Bruno Bastos (personal archive photo)

The IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu calendar rolls on, and next weekend it’s time for the Houston Open to heat things up at the Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center. Some noteworthy world champions have already assured their places in the mix, like Rafael and Guilherme Mendes, Rafael Lovato Jr., Stephen Hall, Ulpiano Malachias and Ricardo Bastos.

One of the favorites to win gold has brought down the pace, though. Bruno Bastos of Nova União Texas, who has already won the black belt absolute in Houston before, explained what this “non-training” phase of his is all about.

“Obviously what I expect is to represent my team, as well as to watch some of the students who have excellent chances of medaling. But the truth is that now I’m in a non-training phase. I’ve been letting my body rest a lot since last year I suffered a bunch of injuries, so after Copa Pódio I decelerated. After the Houston Open I’ll ramp up my training again, to get in shape for the major tournaments on the competition calendar,” Bruno tells GRACIEMAG.com. To return to his winning ways, the Jiu-Jitsu professor already has his game plan in place.

“My strategy is to always keep ahead on points so as to save energy and use my experience to play it as it lays. I can trade grips playing judo, pull and play guard, or go for the pass. That’s always an advantage,” he adds.

Bruno will also be trying his hand at the Pan again this coming March, the first time testing for banned substances will be carried out on medal winners. However, unlike other fans and athletes, Bruno isn’t taking too kindly to the change.

“To me the testing shouldn’t change much when it comes to results. These days people have this notion that a lot of folks are winning in Jiu-Jitsu just because they’re on performance enhancers. Wrong! Everybody trains like mad. Of course if you’re using some substance you’ll be having some extra help; but ultimately if you’re not good at Jiu-Jitsu, you’re not going to win,” opines Bastos.

“Furthermore, I feel a lot of folks are uninformed. People think it’s cool to do testing to make it look like the sport’s clean, but what if you’ve got a fever one day before competing and can’t take the proper medication? Do you know what you can take? Everyone knows that taking the wrong medication will come up as doping. What if a woman’s got cramps? Does she or doesn’t she take anything for it? Will she not take it and suffer because she doesn’t know if it’s okay to take or not? In other words, they think it’s great to ask for testing but not a lot of people are informed about the details; it’s not part of their culture. What about supplements? Guys take them all the time… Is it doping or isn’t it? And I’m not going to even get into those who smoke and are asking for testing. So, let’s see what happens starting with the Pan,” he says in closing.

Check out who all will be competing at the Houston Open by clicking here.

Packed gymnasium in Houston

Nova União teacher Bruno Bastos was the big name at the Houston Open, winning the absolute division this Saturday. After going past Stephen Hall (Alliance) in the semifinal and Ben Baxter (Lovatos) in the final, Bruno confirmed the favoritism in the open weight division. With the ultra heavyweight title, Bruno was the big winner at the maiden IBJJF in Texas.

Signed up for the Houston Open absolute division, Bill “The Grill” Cooper decided not to fight after taking the middleweight title, in the Clear Brook High School gymnasium. Other aces from the tournament opted not to sign up for the open weight group.

Among the standouts, Brasa’s Jonatas Novaes won at lightweight, with Chris Westfall (Nova União) in second. William Cooper (Paragon) won the middleweight division. Marcelo Azevedo, of Gracie Barra, took top honors at medium heavyweight, with Ben Baxter (Lovatos BJJ) in second. At superheavyweight, Gustavo Pires (Gracie Barra) secured gold, followed by Rafael Lovato (Lovatos BJJ). Bruno Bastos (Nova União) won the ultra heavyweight category, with Stephen Hall (Alliance) as runner-up.

Another to see action on the mat in Houston was veteran Jorge Patino, also known as Macaco. The black belt got the submission in his only match in the master category.

Check out the complete results by clicking here.

Bruno Bastos in blue. Photo by Alicia Anthony

Featherweight
Gustavo Carpio (Marra Senki)
Joshua Hill (Fighting Arts Academy)

Lightweight
Jonatas Novaes (Brasa)
Chris Westfall (Nova União)
Brad Court (Loyd Irvin)

Middleweight
William Cooper (Paragon)
Antonio Passos (De La Riva)
Jordan Rivas (Elite)

Medium heavyweight
Marcelo Azevedo (Gracie Barra)
Ben Baxter (Lovatos BJJ)
Jason Ebarb  (Texas Punishment Crew)

Heavyweight
Rodrigo Pinheiro (Gracie Humaitá)
Marco Macera (Gracie Barra)

Super heavyweight
Gustavo Pires (Gracie Barra)
Rafael Lovato (Lovatos BJJ)

Ultra heavyweight
Bruno Bastos (Nova União)
Stephen Hall (Alliance)

The city, marked by skyscrapers, but also endowed with lots of greenery and cultural events, will be invaded by the gentle art.

Registration ends today (February 27). Click here to sign up.

The first installment of the event in Texas will be March 6, at the Clear Brook High School gymnasium in Houston, a city marked by countless skyscrapers, but also blessed with lots of green and cultural events.

For further information and soon for sign-ups, check out www.ibjjf.org.