye on him for some time. I already knew he was tough, and he had an excellent campaign. What’s there to say? He eliminated favorites like Michael Langhi. I feel I fought poorly against him, didn’t perform at full capacity. I beat two opponents I really wanted to beat (Gilbert Durinho and Rubens Cobrinha) on the first day, so perhaps that threw me off focus, seeing as I was so pleased with myself. Then, Leandro was better and beat me; he’s to be congratulated, props to him.

Who to you were the main standouts in Abu Dhabi?

Tanquinho kicked butt in the under-65-kg class. Atos brought its best guys and he beat them one by one; it was impressive. Lagarto was on fire too – he’s been around a long time and even beat cancer. He’s a great friend and it was really touching to see him; I was really pleased. But the big standout was Rodolfo Vieira; he’s a beast and plowed through everyone in his way. I feel those three plus Leandro were the standouts.

You’ve also told GRACIEMAG.com in the past that the 2011 Worlds will likely be your competition farewell. Is that still the case?

Count me in at the Worlds. I’d previously said I’d fight this Worlds and then rethink my career. Winning a tournament or two won’t change my situation as a teacher at all, I’ll always go back to that. But I’ll be at the Worlds; I’m going to put in some intense training for it. I want a win at this championship to wrap up with crowning glory.