The Gracie has been contributing to the sport in the country for some time now, though. Last year, Kayron and our GMA Hector Vasquez agreed to have a easy-going, free-flowing roll, and they let their colleagues at local publication “Combate Magazine” capture it on video.

Take a look and learn from them in the video below:

A contribuição do Gracie ao esporte no país, no entanto, vem de mais tempo. No ano passado, Kayron e nosso GMA Hector Vasquez toparam dar um treino livre, leve e solto e registraram para os coleguinhas da “Combate Magazine”, publicação local.

Relembre e aprenda com eles, abaixo.

Kayron Gracie na coletiva de imprensa no Panamá. Foto: Divulgação.

Organizado por nosso GMA Hector Vasquez, aconteceu no último domingo o primeiro grande evento de Jiu-Jitsu no Panamá. Entre os destaques, Kayron Gracie venceu a superluta contra Marcelo Menezes e Marcello Salazar sobrou na competição.

“Finalizei com um estrangulamento passando a guarda, no começo da luta, em menos de um minuto. E a viagem foi irada, o Jiu-Jitsu está crescendo bastante aqui”, comentou o Gracie.

Um dos principais juízes da IBJJF, Muzio De Angelis foi convocado para arbitrar os combates. O faixa-preta contou ao GRACIEMAG.com como foi tudo.

Na outra superluta, o ex-UFC Sam Hoger chegou ao evento contundido. Sendo assim, foi substituído por Fernando “Soluço” Di Pierro, que logo se ofereceu para o desafio contra Cristiano “Furacão” Machado. Depois de começar perdendo por uma queda, Soluço virou o placar a faturou a contenda.

Salazar no Pódio. Foto: Divulgação.

Nas disputas abertas, o nome do evento foi o representante da BTT Marcello Salazar.

“Ele fez algo que nunca tinha visto no Jiu-Jitsu, faturou quatro medalhas de ouro. Marcelo venceu peso e absoluto com e sem kimono, lutou muito bem”, comenta Muzio.

“O evento foi muito legal e a organização está de parabéns”, encerra.

Kayron Gracie in Panama

Put together by our GMA Hector Vasquez, a major Jiu-Jitsu event went down in Panama this past Sunday. Among the standouts, Kayron Gracie made quick work of his superfight and Marcello Salazar went to town on the competition.

“I finished with a choke while passing guard early in the match, in under a minute. And the trip was awesome, Jiu-Jitsu is growing a lot here,” remarked the Gracie.

One of the IBJJF’s head referees, Black belt Muzio De Angelis was called on to arbitrate the bouts, and later reported back to GRACIEMAG.com on how it all unfolded.

In the other superfight, former UFC fighter Sam Hoger showed up for the event injured so he was replaced with Fernando “Soluço” Di Pierro, who readily offered to take on Cristiano “Furacão” Machado. After trailing by an early takedown, Soluço rallied back for the win.

The big name to arise from the event’s open weight division was BTT representative Marcello Salazar.

“He did something I’ve never seen before in Jiu-Jitsu in my life: he won four gold medals in one go. Salazar won at weight and open weight with and without the gi; he fought really well,” remarked Muzio.

“The event was really cool and the promoters are to be congratulated,” he said in closing.

Kayron in photo by Mike Colón

The first major Jiu-Jitsu competition in the Central American nation of Panama is going full steam, with prize money, professional and amateur fighters, two superfights, and a No-Gi division. The event is organized by Gracie Barra black belt and our GMA Hector Vasquez.

Kayron Gracie (Gracie Barra) faces Marcelo Menezes (ATT). But there’s another matchup drawing attention, with Cristiano “Furacão” Machado taking on Alaska’s Sam Hoger, who has fought five times in the UFC and even lost one to Lyoto Machida (UFC 67).

Other competitors confirmed for the tournament are black belts Roger Coelho, Martin Peyrou, Sidney Machado, as well as local brown belt Marcos Perez.

Check back with GRACIEMAG.com for further news.

Kayron em foto de Mike Colón.

Neste domingo segue a todo vapor o primeiro grande campeonato de Jiu-Jitsu do Panamá, com premiação em dinheiro, lutadores profissionais e amadores, duas superlutas e uma divisão sem kimono. O evento é organizado pelo faixa-preta da Gracie Barra e nosso GMA Hector Vasquez.

Recuperado de contusão na perna que o tirou do Mundial 2011, Kayron Gracie (Gracie Barra) enfrenta Marcelo Menezes (ATT). Outra luta que chama a atenção traz Cristiano “Furacão” Machado e o americano do Alasca Sam Hoger, que lutou cinco vezes no UFC e perdeu, inclusive, para Lyoto Machida (UFC 67).

Outros competidores confirmados no torneio são os faixas-pretas Roger Coelho, Martin Peyrou, Sidney Machado e o faixa-marrom local Marcos Perez.

Aguarde novidades aqui no GRACIEMAG.com.

On June 18 and 19 the first big Jiu-Jitsu championship in Pana will be held. There will be cash prizes, professional and amateur competitors, superfights, and a seperate No-Gi division. The good news is that another event is already scheduled for November (further information at www.apanjj.com).

Black belt Sam Hoger will compete in Panama this June. Photo: publicity.

Event promoter and Gracie Barra black belt Hector Vasquez sent in the news about the superfights. Cristiano “Furacão” Machado and Alaskan fighter Sam Hoger will feather. Hoger fought five times in the UFC and even faced Lyoto Machida (a loss at UFC 67).

Cristiano decided to prepare for the fight in Panama, where he arrived on the 1st of this month, and has been training with his purple belt Jaime Ortiz in the city of Santiago.

Other competitors confirmed for the tournament are black belts Roger Coelho, Martin Peyrou, Sidney Machado, and local brown belt Marcos Perez, who took his brother and sister to compete at last weekend’s world championship in Long Beach and has now returned home raring to go for the tournament on the coming 18th and 19th.

Nos dias 18 e 19 de junho, rola o primeiro grande campeonato de Jiu-Jitsu do Panamá, com premiação em dinheiro, lutadores profissionais e amadores, duas superlutas e uma outra divisão sem kimono. A boa notícia é que já há um novo campeonato marcado, para novembro (Confira mais em www.apanjj.com).

O faixa-preta Sam Hoger luta no Panamá em junho. Foto: Divulgação.

O organizador, o faixa-preta da Gracie Barra Hector Vasquez, manda notícias sobre uma das superlutas, entre Cristiano “Furacão” Machado e o americano do Alasca Sam Hoger, que lutou cinco vezes no UFC e perdeu inclusive para Lyoto Machida (UFC 67).

Cristiano decidiu se preparar para a luta no Panamá, onde chegou no último dia 1º, e tem treinado com seu faixa-roxa Jaime Ortiz na cidade de Santiago.

Outros competidores confirmados no torneio são os faixas-pretas Roger Coelho, Martin Peyrou, Sidney Machado e o faixa-marrom local Marcos Perez, que levou seu irmão e sua irmã para competir no Mundial de Long Beach no fim de semana, e agora retorna empolgado para o torneio dos dias 18 e 19.

Recently, GB Panama’s owner Hector Vasquez welcomed also GMA member Flavio Almeida.

Vasquez talked about the class: “The class had 60 participants and everyone was impressed with the high level of BJJ training Professor Almeida gave us”.

Besides teaching, Almeida also did some promoting of students, as Vasquez tells us: “We had the belt promotions from blue to brown. The future of Gracie Barra is strong in Panama and we expect to have the first black belt to come out from our school soon.”

Black belt Hector Vasquez made the most of the Cachorrinho (blue) seminar to promote some students. Photo: Publicity.

Last weekend our GMA Hector Vasquez hosted Flavio “Cachorrinho” Almeida for a highly sought-after seminar at Gracie Barra Panama. Hector’s goal now is to keep the country’s Jiu-Jitsu scene on hot – and hence put together a championshippromising fireworks on June 18 and 19.

As attractions, the championship will feature cash prizes and two superfights – one between Kayron Gracie and Marcelo Menezes (ATT) and the other between Cristiano Machado (Top Brothers) and Sam Hoger.

For further information, check out www.apanjj.com.

O faixa-preta Hector Vasquez aproveitou o seminário de Cachorrinho (de azul) para graduar alguns alunos. Foto: Divulgação.

No fim de semana passado, nosso GMA Hector Vasquez recebeu Flavio “Cachorrinho” Almeida para um concorrido seminário na Gracie Barra Panamá. A meta de Hector agora é manter o cenário do Jiu-Jitsu quente no país, e para isso ele vai organizar um campeonato que promete pegar fogo, nos dias 18 e 19 de junho.

Como atrações, o campeonato terá prêmios em dinheiro e duas superlutas, entre Kayron Gracie e Marcelo Menezes (ATT), e Cristiano Machado (Top Brothers) contra Sam Hoger.

Confira mais informações em www.apanjj.com .

Hector with a young student / Photo: personal archives

Check out the interview with Hector, and, if you’re around the Central America area, find out how to get in on the next championship he’s promoting.

How did you end up in Panama and how did you start the academy and who was your main sponsor?

Hector: I was born here but moved to Miami in 1981. I did not visit Panama again until 1990. Then, in 1998, I started to visit Panama quite often and liked how the country was developing. The idea was to move back to where I was born. I was Paulo Castro’s main replacement at GB Miami when he traveled to Brazil for his business. Teaching class was getting me ready to make my move. On one of his trips he took me to the Gracie Barra main school, at Espacio Vital in Barra do Tijuca, where we asked Carlos Gracie Jr. for his blessing to open the first Gracie Barra Academy in Central America.

I’ll never forget his response while he looked over our shoulder, as he watched the class from his white plastic chair on the side of the mat: ¨Gracie Barra Panama,¨ in a heavy Brazilian accent! It was so cool hearing that! So in 2001 I took Paulo to teach a seminar to a group of guys who I met while visiting Panama in 2000. Ever since that first seminar he has been my sponsor. He has travelled to Panama at least once a year to teach a seminar or take the responsibility of being the advisor for my tournaments in Panama. So I dare say he has been the reason why I am where I am today.

Why did you start training Jiu Jitsu?

Hector: I started training Jiu Jitsu in 1994 in Miami, Florida. I began training primarily because I saw Royce Gracie submit all his opponents at the first UFC. I told myself, ¨This is the discipline I want to learn.¨ Then a friend from high school introduced me to a guy who knew some grappling and we started training together at my house. We would get together and watch reruns from the first UFC and, just for fun, do mock fights in the back yard of my house.

Then we started to meet other guys who had formal training and they started to train with us at my house. We did this for almost a years until our muay thai intructor, Mike Lee Kanarek, introduced us to Fabiano Iha, Amal Easton and Crolin Gracie, who had come to his academy in Weston, Florida, in 1996. We trained with them for a year. Fabiano Iha got involved in MMA and eventually made it to the UFC and Amal Easton and Crolin Gracie moved back to Brazil. Then we met Paulo Castro in 1998 and became part of the first generation of students from the Gracie Barra Miami Academy.

When did you first compete in a Jiu Jitsu competition, how did you do and what did you learned about these types of tournaments?

Hector: I first competed in 1999 at The fifth Pan-American Championship, held at the James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami, as a blue belt. I lost my first fight by points, however, I learned from the defeat. I saw the unity between each team. Carlos Gracie Junior’s Barra team in a corner of the gym, Royler Gracie and his Humaitá team at another section, Jacare´s Alliance and many others screaming while one of their competitors was fighting.

I also learned that competitors were also used as referees. I saw Paulo Castro, Marcio Feitosa, Kaseka Muniz and Roberto Correa do this. So I learned that, in order to do a competition of this magnitude, you need everyone to help out.

What are your biggest achievements in Jiu-Jitsu competition?

Hector: My most remarkable achievement in competition (not necessarily a tournament) was opening the first Jiu Jistsu Academy in Panama, in 2002. I say it’s competition because it was not easy moving to a country where all the teachers of other arts are black belts and I was a purple belt in Jiu Jitsu. I had to show why my rank can teach other people in a martial art.

From that achievement I can say that I was able to send students from Panama to compete in different tournaments, especially the IBJJF championships all over the world, and bring back medals from white to brown belts. Another achievement in Jiu-Jitsu was when I founded the first Jiu-Jitsu Panama Association (APJJ) which I registered in the Panamanian Sport authority (PAN DEPORTES), which is the same as the Secretaria do Deporte in Brazil. This led to the first Jiu-Jitsu competition, in 2008. Competitors from Costa Rica and Panama competed in white, blue and purple divisions. Since 2009 more than 500 competitors from Central, South and North America as well as other parts of the world have taken part in APJJ Tournaments.

As far as achievements in my personal competition career, winning a gold medal as a black belt in the Miami Open 2010 in the medium heavy division and silver in the absolute is at the top. It was nine years since I did my last competition, at the 2001 Pan-American in Orlando, Florida, when I got the silver medal as a purple belt and took gold at the Florida State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship also as a purple belt in the year 2000.

When did you get your black belt?

Hector: I train directly with Paulo Castro since 1998 and he is my main instructor but I received my black directly from Master Carlos Gracie Jr. in 2008 at the annual GB Instructors gathering in Lake Forest, California. Flavio Almeida recommended it be given to me since he saw the work we were doing in Panama during a seminar he gave in 2007.

Hector, what are you plans in the near future?

I´m currently organizing with the APJJ the first PRO-AM GI-NO-GI Jiu Jitsu Championship plus two super fights yet to be determined. The tournament will take place June 18 and 19, 2011 and the next in November. I was able to gather over $50,000. from sponsors to bring the level of Jiu-Jitsu in Panama to another dimension. You know, Panama has a lot to offer.

The Panama canal and its history are the main attraction. There are tours in different activities such as fishing, surfing, all types of extreme sports, shopping, and historical landmarks. In fact, the 2011 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games will be held on the beautiful waves of Panama (Playa Venao) from June 25 through July 3, 2011.

Both the ISA and Billabong are thrilled to announce the destination of next year’s event after receiving several attractive bid options for 2011. ISA President Fernando Aguerre stated, “The surf in Panama is exceptional, and after having great success with the Panama ISA World Masters Surfing Championship in 2010, they are eager to bring one of their feature World Championship events to the powerful waves and tropical weather of Panama. The ISA is looking forward to a great Billabong ISA World Surfing.”

How can competitors get involved in your tournament?

All they need to do is log on to www.apanjj.com; there they will get all the information they need to register. The website also provides all the information on the breakdown of the PRO and AM division, plus information in travel and accommodations. Thanks, GRACIEMAG! I wanna tell the rest of the world that you can find a place to train when ever you come to Panama.