Matheus Diniz had an impressive performance this past weekend at the NY Summer Open.

The Marcelo Garcia black belt won four gold medals both at gi and no-gi divisions.

The highest point of the campaign was the final match of the no-gi open class division.

Diniz outscored the 2013 World no-gi champion Gilbert “Durinho” Burns 7-2.

“It was a very tough match, as I imagine it would be against a world champion,” said Diniz after the match.

Watch the video to see how Matheus pulled out the win.

Jared Weiner (right) and his student Anthony. Photo Personal Archives

GMA member and United BJJ leader Jared Weiner had all the right reasons to celebrate his gold medal this weekend at the New York Summer Open.

After a long struggle with a severe head injury that prevented him from competing, training and even teaching classes, Weiner finally was able to come back.

He wrote us about his feelings: “It was a big victory because I had an year off of competition due to serious injuries and I worked so hard to get back to training and competition after the doctors said I may never compete again. I’m very happy!”

Jared won the black belt master 2 middleweight division.

Besides Jared, United BJJ student Anthony Cronce also celebrated a gold medal at the white belt master medium-heavy division.

Know more at bjjunited.com.

Leandro Lo competing in New York in 2014

The weekend will be devoted to the gentle art in New York City.

For the third year, the IBJJF sets its tent in the Big Apple for the New York Summer International Open.

The event will take place in the familiar Nat Holman Gym, at the City College of New York.

Click here to access the site of the MTA, with all the info you need about public transportantion in NY.

If you are registered to compete or you are just going there to watch and cheer for your friends, here’s a few infos you will most likely need to have a blast.

The Gi event will spread throughout both days while the no-gi event takes place Sunday only.

On day 1 (Saturday) the adult and juvenile blue belts and all divisions of the purple, brown and black belts will play out.

On day 2 (Sunday) all white belts and the master blue belts will compete in the gi, while all other divisions will compete in the no-gi event.

Click here for the complete schedule.

Click here for the brackets.

The first matches should start at 9AM on Saturday and Sunday, but remember to be at the venue at least two hours before your first match.

Click here for the order of fights for both days.

Registered competitors have free entrance in the venue, but expectators need to pay $15 for each day.

Click here to buy your ticket in advance.

As any IBJJF event, the black belt division is the main attraction.

This year, it features big names such as Paulo and João Miyao, Matheus Diniz, Francisco Iturralde, Jonathan Satava, Gilbert Burns (no-gi), Neiman Gracie (no-gi), Rodrigo Artilheiro (no-gi), among others.

For more info, go to ibjjf.com.

Jared Weiner with his daughter, Ellie. Photo: Personal archive

Jared Weiner, head instructor of GMA BJJ United in Philadelphia, PA, has become a spokesperson for attending to injuries in Jiu-Jitsu. Through his own personal story, he has advocated for those who get injured to not ignore them like he did. At the 2014 IBJJF NY Summer Open, a head injury led to a concussion that he tried to pass off as the flu. The injury, compounded with past concussions kept him off the mat until now. You can read about the initial story here.

GRACIEMAG: How long has it been since the first concussion?

JARED WEINER: My first documented one I can recall was in 1998, and that was also Jiu-Jitsu related. Who knows how many I’ve had through out years, but the ones that started this recent cycle happened back in July 2014.

Describe to me your training since getting onto the mat and how strict you’ve been to your doctor’s orders. What setbacks have you encountered?

I’ve followed my team of doctors orders really closely. I’ve been able to get back on the mats and teach again and roll with guys I really trust. The problem has been once the sweat starts to pour I start going full force and it’s only a matter of time before I bounce my head off of something and then I feel a bit off for a few hours or days. That’s been the main set back. I have to remember to take baby steps with this one. It’s just my personality and wanting to be back to the old me is what sets me back!

Do you miss competition?

It kills me watching all the tournaments and my division without me in it! I feel so bad I can’t go back to the Pan this year and try to defend my title! I’m not that guy to sit on the gold and not go back and try to win it again! It’s eating me up alive! But until I can go a month straight of feeling like me again I cannot compete or train super hard.

Have you been playing more top or bottom? Anything specific you stay away from?

I prefer the top game. I trained judo throughout the years so I love the takedown game. My game is a pressure game and I often lead with my head so I’m gonna have to just be careful. I’ve taken this down time though to drill a lot of new positions from my guard so maybe I’ll throw some people off a little when I come back haha.

But I have a feeling as soon as I’m back to me I’ll get right back to my grinding style game. I was joking with my good friend Yemaso [Marcos Torregrosa] that it took me almost 20 years of training to finally learn to get technical.

Do you take coaching more serious now that you’ve been out? Have you found new ways to be a better teacher?

I’ve always taken coaching very serious and I still do, but not being able to come into the academy for a few months really made me appreciate everything so much more. I never want to be away from my students and the school for that long again. I’m so thankful I have a great loyal team. I never felt stress that anyone would leave the school because I wasn’t in so I was able to focus on recovery that much more. I love my team, staff, and students tremendously.

When do you think you’ll compete again?

I’m not 100% sure and I won’t come back until I know I’m ready. So when you see me back out there and you will eventually know that I’m 100% ready and not playing games. I can’t wait to get back out there. It’s one of my main goals.

Now that you have a daughter, have you been able to introduce her to the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle?

Recently I’ve been bringing my daughter Ellie to the gym during kids class and she has really been showing interest in what’s been going on! It’s the best thing ever. I can’t wait to see her with a little gi on actually participating. She is the best thing in my life and she is my main motivation to get better and 100% healthy. She is my world.

Big thanks to the companies that stood by me during this injury and have had my back the whole time. Fokai Industries, Shoyoroll, Pitchfork, Casa De Roc, Dukes Barber Company, and Glenside Tattoo I can’t wait to rep for them when I get back on the mats.

Learn more about Jared and his academy at www.bjjunited.com and follow Bjj_united on Instagram.

If you’re near the big apple, don’t miss the 2014 IBJJF New York Summer Open at the City College of New York. The event will be tomorrow, Saturday, July 19 with the first divisions starting at 9:30 a.m.

The one-day tournament will feature competitors from white to black. Black belts compete at 1:40 p.m. so catch the high-level matches between athletes like Rodrigo Freitas, Vitor Oliveira, Gianni Grippo, Antonio Antonioli, Eliot Kelly and more.

The address of the Nat Holman Gymnasium is Nat Holman Gym 160 Convent Avenue New York, NY 10031.

Check the full schedule here.

And see the brackets posted online here.