By Professor Fabiano Papel

As a Jiu-Jitsu referee, one of the most common things I see is athletes competing for the first time who are completely unprepared. Many, especially white belts, enter tournaments without knowing the rules, understanding the basic procedures, or even ensuring they have the proper equipment.

In this article, I will highlight the key points you should pay attention to when competing, especially in IBJJF tournaments. While these tips are specific to IBJJF events, they can also be useful for other competitions.

Take care of your nails in advance – Trim your nails at the beginning of the event week. Doing it on the competition day can weaken your grips and even cause discomfort.

Monitor your weight – Check your weight before the event and, if necessary, adjust your category in advance. Avoid last-minute weight cuts that could affect your performance.

Check your gi – Make sure your gi meets the federation’s requirements. I often see athletes panicking because their gi doesn’t comply with the rules, forcing them to buy or borrow one at the last minute. Prevent this stress by checking everything beforehand.

Study the rules – Understanding the referee’s verbal commands, knowing the scoring system, and being aware of potential penalties can make the difference between winning and losing a match.

Arrive early at the event – I recommend arriving at least one hour before your scheduled match. IBJJF tournaments often move faster than planned, and being late could cost you your chance to compete. Arriving early allows you to check if you can weigh in and report to your ring coordinator.

Stay alert after your match – If you win, remain in the warm-up area. If you need to leave, inform the area coordinator. Many athletes miss their next match because they leave the area and can’t be found, which could lead to disqualification.

By following these guidelines, you’ll avoid unnecessary setbacks and be able to focus on what truly matters: giving your best on the mats!

If you found these tips helpful and want more Jiu-Jitsu and competition-related content, follow me on Instagram @fabianopapel! I regularly share insights to help you improve on your journey.

Good luck, and see you on the mats! Oss!

What did you learn from your recent victory at the IBJJF Phoenix Open? 

ANDRE FREIRE: The Phoenix Open has a very high competitive level, my victory in the event boosts confidence for bigger competitions, especially for the No-Gi Worlds, a competition in which I’ve been on the podium in the past, but now I want the highest place.

Who is your greatest idol in your career?
Ayrton Senna is a great idol, that reference of pursuing excellence in what he does, not giving up in the face of adversity, especially because he is not in my sport, being able to motivate those who have never even seen a racing car up close.
 
What are your goals for the future in the USA?

I have some important titles that I want to achieve, like World Masters, and also be able to teach Jiu-Jitsu as a lifestyle and the benefits of this art to as many people as I can.
 
What is the philosophy behind your school?
Promote the different aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, such as martial art, sport and self-defense. My desire is to positively achieve people’s different goals, respecting each person’s adversities and limitations.

ADGS Miami is scheduled for September 16th and 17th. Photo by AJP

As a luxury warm-up for the awaited Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, a big challenge draws closer in the AJP calendar. Scheduled for September 16th and 17th, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Miami bears the promise of a great Jiu-Jitsu show with renowned athletes already set to compete in it. On the first day of the competition, the experienced Masters heat up the mats with their knowledge of the gentle art. Then, on the second and last day, the Professional category takes the stage to put on a spectacle of its own for the fans at the arena, and those who will follow the event live on AJPTour.tv.

The location is a big part of the tournament’s allure. While the competition itself will take place in the spacious Watsco Center, providing all its comfort to athletes and fans alike, the warm weather of the Floridian summer and the pristine Miami beaches add to the overall experience, making this one of the most tantalizing AJP tournaments this year. That’s not to mention the many other attractions that the city offers to its visitors, such as natural parks and exciting nightlife.

Another key aspect of the ADGS Miami is the points. Athletes looking to rise through their respective rankings should not miss this opportunity, as the event offers its headliners 2000 points. This means that, apart from the experience to be gained by facing some of the toughest fighters in the sport, each champion will receive a considerable boost in their journey toward the top of the AJP leaderboards.

Among the heavy hitters registered to compete in Miami, we have names like Ronaldo Junior, Roosevelt Sousa, Julia Alves, Marcos Carrozinno, Ingridd Alves, Ricardo Evangelista, Isadora Silva, Pedro Pimenta “Bombom”, Jhonathan Pessanha “Moicano”, and other elite athletes.

So don’t waste any more time and start planning your trip to Miami. Enjoy the local climate, test your skills among the best in the world, and shoot for the stars on the AJP ranking. Click here and register now for the ADGS Miami!

Raphael Cadena represents RMNU HQ team. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Professor Raphael Cadena, our GMI in Florida, answered GRACIEMAG’s request and prepared a series of exercises for you to sharpen your grips on the spider guard. A representative of the RMNU HQ school and trained by A2 Jiu-Jitsu teacher Leandro Azara in Teresópolis, Raphael is a seasoned competitor and has prepared for you a simple and efficient spider guard sweep for you to implement in your game.

Check out the sweep below:

Fabio Trindade is a Jiu-Jitsu professor at Gracie Barra Tarzana. Photo: Reproduction

Fabio Trindade does consistent work as a Jiu-Jitsu professor at Gracie Barra Tarzana, led by champions Romulo Barral and Edwin Najmi and based in Los Angeles, California. A four-degree black belt, Fabio teaches classes to children and adults and draws on his experience as a BJJ and MMA fighter to teach the sport’s key lessons. 

Fabio had his first contact with Jiu-Jitsu in 1994, when he was still living in Manaus. He started training to combat the bullying he suffered at school and fell in love with the martial art. “Today, I have a comfortable life as a teacher and I work with what I love. I have the possibility to help my mother and other family members and that is priceless. I paid a high price along the way, but it was worth it,” said Fabio.

In a chat with the GRACIEMAG.com team, Fabio Trindade recalled his beginnings in Jiu-Jitsu and listed the greatest lessons he learned from the competitions.

GRACIEMAG: How did your history in Jiu-Jitsu begin?

FABIO TRINDADE: I had my first experience with Jiu-Jitsu in 1994, in Manaus. I was overweight and suffered bullying at school, my nicknames were “Fabola” and “Bolinha de Sabão”. That made me down and depressed. A friend of mine, Aleks Siqueira, who defended me from the others, already trained Jiu-Jitsu and was a yellow belt at the time. He was the first person who encouraged me to train. I took my first class at Nova União and trained there for three months. However, I left Jiu-Jitsu momentarily to dedicate myself to my childhood dream, which was to be a soccer player. I returned to Jiu-Jitsu in 1997, started training at Associação Monteiro because some friends were part of the team and never stopped.

What are the greatest lessons competitions have taught you?

I often tell my students that you really get to know yourself through competitions. Championships show the real taste of victory. The most important thing is to be able to stay calm and develop your Jiu-Jitsu in that chaotic environment. I was too nervous in the first years of competing. That was a problem for me and it was hard to control. I had the option to give up competing, however, my teachers and my friends helped me deal with the pressure and nervousness at championships. As time passed, I learned to stay calm in the face of adverse situations. Just like life, competition teaches you the ups and downs and these experiences were crucial for me to mature.

Fabio Trindade, Romulo Barral, Vinicius Draculino and Gabriel Arges. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

What were your learnings in MMA?

I had wanted to fight MMA since I started in Jiu-Jitsu. My goal was not to enter the UFC, but to test myself and represent BJJ. The preparation, the weight cut and all the other challenges showed me how brave and strong I was mentally and physically to achieve the goals. I was able to apply in MMA several lessons I learned in BJJ, such as dealing with adverse situations and believing in victory until the end. MMA, as well as Jiu-Jitsu competitions, were fundamental to my personal and professional growth. I have eternal gratitude to my teachers for trusting me and believing in my potential.

What benefits does your work provide to the American community?

I am a Jiu-Jitsu teacher for children and adults at Gracie Barra Tarzana in California. In addition to introducing the concepts and positions of BJJ, I teach them self-defense techniques, because it is essential to know how to defend yourself, especially in this day and age with the increase in street violence. I have also started the process of forming the children’s competition team. As for adults, I have several police and firefighter students and they always emphasize the importance of Jiu-Jitsu in real situations. I am also a teacher of a brown belt with autism. Nowadays, he is my helper in the children’s class and he is the first person to open the doors to new students, especially for those who have a disability. My experience and my way of teaching add a lot of value to the American community.

When did you realize that you would live for Jiu-Jitsu?

I had already intended to make a living from BJJ since 1998, when I was a blue belt and lived in Manaus. It is still difficult to live exclusively from BJJ in Brazil. At the time, I dedicated myself to my studies and got a good job with administration and logistics. But that was not what I wanted for my life. I dreamed of making a living from BJJ, that’s when I moved to the United States and started fighting MMA. Here I realized how much my profession is valued and respected. Today, I have a comfortable life as a teacher and I work with what I love. I have the possibility to help my mother and my other family members and that is priceless. I paid a high price along the way, but it was worth it.

What makes you fulfilled as a professor?

My main mission is to teach Jiu-Jitsu to that student who is very shy, has no sports ballast and who most people would doubt his potential. I have daily contact with students of different ages, from children to the elderly. I am a professor in Romulo Barral’s team and there I have a 74-year-old black belt student. He started training at the age of 65 and is there every week. It’s a pleasure to see the development of my students. There is a lesson I always tell them: it’s good to be great, but it’s even better to be a good person, help your neighbor and be respectful.

Cássio Francis won the double gold in the master 2 of the World Cup 2022. Photo: Reproduction

Setting out a training routine and avoiding bad habits are essential in the routine of a high-level BJJ fighter. This is the vision that guides black belt Cássio Francis, our GMI at the head of Gracie Barra Fort Bend in Texas. “Nobody is born an athlete, you choose to be an athlete. So you need to avoid bad habits and know how to train with the teacher’s guidance to achieve expressive results in Jiu-Jitsu,” said the teacher.

Cassão has excelled in the competitive circuit in the United States and has won many gold medals in IBJJF tournaments since last September. The black belt’s stunning performance guaranteed him the leadership of the IBJJF gi and no-gi ranking in master 2. 

In a chat with the GRACIEMAG.com team, Cássio told how he deals with nervousness before fighting and listed advice for you to improve your performance in championships.

GRACIEMAG: What factors have boosted your great performance in the championships?

CÁSSIO FRANCIS: I believe that example is the only way to teach. So I try to do my best in competitions to serve as an example to my students, so that they understand that it is possible to achieve the goals as long as we have willpower, resilience and faith. I don’t want them to focus only on competitions, but I hope they will use these weapons to win on a daily basis, as the values of Jiu-Jitsu can be applied in many areas.

What is your differential in relation to the other competitors in the division?

I think the flexibility and the level of my guard, because it is not so common for a heavy guy to guard. Generally, heavier guys tend to exchange takedowns and pass guard. I like to pass, but I prefer to guard.

What motivates you when training for tournaments?

I grew up in this environment, so I’m used to competing, dieting, and dedicating myself to training. These aspects are part of my lifestyle, I can’t have any other. I like to compete because it helps me maintain a regular life and have an athlete’s behavior.

Which tips would you give to our reader to achieve expressive results in Jiu-Jitsu?

The first step is to choose an academy that will direct you. It is also important to know the history of the teacher because, as I said before, example is the only way to teach. The teacher needs to have a history in BJJ so that the student feels more confidence. Then, this practically must do its part. Nobody is born an athlete, you choose to be an athlete. So he needs to avoid bad habits and know how to train with the teacher’s direction.

How do you deal with pre-competition nervousness?

As I have been fighting since blue belt and have always kept myself in the middle, I got used to this somewhat hostile territory. What makes me calm is that I do everything I can in preparation for the championship. I don’t make mistakes in diet or training, and so I arrive with the certainty that I have done my utmost to be prepared in the best possible shape.

What are your next goals?

I want to conquer the main IBJJF tournaments in the United States. Today I am the leader in the gi and no-gi ranking and I intend to keep the first position. God willing I will fight to get there because I know it is not easy. I give my best daily to make it possible.

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Professor Richard Gonçalves teaches eight lessons for your first competition. Photo: Priscilla Garay

You haven’t competed yet, but would like to have this unique experience, brave reader? Then check out the advice from Professor Richard Gonçalves, our GMI at the Live Well Martial Arts school, based in Sydney, Australia. 

Professor Richard shared with GRACIEMAG.com the main tips he wishes he had listened to before venturing into the championships for the first time. Check it below:

1. Know the rules

Study the rules and play the game. Sometimes you lose fights early in your career because you don’t understand the rules. Sometimes you are doing well in the fight, but you are behind in the score. So, try to study and understand the rules.

2. Train often

Prepare yourself mentally. Just Jiu-Jitsu training will provide that mental comfort. It won’t just be the amount of weight you lift in the gym that will make you ready to compete, it will be consistency in the rolls.

3. Fight

There is only one way to gain experience in championships: just competing will get you used to the nervousness and get used to the atmosphere of the competitions. So be prepared and sign up for tournaments. The more tournament experience you get, the less pressure you will feel in that unique atmosphere.

4. Prepare your body and mind

Work on your emotions, practices such as yoga and meditation help to keep your breathing up to date. Breath control is something that always needs to be improved.

5. Focus on you

Competition is not just about the winner. The most important thing is to test yourself and overcome your own limits. Don’t focus on the opponent, notice your evolution with each fight, with each championship. 

6. Conquer your fears

Don’t think that your opponent will always be ready to face you, he will also be nervous, as most of us are when we put ourselves to the test. So relax and enjoy the moment.

7. Enjoy the journey

There is nothing in life greater than going on an adventure, testing your knowledge. We evolve too much in these situations that take us out of our comfort zone.

8. Feel the atmosphere

Get to the gym early, feel the atmosphere, warm up properly, bring your food, remember water and hydration, and listen to good music. Oss!

Ivan Rocha competed in London Open 2013. Photo: Personal archive

Black belt Ivan Rocha has built a consolidated work in Europe and has worked both as a competitor and in the training of Jiu-Jitsu athletes. Ivan lived in Italy for seven years and divided his time between teaching and competing. He taught several seminars in Italian cities and traveled to other European countries, such as England and Germany, with the purpose of testing his team, Cabecinha Team Italy, and spreading the values of Jiu-Jitsu.

One of the most special achievements of Ivan’s career came at the London Open 2013, organized by IBJJF. Ivan overcame the English cold and the opponents to be consecrated champion in the categories with and without kimono. “Winning is always gratifying, it’s too good. Besides my titles, my team had a positive balance. In total, we came home with ten medals, four of them gold”, recalled the black belt.

In a chat with the GRACIEMAG.com team, Ivan Rocha recalled some of the highlights of the London Open and listed the most important lessons learned during the period he lived in Italy.

GRACIEMAG: What did the London Open title represent for you?

IVAN ROCHA: Winning this title has a special meaning, because it is difficult to train hard and work on both my technical evolution and that of my students at the same time. The teachers who also compete know this. Winning is always gratifying, it is too good. Besides my titles in the categories with and without kimono, my team had a positive balance. In total, we came home with ten medals, four of them gold.

Do you have any outstanding memory from this championship?

Yes, besides my golds gi and nogi, the weight loss also marked me because it was not easy at all. Sacrifice sums up the fighter’s life. Besides losing weight, I ventured into the absolute afterwards. And, at the time, I weighed 64kg. What I remember from that day was the fact that it was very cold. I ran the whole gym and couldn’t sweat at all. It was a pleasure to accompany my students in an international competition and to see each of them winning and giving it their all. The team unity gives me an inexplicable feeling. What motivates me the most is to see my work going the right way. Besides these moments, Jiu-Jitsu provides incredible experiences, such as getting to know new places and different cultures around the world.

Ivan Rocha became gi and nogi champion at the London Open 2013. Photo: Personal Archive

What are the biggest challenges of competing abroad?

The rewards outweigh the challenges. However, it is not easy, there are numerous barriers, such as the cultural impact and the difference in food. But, in my opinion, the biggest obstacle is the cold. It is complicated to struggle in such low temperatures, something that is recurrent in Europe.

What were your favorite techniques in your competitive days?

I am a guard passer. I used to wait for the opponent to pull me to guard or I would try the fall to get on top. I feel good when I get to half-guard, I like to bull-fight to get to the side control. When I’m on the bottom, I like to do the De la Riva with the intention of scraping the opponent.

What were the biggest learnings during the time you lived in Europe?

Above all, I evolved personally and professionally. It is important to travel, to get to know other countries and experience cultures different from the one we are used to. Leaving our roots makes us go further, broadens our horizons, and is something enriching. No one ever takes that experience away from you. During the seven years I lived for Jiu-Jitsu in Europe I understood even more the value of the martial art and how the sport opens unimagined doors. One of my wishes is that people have the opportunity to see how Jiu-Jitsu can be transformative and provide more quality of life.

Leo Viera, André Galvão, Julio Cesar Pereira, Mackenzie Dern and Braulio Estima during the press conference. Photo by ADXC

A huge announcement struck the fight community around the globe this Wednesday, May 21st, with news coming directly from the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. The birth of a new grappling event putting together modernity, expertise, and a fresh combination of the ruleset and fight format. The Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship (ADXC) rose as the event was ready to change the world of submission tournaments.

The news came in a press conference, held in the sumptuous Anantara Eastern Mangroves hotel for his distinguished guests and streamed worldwide for all the fans and media. Well-known names from the Jiu-Jitsu community as André Galvão, alongside his wife Angelica Galvão; Braulio Estima, Leo Vieira, Mackenzie Dern, and master Julio Cesar Pereira were some of the guests-speakers and advisors for the first steps of ADXC, invited by the organization captained by H.E. Abdulmunan Al Hashemi, Chairman of UAEJJ Federation and International Vision Investments (IVI), alongside Mr. Tariq Al Bahri, General Manager of International Vision Sport Management (IVSM), and Mr. Rodrigo Valerio, Operation Director at Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP).

 

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The infos broke in the press conference and brought some details about the ADXC. Held in a cage, the fights will happen in three rounds of three minutes, with its first event being aimed at October 2023. The participants will come from a technological ranking inside the federation to acquire the best players on the stage. Rodrigo Valerio spoke about the ranking system.

“The ADXC will attract a diverse group of athletes to showcase their skills inside the octagon”, Rodrigo said. “We have adopted qualifiers and comprehensive weight categories, carefully choosing dates to ensure the participation of the most distinguished stars.”

About the format of the fight, André Galvão spoke more about the three rounds style, without points on the scoreboard, and the strategy that comes with the rounds.

“Each round will come as 10-9 or 10-8 on points, just like MMA, and a draw can happen. But the rounds with a minute of rest are enough to change things, like reflect on the strategy with the fight ongoing, and understand if you’re winning or losing the fight. We’re discussing if we’re going to have an extra round if it goes to a draw, avoiding the referee’s decision. The fight will keep going, without stoppages of mat scapes, as the fights happen in the cage, so the aim is to make the fights entertaining and exciting.”

Leo Vieira, Julio Cesar Pereira, Mackenzie Dern, Angelica Galvão, André Galvão and Braulio Estima attended the ADXC press conference. Photo by ADXC

Mr. Tariq Al Bahri spoke about how ADXC is bringing inspiration to the youth generations of UAE, as the country has Jiu-Jitsu as one of their main sports and the philosophy of Jiu-Jitsu keeps the next generations motivated to get the best of themselves.

“We are ushering in a new era of combat sports in Abu Dhabi. The ADXC serves as a comprehensive platform for Jiu-Jitsu and grappling, surpassing the boundaries of combat sports. Undoubtedly, the championship enhances Abu Dhabi’s status as a global destination for professional combat sports, which provides a great avenue for integrating the youth of Abu Dhabi. Through platforms such as these, we not only inspire the youth but build a bright future for this sport.”

Uanderson Ferreira celebrates his victory. Photo by AJP

The last day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu in Rio de Janeiro gifted the crowd at the Arena Carioca 1 this Sunday, June 11th, with the highest level of international Jiu-Jitsu. With the gold medal on the line, over a thousand athletes stepped onto the battlefield to fight for glory and renown. Well-known names, AJP veterans, and even brand-new faces stepped up to the mats with a singular goal in mind: to become an ADGS Champion.

The black belt matches took over the five fight areas on the third day, with the finals acting as a closer to the tournament and providing the crowd at the arena, and those that watched the event live at AJP.tv, with an even greater spectacle.

Check the lines below for the highlights of each category, and for the complete results, click here!

MEN’S GI / BLACK / PROFESSIONAL

56kg – Oziel Carvalho vs. Faris Kashmeeri
Oziel took the gold at home in a technical duel against Saudi Faris. Oziel scored first by going up on the double pull. The combat returned to its feet and Oziel pulled. Faris tried to pass at the end of the fight, but Oziel took the opportunity to go up and score another point, closing the score at 2-0 to take the Grand Slam gold.

62kg – Leonardo Mario vs. Wagner Chrispim
An intense duel between Leonardo and Wagner. Leonardo started on top, putting pressure on Wagner’s half-guard. After releasing the leg from the half-guard, Leonardo slipped straight to the back and locked a rear naked choke to take the win. A submission and top of the ranking for Leonardo Mario.

69kg – Alessandro Botelho vs. Matheus Onda

An athlete from Melqui Galvão Jiu-Jitsu, Alessandro “Cavalo” Botelho showed a lot of grit when he beat Matheus Onda in the 69kg final. Matheus pulled guard and went up with good grips to open the score at 2-0. Alessandro then put on a one-leg guard and used the hook to get up on the single-leg with the lapel, going down to complete the sweep. Matheus attacked with an omoplata lock and Alessandro struggled for a few minutes, until he got rid of the submission attempt and scored two points from the inversion, tying the match at 2-2. Being the last to score, Alessandro took the victory and the gold in the 69kg division.

77kg – Luiz Paulo Medeiros vs. Leandro Souza
A hectic duel between Luiz and Leandro. Luiz Paulo pulled, Leandro responded with an attempted loop choke, and Luiz seized the opportunity to go up with 2-0 on the scoreboard. Luiz then broke the grips and decoupled, putting pressure on top to pass, hit the side, and secure another point, closing the score at 3-0 with the gold medal.

85kg – Uanderson Ferreira vs. Pedro Silva
Uanderson and Pedro clashed in the explosive final round of the 85kg division. Pedro opened the scoreboard with a loop choke attempt, which Uanderson promptly defended, but that still put the former ahead by 1-0. Uanderson attacked the arm tying the score, and sweep for each side put the scoreboard at 3-3, with Uanderson on top. He then scored again close to the end, almost passing the guard, to win by 4-3 in his hometown. 

 

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94kg – Marcos Carrozzino vs. Vinicius Liberati
Featured at the top of the AJP rankings, Marcos Carrozzino returned to his motherland after dominating in Europe, putting his sights set on the ADGS Rio gold. In the final, against Vinicius Liberati, Marcos started on top and received a point, after Vinicius was punished for an inside-pants grip. Marcos worked safely on top and kept the winning score at 1-0.

120kg – Yatan Bueno vs. Luis Oliveira
Yatan Bueno and Luis “Cantareira” Oliveira had the last fight of the day, with Luis pulling guard and Yatan gunning for the side, looking for a space to pass. When he reached the side control, without pointing for the pass, Yatan went straight to the back and strangled Luis in one go, taking both the win and the division gold.

 

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WOMEN’S GI / BROWN / BLACK / PROFESSIONAL

49kg – Eliana Carauni vs. Brenda Larissa
Argentina’s Eliana Carauni got the better of AJP World Pro Champion and division favorite Brenda Larissa. In a duel disputed to the smallest detail, both in regulation time and in the golden score, Eliana defeated her opponent by convincing the referees that she was more effective throughout the fight, taking the gold via decision.

Eliana Carauni defeated Brenda Larissa. Photo by AJP

55kg – Beatriz Campos vs. Evellyn Azevedo
Beatriz started the fight pulling to a lasso-guard and quickly spun to climb up. Evelyn attacked with her foot during the spin, putting the match at 2-1. Beatriz then scored one more point in the attempt to pass the guard and closed the scoreboard at 3-1 to take the division title.

62kg – Vitoria Vieira vs. Maria Luiza Delahaye
Vitória was the big name in the 62kg division. In a duel against Maria Delahaye, Vitória pulled her opponent’s leg to the 50/50 guard and climbed safely. On top, Vitória spun aiming at Maria’s foot, attacking with a toehold to secure the title via submission.

70kg – Ingridd Sousa vs. Thalyta Silva
Thalyta opened the fight by pulling to a closed guard. Ingridd escaped, but Thalyta dangerously switched from lasso-guard to spider-guard. Thalyta then entered the one-leg and accidentally swung her leg off the centerline of Ingridd’s body, over her knee, which is classified as an illegal move. Thalyta was disqualified and Ingridd took gold in the 70kg division.

95kg – Isabely Lemos vs. Roberta Ribeiro
With just a few days as a brown belt, Isabely managed to climb all the way to the brown/black 95kg final. In the duel against Roberta Ribeiro, who tried to pull guard from the get-go, Isabely seized the opportunity to spin and avoid a fall in the double-leg, leaving the score at 1-0 and controlling from behind Roberta, who used the turtle position to defend herself. With a quick move, Isabelly jumped for a collar choke, taking the win and the division title.

 

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Juliana Silva was the champion in the under 62kg division. Photo by AJP

The weekend of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio had its opener this Friday, June 9th, with master bouts in the purple, brown, and black belts. Even though all five fight areas had memorable duels, the highlights of the day go to the action-packed master 1 divisions, which landed the athletes a nice cash prize in addition to the glory of conquering the gold medal at the event.

One such highlight was the 69kg final between Thiago Marques and José Thiago Barros. In a duel fought by two outstanding athletes, both with equal chances to come out on top, Thiago Marques attacked with precision on the foot to tip the scales. With his toehold locked, Thiago put pressure until José tapped, landing another gold for the Commando Group.

 

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Also noteworthy is the ace Hiago George, who tore through the bracket and submitted all the opponents on his way to the 62kg division gold. In the final match against William Chavez, Hiago quickly went for the triangle and then switched to an armbar during the spin, submitting on the arm and taking the title.

 Other athletes who came out on top after tough battles were Victor Bomfim, who submitted Gustavo Borges with a guillotine, and Yago Espíndola, who had a close victory against Alexandre “Buda” Ribeiro with a 2-0 score.

Check out the Master 1 black belt champions below, and for the complete results, click here!

MALE BLACK BELT

56kg
Fabiano Cleto

62kg
Hiago George

69kg
Thiago Marques

77kg
Yago Espindola

85kg
Leon Brito

94kg
Victor Bomfim

120kg
Felipe Bezerra

FEMALE BROWN/BLACK BELT

55kg
Sofia Amarante

62kg
Juliana Teixeira

70kg
Pamela Boveda

Kaio wants to be the best. Photo: IBJJF/Facebook

Kaio Cesar does a notorious job as a competitor in the US. The athlete, that represents the big Gracie Barra team, already held five medals in the IBJJF circuit in the beginning of this season. Two gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze at Santa Cruz Open No Gi, Denver Open No Gi, Dallas Open No Gi, Houston Open No Gi, respectively.

The black belt set Master Worlds, No Gi Pans and No Gi Worlds as main goals, also going for his second champion title at American Nationals, one of the most traditional events on the season.

” Kaio from 2023 comes more focused, hunger than ever. This year my mind is armored and as always, I’m fighting forward, to seek submissions and I’m not gonna relax.
Even being in the light-feather weight, I’m also challenging myself in the Open Class, which has given me a lot of experience as a competitor “, reflects Kaio, who holds the position of third place in the IBJJF ranking in the light-feather division.

More experienced, Kaio gives us details about his training schedule in order to have a better performance at each tournament he competes at, gi or no gi.

” I’ve been focusing a lot on my training, mostly in the gi. I am always working my agility, positiion timing, also looking for a surprise to try to finish the matches. At the academy I’m always studying techniques, my favorite ones and my opponent’s ones. I also do Strength and Conditioning, ar least 4 times a week, to keep the muscles active and the body prepared for the intensity of Jiu-Jitsu training sessions”, tells us Kaio.

Assiduous competitor since young age, Kaio also took the opportunity and defined what the competitions means in his life as an athlete, and which lessons he can take for his life outside the mats.

” I try to always stay active in the competitions. Today I try at least two tournaments per month. I think that the athlete needs to be always testing himself and getting out of the comfort zone. Fighting, for me, is a physical work, of preparation in the training sessions and at the gym, besides the mental part, of not knowing who I’m gonna fight against, what’s gonna happen e trying to be always ready. Fighting motivates me even more in the training and I can also motivate my teammates to evolve with me”, finishes the champion.