Built on the belief that great grappling should be understood and enjoyed by everyone – not just those fluent in Jiu-Jitsu rulebooks – the Jeff Curran Invitational (JCI) returns with its most ambitious event yet: JCI 2: The Ascension.

When: Doors open 4 p.m. Matches begin 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. Where: The Vixen, 1208 N. Green St., McHenry Illinois. Tickets details: jcinvitational.com. Free Livestream: Live and FREE on Youtube @jeffcurraninvitational.

Curated by fifth-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and former MMA standout Jeff Curran, JCI 2: The Ascension brings together elite competitors from around the country, fast-rising up-and-comers, and seasoned MMA veterans — including athletes with UFC experience — into a single, submission-focused showcase.

JCI does not match athletes by belt rank alone. Matchups are built on achievements, experience, and competitive résumé, ensuring every bout has real stakes and stylistic intrigue. The goal is simple: create exciting, meaningful matches that keep both hardcore fans and first-time viewers fully engaged.

JCI 2: The Ascension also makes a significant statement for women’s grappling, featuring eight female bouts: an expanded commitment following the success of JCI 1. The card highlights high-level competitors and emerging talent alike, reinforcing JCI’s dedication to showcasing excellence across the sport.

“This isn’t about filling brackets,” Curran explains. “It’s about telling stories through competition and making sure every match makes sense, even if you’ve never trained a day of Jiu-Jitsu in your life you will enjoy as a spectator.”

The event is anchored by a championship-level main event, as Michael Mutter, a Master Worlds gold medalist, faces Jeff Serafin, one of the Midwest’s most decorated competitors and coaches, for the Inaugural JCI Middleweight Title.

The co-main event features a high-level clash between two elite black belts: Hayden Bucker and Mike Santiago, a seasoned UFC veteran and high-level wrestler/grappler.

With its intentional matchmaking, expanded women’s representation, and blend of grappling specialists and MMA veterans, JCI 2: The Ascension continues to define itself as something different, a platform where athletes are treated as professionals and fans are never left behind.

The legend Hannette Staack of GMA Brazil-021 in Chicago, IL will be in Seattle to teach a women’s only camp hosted by Grapplin’ Gals.

The three day event will be held at Straight Blast Gym Seattle located at 5050 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106.

Eight-time world champion Hannette will also be accompanied by Oregon’s first female black belt Leah Taylor and Washington’s second female black belt Michelle Wagner.

This is a great opportunity for ladies of all levels to meet up in the Pacific Northwest for a fun, enriching three days of Jiu-Jitsu. Expand your knowledge and your network, and drink some good coffee, too!

Schedule to be released soon.

Register early to confirm your spot at www.ggbjj.com

Learn more about Hannette and Brazil-021 at www.brazil021chicago.com

In this video, the Carlson Gracie black belt offers a way to practice maintaining top position. In what he calls the around the world drill, he stays one step ahead of his opponent and is able to keep a good position.

Check it out and try it out for yourself:

Learn more about Pete the Greek and Rio Jiu-Jitsu at www.facebook.com/riojiujitsuchicago and www.riojj.com.

The promoted students at GMA Team Redzovic. Photo: Personal archive

On Nov. 18 the Redzovic family, Adem, Eddie and Idriz, held a special promotions ceremony with long-time friends Clark Gracie and his father, red belt Master Carley Gracie.

After an exciting weapons defense seminar put on by Master Carley Gracie, Carley promoted Eddie Redzovic to 3rd degree black belt.

The Redzovic clan also graduated several black belts to their first and second degrees as well as awarded six new black belts! Among those promoted to black belt were: Ramon Arellano Jr, Jerry Hagene, Vince Fosco, Jon Tutaj, Muhamed Nesiren, and Haris Usanovic.

The Redzovic family has been teaching Jiu-Jitsu for close to 15 years in Chicago and runs one of the largest and most successful Jiu-Jitsu teams in the midwest.

You can learn more about the team at www.chicagojiujitsu.com

GMA members Andre Terencio and Hannette Staack of GMA Brazil-021 will travel to their affiliate in Houston, TX for a seminar on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Both third degree black belts, the duo will teach from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and then participate in a belt ceremony from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.

The seminar will cost $70 per person and it is open to all.

The address is 8715 W Loop S Fwy, Houston, TX 77096.

For more information you can email marcos@brazil021houston.com

Here, he shows us an exclusive technique to get the choke from the twister position. Learn how to catch someone in the position and fully capitalize on the move with a collar choke submission.

Learn how here:

Learn more about Uflacker Academy at www.bjjsouthside.com

Jackson Sousa vs Samir Chantre. Photo: Ivan Trindade

Two tournaments are closing their registration. Both the 2014 IBJJF Las Vegas Summer Open and the 2014 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open are scheduled for the same weekend. In Vegas, the one-day event will be on Saturday, Aug. 9 and in Chicago, the gi and no-gi divisions will be split on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10.

The location of the Vegas event is the Sport Center of Las Vegas at 121 East Sunset Road Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Already signed up is a a black belt fleet consisting of Francisco “Sinistro” Iturralde, Gianni Grippo, Osvaldo “Queixinho”, Rodrigo Freitas, Mackenzie Dern, Antonio Antonioli, Nathan Mendolsohn, Fabbio Passos and more.

You can register here before 11:59 p.m. PST: https://www.ibjjfdb.com/CampeonatoInscricao/Edit?CampeonatoId=294&FederacaoId=3 

The location of the Chicago event is the Chicago State University at 9501 South King Dr. Chicago, IL 60628.

Names that will be competing include Vitor Oliveira, Wellington Megaton Dias, Eliot Kelly, Edson Oliveira and more.

To register for the gi portion, go here before 11:59 p.m. PST: https://www.ibjjfdb.com/EventoInscricao/Create?EventoId=17

Make sure you sign up before the deadlines!

More information can be found at www.ibjjf.org

The event will be held at Chicago State University located at 9501 South King Dr. Chicago, IL 60628.

Divisions are available for juvenile, adult and master 1-6 from white to black belt. Take a look at where your division stands in this final week of registration and add your name to the list: http://static.ibjjfdb.com/Campeonato/000292/en-US/RegistrationsByCategoryAndAcademy.pdf

The registration deadline is August 1 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

To register head to www.ibjjf.org

Check out this past match from the mats in Chicago between Philippe Della Monica and Nicholas Albin:

Learn more by watching this video of concepts and Jiu-Jitsu positions explained:

The Uflacker kids team at FIVE. Photo: Personal archive

This past weekend on Saturday June 28 and Sunday, June 29, the students at GMA Uflacker Academy competed locally in Chicago at the FIVE Grappling tournament.

On Saturday, the adult team took the mats with six competitors. They earned six gold medals and three silver medals.

Sunday belonged to the kids. There were five young competitors total and they took home seven gold medals and one silver medal.

So in total, Professor Christian “Xaropinho” Ulackers led eleven competitors to victory in two days and took thirteen gold medals and four silver medals home.

Check out more about GMA Uflacker Academy at www.bjjsouthside.com

The adults of Uflacker Academy. Photo: Personal archive

The GMA Brazil-021 duo, Professors Andre Terencio and Hannette Staack, will be in Edmonton, Canada for a two-a-day seminar on June 28.

The first seminar will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and it will focus on white and blue belt techniques but open to all levels.

The second seminar will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and will focus on blue belt and higher techniques but again, all levels are welcome.

The seminars are $100 each or both for $120 per person.

There are limited spots so reserve yours today at www.brazil021edmonton.com

There will also be a potluck and meet & greet that same day starting at 6 p.m. so don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from world class instructors.

Check out more in the video below:

For three hours you can learn from legend Carley Gracie and his son, black belt Pan champion Clark Gracie at Team Redzovic BJJ Academy on Tuesday, June 10.

From 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. te duo will teach their techniques. The cost is $100 per person.

GMA Team Redzovic BJJ Academy is located at 4900 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60625.

To reserve your spot please contact chicagojiujitsu@gmail.com