Scheduled for January 21-25, the European Jiu-Jitsu begins to take shape, and the names confirmed until this date leave fans eager to compete in the adult black belt in Lisbon, capital of Portugal.

To sign up for the first big IBJJF championship of 2015, click here.

In the disputed medium weight division, the Ecuadorian Francisco Iturralde (Alliance) wants to reign over Caio Almeida (Ryan Gracie), Thomas Oyarzun (Alliance) and Alexandre Vieira. The title of the category belongs today to Claudio Calasans (Atos), which has not yet officially signed up for the tournament.

Maximiliano Carvalho (GB) appears in the light heavyweight list, alongside Howon Jung (JF Jiu-Jitsu), Okan Bulut (Icon JJ) and Jarkko Jouni (Hilti BJJ).

The heavyweight has the young Erberth Santos (Lloyd Irvinto), who have had a glorious year so far wining weight category and absolute at the PanAms and IBJJF Worlds still as a brown belt. This will be his first tournament as a black belt.

Current European champion, the star Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues is the only fighter confirmed in the super heavyweight yet.

Gabi Garcia (Alliance), Gretchen Dawn (GB), Venla Orvokki (Hilti), Shanti Abelha (Checkmate), and Anna Louise Mayne (CFS BJJ) are the women enrolled in the female elite.

And you, dear reader, will fight or have already fought in the European? Comment here your experience in the Old Continent.

Lucio Lagarto celebrates victory in Jiu-Jitsu. Photo: Ivan Trindade / GRACIEMAG

London, England will host a new event of superfights, the Toukon Jiu-Jitsu. The tournament brings a card stuffed with beasts of the competitive landscape and with some submission only matches.

The black belt Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues is confirmed in the main fight of the event, but still has no opponent. The athlete from Gracie Barra would face Jackson Sousa, but the Checkmat fighter had an infection in his leg that prevented him from fighting.

For the co-event of the night, Felipe Mota (Roger Gracie) faces Luke Costello (Gracie Barra). Felipe teaches Jiu-Jitsu at Roger Gracie’s academy in Norway, and his favorite game is the De la Riva guard. Collector of medals in the IBJJF circuit, Luke has an explosive game: he likes takedowns and guard passing.

The other Superfights of the night are:

Thomas Oyarzun (Alliance) x Chris Boww (GB) – to finish

Alex Cabanes (Claudio Calasans) x Gabriel Rainho – to finish

Dorragh O’Conaill (Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu) x Maciej Kozak (Grappling Krakãw) – to finish

Eduardo Rios (Frontline) x Luca Anchorite (Aeterna Jiu-Jitsu) – to finish

To learn more, click here.

Braga Neto é uma das feras no GP dos Pesados da Copa Pódio.. Foto: Dan Rod.

Recuperado de uma lesão no joelho, o faixa-preta Antonio Braga Neto (Gordo JJ) está com os treinos a todo vapor na academia de seu professor, no Rio de Janeiro, para tentar surpreender os favoritos na Copa Pódio.

Para Braga Neto, há outros lutadores com mais ritmo para vencer o GP dos Pesados, no dia 13 de janeiro, mas ele tem um diferencial interessante.

“O bom é que não tenho jogo definido. Gosto é de finalizar, por baixo ou por cima. Gosto de sentir os três tapinhas”, disse ele, em papo com o GRACIEMAG.com.

GRACIEMAG: Seu grupo tem Lucio Lagarto, Bruno Bastos, Alexandre Souza e o faixa-marrom João Gabriel. Alguém te preocupa mais?

BRAGA NETO: Rapaz, acho que todos têm condições de ganhar. O meu grupo está forte mesmo. No meu ponto de vista, o Lucio Lagarto e o Alexandre Souza são os favoritos para avançar para a próxima fase.

E quem você vê forte na disputa para levar o caneco do GP dos Pesados?

Os nomes mais fortes para mim ficaram no outro grupo: Xande Ribeiro e Rodolfo Vieira.

Como está o joelho?

Pois é, venho de uma cirurgia no joelho, fiquei me recuperando em Porto Velho, Rondônia. Lá fiz minha fisioterapia e fortalecimento na Companhia do Movimento. Meus treinos começaram há cerca de um mês, já estou no Rio treinando com o meu professor Roberto Gordo. Estou treinando bem, estou me preparando para todas as situações, para passar ou fazer guarda. Venho de um período difícil de lesão, então voltar logo no GP dos Pesados, um evento que valoriza os craques do Jiu-Jitsu, é ótimo. Então todos podem esperar um Braga Neto dando o seu melhor.

Seus oponentes têm estilos bem diferentes. Como você treina para anular o jogo deles?

Para mim é simples lutar com qualquer pessoa, pois eu não tenho um jogo fixo – eu busco sempre a finalização, não importa de que jeito. Gosto de sentir os três tapinhas!

O que muda num combate com duração de seis minutos?

Acho que a estratégia e a explosão são as principais ferramentas, os aspectos que ajudam bastante nessas regras. É preciso também ficar atento para não perder posição, isso será o grande diferencial.

Braga Neto is one of the aces on tap at the Copa Pódio Heavyweight GP. (Photo by Dan Rod)

Having recouped an injured knee, Gordo JJ black belt Antonio Braga Neto is now training balls to the wall at his master’s Rio de Janeiro academy, in hopes of ousting the favorites at the upcoming Copa Pódio event.

To Braga Neto, there are other fighters in the Jan. 13 Heavyweight GP who are at a better competition; still he feels he has an interesting difference going for him.

“The good part is that I don’t have a set game plan. What I like is getting the finish, whether on bottom or top. I like to feel them tapping out,” Braga told GRACIEMAG.com.

GRACIEMAG: Your group includes Lucio Lagarto, Bruno Bastos, Alexandre Souza and the brown belt João Gabriel. Does anyone concern you more than the others?

BRAGA NETO: Man, I feel they all have what it takes to win. My group is really deep. From my point of view Lucio Lagarto and Alexandre Souza are favorites to go through to the next phase.

The strongest names from the other group to me are Xande Ribeiro and Rodolfo Vieira.

How’s your knee?

Right, well I’m coming off knee surgery. I went through recovery in Porto Velho, Rondônio [Brazil]. There I did physiotherapy and strength work at Companhia do Movimento. I started training again about a month ago. I’m already in Rio training with my coach Roberto Gordo. I’m training well. I’m preparing myself for everything, to pass or play guard. I went through a rough period of injuries, so heading straight into the Heayvweight GP, an event that values Jiu-Jitsu aces, is great. So everyone can expect to see a Braga Neto giving his best.

Your opponents have different styles. What are you doing in training to neutralize their games?

To me fighting anyone is simple, since I don’t have a set game plan—I go for the finish; it doesn’t matter how I get it. I like to feel them tap out!

What changes with a six-minute match duration?

I feel that strategy and explosiveness are the main tools, the aspects that help a lot under these rules. You also need to make sure not to lose positions—that’s a big differentiating factor.

Lucio Lagarto é uma das feras no GP dos Pesados da Copa Pódio. Foto: Ivan Trindade/ GRACIEMAG

Na reta final dos treinos para o GP dos Pesados da Copa Pódio, que ocorre no dia 13 de janeiro, Lucio Rodrigues, o Lagarto, não vê a hora de cair dentro do dojô do Clube Hebraica, no Rio de Janeiro.

O experiente faixa-preta da Gracie Barra está no grupo verde, ao lado de Bruno Bastos, Antonio Braga Neto, Alexandre Souza e o faixa-marrom João Gabriel.

Ele falou ao GRACIEMAG.com sobre seus treinos e mostrou confiança: “Se eu precisasse apontar um favorito ao título do GP, seria eu mesmo!”

Para assistir à Copa Pódio pela internet, clique aqui.

GRACIEMAG: Como você está se preparando para as lutas de seis minutos da Copa Pódio?

LUCIO LAGARTO: Uma luta de seis minutos não permite muitas falhas, é preciso desenvolver o jogo de forma inteligente. Obviamente, quem errar menos deve prevalecer. Meus treinos estão irados, só treino duro e todos os meus companheiros são altamente competentes. Eu, particularmente, estou focando de tudo um pouco, tanto guarda como passagem, de forma bem completa. Agora é realmente esperar o dia 13, eu acredito ter muitas surpresas para mostrar ao pessoal. Os treinos vão continuar pesados e disciplinados, além de uma alimentação que tem de estar de acordo.

Como você avalia seu grupo?

O campeonato só tem fera, e não apenas no meu grupo. Não tem para onde correr, e essa é a ideia principal. Sinceramente, não vejo a hora de começar a brincadeira!

Quem é o favorito ao título, na sua visão?

Cara, é difícil apontar um favorito, se eu fosse apontar seria eu mesmo (risos)! Estou amarradão, e me sentindo 100% para a disputa. O que podem esperar de mim, fatalmente, é um Jiu-Jitsu pronto para qualquer situação, pronto para ótimos resultados.

Os grupos em disputa no GP dos Pesados da Copa Pódio. Foto: Gustavo Aragão/ GRACIEMAG

Lucio Lagarto is one of the aces in the Copa Pódio Heavyweight GP. (Photo by Ivan Trindade/ GRACIEMAG)

Now in the final stretch of training for his Jan. 13 challenge at the Copa Pódio Heavyweight GP, Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues can’t wait to hit the mats at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s Clube Hebraica arena.

The seasoned Gracie Barra black belt is in the Green Group alongside his black belt counterparts Bruno Bastos, Antonio Braga Neto, Alexandre Souza and brown belt João Gabriel.

And in a recent chat he had with GRACIEMAG.com about training, he came off as plenty confident in himself: “If I were to point out a favorite to win the GP title, it would be me!”

To watch the Copa Pódio event over the internet, click here.

GRACIEMAG: What are you doing to prepare for the six-minute matches at Copa Pódio?

LUCIO LAGARTO: A six-minute match means you can’t make mistakes. You have to be intelligent about the game plan. Obviously, the one to make the least mistakes will prevail. My training has been going great, though. I only train hard, and all my training partners are highly competent. Me in particular, I’ve been focused on a bit of everything, both guard playing and passing in an all-around way. Now I just have to wait till the 13th. I believe I have a lot of surprises to show everyone. I’m still training hard and disciplined, not to mention that my diet is going accordingly.

What’s your take on your group?

There’s nothing but aces in the whole championship, not just in my group. There’s nowhere to run, and that’s the idea behind the thing. Sincerely, I can’t wait till the fun begins!

Who, in your view, is the favorite to take the title?

Man, it’s hard to point out a favorite. If I had to, I’d say it’s me (laughs)! I’m stoked and feeling 100% for this competition. What everyone can expect from me is Jiu-Jitsu that can handle any situation, that’s ready to bring in great results.

The Copa Pódio Heavyweight GP brackets (photo by Gustavo Aragão/ GRACIEMAG).

Lagarto at the 2011 European Championships winning his weight division. Photo by Ivan Trindade

One of the black belt divisions at the 2012 IBJJF Long Beach Open currently lists one of the best competitors in the super-heavy division on its roster. Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues is a known name in the United Kingdom where he resides as well as his home country Brazil, however his lack of presence in American competitions has limited his exposure and recognition. After overcoming Hodgkin’s Disease, a lymphatic cancer, in 2007 he came back to training after one month of chemotherapy and began competing shortly after completing his treatment. In 2011 he had a great run as the 2011 European weight division champion, Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials weight division and absolute champion and Abu Dhabi World Pro Cup division champion winning over some of the top names in the sport today like Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, Leonardo Nogueira and others. Looking to further his winning streak, he had planned to attend the 2011 World Championships in Long Beach, CA however was unable to obtain a visa for the trip.

Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues on the podium at the 2011 Abu Dhabi World Pro Cup

Now, he has high hopes that he will be able to get to the states for the 2012 IBJJF Long Beach Fall Open on December 8 at the esteemed Long Beach Walter Pyramid  as he his applying for his visa and will know the results shortly. The Long Beach Open is the last chance for athletes to win a gold before the year ends and for Lagarto, it’s also a chance to win $5,000.

The IBJJ Pro League, which is happening the night of the Long Beach Open, is an invitation only event that combines the weight classes down to 4 separate categories with cash prizes for first and second place. The brackets have been filled except for the spots available for those who win their weight divisions at the Long Beach Open earlier in the day on December 8. Currently Lagarto is the only person in his division, ensuring his spot into the Pro League brackets along with Bruno Bastos, Gustavo Pires and Roberto “Tussa” Alencar to name a few.

In this chat with Lagarto, he speaks to GRACIEMAG.com about his eagerly awaited result of his visa application as well as his excitement towards finally competing in the U.S.:

How is your preparation going?
I’m currently in Liverpool waiting for my visa to be stamped. I find out tomorrow if I am able to get the visa for my trip to the Long Beach Fall Open. I’ve never been to America. The last time I was able to compete in the biggest tournaments was when the World Championships were in Brazil, but I haven’t seen them since it moved to the states. Other than that, I am teaching and training with Victor Estima and other Gracie Barra guys.

Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues against Leonardo Nogueira at 2011 European Championships

If you make it into the Pro League, how do you feel about competing against the athletes that are confirmed already like Bruno Bastos?
I have fought Bruno Bastos a hundred times! Back in Brazil we always used to fight because he is in my weight division. A lot of the guys who are the best guys in the world are people I have competed against or defeated before. But I am not very known because I have never competed in the states at the Pan Ams and the Worlds. So, because I can’t go there, I have to hunt them down elsewhere, haha!

Do you think coming to the Long Beach Open and participating in the IBJJ Pro League will help you get the recognition you deserve?
I don’t really care about having a big name but I want to be remembered and I want to be a good influence for my students. I think the people today have a very short memory because they don’t remember all of the big names in the past. I have students who have no idea who the top guys were some six to eight years ago! I want to believe that after I die I will have been remembered for everything I did and that people won’t forget about me. I beat cancer and I came back and won one of the biggest tournaments in the world. I want to be remembered as an inspirational person.

If you have not registered yet for the 2012 IBJJF Long Beach Open you can still confirm your spot! Don’t forget to do so; you have until Friday, November 30 to sign up. Go to www.ibjjf.org to register. Don’t miss the last chance of the year to put your competition gi to use!