In an insightful conversation with Professor Claudio França, the leader of BJJ Tour, which has organized the US Open for 29 years, we delve into the history of this pioneering event. A trailblazer in producing BJJ competitions in the United States, França reflects on the event’s journey, the valuable lessons he’s learned, and the exciting developments coming up for the November edition, set to take place at Independence High School in San Jose, California.

This year marks the 29th anniversary of the traditional US Open by BJJ Tour. What memories from this long journey stand out to you?
CLAUDIO FRANÇA: Absolutely, there are many memories! The first edition was very special, considering all the challenges at the time. Jiu-Jitsu was just starting out, and organizing an event for a sport that no one knew about was tough. It was the first BJJ championship in the United States; we were the first organization to hold events here. Over the years, it’s been amazing to see BJJ grow alongside the US Open in size and significance. Our first event had 150 competitors, with nearly all the American academies of that time participating. Now, we have around 1,500 competitors. Another memorable year was 2013, when we opened the competition to children aged 4 to 15. Until then, the US Open was only for adults, mainly because BJJ hadn’t yet gained popularity among kids.

What highlights can we expect for this year’s edition, scheduled for November 16-17?
This year, we’re gearing up for an event with 2,000 competitors. We have new sponsors who will help elevate the level of BJJ. We’ll be live-streaming the event, showcasing the top matches, and, of course, featuring the competition among academies for the prestigious title of champion of the 29th US Open. The black belt division will also be a standout moment. Saturday, the first day of competition, will be dedicated solely to children. We’re looking at a fantastic event with nearly 1,000 kids competing; they are the future of our sport.

Can you share some lessons you’ve learned over these 29 years leading the US Open?
I’ve learned a lot about organizing events over these three decades in the U.S., but it all started back in 1989 with the Copa Atântico Sul, in Rio de Janeiro. I learned how to engage with instructors and competitors, how to attract sponsors and investors, and especially about the logistics of organizing an event—remembering that our first US Open was done without a single computer. Today, that would be unimaginable. A significant step was introducing online registration. Before, registrations were sent by mail or people would come in person to sign up, which was quite complicated. That was a game changer!

Who are some of the standout fighters who have impressed you in the combat areas of the US Open?
We’ve had many; it’s hard to name just a few because there have been so many amazing matches! I remember big names like BJ Penn, Nick Diaz, Kron Gracie… All these stars competing as blue belts, taking their first steps toward stardom at the US Open back in the ’90s. We also had renowned black belts like Fabrício Werdum, Corleta, Carlos Machado, Tarsis, Tanquinho, Formiga, Queixinho, and many others from different generations competing on the mats of the US Open.

Looking ahead, where do you see the event in ten years? What are the main challenges and goals moving forward?
Our future plans are ambitious. We want to attract sponsors from outside the BJJ market, such as Apple, Toyota, Bank of America, etc. We’re aiming for big brands and investors who can take the sport to a professional level, with significant prize money for athletes and academies. We’re also working to bring in mainstream media, like ESPN and FOX, not just outlets focused on fights.

Over the past few years, we’ve noticed your daughter has been actively involved in organizing and promoting the event. That’s fantastic! Can you talk a bit about your family’s involvement in BJJ Tour tournaments? Is this a perfect example of the motto “Jiu-Jitsu is family”?
BJJ and family have always gone hand in hand. My children, Tylor and Mariana, started in BJJ practically from the day they were born. They’ve continued training as they grew up, living the life of my academies and competitions. They grew up competing in events and over time began helping me organize the show. They’ve worked in every position we have for the event, starting with athlete check-ins, handing out shirts, scorekeeping, and then mat coordinating, etc. They know all the logistics of the events, and now at 22 and 19, they are essential to our organization. It’s a great pride and pleasure for me to work with them—two very smart and motivated young people who are committed to taking BJJ to the next level, and I love them dearly.

Photo: Personal Archive

Bibiano Fernandes, 41, has an appointment under One Championship for December 5. The bantamweight champion will be defending his belt against John Lineker, who has only fought three times in the organization, between 2019 and 2021. The announcement was made by One’s CEO, Chatri Sityodtong.

Throughout his career, which began in 2004, Bibiano has achieved 24 wins and suffered four losses. In One Championship, which has employed him since 2012, he has 11 wins and just one loss.

“I’m happy to be able to defend my belt again,” the Brazilian said in a recent interview. “I’ve been on this journey for a long time. I’m happy, healthy, well trained. I want to show younger people that with discipline and hard work, you can get to where you want. Bibiano is the result of a lot of effort, lots of faith and dedication.”

In his native state of Amazonas, where he was staying several days ago, Bibiano got in touch with his roots before returning to Canada to resume his training.

“I’m in Manaus to visit my family and friends and have contact with nature,” he said. “I always come to Brazil before I have an important appointment in my life. Out here, the other day, I did a lecture at a military school for more than 200 students, where I spoke about the importance of being confident, having discipline and courage.” He added: “I’m quite happy to be here.”

Bibiano also revealed that he’s not done evolving in Jiu-Jitsu, as was recently recognized by his teacher, Prof. Osvaldo Alves.

“I’ve received another degree on the black belt,” said Bibiano, who is a three-time BJJ world champion. “I’m happy to conquer another step in the black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, the sport that gave me everything I have. I lost my mom very early, and my dad had no means to raise us; I went to the interior of Amazonas, but if today I am someone, it was the sport that saved me and because I believed I could be someone.”

Henrique Saraiva teaches Jiu-Jitsu in Dublin. Photo: Divulgation

“Sit down. Be humble”. With this mantra on the wall, Professor Henrique Saraiva resumed Jiu-Jitsu classes at his schools in Ireland in September, after more than a year of closed gyms in the country.

Son of the great master Orlando Saraiva, the professor celebrated the new phase in Dublin and shared the teachings with our team.

“I think the greatest learning I could gather during this difficult period for everyone comes from an analogy I made with Jiu-Jitsu”, reflects Henrique. “Which is: in life, we ​​don’t have control of many things. In times of difficulty, it is necessary to be wise enough to wait for the right time to react, the important thing is not to waste energy unnecessarily. Nobody throws themselves into a sea to face a storm, nor is there any point in embarking without wind”.

Saraiva took advantage of the forced stoppage to promote changes: “On my way back, I started again in September in a new dojo, in a region that still didn’t have any Jiu-Jitsu academies. I hope to grow a lot around here. The academy in D15 continues as well, so we grew in the end.”

Henrique Saraiva also took the opportunity to keep up with the conversation, and the teachings, up to date in Brazil. “I flew to Brazil at the beginning of the pandemic and so I was able to enjoy my family. Since I moved to Ireland, I couldn’t spend as many months with them. Even when I lived in Brazil, I had never been this close to my parents. It was a great opportunity, I was able to talk a lot with my father and absorb as much of his experiences and his great stories on the mat, with masters Carlson and Paquetá.”

According to Saraiva, the Irish team returned more excited than ever, and they have already started to plan their return to the championships as well. “I think Jiu-Jitsu in Ireland will be even stronger, the spirit of the young ones was renewed. I see it in the children of our team, who are even more excited, wanting to spend all that piled-up energy. I hope to see my students fighting at events across Europe soon. We’re getting there, at last.”

Arraina and Richard Lee at the 2013 IBJJF Chicago Winter Open. Photo: Personal Archive

Families who train together are becoming more and more popular. Being that the martial art has much to offer for all ages, a father and daughter team learned this fact at a time when it was most needed.

Richard Lee (35) and his daughter Arraina Lee (16) train Jiu-Jitsu together in Chicago, Illinois. Before she was born, Richard lived in Minnesota with his parents who moved from Chicago, worried that their son was getting into too much trouble. At the age of eighteen he became a parent and Arraina was born. Tragically, when Arraina was six years old, her mother Marianne Van Buskirk died of small-cell lung cancer and the father-daughter pair moved back to Chicago where Richard’s roots lay and so Arraina could have more opportunities. This is where Jiu-Jitsu came into their lives:

“I had found out about BJJ through the Gracie Combative DVD’s and first started going to Carlson Gracie MMA school in Merrillville, Indiana when she was thirteen years old. When my daughter turned fourteen we transferred to Uflacker Academy in Chicago, Illinois,” the single parent says.

Unfortunately the team would undertake another reason to mourn as Richard’s parents, Arraina’s grandparents, both passed away from cancer five months apart from each other in 2012. But through Jiu-Jitsu, the two have been able to strengthen their bond and also use Jiu-Jitsu for positivity in their lives.

Richard wins the blue belt master middleweight division at the 2013 IBJJF Chicago Winter Open in March. Photo: Personal Archive

Both Richard and Arraina compete in every NAGA and IBJJF event that comes into town near Chicago. Only three months after the passing of his mother, Richard placed first at the 2013 IBJJF Chicago Winter Open in the blue belt master middleweight division.

“Me and my daughter went through a lot of deaths including my parents which made us realize how important family is and made us closer. Jiu-Jitsu made us have father and daughter time and a way to escape from the struggles of the real world. Jiu-Jitsu gives us a time to bond and to compete against each other and helped us become stronger and more fit. It also makes me feel more comfortable of the safety for my daughter. It also disciplines me and helps me relax so I will not go crazy from stress,” Richard explains.

Arraina now competes as a juvenile blue belt and will be in attendance at the 2013 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open in August and the No-Gi Pan American Championship in New York later this year alongside her father.

Training can be a simple stress-reliever or go as far as strengthening a family through difficult times. Richard and his daughter are just another example of what Jiu-Jitsu gives back.

Anyone who studies Jiu-Jitsu knows how the art is more than just an entertaining form of exercise; it’s a solid foundation for your child’s upbringing, not to mention being a painless antidote to bullying.

It’s with this focus that GRACIEMAG #187 hits better bookstores and academies near you. So rush out and get the lessons that will help protect your family from embarrassing and unfortunate incidents.

The ones who know best what Jiu-Jitsu can do are the gentle-art professors affiliated with our GMA, the worldwide GRACIE Magazine Association that distributes our publication. At Gracie Oceania and affiliate schools around the region, for instance, students work daily to hone such traits as discipline, persistence, cooperation and respect.

So how about bringing your kid up with Jiu-Jitsu’s help? Read GRACIEMAG to find out how.

To find out more, visit www.gbsydney.com.au/

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