Gustavo in photo by Felipe Pires

The passing of a law in the Illinois throws a major wrench into the holding of competitions in the American state. As Rodrigo Comprido reported to GRACIEMAG.com, the law equates Jiu-Jitsu to MMA, meaning the sport will be regulated by the local Boxing Commission.

Among the news resolutions, according to the fighter, all competitors will have to undergo blood tests, which makes the logistics all the more difficult, considering how upwards of a thousand athletes may sign up for a single competition.

Comprido also mentioned that the Chicago Open, the biggest 100% gentle art rules event in the state, may me canceled. Addressing the issue, the IBJJF, the governing body that puts together the tournament, announced its official position this Monday:

“In light of Illinois state law 1490, from May 31, 2011, the IBJJF will seek to conform to the new regulations. The date and location for the event will be announced as soon as possible,” says the International Federation website.

The maiden Chicago International Open event was held in 2010, with Rodrigo “Comprido” Medeiros becoming the tournament’s first absolute champion. This year saw a winter edition of the Chicago Open. Among the champions were Samuel Braga, Philipe Della Monica, Davi Ramos, Rodrigo Medeiros, Rodrigo Comprido and Gustavo Pires. No date has been set for the next installment.

There’s a sort of petition going around on Facebook to pressure lawmakers to negotiate on the new law. Click here.

Gustavo, em foto de Felipe Pires.

A aprovação de uma lei em Illinois dificulta, e muito, a realização de competições Jiu-Jitsu no estado americano. Segundo informou Rodrigo Comprido ao GRACIEMAG.com, com esta lei o Jiu-Jitsu se equivale ao MMA. O esporte passa a se submeter à Comissão Atlética de Boxe local.

Entre as novas resoluções, segundo o lutador, todos os atletas passariam, por exemplo, a fazer exame de sangue obrigatório, logística difícil em eventos que podem ultrapassar mil inscritos.

Comprido também comentou o possível cancelamento do Chicago Open, maior evento 100% nas regras da arte suave no estado. Sobre isso, a IBJJF, entidade que organiza a competição, passou a sua posição oficial nesta segunda-feira:

“Em vista à lei 1490 do estado de Illinois, de 31 de maio de 2011, a IBJJF procura se adequar à nova regulamentação. A data e local do evento vão ser anunciados assim que possível”, diz o site da Federação Internacional.

O Chicago International Open teve sua primeira edição em 2010 e contou com Rodrigo Medeiros, o Comprido, como campeão do absoluto. Neste ano, houve a edição de inverno do Chicago Open. Entre os campeões, feras como Samuel Braga, Philipe Della Monica, Davi Ramos, Rodrigo Comprido e Gustavo Pires. A próxima edição do torneio agora segue sem data definida.

Existe uma espécie de abaixo assinado no Facebook para dar alguma pressão na negociação com os deputados sobre a lei. Clique aqui.

Adem Redzovic celebrates Chicago Winter Open team title. Photo: publicity.

Gracie Barra’s leader in the midwest, Adem Redzovic, is celebrating the teams victory at last weekend’s IBJJF Chicago Open. Here’s what the the black belt professor had to say:

“The IBJJF always puts on the most organized and well-run tournaments in the region, by far. So it’s always exciting to attend the event. It’s kind of like a family reunion to see old friends, and it’s great to see our competitors compete against teams from around the United States. This weekend we had great performances all around, notably black belts Gustavo ‘Siri’ Pires winning his division as well as the absolute in amazing fashion, Professor Marcos Barros, who sustained a pretty serious injury a few days before the event but still managed to compete and win his division. In the brown belt we saw Idriz Redzovic win the superheavy division in style, using his infamous lapel choke from the side mount in the final, and so many more upcoming talents, too many to mention!”

“This victory was not only for Gracie Barra, but for Chicago, for Illinois. Last event Lloyd Irvin sent a strong team here taking the title home with them to Maryland. We had to do our best to not let someone come in our backyard and take the team title again,”  jokes the professor.

Davi Ramos in photo by Carlos Ozório

The Chicago International Winter Open, the maiden event of which was held this Saturday, is yet another event helping the IBJJF in its mission of spreading the gentle art around the world. Among the standouts from this inaugural editions is Davi Ramos, a black belt from Rio de Janeiro’s Top Brother academy who usually competes alongside the folks from Atos.

“I competed at middleweight. In my first match I swept, passed guard, and finished with an armbar. In the final I beat Clark Gracie by submission, also by armbar,” recounts Davi.

And the fighter also stuck his neck out in the open weight division, where he took silver, losing the decider to Gustavo Pires.

“I took second in the absolute. I’m going through a good phase early this year. First I won my division and the absolute at Naga, in Atlanta, and this time I had a solid campaign in Chicago,” he remarks.

“And now I’m heading to San Diego to sharpen up my holds with Gilbert Durinho, Guto Campos, Rafael and Guilherme Mendes, as well as all the others from team Atos. We’re going to train real hard for the Pan, the World Pro, Brazilian Nationals and the Worlds,” he adds.

Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com for all the latest in Jiu-Jitsu.

Davi Ramos em foto de Carlos Ozório.

O Chicago International Winter Open, que estreou neste sábado, é mais um evento que ajuda a IBJJF na missão de difundir a arte suave pelo mundo. Entre os destaques desta primeira edição está Davi Ramos, faixa-preta da Top Brother, no Rio, que costuma competir ao lado do pessoal da Atos.

“Lutei de médio. Na primeira luta raspei, passei a guarda e finalizei com um armlock. Na final ganhei do Clark Gracie por finalização, também com um armlock.”, conta Davi.

E o lutador também se arriscou na categoria aberta, onde ficou com a prata, batido na decisão por Gustavo Pires.

“Fiquei em segundo no absoluto. Esse  início de ano estou em boa  fase. Primeiro venci categoria e absoluto no Naga, em Atlanta, e dessa vez tive essa boa campanha em Chicago”, comenta.

“E agora vou rumo a San Diego para ajustar as pegadas com o Gilbert Durinho, Guto Campos, Rafael e Guilherme Mendes, além de todo o  pessoal da equipe Atos. Vamos treinar forte para o Pan, World Pro, Brasileiro e Mundial”, completa.

Fique ligado no GRACIEMAG.com para saber mais sobre Jiu-Jitsu.

André and team in Houston / Photo: personal archive

One of the leaders of Brazil 021, André Terencio, or better known in the Jiu-Jitsu world as André Negão, is celebrating the solid performance from his students at the Houston International Open. His team is also confirmed at the next of the so-called Open events, which will take place this weekend in Chicago.

“Whenever we can, we take our students to Chicago for the events the IBJJF puts on. On February 12 and 13 we went to Houston with five athletes from Chicago and we brought back five medals (three bronze, one silver and one gold)! Some partners of ours, from Brazil 021 Houston (Professor Marcos Cerqueira), also placed. It was a really high-level event,” remarks the black belt.

“This weekend, we’re taking nineteen athletes and we hope to repeat the achievement from Houston, with everyone making it onto the podium. We had an eight-week camp and we hope to put on a good show. I feel it’s really important that Chicago be a part of the IBJJF calendar; that way it will be a reference for the style in the USA, as is the case with California and Texas,” he remarks.

“What I always hear from the folks is, ‘Teach, you were right, once you compete at an IBJJF event, you never see the other competitions the same, since everything works. I can take my kids to watch me compete, since I know I’ll be called up on time. Besides that, they’re totally family-oriented events,’” he says in closing.

And stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com for all the latest on the Chicago Winter Open.

André e a equipe em Houston. Foto: Arquivo Pessoal.

Um dos comandantes da Brazil 021, André Terencio, mais conhecido no mundo do Jiu-Jitsu como André Negão, festeja o desempenho dos seus alunos no Houston International Open. Sua equipe está confirmada também em mais uma edição dos chamados eventos Open, que acontece neste fim de semana, em Chicago.

“Sempre que podemos, levamos nossos alunos de Chicago para os eventos que a IBJJF promove. Nos dias 12 e 13 de fevereiro fomos até Houston com cinco atletas de Chicago e trouxemos para casa cinco medalhas (três bronzes, uma prata e um ouro)! Outros parceiros nossos, da Brazil 021 Houston (professor Marcos Cerqueira), também medalharam. Foi um evento de altíssimo nível!”, comenta o faixa-preta.

Agora, André prepara seus alunos para o Chicago Winter International Open.

“Neste final de semana, vamos com 19 atletas e esperamos repetir o feito de Houston, com todos os atletas no pódio. Fizemos um camp de oito semanas e esperamos ter uma boa apresentação. Acho muito importante Chicago fazer agora parte do calendário da IBJJF, pois assim se tornará uma referência na modalidade nos EUA, como acontece na Califórnia e Texas”, comenta.

Para André, o mais importante é a satisfação dos alunos.

“O que escuto sempre do pessoal é: ‘Professor, o senhor tinha razão. Uma vez lutando os eventos da IBJJF, não vemos as outras competições com os mesmos olhos, pois nela tudo funciona. Posso levar meus filhos para assistir minha lutas, pois sei que serei chamado na hora. Além disso, é um evento totalmente familiar”, encerra.

E fique ligado no GRACIEMAG.com para saber as últimas notícias do Chicago Winter Open.

Tudor, who’s known for his submission artistry on the mats, is widely known for his surfing skills in the water. He’s won the U.S. Open in Longboarding a record eight times and took the ASP Longboard World Championship as well.

On Saturday, February 26, 2011, you can catch the Jiu-Jitsu black belts coaching students at the Chicago Open, and on the next day, Sunday, February 27, 2011, they’ll be back on the mats putting on a Gi and No-Gi seminar. “We are coming to represent,” Gracie says, “Everyone’s welcome to come to our seminar.”

Gracie will be showing his best Gi techniques and Tudor will be covering the No-Gi portion of the seminar. Don’t miss the opportunity to catch these two world champion California boys on the mats in the Midwest.

The dynamic duo will be teaching at Gracie’s new academy in Chicago. For more information, you can contact Gracie at: CLARKGRACIE.COM or (619) 865-3177.

Bernardo Faria won the absolute at the 2010 Pan. Photo: Ivan Trindade.

This Friday also marks the deadline for the biggest discount to sign up for the Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championship to take place from the 24th to the 27th of March in California. Find out more by clicking here.

Get in on the IBJJF events!

Bernardo Faria venceu peso e absoluto no Pan 201o. Foto: Ivan Trindade.

Também nesta sexta-feira termina o prazo que dá maior desconto para o Pan de Jiu-Jitsu, evento que acontece nos dias 24, 25, 26 e 27 de março, na Califórnia. Saiba mais clicando aqui.

Participe dos eventos da IBJJF!

Inverno em Chicago. Foto: Divulgação.

Depois do Campeonato Europeu, que deu início à temporada 2011 da IBJJF, o calendário da entidade já está a todo vapor. O próximo evento para os atletas da categoria adulto é o Chicago Winter International Open, que promete esquentar o inverno americano.

As inscrições para o evento, que acontece na Chicago State University, ainda estão abertas. No entanto, é bom correr, já que se encerram nesta quarta-feira. Não perca essa oportunidade. Saiba mais clicando aqui.

Além disso, já estão abertas as inscrições para o Pan 2011, que acontece nos dias 24, 25, 26 e 27 de março, na Califórnia. Até o dia 18 deste mês, o valor é de US$ 88. Depois, ainda em preço promocional, passa para US$ 98, até o dia 5 de março. O prazo final é no dia 16 de março.

Saiba mais sobre o Pan clicando aqui.

Winter in Chicago / Photo: publicity

Following the European Open Championship kicking off the 2011 IBJJF season, the federation is now going full steam. The next event on the horizon for athletes in the adult division is the Chicago Winter International Open, which promises to heat up the North American winter.

Sign-ups are open for the event, to take place at Chicago State University. Better hurry, though, as the final deadline is this Wednesday. Don’t miss this opportunity. Find out more by clicking here.

What’s more, sign-ups are already underway for the 2011 Pan, which will take place the coming 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th of March in California. The price is US$ 88 until the 18th of this month. Then – also at a reduced rate –, the price hikes up to US$ 99, until March 5. The final deadline is March 16.

Find out more about the Pan by clicking here.