Austin, TX — The Austin Open IBJJF continues to reinforce the city’s reputation as a rising epicenter for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. But at this year’s event, one competitor stole the spotlight: Sandra Kowalska.

Representing Gracie Barra, Kowalska captured gold in the Gi Open Division, an impressive feat for the ascending blue belt. Her win in Austin adds to an already stellar year—claiming four gold medals at the Houston Open, a gold at the Dallas Open, and a podium finish at the prestigious Pan Nogi Championship.

Born in Gdynia, Poland, Kowalska’s athletic roots began on the handball court, where she competed on the Polish youth national team. Her drive and discipline were further sharpened during her service in the Polish Navy, traits that now fuel her relentless work ethic on the Jiu-Jitsu mats.

Sandra’s transition into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been nothing short of transformative. Known for her radiant energy, fierce competitiveness, and unwavering team spirit, she’s become both a leader and inspiration within the Gracie Barra community. Whether she’s battling it out in open weight divisions or rallying her team at international events, her presence is impossible to ignore.

With her eyes firmly set on the global stage and a growing list of accolades, Sandra Kowalska is quickly becoming a name to watch in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The first ever IBJJF event in Poland already has a date a setting.

The 2016 Poznan International Open is scheduled April 30.

The registration  period closes on April 22.

Be part of this historic event and click here to register now.

The IBJJF is always looking for new territories to expand the Jiu-Jitsu movement.

Poland is the latest addition to the competition circuit with the first ever Poznan International Open.

The event is scheduled April 30 and registration closes on April 22.

Click here to register now.

Cavalcanti International team at the 2014 NAGA Europe Championship. Photo: Personal archive

Professor Ricardo Cavalcanti of GMA Carlson Gracie Las Vegas – Cavalcanti Jiu-Jitsu, is currently in the midst of his 2014 European Seminar Tour and Luxembourg Training Camp. But as a stop on the way, he was able to help coach his affiliated students to numerous victories.

On the weekend of Nov. 15, the Cavalcanti Jiu Jitsu Teams from Luxembourg, GMA Cavalcanti Jiu-Jitsu Luxembourg, and Poland gathered in Paris to compete side by side at the 2014 NAGA Europe Championship.

The Cavalcanti International Team entered with more than 15 competitors in different categories.

By the end of the tournament, the crew had accumulated:
6 gold medals
3 silver medals
3 bronze medals
1 NAGA championship belt

Learn more about Master Ricardo Cavalcanti and his international tour/affiliates by visiting www.rcjiujitsu.com

Master Ricardo Cavalcanti of GMA Carlson Gracie Team Las Vegas – Cavalcanti BJJ will be headed to Europe for a seminar tour starting in November. Traveling from Las Vegas, NV, the fifth degree black belt will be sharing his knowledge to other parts of the world.

The dates and locations are as follows:

Nov. 8 & 9 in Poland: Cavalcanti Jiu Jitsu Poland – MMA Poznan

Nov. 14 in France: Budo Club Cergy – Shinko Team and Cercle Tissier

Nov. 17 in Belgium: Jeet Kune Do – Dragon Style School

Nov. 21 in Luxembourg: Cavalcanti Jiu Jitsu Luxembourg – Team Miketo (European headquarters)

Nov. 22 in Germany: Cavalcanti Jiu Jitsu Germany – Kampfsportschule Geib

To find out more information as it comes, check out http://cavalcantijiujitsu2104seminarseries.wordpress.com/

To learn more about Cavalcanti BJJ visit www.rcjiujitsu.com

Jan Blachowicz has seven submission victories on his ledger. (KSW publicity photo) 

On the coming 16th of March, the MMA promotion known as KSW (Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki) will set up shop in Warsaw, Poland’s Torwar Hall to hold its 22nd event. The big deal this time around, however, is that Jiu-Jitsu is the mainstay of one of the hometown heroes.

Local ace Jan Blachowicz (16w, 3l) is set to do battle in the main event. Though his opponent hasn’t been named yet, he’s good and likely to make whomever it is tap, as he’s riding a four-fight win streak and has seven submission victories to his name.

Another big name on the card is seasoned ADCC competitor Karol “Coco” Bedorf, a Polish black belt.

Check out some of the highlights from the stars on the card in the following video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX60pUQiq0o

While Robert was in Poland he awarded black belts to three students: Maksymilian Wiśniewski, Zybi Tyszka and Jarek Zjezdzalka. All three athletes have been training under the guidance of Robert Drysdale for the last five or six years, ever since Przemo Gnat, also a black belt under Robert and the head of the Polish organization, joined the association.

All three athletes have worked very hard to earn their belts and their rank is a testament to their level and of the overall level of BJJ in Poland. Robert looks forward to continuing to work with all the athletes and sharing the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu throughout the Drysdale JJ Gobal Network.

For further information about the Drysdale JJ Association visit www.drysdalebjjassociation.com.

Below, watch the absolute brown/black belt final between Denmark’s Jiu-Jitsu world champion Alexander Trans (CheckMat) and Marcin Held. It’s worth noting how the Danish ultraheavyweight hasn’t tasted defeat in the gi since being promoted to brown belt – at ADCC 2011 he only lost to the finalist Fabricio Werdum.

Zbigniew Tyszka , Robert, Przemek Gnat and Maciej Kowalski / Publicity photo

During the coverage of André Galvão’s victory at New York No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu tournament Ultimate Absolute, news broke that Robert Drysdale was there competing. Nothing could be further from the truth, twas misinformation (on our part too). There was no way the teacher living in Las Vegas could be there, as he was hopping a flight from Europe to the United Arab Emirates, doing his part for the Jiu-Jitsu cause.

“I’m in Abu Dhabi training with the sheikh, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Before here I was in Poland, where I held a one-week training camp. I always feel at home there, and I promoted two deserving athletes to black belt, Maciej and Zbigniew. Zbigniew is my student and won the European tryouts for the ADCC; he’ll be in England representing our team too,” said Robert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY1na65LlEY

KSW 16
Gdansk, Poland
May 21, 2010

Mamed Khalidov submitted Matt Lindland via guillotine in R1;
James Thompson submitted Mariusz Pudzianowski via arm triangle in R2;
Jan Błachowicz submitted Toni Valtonen via rear-naked choke in R2;
Michał Materla defeated James Zikic via unanimous judges’ decision;
Artur Sowiński defeated Cengiz Dana via unanimous judges’ decision;
Attila Vegh defeated Grigor Aschugbabjan via TKO (knee) in R2;
Marcin Różalski defeated Sergey Shemetov via TKO in R1.

Matt Lindland in photo by Susumu Nagao

Europe’s biggest MMA promotion KSW is geared up for another super exciting show on May 21st in Ergo Arena, Gdansk, Poland. The KSW 16 event will feature two world class main event bouts, a sold out crowd of more than fourteen hundred avid MMA fans and spectacular production.

In the most anticipated battle of the night, in his toughest test to date, former five-time World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski will face the true mixed martial arts veteran James Thompson. After 76-second destruction of Eric Butterbean Esch, Pudzianowski took a few months off to better his all-round MMA game. Newly achieved skills combined with his superhuman strength make him a dangerous rival for anyone. However, with 31 fights under his belt the Colossus has seen it all and is not of afraid of his technique nor his size and promises to teach Pudzianowski a lesson. This clash of 120-kilogram monsters guarantees a fireworks.

In the second headlining fight, the best mixed martial artist in Poland and one of the best middleweights in the world Mamed Khalidov will square off against former Olympic silver medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling Matt Lindland. The Polish superstar was beaten only once in his last twenty-two outings. In his last appearance Khalidov made a quick work of UFC veteran James Irvin, when he armbared the much bigger American in the March’s KSW 15 main event. Lindland poses a set of skills the Chechen born Pole hasn’t ever faced in his career. The Team Quest founder’s wrestling and signature ground-and-pound attack will be put against Khalidov’s unorthodox striking and slick submission skills. The KSW ring will determine which of these tactics will secure one of them the victory.

The rest of the KSW 16 fight card is also stacked with intriguing match-ups. Former ISKA and WKN kickboxing Marcin Rozalski will make his second foray into MMA against the fellow striker Vitali Shemetov in the heavyweight scrap. The Pole made his successful debut in March besting Marcin Bartkiewicz via cut stoppage at KSW 16. Now the bar is set much higher, as the Russian fighter dwarfs Rozalski in terms of cage and ring experience. However, the Plock based stand-up specialist embraces the role of the underdog and will look to prove his critics wrong on May 21st.

KSW light heavyweight ace Jan Blachowicz will make a quick return to the ring after his first loss in nearly four years suffered at the hands of Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou two months ago. Blachowicz will battle the always tough Toni Valtonen. The Pole will try to avenge his teammate Lukasz Jurkowski’s career ending defeat to the Espoon Kehahait fighter.

The KSW middleweight title eliminator will see Szczecin’s Michal Materla going up against London’s James Zikic. Berserkers Team grappling wiz was supposed to fight for the title in March, but the severe injury suffered by the champion Krzysztof Kulak put the championship bout on hold. Materla is willing to risk his guaranteed shot in order to be the first Polish fighter who beats Zikic in the KSW ring.

Two exciting match-up round up the card. At lightweight, Polish up-and-comer Artur Sowinski will meet German MMA veteran Cengiz Dana, while at light heavyweight fresh, off his victory over highly regarded Marcu Vanttinnen, Slovakian Attila Vegh will fight hard-hitting Grigor Aschugbabjan.

The May 21st KSW 16 show will be aired on Polsat and Polsat Sport in Poland as well as IPLA TV online PPV worldwide. For more information about the broadcast check out http://www.ksw.ipla.tv/en/.