Photo: IBJJF/Facebook

Yago Souza, 27, is back on the competition scene. After a long hiatus where he had to overcome injuries and make personal decisions, the black-belt started competing masterfully again in 2021, and has already racked up four gold medals, won at the Orleans Open, Orlando Open, Memphis Open and Houston Open – and, just this month, the IBJJF’s Orlando Summer Open.

“I was absent because of my period of adaptation to the U.S. and also the various injuries suffered, which was very difficult for me to adapt to,” he explained in a recent interview. “I also had a period of adaptation to the food and routine from here, which is all very different from what I used to have in Brazil. But now it’s all normal, and I know the path to achieving great titles again. I’m very happy about having won four straight opens, and now my goal is to sign up for the absolutes to test myself more, just like I did at the Memphis Open.”

A Pan and European champion in the black belt, Yago is thirsty to repeat the feats he accomplished in big events in 2016 and 2017, when he won most of the tournaments he took part in, notching wins against Otávio Sousa, Vitor Oliveira, Josh Hinger, Marcos Tinoco and AJ, for example.

“My biggest goal in 2021 is to keep myself competing and 100% healthy to reach the greatest version of myself in the big competitions and get a good result,” he said. “I’m practicing plenty of jiu-jitsu and lifting weights to strengthen my body, all done truly with great care. I train five times a week. I’m happy with the moment I’m living.”

Yago likes fighting on top and on the bottom, which often greatly hinders the strategies of opponents, who don’t know where to attack during the fight.

“I’ve always liked being versatile,” he said. “I’ve always tried to learn about everything and never limit myself to just one type of technique. My biggest goal in jiu-jitsu is to reach a high technical level. I really like working with the basics, because I see that the basics are getting lost as the years go by. People want to skip the basics and learn complicated things; that’s why I insist on the basics. The basics are the base for everything.”

Yago has gold medals from the World Championship and Brazilian Nationals, events also held by the IBJJF.

Mahamed Aly atop the European Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi IBJJF Championship podium.

Last weekend was a busy one in BJJ, with IBJJF events held in Chicago, Rome and Rio de Janeiro. The European Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi IBJJF Championship went down in Rome as well as the Rome Open. On no-gi day, Mahamed Aly (Lloyd Irvin) and Monique Carvalho (Checkmat) each won two gold medals.

After winning the Rome Open’s super-heavyweight division on Saturday, Aly was all focus for the Euro No-Gi Championship. Following a substantial weight loss, he was still able to nab the two gold medals. In the super-heavyweight division he defeated Riku Urholin (Alliance) 4-2 on points.

In the open he faced off against AJ Agazarm, who had beat the lightweight field. Aly scored 21-0 to secure an outstanding weekend for himself.

Monique Carvalho beat Leoni Munslow (New School BJJ) to win medium heavyweight gold, and in the absolute final she defeated light featherweight champion Linda Lindström (Dynamix Fighting Sports).

Additionally, Hiago George (Cícero Costha) was featherweight champion, Isaque Bahiense (Alliance) won the middleweight title, Thiago Sá (Checkmat) beat the heavyweight field, and Otávio “Oreia”(Alliance) won ultra-heavyweight gold. Find the complete black belt results below.

BLACK / Adult / Male / Rooster

BLACK / Adult / Male / Feather

BLACK / Adult / Male / Light

BLACK / Adult / Male / Middle

BLACK / Adult / Male / Medium-Heavy

BLACK / Adult / Male / Heavy

BLACK / Adult / Male / Super-Heavy

BLACK / Adult / Male / Ultra-Heavy

BLACK / Adult / Male / Open Class

BLACK / Adult / Female / Light-Feather

BLACK / Adult / Female / Feather

BLACK / Adult / Female / Medium-Heavy

BLACK / Adult / Female / Open Class

Mahamed Aly applying a foot lock. IBJJF.

Following the European Championship that took place in Portugal, it’s time for the European Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi IBJJF Championship, set to take place this weekend in Rome, Italy.

Many of the biggest names of the sport are registered for the event, which will be held parallel to the Rome Open. We set aside a few of those names to help you get hyped for the championship.

Mahamed Aly, whose no-gi skills were evident as he secured his spot in the ADCC by winning the São Paulo Trials, is a favorite among super-heavyweights.

Also with plenty of momentum is Isaque Bahiense. The Copa Pódio Lightweight GP champion is enrolled in the middleweight division. Heavyweight Polish phenom Adam Wardzinski will try to nab another gold medal this season, but only if he can outperform veteran Pablo Popovich, whose results in past ADCCs speak for themselves.

Stay on the lookout also for featherweight Hiago George, lightweights AJ Agazarm and Alex Cabanes, as well as ultra-heavyweights Gabriel “Fedor” Lucas and Otávio “Oreia” Serafim.

Find below the list of black-belts who have signed up, bet on your favorite and follow the coverage at Graciemag.com.

Nicolini vs. Dern at the 2015 European

If you are thinking of signing up for the 2016 European, know that you have only one more week to do it.

The final deadline is next Monday, January 11, and the IBJJF warns that full capacity may be reached before that date.

Don’t miss out on being part of the first major event of the 2016 calendar and register now.

The 2016 European takes place january 20-25, in Lisbon Portugal.

Click here for more info and to register now.

Watch the female featherweight final between Michelle Nicolini and Mackenzie Dern, in 2015.

In 2014, Danish Alex Trans did something no had ever done before (or since for all that matter).

He became the first European native to win the adult black belt open class division of the European Championship.

He did that after a tough final against Yuri Simões.

GRACIEMAG was matside and taped the whole match.

Click play and what how Trans achieved the most important title of his career so far.

Remember to register for the 2016 European, schedule once again in Lisbon, Portugal, on January 20-24.

The final deadline is January 11, but you have to hurry once it’s common for the event to fill up before the final date.

Click here to register now.

Gabi Garcia

The 2016 European Jiu-Jitsu championship is still more than three months away, but you can start making plans for your trip to Lisbon right away.

The event changed venues for the first time in a long time and in 2016 it will be held at the Pavilhão de Oldivelas, north of the Portuguese capital city.

The new venue is larger than the Casal Vistoso Gymnasium and should fit the ever growing Jiu-Jitsu crowd more comfortably.

The 2016 European is scheduled Jan. 20*-24 and you can already register to compete.

Click here to register now.

While you do that, check out the female black belt open class final between Gabi Garcia and Mackenzie Dern.

*Fights will be scheduled on January 20 if the number of athletes registered exceed capacity for four days.

In another awesome issue, GRACIEMAG breaks down the secrets to a successful journey in Jiu-Jitsu.

Learn how to jump over the hurdles life puts in your way until the much dreamed black belt.

Other than that, we have wrestling lessons, an interview with Dr. Ida Hansson, the coverage of the 2015 European, Martin Rooney, and much, much more.

Watch the video preview and subscribe now!

The 2009 European championship was shaken up by sad news on January, 29.

Grandmaster Helio Gracie had passed away in Brazil, at 95 years old.

In Lisbon, Helio’s son Rickson Gracie and grandson Kron Gracie were getting ready for the championship.

At the sidelines, Rickson spoke to GRACIEMAG about the loss of his father: “At first, I got the impact of the news and the sadness of the loss. Soon after, I started to think about his life and realized that he reached all the goals he had in life. All we live today is the result of my father’s wonderful life.”

On the mats, Kron Gracie wanted to pay his tribute to the Grandmaster and also prove that he was a serious contender at the black belt division after a disappointing debut at the 2008 Worlds, when he was submitted by Sergio Moraes in the first match.

Things went Kron’s way and he reached the middleweight final against Yan cabral.

Here’s the video of the match.

Click here to register for the 2015 European championship. Today, Jan 12, is the last day to register.

Michael Langhi passes Vinicius Marinho’s guard in the lightweight final of the 2013. Photo: Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG

Two-time world black belt champion Michael Langhi went nearly three years without losing in the gi, until 2010. At the last Worlds, in June, the Alliance master found his top form again but was unable to tame Leandro Lo (Cicero Costha) in the final and ended up with the silver.

But his performance was still good enough to warrant an invite to the ADCC in Beijing, but in the division above his usual one, as his friend Lucas Lepri nabbed the 77kg spot. Langhi talked to us about what he expects from the prestigious no-gi competition which is set to be held on October 18-19.

GRACIEMAG: So you’ll be fighting the big guys at the ADCC.

MICHAEL LANGHI: I’m happy my work is getting recognition, after all the ADCC is an event like no other. I’ll be doing my best to be a challenge to whoever’s in my way, keeping my characteristic guard play, but also very comfortable on top. I’ll definitely be under less pressure as I’ll be in an unusual weight class. I can easily reach 82kg these days, so I’ll put a lot of stress on strength during my preparation. When Fabio Gurgel called me about the invitation, I was happy and thought, “Wow, I’m gonna get killed at the 88kg category [laughs].” But I’d never say no to such an opportunity. I understand it’s hard to go from the 77kg category to the 88kg one, but as a competitor I can’t get in there with any mindset other than a winning one. I may have a one percent shot, but while the chance exists I’ll be chasing it until the end. I’ll be that tiny annoying guy amid the big guys, and I expect some good fights.

What changes in your game when you compete in a no-gi competition?

To this day I have only fought two no-gi tournaments, and I won both: a Brazilian Championship and a European. I’m undefeated at no-gi [laughs]! I don’t have much experience at it because I don’t like it that much, even though I practice it every week. Also I haven’t had many chances to fight no-gi. The no-gi events are in the second semester and I’m always out doing seminars. The game gets faster, so I’ll use speed to my advantage as I’ll be the lightest guy at that weight class. Another thing is that, since we don’t have any gis to grab on to, we try to adapt the grips some other way. This was a problem for me at first, because I depended a lot on the sleeves for the spider-guard, but now I’ve changed my no-gi game and I’m well adapted. My style is an aggressive one, the way Cobrinha and Fabio Gurgel taught me.

What did you learn from the final versus Leandro Lo at the World Championship, where he beat you by one sweep?

The most important lesson is that I have to open my mind wider. I have to keep my opponents guessing, be less predictable. My game is really not a great match for Lo’s. He has incredibly long reach for our division, and I learned I have to change something up. I’m doing this work now, and trying to evolve and create different types of games to be able to surprise people. So the outcome was positive, even if the goal wasn’t reached, as I remained victorious at the European, the Pan and the Brazilian Nationals, and now I have this chance at the ADCC come October.

Augusto Tanquinho on top against Rubens Cobrinha, in WPJJC final. Photo: Erin Herle/ GracieMag

Augusto Tanquinho won the featherweight category in WPJJC Abu Dhabi 2013 last Friday, and confirmed again that he is on the same level of top division superstars like Rafael Mendes and Rubens Cobrinha.

It was precisely against Cobrinha, who had won the last two times they have fought, that Tanquinho made the final of the 70kg division. A sweep gave the gold medal to the Soul Fighters professor from Rio.

In an interview with GracieMag, Augusto Tanquinho listed what he learned in the tournament, analyzed his fight and highlighted the main recipe for success:

GracieMag: You and Rubens Cobrinha have fought several times and know each other very well. How do you analyze the WPJJC 2013 final, in Abu Dhabi?

AUGUSTO TANQUINHO: It was a strategic fight, in my point of view. I went in with a strategy and followed it until the end to win. Cobrinha is very dangerous when he takes the cross sleeve and I knew I couldn’t let him make this grip at all. Thereafter I went for it, I just didn’t let him take the fight to his game; after all, a dangerous guy like Cobrinha with his main move would be deadly. I know his game well and I know the danger when he grips the cross sleeve.

What was your strategy in details?

In a 6 minute fight, the main thing is not to start losing. My strategy was to get ahead, sweeping or taking him down. And when I was on top, the tactic was to break his cross grip all the time and look for spaces to pass. In the end, it worked out (laughs). Cobrinha has a very good base and it is also always difficult to sweep him. People are used to seeing me fighting more on top and think I have no guard, but at the gym I train much more bottom than on top. So I could sweep and win.

And you lost to him earlier in IBJJF Pan.

I think my star shines in Abu Dhabi (laughs). I believe that both in European and Pan I lost by detail. In European, I lost by 2-0, and in the last minute I attacked standing up, I was on bottom and took the points. In the Pan, I lost by advantages, I thought I had to get two points when I attacked the foot and we left out of the fighting area, but the referee didn’t give me the points. Anyway, I’m not complaining about the referee, but this time the win came by detail too, I missed less and took up the opportunities more. That made a difference in this championship.

Did you have other memorable fights in WPJJC 2013?

I’ve had some pretty tough fights; I had four until the final. I was happy because I evolved during the championship. In the first fight, I submitted Felipe Cavalcante with a wristlock. In the second fight, I won by decision against Gilson “Neném” Nunes. He surprised me a lot, and showed a very complicated guard to pass. Since I attacked from start to the end, I guaranteed a place in the semifinal. In the semifinal, I fought with Michel Maia, a Brazilian who has taught in Abu Dhabi, and it was a great fight. I was losing by an advantage but I got a takedown and won by 2-0. Michel is very technical and strong in featherweight.

Besides the gold medal and the prize money, what knowledge have you brought home?

I learned that you should believe in yourself from beginning to the end in all fights. And to have enough confidence in your game is essential to train and train. That is the simple secret of success.

The Abu Dhabi WPJJC Trial for the UK competitors unfolded on Feb. 24 at the National Judo Club in Dartford.

The event took place all day and the eventual winners of their categories received an all-expenses paid trip to the Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship in April. See names below to see who won! 

White Adult – 65kg

1. Aron Soto – Checkmat
2. Makesa Mwanza – Checkmat
3. Oliver Lee – Escola De Jiu Jitsu Leao Teix
4. Pedro Correia – Coimbra Mma / Icon

White Adult  -74kg

1. Elias Awada – Prana Jiu Jitsu
2. Diogo Silva –Icon BJJ
3. Danny Langford – Madhatters
4. Hector Augusto – RGA

White Adult -83kg

1. Booby Williams – Prana Jiu Jitsu
2. James Whild – GB Birmingham
3. Luke Holness – Madhatters
4. Mathew Morris – Pedro Bessa BJJ

White Adult -92kg

1. Danniel Watts- GB Garcia
2. Tim Rowley –GB Birmingham

White Absolute

1. Stephen Hall – GFTeam
2. Daniel Watts GB Garcia
3. Hector Zambrano –RGA
4. Tim Rowley – GB Birmingham

Female White-Blue  Adult -63kg

1. Carolina Carriello – GB London Bridge
2. Jolie Boyle – Carlson Gracie
3. Naiomi Matthews – Blakz

Female White And Blue  Adult +63kg

1. Martina Gramenius – Prana Jiu Jitsu
2. Mille Pederson –Arte Suave
3. Tanya Tansiri – Exeter BJJ
4. Kimberley Coster – Legacy Bjj

Female Purple – Brown – Black  +63kg

1. Karolina Zawodnik – Brasa /Berserkers Team
2. Anna Wilanowska – Alliance
3. Janni Larsson – Arte Suave

Female Purple Brown Black -63kg

1. Camilla Hansen – Arte Suave / Checkmat
2. Anna Polok – GB Draculino
3. Laura Hondorp – GB NL
4. Vanessa English GB Nottingham

Female White / Blue Absolute

1. Martina Gramenius – Prana Jj
2. Mille Pederson – Checkmat
3. Kimberley Coster – Legacy Bjj

Blue Adult -65kg

1. Kim Hofmans – BJJ Gent
2. James Costa – Carlson Gracie Jnr
3. Vinicius Frigo – RGA

Blue Adult -74kg

1. Babar Raja – Carlson Gracie Jnr
2. Chris Leddy- East Coast Jui Jistsui
3. Lee Renaut –Carlson Gracie Jnr
4. Nivaldo Lopes –Icon BJJ

Blue Adult -83kg

1. Amir Jawood – Allstars
2. Rokos Narusevicius – ATM
3. Giacomo Fincato – Nova Uniao
4. Mateusz Kacperski – RGA

Blue Adult -92kg

1. Wissam Suliman – Escola De Jiu Jitsu
2. Ashley Garvin – London Fight Factory
3. Nima Hashemi – Roger Gracie Academy
4. Mohamed Mansouri – De Le Riva France

Blue Adult +92kg

1. Kacper Bergunda – Yogui BJJ
2. Piotr Ossowsky – Gokudo Checkmat
3. David Mackenna –GB Essex
4. Greg Ferguson – GB London Bridge

Blue Absolute Light

1. Ali Korkmaz – De La Riva France
2. Lee Renaut – Carlson Gracie
3. Chris Leddyu – East Coast Bjj
4. Baber Raja – Carlson Gracie Jnr

Purple Adult -74kg

1. Kywan Gracie Behring – RGA
2. Diogo Borges -RGA
3. Daniel Svensson – Prana Jiu Jitsu
4. Jimmy Svensson-  Prana Jiu Jitsu

Purple Adult -65kg

1. Alexander Hoog Thomsen – Prana Jiu Jitsu
2. David Hyde – GB Birmingham
3. Emil Nilsson – Prana Jiu Jits
4. Belhassan Hicham – De La Riva France

Purple Adult +83kg

1. Carlos Santos -RGA
2. Yussof  Kaddurv – Zarate Team
3. Jamie Paxman – GB Nottingham
4. Antanas Cicenas – Checkmat

Purple Adult -92 Kg

1. Jaroslaw Saganowski – RGA
2. Krzysztof Saganowski RGA
3. Gavin See – RGA

Purple Adult +92kg

1. Hanna Karalainen – Alliance
2. Jason Bell – Carlson Gracie Jnr
3. Matthew Nazer – Simkin Mma
4. David Leech – London Fight Factory

Purple Light Absolute

1. Jimmy Svensson – Prana  Jiu Jitsu
2. Daniel Svensson – Prana Jiu Jitsu
3. Emil Nilsson –Prana Jiu Jitsu
4. Kywan Gracie Behring – RGA

Purple  Heavy Absolute

1. Hannu Karjalainen – Alliance
2. Peter Adams –
3. Krystof Suganowski  – RGA
4. Jamie Paxman –GB Nottingham

Black –Brown- Adult +65kg

1. Luiz Tosta – London Shootfighters
2. Maxmiliano Campos – Oxford Shootfighters
3. Carlos Eduardo Almeida – Nova Geraçao

Black – Brown – Adult -83kg

1. Alan do Nascimento – Checkmat
2. Rafael – Gracie Barra
3. Lucio Sergio – GB Preston

Black – Brown – Adult – 92kg

1. Jackson Dos Santos – Checkmat
2. Marcelo Coppa – Lotus Club
3. Jaroslaw Gajek – Gold Team Fighters
4. Arturo Salas Espies – Mathias Riberio Team

Black – Brown – Adult +92kg

1. Christopher Bowe – GB Birmingham
2. Antonio Junior – RGA
3. Thiago Borges – Cia Paulista
4. Dequick John – Malicia Team