Mendes in World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2009. Photo: Ivan Trindade.

If you usually read GracieMag, you already know that one of the best recipes to live happily is to keep in good shape with Jiu-Jitsu and then take a dip to cool off the body.

Renowned surfer, longboard king Joel Tudor, is one of the guys who knows this well.

Passionate about Jiu-Jitsu, the black belt student used the visit to Costa Mesa join an interesting training session with Gui Mendes.

Notice among the smiles of fighters the fierce contest to see who makes the right grip to annoy the opponent. And be sure to note how Mendes uses a good baseline and at :12 of the video, he works the legs on Joel’s hips to sweep the tough surfer.

And you, reader, what have you learned from the training of these two aces?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3wJP9GCCi8

Guilherme no Mundial 2009. Foto: Ivan Trindade.

Se você costuma ler GracieMag, já sabe que uma das melhores receitas para viver feliz é manter a boa forma com o Jiu-Jitsu e depois dar um mergulho para refrescar o corpo. Surfista de renome, o rei do pranchão Joel Tudor é um dos caras que sabe bem disso.

Apaixonado pelo Jiu-Jitsu, o estudioso faixa-preta aproveitou a visita a Costa Mesa para dar um interessante treininho com Gui Mendes, na academia dos manos.

Repare, entre os sorrisos dos lutadores, na disputa ferrenha para ver quem faz a pegada certa para incomodar o adversário. E não deixe de notar como Gui Mendes abusa da boa base e aos 12 segundos do vídeo, trabalha as pernas no quadril de Joel para raspar o surfista casca-grossa.

E você, leitor, o que aprendeu com o treino desses dois levinhos indigestos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3wJP9GCCi8

Xande Ribeiro playing on top in Jiu-Jitsu / Photo: Ivan Trindade

With so many big names signed up to compete, the promoters of the San Diego leg of the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup Trials decided to up the ante a bit. Now, the one to win the brown/black belt absolute division this weekend will take home an extra one thousand dollars.

THERE ARE GRACIES TRYING OUT FOR A TRIP TO ABU DHABI

Figuring on the competitor list are such big names as: Xande Ribeiro, Rômulo Barral, Lucas Leite, André Galvão, Kron Gracie, Guilherme Mendes, Clardk Gracie, Marcel “Mãozinha” Fortuna, Mike Fowler, James Puopolo, Joel Tudor and more. The winners of each division will travel to Abu Dhabi for the main event with all costs footed by the UAE government.

To find out more about the event, click here.

And check back with GRACIEMAG.com for coverage from the event.

Xande Ribeiro jogando por cima no Jiu-Jitsu. Foto: Ivan Trindade

Diante da inscrição de tantos atletas de renome, os organizadores da Seletiva WPJJ de San Diego resolveram botar tempero no caldeirão. Agora, o absoluto marrom/preta da competição deste fim de semana vai pagar mil dólares ao campeão.

Tem Gracie no páreo para ir a Abu Dhabi

Entre os concorrentes, nomes como Xande Ribeiro, Rômulo Barral, Lucas Leite, André Galvão, Kron Gracie, Guilherme Mendes, Clark Gracie, Marcel “Mãozinha” Fortuna, Mike Fowler, James Puopolo, Joel Tudor e muitos outros. Os campeões de cada categoria vão a Abu Dhabi com tudo pago pelo governo dos Emirados.

Para saber mais sobre o evento, clique aqui.

Aguarde a cobertura aqui no GRACIEMAG.com, e pelo Twitter @graciemag.

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Faixas-pretas, Cauã Reymond e Paulo Zulu podem aparecer na disputa. Foto: Divulgação.

O Bintang Fight Surf Black Belt World Challenge, evento que você ficou sabendo pelo GRACIEMAG.com, reunirá, no domingo 28 de agosto, na reserva ecológica da Prainha, no Rio, 24 faixas-pretas e praticantes de surfe para decidir quem merece o “cinturão” da categoria. O vencedor vai tirar onda de melhor surfista do Jiu-Jitsu mundial, mas não apenas isso. O prêmio para o campeão é uma passagem para ir surfar na Costa Rica.

Entre os convidados na briga pelo título, estão os lutadores Ricardo Arona, Murilo Bustamante e José Mario Sperry, além do havaiano Kai Garcia e o professor de Jiu-Jitsu Jeff Donner, que vem de Oahu, Havaí. O evento promete reunir, ainda, os ex-surfistas profissionais Marcos Brasa, Paulo Zulu, Julio “Foca” e o americano Joel Tudor, único a vencer tanto na elite do surfe como no Jiu-Jitsu.

A ideia do campeonato repercutiu, e a Probiótica Laboratórios, empresa do segmento de nutrição esportiva, decidiu patrociná-lo. Para Marcelo Bella, gerente de marketing da Probiótica, “assim como o MMA, o surfe é um esporte de concentração e força que exige treinamento e energia. Os atletas participantes do desafio conhecem a Probiótica e reconhecem o nosso compromisso em oferecer o melhor da suplementação alimentar como um incentivo à superação dos limites. O nosso foco sempre foi o atleta e praticante de atividades físicas e, seja na busca pelo golpe decisivo ou pela onda perfeita, nós sempre vamos oferecer o que o corpo deles precisa para que sua determinação os faça alcançar o que desejam”.

“A união desses esportes modernos, que começaram marginalizados e agora influenciam moda e comportamento de milhões pelo mundo vai fazer tremer as areias do Rio”, aposta Bella.

Check out some of the pictures taken by John Lamonica at the event:

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Confira abaixo as imagens ainda exclusivas captadas pelas lentes de John Lamonica:

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Absolute co-victors Pimenta and Canal / Photos: Deb Blyth

In the master open class, Denilson Pimenta of GF Team closed out the bracket with his friend and teammate Theodoro Canal. Pimenta had four matches leading up to his big win. Two he won by points and two he won by submission – Ezequiel (forearm) chokes. Unfortunately, Pimenta hurt his back in the second match, but he gallantly fought on, claiming gold at the end. “I felt my back a lot during the matches,” he said, “But my heart wouldn’t let me stop.”

In his lightweight division, Pimenta came in second to surfing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu great, Joel Tudor of BJJ Revolution. Pimenta had three fights in total, shutting down the first two with his trademark Ezekiel choke and coming up short in the finals with a referee’s decision going to Tudor. “It was right,” Pimenta said, referring to the referee proclaiming Tudor the winner of their match, “It was a good experience. It’s been good being with friends and closing out the open with my friend Theodoro. I’m super happy with the support from my team, in Brazil and America.”

Pimenta said he’s going to go home and train to fight in the adult division for the Worlds. “Black belt is black belt,” he said, “adult or master division; they are all the same. You have to fight quicker and take the lead earlier in the master’s division, but either way, you just have to make sure you get ahead of your opponent because whoever does controls the match.”

Joel Tudor was happy with his day as well. Coming in first at the Pan was a great experience for the eight-time longboarding world champion, who says doing Jiu-Jitsu feels the same to him as when he first started surfing. “It was very ‘grass roots and clubby’ feeling when I first started surfing,” he says, “This is what Jiu-Jitsu feels like to me now. I love this community and the camaraderie of Jiu-Jitsu. It’s not like this in surfing anymore.”

Tudor fought two matches, winning both with a triangle, leading up to his final with Pimenta. “He’s a judo guy,” Tudor said, referring to Pimenta’s toughness, “He was so strong! Once we were on the ground, I could tell he wasn’t going to pass, and I ended up getting the ref’s decision. A judo guy like that is hard to beat.”

Joel Tudor celebrates with friends.

As for surfing, Tudor says his risky days in the water are done. “My days of putting my life on the line are over. A big wave guy died last week at Mavericks. When you have kids yourself, it’s a big eye-opener.” So, expect to see Tudor, who has a lot of passion for the sport of Jiu-Jitsu, around the competition circuit in the future. “Our team with Clark (Gracie) is slowly building momentum. We’re all getting behind him to make our team great.”

In the master feather division, Theodoro Canal of GF Team defeated Andre Carvalho Monteiro of BJJ Revolution to take gold in his division. He had three fights in total and was very happy with his win. “It’s been really good,” he said, “This is only the second time I’ve fought in the master’s division. It’s the same type of competition from adult to master, but there’s just the time difference. You have to fight faster because you have less time.”

Even though the experience was good for him and he won the gold medal, like most elite athletes, it wasn’t enough. “Next time I will do better,” he said.

Canal closed out the open class with his friend and GF Team teammate Denilson Pimenta and was happy with his finish and performance over the weekend. “I’m very happy,” he said, “I’m only 155 pounds, so doing the absolute is hard on my back, my arms, and legs, when I compete against such big guys. But I train very hard every day.”

Fabio Leopoldo after winning gold in his division

In the master heavyweight division, Fabio Leopoldo of Gracie Morumbi took gold in his final match against Fernando Jose Di Pierro of Alliance. Leopoldo said all his matches were difficult leading up to the final. “My first match was tough,” he said, “I won by an advantage. I stayed in front of the fight. It was a good fight.”

His second fight was no easier, although he was able to get the Ezequiel choke in. “I put all my game out on the mat,” he said, “It was a tough match.” In the third and final match, against Di Pierro, Leopoldo submitted him in about 29 seconds with a leg lock. “Nobody scored any points on me today,” Leopoldo said.

Leopoldo really looks forward to fighting in the Pan every year. “This is the biggest tournament in the World for masters,” he said. And although he’s won it multiple times in his life, this experience was particularly special because his mother was in town watching him fight. “This is her first time seeing me win a tournament,” he said, “I want to thank all my students for pushing me so hard in training, especially Erik Klinger.”

A jovial and jubilant Senior 1 black belt, Paulo Guillobel of Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu took to the mats with an upbeat attitude and ended up winning gold in his division and silver in the open class after a referee’s decision didn’t go his way.

In his middleweight division, Guillobel had three matches and each time he won he came off the mats shaking his head and smiling. “I injured my ribs three months ago and I have bone spurs in my arm which are still bad,” he said, “When the sign-ups came around for the Pan, I decided I might as well try to defend my title.”

Guillobel was able to defend his title, but it was harder than he thought. He seemed in disbelief each time he won. “All my matches were tough,” he said, “I came here out of shape. I’m going to make a DVD on how to win a tournament really out of shape,” he laughed. Guillobel won two matches on points leading up to his final with Shawn Hammonds of Lloyd Irvin M.A Academy. “I felt ok,” he said, “I felt better last year. I just really wanted to win this year. I had to use the gas in my tank wisely.”

Guillobel celebrating with his coach, Saulo Ribeiro

Although he was tired from his divisional win earlier in the day, Guillobel hung around and fought in the absolute, with encouragement from his coach and friend, Saulo Ribeiro. He won four of those matches heading into the end of the day finals with Roberto Godoi of Godoi Jiu-Jitsu. When the buzzer rang, they were tied 0-0, with the referee raising Godoi’s hand as the victor. “It could have gone either way,” Guillobel said, “It was a great experience. Couldn’t be better. I’m glad I competed.”

Guillobel and Godoi after their absolute battle

Guillobel said he’s going to keep going with his training and competition schedule. “I might jump into the adult division to test myself. And I want one more gold medal at any good tournament this year.”

No alto do pódio. Foto: Carlos Ozório

As inscrições para a seletiva do World Pro em San Diego, que acontece nos dias 5 e 6 de março, continuam a todo vapor. Muitos faixas-pretas estão garantidos, feras como Guilherme Mendes, Clark Gracie, Rodrigo Caporal, Joel Tudor e o campeão peso e absoluto do World Pro Claudio Calasans. Se juntam a essas feras os lutadores Marcus Bochecha e Gilbert Durinho, o que o GRACIEMAG.com já havia anunciado.

Durinho é o atual campeão do evento principal no peso 74kg. Já Bochecha, uma das grandes revelações de 2010 na faixa-preta, busca vencer a terceira seletiva. O lutador garantiu o ouro em Nova Jersey e Las Vegas. Assim, além de acumular muitos dólares em premiação, Bochecha aumenta a pontuação no ranking do World Pro, o que bode colocá-lo numa posição melhor na chave em Abu Dhabi, além de uma premiação extra se for o campeão do ranking.

“Quero aproveitar para convocar o pessoal das faixas roxa, azul e branca. Vale lembrar que eles também disputam uma chance de lutar em Abu Dhabi com todas as despesas pagas”, lembra o organizador Fernando Paradeda.

As inscrições vão até o dia 28 de fevereiro. Saiba mais aqui.

At the top of the podium / Photo: Carlos Ozório

Sign-ups for the World Pro Trials in Diego, to go down this March 5 and 6, are going full swing. A number of black belts have secured their spots; beasts like Guilherme Mendes, Clark Gracie, Rodrigo Caporal, Joel Tudor and lightweight and absolute World Pro champion Claudio Calasans are all in. Joining these fighters are Marcus Bochecha and Gilbert Durinho, which GRACIEMAG.com had previously announced.

Durinho is the current champion of the event’s under-74 kg weight group. Now Bochecha, one of the big revelations of the black belt division in 2010, is looking to win a third-straight tryout. The fighter came up with the gold in both New Jersey and in Las Vegas. Thus, besides amassing a good chunk of change from prize money, Bochecha moves up in the World Pro ranking, which will better place him in his bracket in Abu Dhabi, as well as garnering him even more cash should he win the ranking.

“I want to take the opportunity to call on the purple, blue and white belt folks. It’s worth reminding them that they can win an all-expenses-paid trip to Abu Dhabi,” says Fernando Paradeda.

Sign-ups end February 28. Find out more here.

Tudor, who’s known for his submission artistry on the mats, is widely known for his surfing skills in the water. He’s won the U.S. Open in Longboarding a record eight times and took the ASP Longboard World Championship as well.

On Saturday, February 26, 2011, you can catch the Jiu-Jitsu black belts coaching students at the Chicago Open, and on the next day, Sunday, February 27, 2011, they’ll be back on the mats putting on a Gi and No-Gi seminar. “We are coming to represent,” Gracie says, “Everyone’s welcome to come to our seminar.”

Gracie will be showing his best Gi techniques and Tudor will be covering the No-Gi portion of the seminar. Don’t miss the opportunity to catch these two world champion California boys on the mats in the Midwest.

The dynamic duo will be teaching at Gracie’s new academy in Chicago. For more information, you can contact Gracie at: CLARKGRACIE.COM or (619) 865-3177.