Dive in the story of the two twin brothers who used to train in a makeshift academy and made it all the way to the top of the Jiu-Jitsu rankings. João and Paulo Miyao are the epitome of focus, hard work and barely no talking. They love what they do and they do it everyday. You will also learn four attacks they set up using the berimbolo.

Read an exclusive interview with UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm, as she reflects on the fight that changed her life and projects her future. And also: the 2016 European, nutrition facts, healthy recipes, judo lessons, Martin Rooney, the story of the 1996 Pan and our GMA members in action at the Pan Kids.

Subscribe now or get your copy at GRACIEMAGSHOP.COM.

Sixth degree black belt Ricardo De La Riva is celebrating another birthday this Thursday, January 28.

The developer of one of the most widely used guard styles in Jiu-Jitsu history, De La Riva sure has made a name for himself in our sport.

We celebrate the date and his influence in today’s BJJ giving you three examples of how the DLR is used as base for new guard styles and techniques.

First, Keenan Cornelius uses the DLR to start a sweep and a guard pass.

Then, Gianni Grippo uses the inverted DLR along with the x-guard to sweep his opponent.

Finally, the Miyao Bros teach several set ups for the berimbolo, which would not exist without the De La Riva.

Ok, you stuffed yourself Thursday evening and took Friday off, but now it’s time to go back to the mats.

Here is a great video to practice some berimbolo variations with the Miyao Bros.

Take a good look and jump in to practice and sweat that “turkey” out of your system.

João Miyao at the 2015 Worlds

It’s becoming a weekend thing lately.

For the third tournament in a row (Las Vegas, Chicago and Boston), one of the Miyao brothers won the black belt open class division.

This time, João Miyao beat Lincoln Pereira for the absolute gold medal in Boston.

João also won the light-featherweight division.

In the female division, Evelyne Déry beat Marcela Lawton for the open class title.

Here are the champions in the black belt division:

BLACK / Adult / Male / Light Feather

First – João Ricardo Bordignon Miyao – PSLPB Cicero Costha

Second – David J. Herndon – Ultimate MMA Training Center

BLACK / Adult / Male / Feather

First – Samir José Chantre Dahás – Caio Terra Association

Second – Rodrigo Ranieri de Faria – CheckMat USA

BLACK / Adult / Male / Light

First – Renan Borges – New England United BJJ

Second – Kim Terra – Brasa CTA

Third – Rafael J. Quinones – Soul Fighters BJJ Connecticut

BLACK / Adult / Male / Middle

First – Javier Valenciano Yamuni – Renzo Gracie International

Second – Vinicius Agudo Silva – Soul Fighters BJJ Connecticut

Third – Alessandro Pinto Cordeiro Martins – Gile Ribeiro JJ

Third – Revilis Barcelos Apolinario – Fenix BJJ

BLACK / Adult / Male / Medium Heavy

First – Romulo de Souza Azevedo – Welton Ribeiro

Second – Brian J Beaury II – Abusado Team

Third – Jarod R Lawton – New England United BJJ

Third – Fabio Medeiros – Renzo Gracie Newark

BLACK / Adult / Male / Heavy

First – Diego Gamonal Nogueira – Brazilian Top Team

Second – William A Shannon – Atos Jiu-Jitsu

BLACK / Adult / Male / Super Heavy

First – Carlos Robson Gracie Filho – Gracie Elite Team America

BLACK / Adult / Male / Ultra Heavy

First – Christopher J Haraszti – Roberto Traven BJJ

Second – Lincoln Jeferson Pereira – Renzo Gracie Academy

BLACK / Adult / Male / Open Class

First – João Ricardo Bordignon Miyao – PSLPB Cicero Costha

Second – Lincoln Jeferson Pereira – Renzo Gracie Academy

Third – Samir José Chantre Dahás – Caio Terra Association

Third – Vinicius Agudo Silva – Soul Fighters BJJ Connecticut

BLACK / Adult / Female / Light Feather

First – Marcela Lawton – New England United BJJ

BLACK / Adult / Female / Feather

First – Fiona M. Watson – Fight Club Jiu Jitsu

BLACK / Adult / Female / Middle

First – Evelyne Déry – Brazilian Top Team

BLACK / Adult / Female / Open Class

First – Evelyne Déry – Brazilian Top Team

Second – Marcela Lawton – New England United BJJ

Third – Fiona M. Watson – Fight Club Jiu Jitsu

In the teams division, results were:

1 – Kimura BJJ – 212

2 – Fenix BJJ – 209

3 – Team Link – 137

4 – New England United BJJ – 128

5 – Team Lloyd Irvin – 114

6 – Brazilian Top Team – 96

7 – TAC Team BJJ – 73

8 – Gracie Barra – 60

9 – Unity Jiu-jitsu – 58

10 – Soul Fighters BJJ Connecticut – 55

For the full results, click here.

Paulo Miyao at the 2015 Worlds

Paulo Miyao did something unprecedented this week when he reached the top of the IBJJF male adult black belt ranking.

With 883.5pts, the 2015 light-featherweight world champion became the first athlete bellow the heavyweight division to be the leader.

The IBJJF posted today both of Miyao’s final matches at the 2015 Chicago Summer Open.

The double gold campaign at the lightweight and the open class was responsible for Paulo to reach number 1.

Watch the two matches here in sequence, first the lightweight final against Diego Conceição and then the open class final against Steven Patterson

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHsTWdX1CM2Uetm5E7gXHBCszvnxW8paj

Paulo Miyao at the 2015 Worlds

This time there’s no mistake.

Paulo Miyao has reached the top of the IBJJF adult male black belt ranking.

With the two gold medals he won this weekend at the Chicago Summer Open, Paulo reached unprecedented 883.5 points.

With that, he overcame former leader and 2015 Worlds black belt open class champion Bernardo Faria, who has 837pts.

In third place, another competitor from Cicero Costha’s academy, Leandro Lo, with 630pts.

Paulo’s brother, João Miyao, comes in fourth place with 619.5pts, followed by Marcus Buchecha in fifth place, with 472.5pts.

In the female division, Mackenzie Dern remains the leader with 1057.5pts, followed by Beatriz Mesquita (945pts) and Dominyka Obelenyte (673.5pts).

Click here for the complete ranking.

João Miyao at the 2015 Worlds

The ADCC announced today the final name added the roster of athletes for the event that takes place August 29-30, in São Paulo, Brazil.

Jared Dopp was invited to complete the +99kg division.

The roster would be complete with the addition of Dopp, but along with the new name came the news of a drop out.

In the -66kg division, João Miyao won’t be competing.

The ADCC did not release the reason why Miyao is out of the competition and also is yet to confirm the name of his substitute.

With that, there’s only one spot left for the 2015 ADCC.

Here’s the most recent list of competitors:

Male -66 kg

1. Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” – Brazil (ADCC 2013 Winner)
2. Asadulaev Surkhay – Russia (1st European Trials Winner)
3. Nicolas Renier – France (2nd European Trials Winner)
4. Tezekbaev Rasul – Kyrgyzstan (1st Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
5. Yuto Hirao – Japan (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
6. Geovanny Martinez – USA (1st North American Trials Winner)
7. Edward Cummings – USA (2nd North American Trials Winner)
8. Renan Sancar Santos – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
9. Gabriel Marangoni – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
10.
11. Jeff Glover – USA (Invited)
12. Augusto Mendes – Brazil (Invited)
13. Justin Rader – USA (Invited)
14. Bruno Frazatto – Brazil (Invited)
15. Gianni Grippo – USA (Invited)
16. Mark Ramos – USA (Invited)

Male -77 kg

1. Gamrot Mateusz – Poland (1st European Trials Winner)
2. Abdulkadirov Magomed – Russia (2nd European Trials Winner)
3. Lachlan Giles – Australia (1st Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
4. Young-am Noh – Korea (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
5. Enrico Cocco – USA (1st North American Trials Winner)
6. Vagner Rocha – USA (2nd North American Trials Winner)
7. Davi Ramos – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
8. Gabriel Rollo – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
9. JT Torres – USA (Invited)
10. Garry Tonon – USA (Invited)
11. Otavio Sousa – Brazil (Invited)
12. Lucas Lepri – Brazil (Invited)
13. Ben Henderson – USA (Invited)
14. Dillon Danis – USA (Invited)
15. Gilbert Burns – Brazil (Invited)
16. AJ Agazarm – USA (Invited)

Male -88 kg

1. Romulo Barral – Brazil (ADCC 2013 Winner)
2. Zbigniew Tyszka – Poland (1st European Trials Winner)
3. Jesse Urholin – Finland (2nd European Trials Winner)
4. Craig Jones – Australia (1st Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
5. Hidemi Mihara – Japan (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
6. Matthew Arroyo – USA (1st North American Trials Winner)
7. Mike Perez – USA (2nd North American Trials Winner)
8. Claudio Calasans – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
9. Keenan Cornelius – USA (Invited)
10. Rustam Chsiev – Russia (Invited)
11. Pablo Popovich – USA (Invited)
12. Rafael Lovato Jr. – USA (Invited)
13. Ezra Lenon – USA (Invited)
14. Neiman Gracie – Brazil (Invited)
15. Yuri Simoes – Brazil (Invited)
16. Ricardo Ramos De Mesquita – Brazil (Invited)

Male -99 kg

1. Joao Assis – Brazil (ADCC 2013 Winner)
2. Tomasz Narkun – Poland (1st European Trials Winner)
3. Kamil Uminski – Poland (2nd European Trials Winner)
4. Tobias Green – Australia (1st Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
5. Yukiyasu Ozawa – Japan (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
6. Tom DeBlass – USA (1st North American Trials Winner)
7. Jason Bukich – USA (2nd North American Trials Winner)
8. Roberto Alencar – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
9. Cassio Francis Da Silva – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
10. Alexandre Ribeiro – Brazil (Invited)
11. Hector Lombard – USA (Invited)
12. Felipe Pena – Brazil (Invited)
13. Rodolfo Vieira – Brazil (Invited)
14. Jimmy Friedrich – USA (Invited)
15. Adam Sachnoff – USA (Invited)
16. Lukasz Michalec – Poland (Invited)

Male +99 kg

1. Janne-Pekka Pietiläinen – Finland (2nd European Trials Winner)
2. Lee Hyoung Chul – Korea (1st Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
3. Hideki Sekine – Japan (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
4. Jason Lees – USA (1st North American Trials Winner)
5. Paul Ardila – USA (2nd North American Trials Winner)
6. Leonardo Nascimento Lucio – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
7. Gabriel Lyrio Lucas – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
8. Rodrigo Cavaca – Brazil (Invited)
9. Joao Gabriel Rocha – Brazil (Invited)
10. Dean Lister – USA (Invited)
11. Vinny Magalhaes – Brazil (Invited)
12. Orlando Sanchez – USA (Invited)
13. Rodrigo Artilheiro – Brazil (Invited)
14. Bernardo Faria – Brazil (Invited)
15. Jeff Monson – USA (Invited)
16. Jared Dopp – USA (Invited)

Female -60 kg

1. Michelle Nicolini – Brazil (ADCC 2013 Winner)
2. Kethe Marie Elgesem Engen – Norway (European Trials Winner)
3. Rikako Yuasa – Japan (Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
4. Tammi Musumeci – USA (North American Trials Winner)
5. Ana Michelle Tavares Dantas – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
6. Mayra Mello Mazza – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
7. Mackenzie Dern – USA (Invited)
8. Beatriz Mesquita – Brazil (Invited)

Female +60 kg

1. Gabrielle Garcia – Brazil (ADCC 2013 Winner)
2. Sophia Nordenö – Sweden (European Trials Winner)
3. Amanda Santana – USA (North American Trials Winner)
4. Fernanda Mazzelli Almeida Maio – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
5. Jéssica Da Silva Oliveira – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
6. Marysia Malyjasiak – Poland (Invited)
7. Ana Laura Cordeiro – Brazil (Invited)
8. Alison Tremblay –  Canada (Invited)

ADCC Stars Superfight

      Mário Sperry (Brazil) vs. Ricardo Liborio (Brazil)

ADCC Main Superfight

      André Galvão (Brazil) vs. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Brazil)

Paulo Miyao at the 2015 Worlds

Last weekend João Miyao won the black belt open class in Las Vegas, so this Saturday his brother repeated the feat in Chicago.

Paulo won double gold at the 2015 Chicago Summer Open, reaching the top at the lightweight and the absolute.

Paulo defeated Steven Patterson in the open class final after toping Diego Conceição in the lightweight division.

In the female division, Monique Carvalho beat Kanako Inaba for the black belt open class gold medal.

The champions in the black belt division were:

BLACK / Adult / Male / Light

First – Paulo Henrique Bordignon Miyao – PSLPB Cicero Costha

Second – Diego Bispo Conceição – Carlson Gracie Team

Third – William Edward Wolk – TAC Team BJJ

Third – Daniel J Drzymkowski – Brasa CTA

BLACK / Adult / Male / Middle

First – Tanner Wade Rice – Amazonas Rice Bros BJJ

Second – Javier Valenciano Yamuni – Renzo Gracie International

Third – Israel Reyes – Brasa CTA

Third – Alessandro Pinto Cordeiro Martins – Gile Ribeiro JJ

BLACK / Adult / Male / Medium Heavy

First – Romulo de Souza Azevedo – Welton Ribeiro

Second – Steven J. Patterson – Brasa CTA

Third – Louis Armezzani – Team Jucão USA

BLACK / Adult / Male / Heavy

First – Lincoln Jeferson Pereira – Renzo Gracie Academy

Second – Nicholas M. Albin – Renato Tavares Association

BLACK / Adult / Male / Super Heavy

First – Eliot Andrew Kelly – Yemaso Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Second – Allen A. Causevic – Valko BJJ

BLACK / Adult / Male / Ultra Heavy

First – Christopher J Haraszti – Brasa CTA

Second – Paulo Victor Velozo Martins – Gracie Barra

Third – Daniel Tsatsos – Nova União

BLACK / Adult / Male / Open Class

First – Paulo Henrique Bordignon Miyao – PSLPB Cicero Costha

Second – Steven J. Patterson – Brasa CTA

Third – Daniel Tsatsos – Nova União

Third – Eliot Andrew Kelly – Yemaso Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

BLACK / Adult / Female / Rooster

First – Kanako Inaba – AOA Champion BJJ

BLACK / Adult / Female / Medium Heavy

First – Monique Ricardo Carvalho – CheckMat USA

BLACK / Adult / Female / Open Class

First – Monique Ricardo Carvalho – CheckMat USA

Second – Kanako Inaba – AOA Champion BJJ

For the complete results, go to IBJJF.com

The 2015 Chicago Summer Open continues this Sunday, with the no-gi divisions.

João Miyao won double gold this Saturday at the Las Vegas Summer Open.

After wining the light-father division, he jumped into the open class and made it to the final.

His opponent was ultra-heavy champion Carlos Farias.

Watch how Miyao worked his guard to win the division.

João Gabriel Rocha is the man on the cover teaching all you need to know to have a strong defense in Jiu-Jitsu.

You’ll also find Victor Estima and the Estima Lock, Bernardo Faria and the invisible leg lock, Roger Gracie and Rafael Lovato Jr and much more.

Subscribe now!

And then the gates were open and we had the half-guard, De La Riva, Spider, Lasso, inverted DLR, etc and etc.

All of them were more or less accepted with various levels of controversy.

Three techniques generates the highest level of discussion recently.

The first one to hit the headlines was the much used, but also dreaded 50/50 guard.

Used to control the opponent, it was quickly considered a staller’s technique that wouldn’t allow the match to move forward.

As everything else in Jiu-Jitsu, the 50/50 can be used for good and also for bad.

JT Torres shows how to be effective using the technique.

After the 50/50, berimbolo became the talk of the town.

All of a sudden, passing guard was for suckers and the fastest way to victory was to roll your way to the opponent’s back.

The berimbolo is still very much a trend that creates a lot of controversy.

In this video, the Miyao Bros. teach various ways to attack using the bolo.

As if traditionalists were not ticked off enough, Keenan Cornelius decided to take things to a whole new level.

He came up with a variation of the lapel guard that wraps the opponent’s leg in his own lapel called the worm guard.

Some people loved it as an efficient way to control the opponent, specially heavier opponents, but some people wanted to beat Keenan up.

Again, as all things Jiu-Jitsu, the worm guard can be used for good or evil.

Keenan usually uses it to sweep tough opponents and to set up beautiful finishes too.

Here’s a BJJ Scout video explaining the basics of the worm guard.

Ok, these three techniques are not your thing.

Don’t hate them, go train and learn how to shut them down like Marcus Buchecha did here with Keenan’s worm guard.

https://youtu.be/vkbqrcVsqr8?t=11m4s

Paulo Miyao at the 2015 American Nationals against Samir Chantre. Photo by Samantha Deeder.

When they got to the black belt, they had only one wish.

“We just want to have the same success we had in the previous belt,” said the two in a interview with GRACIEMAG in 2013.

There’s no doubt their wish was granted and the Miyao Bros are today much more popular than they were two years ago.

Maybe they are not winning as much open class divisions as they were, but the numbers don’t lie.

With the gold medal at the 2015 American Nationals featherweight division this weekend, Paulo Miyao reached 699 points to overcome Bernardo Faria and become the overall leader of the IBJJF male adult black belt ranking.

An avid competitor alongside his brother, Paulo Miyao has a simple but incredibly efficient approach to Jiu-Jitsu.

They don’t talk much, they compete as much as they can and they train almost all the time they are awake.

By the way, João Miyao is the overal 4th place with 477 pts.

Let’s celebrate Paulo’s incredible achievement by watching one of the most popular videos on GRACIEMAG’s Youtube channel.

The day he rolled with Renzo Gracie at the private mat of Sheik Tahnoon, in Abu Dhabi.