While the Renzo Gracie Invitational was happening in New York City, in a land not so far away, in Lakewood, New Jersey (a stone’s throw from the Jersey shore), clothing manufacturer Dead Serious was having its very own first grappling tournament. The tournament showered folks with medals – there were a couple of guys walking out with about seven.

The tournament had about twenty schools who brought about 120 grapplers in total. There were four superfights – Anton Berzin vs. Lucas Dias in the Gi division; Chino de La Peña vs Carmine Zocchi on the No-Gi division and two more in the kids division – Briana vs. Johny Lucas and Dylan vs. Logan, pinning down team Ademir vs. Team Revolution on both fights. The great winner of the night was Team Ademir who won the team trophy followed by Team Jucão and Team Revolution in third.

Check out the photos taken by our collaborator Dan Rod:

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Nevertheless, the noise from Professor Romulo Bittencourt’s crew (Renzo Gracie Newark) caught attention, having brought with them to Hunter College in New York South Africa’s famed vuvuzelas. And Bittencourt’s team played them unabashedly every time one of their members stepped onto the mat to compete, reminiscent of the atmosphere in a soccer stadium.

“I hate those Renzo Gracie Newark guys!” joked master of ceremony “Black Rob” over the microphone.

Check out the highlights from the event through the lenses of Dan Rod.

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The Renzo Gracie Invitational is a huge success in the USA.

Fortunatlely, it is not the only one in the world

Our GMA Kurdt George, head of Renzo Gracie Academy Cape Town, in South Africa, has one as well.

On April 24th, he will be welcoming athletes for the 2010 RGI Cape Town.

To know more, go to renzogracie.co.za