Last year’s podium for the 1st Copa Bela / Photo: Mannie Romero

Arizona’s premiere all-female Jiu-Jitsu tournament returns for its second installment on May 4, 2013. Headed by stand-out Nova Uniao Brown belt, 2013 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Champion, and promoter of Inspire: All Female Open Mat, Kristina Barlaan, the 2nd Copa Bela boasts a tournament committed to the growth of women in sport Jiu-Jitsu. With divisions for juveniles, adults, and newly added masters division, as well as a brown/black belt absolute pro division offering $1000 to the winner, the tournament continues to push the pace for evolution of females in our sport.

“This is an excellent opportunity for women in the sport to compete and test their skills in a tournament atmosphere. Novice competitors get introduced to the thrills of competing for the first or second time and more advanced competitors get a nice tune-up competition before the 2013 IBJJF World Championship the following month. It’s great to see the women’s Jiu-Jitsu community grow with more seminars, camps, open mats, and, more recently, tournaments dedicated to that growth. Last year, the 1st Copa Bela saw 35 competitors take to the mats, with 4 of those competitors being in the brown/black absolute pro division. A lot of people may see that number and call it small. I call it a start. The very first Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship had 200 competitors and now it’s over 3,000! Of course the Copa Bela isn’t the Pans, but why should I not believe that it has the ability to grow in the same way? If we as a community continue to support these kinds events, then it’s only natural that we will not only see an increase of women in the sport, but an overall increase in women participating in competition,” says Barlaan.

You can read about the first installment and who won the brown/black absolute pro division by clicking here.

The tournament will be located at Phoenix College: 1202 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85013.

Registration ends April 29 at 11:59 p.m. DST but if you sign up before April 22, get a $10 discount and pay $70.

The 2nd Copa Bela is promoted by GDJJ Events in conjunction with the AZSBJJF, therefore following the protocols of the IBJJF.

For more information, go to www.gdjjevents.com.

To register, go straight to www.gdjjevents.com/copa-bela-registration.

Competitors gathered on the mat for the commencement ceremony. Photos by Mannie Romero.

The year 2012 has been a historical one thus far for women’s Jiu-Jitsu. With the addition of a masters division and one all for the brown and black belts, it’s clear to see that the women’s movement in Jiu-Jitsu is growing faster and stronger with every event. Leading a strong campaign for Jiu-Jitsu among the fairer sex, purple belt Kristina Barlaan, along with GD Jiu-Jitsu Events and the AZSBJJF, promoted the maiden Copa Bela: All Female Jiu-Jitsu Tournament on April 21. Arizona’s inaugural girls-only competition proved to be an inspiring and empowering event for the many ladies in attendance.

The first-ever Copa Bela begins.

“Today we gathered 36 women on the mat to compete. There may be some people out there who think that this number is small, but this is only the beginning of something beautiful and much bigger. When the IBJJF promoted the first Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, they didn’t even have 200 competitors and now there are close to 3,300. I’m focused on the future, and I beleive in steady progress. I want to give these women a well-organized event that follows the standards of the IBJJF. I’m not looking for 100 competitors right now. I’m looking to build the community over time, and when that happens, Copa Bela can gather hundreds of women,” stated the determined Barlaan.

Dias received Special Recognition for being the pioneer for women's Jiu-Jitsu in Arizona and being a role model for all women in the sport.

To commemorate the occasion, the 1st Copa Bela started with a Commencement Ceremony in which all the competitors gathered on the mat area to be addressed for their dedication and love of the gentle art. For many, it was an emotional moment, especially for Luciana Dias, who was given a Special Recognition Award for pioneering women’s Jiu-Jitsu in Arizona. Taken by surprise by the award, Luciana, affectionally called Luka, gave a motivational speech, all the while fighting back the tears of joy that come from being validated and honored by your peers, friends, family, students, and aspiring champions:

“You don’t have to be just the stay-at-home Mom that cooks, cleans, and watches the children. You can be more, and Jiu-Jitsu let’s you do that.”

Luka shares a tearful but happy embrace with step-daughter Mackenzie Dern.

It seeems that besides competing against an opponent, Copa Bela provided a number of women the opportunity to compete against and overcome the obstacles in their lives. For some, it would be their first time competing. For others, it would be their first time winning a match and becoming a champion:

“This tournament has been a dream come true. I had five matches today, and this is my first time ever winning a match, winning my weight division, and being in the finals of the absolute. To make it even more perfect is the fact that I also get to share the podium with my daughter!” exclaims blue belt and mother of five Seta Reupenny (Relson Gracie).

Mackenzie Dern and Sophia Drysdale before the toe-hold exchange, from which Mackenzie left the victor

The highlight of Copa Bela was the world class competition in the brown/black absolute division for a $1000 payout. In the first semifinal match-up, black belt Sophia Drysdale (Drysdale BJJ) faced young Brown belt Mackenzie Dern (Gracie Humaita), with Mackenzie securing her spot in the finals via toe hold. On the other side of the bracket, newly promoted black belt Tammy Griego (Gracie Barra NM) matched up against the smaller Tracey Goodell (Atos). Although the underdog in the face-off, Tracey earned her victory with an advantage over the heavyweight. The final match, between Mackenzie and Tracey, proved to be a technical battle, with each fighting for grips and dominant position. With an exchange of positions and submissions, Mackenzie was crowned the champion by racking up four advantage points.

Tammy Griego battling the aggressive guard of Tracey Goodell

Standouts:

Alicia Sandoval and Nana Hosokawa both won their weight (medium heavy and light feather) and the absolute in the purple and blue belt divisions, respectively. Their wins helped secure BJJ Revolution top spot on the podium.

Mackenzie takes home the gold, the big bucks and the goodie bag sponsored by FighterTech supplements.

Team Results:
1st BJJ Revolution
2nd Relson Gracie
3rd Nova Uniao

President of GD Jiu-Jitsu Events Gustavo Dantas and Kristina Barlaan, head of Inspire: All Femal Open Mats, spearhead the female Jiu-Jitsu movement in Arizona. Photo: John Cooper.

Arizona Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Kids Cup is set to take place this April 21, 2012, at Mesa, Arizona’s Westwood High School in Mesa, with only divisions for kids aged four to 15 on offer. Last year the event was sold out, so the promoters urge anyone interested to make haste, as registration will be closed after the first 300 competitors have signed up.
Now GD Jiu-Jitsu Events and the Arizona State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (AZSBJJF) are proud to announce the inaugural Copa Bela: All Female Jiu-Jitsu Tournament, Arizona’s very first women-only Jiu-Jitsu competition! The maiden event will take place immediately following the Kids Cup on April 21, 2012 at the same Mesa, Arizona venue. On offer: female juvenile (16-17) and adult (18+) divisions only.
One major draw for the Copa Bela premiere is the $1,000 up for grabs to the winner of the brown/black open weight division.
Bolstered by Inspire: All Female Open Mats, open-mat meetings for girls organized by Gustavo Dantas purple belt Kristina Barlaan, the female Jiu-Jitsu community in Arizona has seen major growth over the past year. The 1st Copa Bela is meant to be more than simply a competition, but also a celebration of female Jiu-Jitsu around the nation.
For further information about the 4th AZ Kids Cup and 1st Copa Bela or to register, please visit www.gdjjevents.com.

This coming March 3 and 4, the 7th AZ International Open will bring first-rate competition Jiu-Jitsu to the North Gym at Phoenix, Arizona’s Phoenix College, on 1202 W. Thomas Rd, and part of buzz surrounding the event has to do with the $2,500 cash prize for the winner of the black belt absolute and $500 for the runner-up. But anyone looking to get in on the action and pay less had best act quick (sign up here), as this Monday, February 20, marks the last day to pay the pre-registration rate of $50. Starting tomorrow the price will be $70.

Last year, the event sold out and registration was closed early. So don’t wait until the last minute to register!

Click here for complete details on the Arizona International Open 2012.

The Jiu-Jitsu tournament will offer kids, juveniles, adults (male and female), master and senior divisions, as well as two black belt open classes: the Open Light (167.5 lbs and under) and the Open Heavy (Over 167.5 lbs). The winner of each open weight division will receive a ticket to the 2011 European Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Lisbon, Portugal.

It is important to note that registration for the kids division will cut off at 200 competitors. Registration for the juvenile, adult, master, senior, and female divisions will stop at 450 competitors.

GD Jiu-Jitsu Events will reward all competitors to sign up by the pre-registrations deadline of 11:59 pm on October 8 with free tournament T-shirts. Anyone to register thereafter will not receive a T-shirt.

GRACIEMAG will be in Mesa to cover the event.

Gustavo Dantas, AZSBJJF Vice-President and event promoter. Photo: AZSBJJF

Anyone wishing to compete this coming March 13 and 14 at the 5th Arizona Open Jiu-Jitsu tournament and pay less had better act quickly: the $40 for kids and $50 for adults rates end at midnight tonight, March 5, after which the full $50 and $60 prices for kids and adults, respectively, apply till the final sign-up deadline of March 10. All kids signed up by the pre-registration deadline of 11:59 Pacific Time on March 5 will get a free T-shirt.

Click here to sign up.

The tournament organized by GMA Gustavo Dantas features all gender, belt and weight divisions for both adults and children. As is custom at Dantas-produced events, the competition will double as a food drive to aid the needy in the Arizona community. For every 5 food items spectators and participants donate, a raffle ticket will be issued.

Furthermore, there is the special added attraction of two supermatches between world class athletes, with Team Nova Uniao’s 7x world champion Robson Moura meeting Axis JJ’s Nokuhiko Kitahara in a Jiu-Jitsu showdown, and Rickson Gracie’s son Kron facing GRACIEMAG #2 Fighter to Watch in 2010, and Gracie Barra stand-out, Philipe Della Monica (Gracie Barra), in a middleweight match-up.

Spectators and competitors alike can check out the tournament schedule by clicking here on March 12, one day before the event.

Check out the promo video for the event.

Dantas says GD Jiu-Jitsu Events plans to continue working with the United Food Bank to bring in even more food in 2010. The next opportunity to donate food will be at the 5th Arizona International Open of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Westwood High School in Mesa, AZ on March 13-14, 2010.