James Puopolo with his judo professor Andy Hung after his brown belt promotion. Photo: Personal Archive

What most high-level athletes do with their training extends outside of training Jiu-Jitsu. Drilling, conditioning, wrestling, crossfit are all ways in which competitors can raise their skill levels for tournaments and becoming well-rounded martial artists.

For James Puopolo, a black belt competitor under GMA member Rafael Lovato Jr., judo has been a great addition to his training routine. In fact, he just received his brown belt from Andy Hung at Portland Judo in Portland, OR so we decided to ask about his training.

James recently won double gold at the 2014 IBJJF Houston Open on Feb. 22-23 and will be competing at the Pan American Championship in two weeks. See how he trains and constantly improves his skills:

GRACIEMAG: How long have you been training Judo and why did you seek out that martial art?

JAMES PUOPOLO: I’ve been training judo for about three years. It’s been great supplementary training. Like any of my training my main motivation was to find another way to win. Almost all of the great champions have judo. Saulo, Xande, and Rafael all have great judo.

What other ways do you cross train?

I do a lot of cross training since I’m out here in Oregon. I do a lot of strength and conditioning, tons of yoga/ flexibility training, and I’ve recently added pilates twice a week which has been really helpful.

Does training  judo give you confidence to stay standing with opponents in competition?

At this point I feel like my judo is getting to where I feel confident standing with most guys. I would definitely still consider myself a guard player, but I have seen judo as a long term project that I will use a lot in the future.

Besides stand-up, how does Judo help your Jiu-Jitsu?

Judo has really helped my grips. Once I started training with Lovato I realized I was getting destroyed by his gripping. Also, I think judo helps your base and being able to manipulate your opponent’s weight on sweeps.

What has your training been like for Pan-Ams?

Training for Pan-Ams has been awesome. I just got back from a ten day trip to OKC training with Rafael and Ben Baxter. Houston was a great prep tournament. My nutrition is good right now and I’m feeling strong. Can’t wait to show my progression down in Irvine.

To compete alongside James at the Pan American Championship, go to www.ibjjf.org to register!

In 2011 GRACIEMAG captured a video at the Pans during the master divisions. Some of those faces are still active competitors today and we can assure you they are enlisted in this year’s edition.

What makes the Pan-Ams so special is the level of talent shown across all belt levels and ages on the same stage. The older crowd can present its talent on the very same mats as the elite of our sport no matter the experience.

So master division competitors: will you be joining us at the 2014 Pan in Irvine, CA?

Register now until March 3 at www.ibjjf.org

Clark Gracie celebrates his Pan American Championship title after comeback final with Marcelo Mafra of Checkmat. Photo: Ivan Trindade

During the ten-minute match, Mafra had earned a sweep against Clark and maintained his base on top. As the time winded down, Clark knew he had to move so with his signature omoplata, he locked Mafra down. But he was still down by points. He grabbed the lapel of Mafra and secured a choke from the back while still in the omoplata position. Mafra tried to hold on but eventually went to sleep and with 26 seconds left in the match, Clark won with a comeback making it one of the most exciting matches of the whole 2013 event.

And for you: Registration is open for the 2014 Pan American Championship in Irvine, CA so you too can make your mark on the competition mats. Use this match as motivation and proof that a match is never completely lost until a hand is raised. There is always a way to come back and turn the victory around.

Register now for the Pan American Championship on March 12-16 at the University of California, Irvine Brenn Event Center.

Go to www.ibjjf.org to start the process for becoming a Pan-Am champ.

And watch the match between Clark Gracie and Marcelo Mafra below:

You can now purchase your pass to the pan am camp at GMA Institute of Martial Arts in San Jose, CA. Multiple time world champion Caio Terra will lead a training preparation for the 2014 IBJJF Pan-American Championship starting Saturday, March 1 until Tuesday, March 11.

The camp offers classes twice a day within the camp and access to the IMA classes as well. Over twenty black belts will be training in the camp including Leandro Lo, Luiza Monteiro, Yuri Simoes, Clark Gracie and of course fellow IMA members Osvaldo Queixinho, Samir Chantre and Milton Bastos among others.

Institute of Martial Arts is located at 855 Park Avenue, San Jose Ca. 95126.

You can purchase passes for different lengths of time. Until tomorrow, Feb. 15, the prices are as follows:

1 day $60
4 days $200
7 days $250
10 days $300

For the full schedule and to purchase your spot go to http://caioterra.com/news/pan-american-camp/

For more information email nick@bjjsanjose.com

Caio at the 2013 SF Open. Photo: Ivan Trindade

The 2014 IBJJF San Francisco Open is scheduled for Feb. 9 at the Kezar Pavilion. Athletes are filling up the divisions including one black belt world champion named Caio Terra.

The tournament is one of the only IBJJF events prior to the prestigious Pan American Championship so many athletes are aiming towards the big one while preparing with the local events. Don’t miss your chance to get some competition mat time into the books of 2014 before you travel to Irvine for the big one.

Also in attendance will be both local master men, Marcos Yemaso Torregrosa and Itabora Ferreira.

The Kezar Pavilion is located at 755 Stanyan St. San Francisco, CA 94117.

Registration ends on Feb. 1. You can register at www.ibjjf.org

The Atos team will be preparing for the 2014 IBJJF Pan American Championship and have invited you to come train along with them. Andre Galvao and his team of athletes will hold a training camp at their San Diego academy, GMA Atos Jiu-Jitsu from Jan. 26 to March 12.

There is limited availability so please call or email today to reserve your spot. The number is 858-292-5040 and you can email Jolanda@galvaobjjsd.com or Carlos@galvaosd.com

Another chance to train with Andre Galvao and his wife Angelica will be in Canada for a training camp from Jan. 20-24. The couple is planning a 5-day training camp that is designed for all levels with two training sessions a day.

Their Calgary affiliate, where the training camp will be held, is located at 16 49 Aero Drive NE Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

You can reserve your spot with $250 by calling 587-350-6628.

More info about Atos Jiu-Jitsu can be found by visiting www.galvaobjjsd.com

A cautious referee watches for a submission at the 2013 Pan Kids. Photo: Ivan Trindade

For the kids, the IBJJF Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championship is a top competition. A gold medal at the tournament that mimics the prestigious Pan American Championship for adults is worth bragging about.

The registration is now open for the young divisions from mighty-mite 1 for those born in 2010 to teen 3 for those born in 1999. The ranks extend from gray belts to green belts and offer various weight and age groups for each child to find his or her equivalent opponents.

The entry fee is $77 for each competitor and registration will remain open until Feb. 7 or until capacity is reached.

Traveling to California is a must for this event as the venue is at California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA.

To register, go to www.ibjjf.org

Check out a student from GMA Art of Jiu-Jitsu at the 2013 Pan Kids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IFgzS6ay-g

Rafael Barata Freitas will be in the 2013 BJJ Pro League on Dec. 8

An athlete known for his shoulder lock submission and enthusiastic personality, Rafael Barata Freitas is a top black belt athlete. Whether he’s dancing, singing or rapping his presence is always made known.

Having found martial arts at an early age the progression of disciplines brought him to Jiu-Jitsu. aAs a young teen he developed the lifestyle he has lived until now.

As a purple belt his famed “Baratoplata” submission was founded. First a bicep slicer but since the move was illegal in competition for a purple belt, he went back to the mats and learned how to adapt the submission into a shoulder lock instead. He still uses the move today at  the highest levels of black belt and even in his professional MMA fights.

In 2011 Barata won the Pan American Championship and later went on to take home silver in 2012 as well as the bronze medal at the World Championship that same year.

His matches are always exciting as his capoeira past often shows through in his dynamic style. Barata is set to compete in the lightest four-man category of the BJJ Pro League on Dec. 8 at the Long Beach Walter Pyramid.

Check out one of Barata’s matches at the 2012 Pan Ams:

Learn more about the 2013 BJJ Pro League on Dec. 8 at the Long Beach Walter Pyramid at www.bjjproleague.com

American National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2012. Photo: Ivan Trindade

The IBJJF American National Jiu-Jitsu Championship is a two-day event for both gi and no-gi divisions on September 7-8. Located at the California State University Dominguez Hills campus, it is a historical Jiu-Jitsu venue as the Pan American Championship ran in the gymnasium until the number of participants forced IBJJF to move the event to UC Irvine.

American Nationals has been an annual championship since 2002 with the no-gi portion added in 2008. In fact, at the first edition the brown belt adult absolute division was closed out by Rener and Ryron Gracie.

Competing in this event gives you the chance to add one more title on your resume as a national champion and the no-gi division will prepare you for the No-Gi Pan Ams and No-Gi Worlds coming up in the next two months.

CSU Dominguez Hills is located at 1000 E. Victoria Street Carson, CA 90747. Divisions are open from white to black, juvenile to senior 2. Already signed up are some black belts Oliver Geddes, Rodrigo Freitas, JT Torres, James Puopolo, Marcos Torregrosa, Brandon Mullins and more.

The lower belts have already confirmed some of the best in their ranks with athletes who have medaled at both the Worlds and the Pan Ams so the level of competition is fierce.

Registration is open until Friday, August 30 at the cost of $99 for just the gi division or $170 for both gi and no-gi.

Don’t miss the deadline by registering at www.ibjjf.org

Check out this match from 2009 between Saulo Ribeiro and Renato Tavares:

Janni after winning the final of the brown belt female absolute at the 2013 World Championship. Photo: Erin Herle

We have a new female on the black belt roster today as Janni Larsson earns her final belt rank. The Checkmat team member won double gold at the World Championship two years in a row at both purple then brown belt. After she devoted herself more to Jiu-Jitsu nearly three years ago when she moved to Denmark from Sweden for medical school, her competitive skills were unmatched.

In 2012, Janni won the Europeans in purple belt adult lightweight and the absolute division then achieved the same result at the Worlds after bumping up to middleweight. She began this year as a new brown belt winning the absolute at the Europeans, her division at the Pan American Championship with second in the absolute, and then achieved another pair of gold medals at the World Championship in June.

Janni with her coach at the graduation ceremony. Photo: Arte Suave

She was granted her black belt from her instructor Shimon Mochizuki in Copenhagen, Denmark. This fall she focuses her efforts back on her studies at university but as long as she is studying, her freedom garners much training and competition. We will be sure to see her next year at the Worlds.

Showing off all of her medals from 2013 alone. Photo: Personal Archive

Roberto Tussa Alencar at the 2012 No-Gi Worlds against Rafael Lovato Jr. Photo: Ivan Trindade

A new highlight with GMA member Roberto ‘Tussa’ Alencar of Gracie Barra New Mexico shows this GB superstar’s skills as shown on the competition mats. Champion of the 2013 Pan American black belt heavyweight division, his four No-Gi Worlds titles tells us that his best is yet to come.

Check out his moves on the mat and his school where he spends all of his time when not competing: www.gbnewmexico.com

Dominyka stands with professor Marcelo Garcia and teammates after winning her third world title. Photo: Erin Herle

Marcelo Garcia has owned his academy since 2009 when he planted himself in New York City. Many people have come to train with him but so far his highest ranked student, who started with him from the very beginning, is a purple belt. Even so, Marcelo gains students and takes them under his wing and today, he has three black belts that were promoted directly under him: Zeljko Drinovac, Josh Watzkin, Alex Meadows.

But the first world champion student under Marcelo is a female who came to him from New Jersey when she was 14, a green belt, and already a blue belt adult world champion. Dominyka Obelenyte, a transplant from Lithuania, moved to the states at the age of six and three years later began training Jiu-Jitsu at a small gym in Fair Lawn, NJ.

Competing at the 2010 World Championship as a blue belt. Photo: Paramount Fitness

After winning the 2010 World Championship at blue belt even though she was technically still a child, she began training under Marcelo Garcia with the aid of her dad to drive her the hour trek down the Jersey Turnpike, through the Lincoln Tunnel and into the Big Apple four times a week. It took only a month to officially earn a blue belt under Marcelo and by December of the same year she was promoted to purple belt at the age of 15.

Six months later Dominyka earned the title of purple belt female adult open weight champion and in effect also became Marcelo’s first student to win a world title. Placing second in her middleweight division, she avenged her loss in the final by defeating the same opponent in the final of the open weight. At fifteen, she became the youngest purple belt world champion. “One of my opponents was twenty-eight, and when I told her I was fifteen, she and her coaches all burst out laughing because they couldn’t believe how young I was,” she revealed.

Dominyka celebrates her Pan Am open weight title. Photo: Erin Herle

No one will ever replace Dominyka as the youngest since the start of the 2012 year brought more strict rules to IBJJF tournaments. Competitors under the age of 18 were now forced to remain in the juvenile division until the year of their eighteenth birthday. This left Dominyka out of the 2012 Worlds because she was only 16 and therefore had no opponents as purple belts, especially female middleweights, are rarely younger than 18. But as we all know, positivity is a must and through this she was able to train for another year and win the absolute once again in the 2013 Pan American Championship as a purple belt adult, now 17 and eligible. A tough fight in the middleweight division against fellow Alliance member Monique Elias ended in a silver medal however the open weight was hers after defeating Monique by points.

Taking the back at the 2013 World Championship in the final. Photo: Erin Herle

In what was a surprise to Dominyka, Marcelo granted her a brown belt shortly after the tournament and it gave her the opportunity to test her skills at a new belt for the upcoming World Championship. Registered as a heavier weight class, she moved up her registration from purple to brown, middle to medium-heavy. After two fights in her division, she became the 2013 brown belt female adult medium-heavy world champion and a three-time world champion.

Next week Dominyka has her high school graduation ceremony where she will receive her diploma with an overall grade point average of 4.2. In a couple months her schedule and even place of residence will change but it won’t affect her ability to keep training at Marcelo’s: “I will be attending Columbia University, this coming fall which makes me really happy, not only because it is my dream school, but because it is located a short, twenty minute subway ride away from Marcelo’s school. I believe my biggest challenge next year will be to coordinate studying and training and also including sleep somewhere in my daily routine. Wish me luck on that!”

To keep up with GMA Marcelo Garcia Academy and the traction their students have been making on the competition scene you can visit www.MarceloGarciaJJ.com