The 2nd Petite Inspire Open Mat in May. Photo: Personal Archive

GMA member Kristina Barlaan of Gustavo Dantas Jiu-Jitsu in Arizona has headed female open mats since her first event in February 2011. The event is called Inspire Open Mat and the next event is coming up soon!

The event has always been held in Arizona and AZ BJJer’s like Mackenzie Dern and Luciana Dias are regulars. This next event to be held on September 14 will be in the bay area at Caio Terra’s GMA Institute of Martial Arts.

Kristina says, “… along with it being an opportunity to help grow the female Jiu-Jitsu community in the Bay Area, I will also be holding a fundraising raffle to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness.”

To be a part of this event please head to the facebook page for updates: www.facebook.com/InspireBJJ

Registration will be open shortly!

Gabi celebrates triumph over Tammy at Pan. Photo: Ivan Trindade.

Gabrielle Garcia has five gold medals from the last three Pan American Championships. Since 2010 she has continually placed at the top of her female divisions, weight and absolute and stamped her legacy in the middle of Jiu-Jitsu history. Being present in some of the biggest changes such as splitting the brown and black belt female divisions has given her the ability to be apart of something that will stand forever.

Other women such as Kyra Gracie, Luciana Dias, Beatriz Mesquita, Michelle Nicolini to name a few have made their mark along the years as well, claiming their golds at the Pan American Championships in great fashion.

As Pan Ams continues its reign as the largest Jiu-Jitsu tournament in the world and the competitor list grows, it’s important to make sure that women are represented well. More and more females are choosing to compete at the highest levels and in turn, we are making history. Don’t miss the opportunity to build something great along with Gabi and the others who have made their mark in Jiu-Jitsu history as we write it in 2013.

Make sure you register before the deadline of March 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT!

Click here to register for the 2013 Pan Ams that will be held from March 20-24!

The Brenn Event Center at UC Irvine is located at 100 Bren Event Center Irvine, California 92617.

See Gabi Garcia vs. Tammy Griego at the 2011 Pan American Championship below:

Luka (center)

GMA member school Megaton JJ, in Arizona, will be offering a special seminar soon.

Black belt Luciana Dias will be teaching a kids only class.

The seminar is scheduled November 12th-13th.

The first day is dedicated to kids aged 7 to 9.

The secind day is for kids aged 10 to 11.

The price is $40.

For more info, go to teammegaton.com

Mackenzie Dern, Luka, Kristina Barlaan

GMA member Luciana Dias will be teaching a two days seminar in October at Team Megaton Academy, in Phoenix, Arizona.

The class with the black belt 9-times Pan medalist and 5-times Worlds medalist is exclusive for women.

The investiment  $45 for adults, $30 for girls, or $70 for both days for adults, $40 for both days for girls.

The classes are scheduled October 15-16, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

Luka, wife of Megaton and stepmother of Mackenzie Dern, will be covering different techniques each day so it is a great deal to attend both of them.

For more info, go to teammegaton.com

The date first arose in Russia, when women took to the streets to protest for better living conditions.

These protests, they say, triggered the Russian revolution, which ended in the creation of the Soviet Union, in 1917.

However, even before that, in the west, they were already pondering a date to celebrate women’s fight for their rights in a male-dominated society.

During the 20th century they conquered the right to work, study, vote, run for office, love, date and marry whomever they want, and decide how many children they would have and when they would have them.

It is an endless struggle, but they are winning it.

In Jiu-Jitsu the struggle is an arduous too. They are the minority in academies, but classes exclusively for them have come about.

There are already lady masters with legions of male and female disciples. Examples like Leticia Ribeiro, Luciana Dias, Ana Laura Cordeiro and Hannette Staack come to mind.

At championships their matches vie for the crowd’s attention against the male matches, and their champions enjoy the same level of respect as the male stars do.

They can already make a living off the gentle art, traveling the world teaching seminars to a full house. Stars like Gabi Garcia, Hillary Williams, Luanna Alzuguir, Kyra Gracie, Bia Mesquita and others are some examples, to name a few.

To celebrate the date, GRACIEMAG.com put together a tribute in the form of a collection of photos.

There are twenty photos that express the devotion of these warriors who make their livings from Jiu-Jitsu and who are no less feminine for it and who make the world a more pleasant and – why not say it? – more peaceful and beautiful place.

Congratulations to you all, ladies!

[flickr set=72157626223244018]

Photos: Ivan Trindade, Mike Pesh

A data nasceu na Rússia, quando mulheres foram às ruas protestar por melhores condições de vida.

Esses protestos, se diz, foram um dos estopins para a revolução russa, que terminou na criação da União Soviética, em 1917.

Porém, mesmo antes disso, no ocidente, já se pensava em uma data para celebrar a luta das mulheres por seus direitos em uma sociedade extremamente machista.

No correr do século XX, elas conquistaram o direito de trabalhar, estudar, votar, se eleger, amar, namorar e casar com quem quiserem e decidir quantos filhos terão e quando os terão.

É uma luta sem fim, mas elas estão vencendo.

No Jiu-Jitsu, a luta também é árdua. Nas academias, ainda são minoria, mas já surgem aulas exclusivas para elas.

Já estão por aí mestras com legiões de discípulas e discípulos. Salta à mente exemplos de Letícia Ribeiro, Luciana Dias, Ana Laura Cordeiro e Hannette Staack.

Nos campeonatos, suas lutas dividem a atenção do público com o masculino e as campeãs tem o mesmo status de ídolas do esporte que as estrelas masculinas.

Já vivem da arte suave, viajando pelo mundo em seminários abarrotados. São exemplos as estrelas Gabi Garcia, Hillary Williams, Luanna Alzuguir, Kyra Gracie, Bia Mesquita e outras.

Para comemorar a data, o GRACIEMAG.com preparou uma singela homenagem na forma de uma seleção de fotos.

São 20 imagens que traduzem a devoção dessas guerreiras que fazem do Jiu-Jitsu suas vidas e nem por um segundo perdem um pingo da feminilidade tão fundamental para tornar o mundo um lugar mais agradável e, porque não dizer, pacífico e belo.

Parabéns a todas!

[flickr set=72157626223244018]

Fotos: Ivan Trindade, Mike Pesh

Mackenzie in photo by John Lamonica

Last weekend the Jiu-Jitsu crew donned their gis and headed to Montreal, Canada. Why? To secure a paid trip to the World Pro main event this coming April in Abu Dhabi.

Among the standouts of the brown/black belt division at the Fabio Holanda-organized event were Marcio Corleta (Winner-Behring) secured the over-92 kg spot; Josh Griffiths (Clockwork JJ) took first in the under-92 kg division; Jimmy Harbison (Lloyd Irvin) took top spot on the podium in the under-83 kg division; Bruno Amaral (BTT) was the best at under-74 kg; and Ryan Hall (50/50 Brasa) reigned in the under-65 kg.

Among the ladies, in the purple/brown/black belt division, Gracie Humaitá provided the standouts, with Luciana Dias winning the heavier division and purple belt Mackenzie Dern taking it in the lighter division.

Check out the results:

FEMALE- WHITE/BLUE UNDER 138lbs

1st – Nicole Whissell – Submission Factory
2nd – Elsa Sery – Gracie Barra
3rd – Catarina Macedo – TBJJ
3rd – Rita Gribben – Gracie Humaita

FEMALE- WHITE/BLUE OVER 138lbs

1st – Aisha Issa – BTT
2nd – Lisa Tanguay – BTT
3rd – Sherry Maccan – BTT
3rd – Alisson trembley – BTT

FEMALE- PURPLE/BROWN/BLACK UNDER 138lbs

1st – Mackenzie Dern – Gracie Humaita
2nd – Rachel Demara – Lloyd Irvin
3rd – Kanako Inaba – Champios JJ
3rd – Nicole Kulikova – Dragon Alliance

FEMALE- PURPLE/BROWN/BLACK OVER 138lbs

1st – Luciana Dias – Gracie Humaita
2nd – Sijara Eubanks – Lloyd Irvin
3rd – Libbie Corney – Peloton BJJ
3rd – Nathalia Azoff – BTT

MALE- WHITE/BLUE ABSOLUTE UNDER 163lbs

1st – Olivier Aubim – H20/Gracie Barra
2nd – Josh Presley – Titans
3rd – Max Misyura – RGDA
3rd – Alessandro Roman – Gracie Barra

MALE- WHITE/BLUE ABSOLUTE OVER 163lbs

1st – Alexandre Emond – H2O
2nd – Jordan Hayman – Armory
3rd – Miles Anstead – Nova Uniao
3rd – Alexandre Horvath – BTT

MALE- PURPLE ABSOLUTE UNDER 163lbs

1st – Luciano Ucci – BTT
2nd – Benjamin Dunn – BTT
3rd – Fred Koomsatira – BTT
3rd – James Haddad – Gracie Barra

MALE- PURPLE ABSOLUTE OVER 163lbs

1st – De Alonzio Jackson – Lloyd Irvin
2nd – Daniel Tsatsos – Nova Uniao
3rd – Scott Edward – BTT
3rd – Lee Villeneuve – BTT

MALE- BROWN/BLACK UNDER 143lbs

1st – Ryan Hall – 50/50-Brasa

2nd – Eduardo Silva – TBJJ

3rd – Panayotis Zera – TBJJ

3rd – Paul Minroe – Renzo Gracie

MALE- BROWN/BLACK UNDER 163lbs

1st – Bruno Amaral – BTT

2nd – Mark Colangelo – Gracie Barra

3rd – Felipe Heidrich – Ronin

3rd – Jerin valel – Gracie Humaita

MALE- BROWN/BLACK UNDER 183lbs

1st – Jimmy Harbison – Lloyd Irvin

2nd – Thomas Beach – TBJJ

3rd – Josh Russel – Gracie Barra

3rd – David Dominy – Gracie Humaita

MALE- BROWN/BLACK UNDER 203lbs

1st – Josh Griffiths – Clockwork JJ

2nd – Rafael Bettege – Cia Paulista

3rd – Ivan Yochkoluski –

3rd – AJ Scales – Nova Uniao

MALE- BROWN/BLACK OVER 203lbs

1st – Marcio Corleta – Winner-Behring

2nd – Rodrigo Munduruca – Gracie Humaita

MALE- BROWN/BLACK ABSOLUTE

1st – Rodrigo Munduruca – Gracie Humaita

2nd – Marcio Corleta – Winner-Behring

3rd – AJ Scales – Nova Uniao

3rd – Rafael Bettege – Cia Paulista

Mackenzie em foto de John Lamonica.

No último final de semana o pessoal vestiu o kimono em Montreal, no Canadá. O objetivo? Garantir todas as despesas pagas no World Pro, evento que acontece em abril, em Abu Dhabi.

Entre os destaques da seletiva, organizada por Fabio Holanda, na faixa-marrom e preta Marcio Corleta (Winner-Behring) garantiu a vaga no peso acima de 92kg; Josh Griffiths (Clockwork JJ) ficou em primeiro no até 92kg; Jimmy Harbison (Lloyd Irvin) subiu no alto do pódio na categoria até 83kg; Bruno Amaral (BTT) foi o melhor no 74kg; e Ryan Hall (50/50-Brasa) imperou no peso até 65kg.

Garantiu a premiação do absoluto Rodrigo Munduruca (Gracie Humaitá).

Entre as meninas, na categoria que trazia atletas das faixas roxa, marrom e preta, os destaques foram da Gracie Humaitá, com Luciana Dias na categoria mais pesada e a faixa-roxa Mackenzie Dern entre as mais leves.

Confira todos os classificados:

FEMALE- WHITE/BLUE UNDER 138lbs

1st – Nicole Whissell – Submission Factory
2nd – Elsa Sery – Gracie Barra
3rd – Catarina Macedo – TBJJ
3rd – Rita Gribben – Gracie Humaita

FEMALE- WHITE/BLUE OVER 138lbs

1st – Aisha Issa – BTT
2nd – Lisa Tanguay – BTT
3rd – Sherry Maccan – BTT
3rd – Alisson trembley – BTT

FEMALE- PURPLE/BROWN/BLACK UNDER 138lbs

1st – Mackenzie Dern – Gracie Humaita
2nd – Rachel Demara – Lloyd Irvin
3rd – Kanako Inaba – Champios JJ
3rd – Nicole Kulikova – Dragon Alliance

FEMALE- PURPLE/BROWN/BLACK OVER 138lbs

1st – Luciana Dias – Gracie Humaita
2nd – Sijara Eubanks – Lloyd Irvin
3rd – Libbie Corney – Peloton BJJ
3rd – Nathalia Azoff – BTT

MALE- WHITE/BLUE ABSOLUTE UNDER 163lbs

1st – Olivier Aubim – H20/Gracie Barra
2nd – Josh Presley – Titans
3rd – Max Misyura – RGDA
3rd – Alessandro Roman – Gracie Barra

MALE- WHITE/BLUE ABSOLUTE OVER 163lbs

1st – Alexandre Emond – H2O
2nd – Jordan Hayman – Armory
3rd – Miles Anstead – Nova Uniao
3rd – Alexandre Horvath – BTT

MALE- PURPLE ABSOLUTE UNDER 163lbs

1st – Luciano Ucci – BTT
2nd – Benjamin Dunn – BTT
3rd – Fred Koomsatira – BTT
3rd – James Haddad – Gracie Barra

MALE- PURPLE ABSOLUTE OVER 163lbs

1st – De Alonzio Jackson – Lloyd Irvin
2nd – Daniel Tsatsos – Nova Uniao
3rd – Scott Edward – BTT
3rd – Lee Villeneuve – BTT

MALE- BROWN/BLACK UNDER 143lbs

1st – Ryan Hall – 50/50-Brasa
2nd – Eduardo Silva – TBJJ
3rd – Panayotis Zera – TBJJ
3rd – Paul Minroe – Renzo Gracie

MALE- BROWN/BLACK UNDER 163lbs

1st – Bruno Amaral – BTT
2nd – Mark Colangelo – Gracie Barra
3rd – Felipe Heidrich – Ronin
3rd – Jerin valel – Gracie Humaita

MALE- BROWN/BLACK UNDER 183lbs

1st – Jimmy Harbison – Lloyd Irvin
2nd – Thomas Beach – TBJJ
3rd – Josh Russel – Gracie Barra
3rd – David Dominy – Gracie Humaita

MALE- BROWN/BLACK UNDER 203lbs

1st – Josh Griffiths – Clockwork JJ
2nd – Rafael Bettege – Cia Paulista
3rd – Ivan Yochkoluski –
3rd – AJ Scales – Nova Uniao

MALE- BROWN/BLACK OVER 203lbs

1st – Marcio Corleta – Winner-Behring
2nd – Rodrigo Munduruca – Gracie Humaita

MALE- BROWN/BLACK ABSOLUTE

1st – Rodrigo Munduruca – Gracie Humaita
2nd – Marcio Corleta – Winner-Behring
3rd – AJ Scales – Nova Uniao
3rd – Rafael Bettege – Cia Paulista