Rafael Formiga celebrates the spot in the master 1 open class final

Day 1 of the 2015 World Master Jiu-Jitsu championship was a feast for Jiu-Jitsu lovers.

Since early in the morning until late in the evening, athletes poured their hearts out on the mats and displayed top notch technique.

The day started with the blue belts followed by purple belts and then black belts.

The highlight of the day was the presence of big talents such as Saulo Ribeiro, Rodrigo Comprido, Roberto Godoi, Alexandre Soca, Wellington Megaton, Roberto Alencar and many others.

In each division of each age group (Master 1-6), the brackets advanced until the semifinals were set.

The thrills go on this Saturday, when all the black belt champions will be crowned.

Tarcisio and Big Mac battle for a spot in the master 1 open class final

In the open class division, Tarcisio Jardim will face Rafael Formiga for the master 1 black belt open class title.

In the female division, the master 1 black belt open class title will be decided in a 6-minute match between Sarah Black and Leanna Dittrich.

The other black belt open class finals are as follows:

Master 2

Ranieri Paiva vs. Tiago Almeida

Master 3

Male: Saulo Ribeiro vs. Carlos Farias

Female: Maria do Carmo Paixão vs. Misty Shearer

Master 4

Wellington Dias vs. Roberto Traven

Master 5

Brian Beauchamp vs. Chris Haueter

Master 6

Michael Atkin vs. Stephen Kamphuis

For the results of day 1, click here.

For the detailed coverage of day 1, click here.

Here is a photo gallery of the first day at the Cashman Center.

Issue No. 197 of GRACIEMAG is holding it down … quite literally. This special issue on weight distribution is filled with tips from some of the best on the mats. In addition to techniques, the September issue reflects on Anderson Silva’s loss at UFC 162 and discusses what went wrong for “The Spider.” Finally, we pay tribute to Grandmaster Carlson Gracie with a look at his life that includes quotes from some of Jiu-Jitsu’s best.

Check out what else issue No. 197 of GRACIEMAG has to offer its readers:

The Art of Becoming Heavy

We invited Leonardo Nogueira and Roberto “Tussa” Alencar for a revealing conversation about the riddle of distribution in Jiu-Jitsu. Read an interview and learn tricks for you to knead opponents in various situations.

Playing with Gravity in Your Favor

For this special issue about weight distribution, we searched our photo files and found previous positions to help you shine when on top of your opponents.

UFC: Spider, Not Superman

How the last great hero of the UFC was defeated by his own mind. A column on Anderson Silva’s loss to Chris Weidman at UFC 162.

Tribute: 80 years of Carlson

In 2013, the unforgettable Grandmaster would celebrate his 80th birthday. With a mix of records, lessons, charisma and folklore, the legacy of Carlson Gracie is getting stronger and continues to inspire the world of Jiu-Jitsu.

GRACIEMAG Association (GMA)

All the latest updates on our members from all around the world.

Make history at the Pan Ams like Rafael Lovato Jr. Photo by Mike Poeschl.

Rafael Lovato Jr. is the only adult American black belt to claim gold at the Pan American Championships. In 2008 he claimed his second gold in a match against Roberto Alencar that left him fighting until the very end, coming into the lead from a shaky start.

The Pan American Championships are a place for everyone to put it all on the line. And as the biggest tournament in the world, in sunny California, in the midst of a Jiu-Jitsu mecca, your matches will remain a moment to remember in your jiu-jitsu journey.

As for Lovato, he made history, and in the match below he shows why his first title at the 2007 Pan was not enough to show what he is capable of. Watch how Lovato escapes a tight triangle and comes out for the win.

Don’t miss the registration deadline and the chance to make your own history something to remember as Rafael Lovato Jr. has done for the sport!

Make sure you register before the deadline of March 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT!

Click here to register for the 2013 Pan Ams that will be held from March 20-24!

The Brenn Event Center at UC Irvine is located at 100 Bren Event Center Irvine, California 92617.

Xande Ribeiro no ataque, durante o Mundial Master e Sênior, na Califórnia. Foto: IBJJF/Divulgação.

O primeiro Mundial de Master & Sênior trouxe de volta à cena alguns dos principais professores de Jiu-Jitsu do planeta, num fim de semana marcante na Pirâmide de Long Beach, na Califa.

O grande nome do campeonato foi Xande Ribeiro, que fisgou as medalhas de ouro no superpesado e no absoluto, no master (acima de 30 anos). Xande bateu na final o vice-campeão Ricardo Bastos (Nova União). O professor da GB Gustavo Pires, o Sirizinho, beliscou o bronze.

Aplausos também para o trio da Nova União que mostrou que a idade não faz perder o apetite por títulos. Marcelo Pereira foi campeão no peso-galo, Robson Moura venceu no pluma e, retornando com tudo, Vitor Shaolin faturou a categoria leve.

No peso pesado, Roberto “Tussa” Alencar (Gracie Barra) faturou o ouro no pesado e Eduardo Ramos (Atos) ficou com o título dos penas.

No sênior 1, Saulo Ribeiro (Ribeiro JJ) brilhou com dois ouros, assim como o irmão: venceu o superpesado e o aberto. Na mesma faixa etária, Erick Wanderley (Gracie Barra) venceu no pesado, enquanto Cassio Werneck ficou com o ouro nos médios e Gustavo Dantas (Nova União) venceu mais um campeonato, no peso-pena.

Quem também brilhou foi o levinho e imparável Wellington Megaton, campeão absoluto no sênior 3. No sênior 2, Eduardo Rocha foi o campeão do aberto.

Quer ver os resultados completos, de todas as faixas e idades? Clique aqui.

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BTT black belt Renan Borges in a photo from his personal archives

The No-Gi Pan will be going down in New York this Saturday, September 29, and a number of big stars of gi-clad combat will swap their woven cotton for Lycra and take to the mats.

Sparks are bound to fly there, in the Nat Holman Gymnasium, as such stalwart competitors as Lucas Lepri, Roberto Tussa, Caio Terra, Laércio Fernandes, Augusto Moizinho, Samir Chantre, Renan Borges, Vinicius Marinho, Daniel Pires, Pablo Popovitch, Leopoldo Serão and Diego Gamonal will lock horns in combat.

Who’ve you got taking absolute gold, gentle reader? Risk a prediction below and reap the rewards later.

As a warm-up for the big event, GRACIEMAG.com unearthed a position by Renan Borges. The BTT black belt teaches an efficient X-guard sweep. Note how he makes sure he gets his hooks in and roll backwards while grabbing the arm:

Click here to check who’s on the No-Gi Pan sign-up list.

O faixa-preta Renan Borges, da BTT, em foto de seu arquivo pessoal.

O Pan Sem Kimono rola no próximo sábado, dia 29 de setembro, em Nova York. Nos dojôs montados no Nat Holman Gymnasium, astros do pano vão tirar o kimono e vestir a malha para as disputas.

O evento deve pegar fogo, com nomes como Lucas Lepri, Roberto Tussa, Caio Terra, Laércio Fernandes, Augusto Moizinho, Samir Chantre, Renan Borges, Vinicius Marinho, Daniel Pires, Pablo Popovitch, Leopoldo Serão e Diego Gamonal.

Para você, quem belisca o ouro absoluto? Comente com a gente e tire onda de oráculo.

Para esquentar, o GRACIEMAG.com pescou uma posição de Renan Borges. O faixa-preta da BTT ensina uma raspagem bem eficiente da guarda-X. Repare que ele atenta para os ganchos e para o rolamento para trás enquanto segura o braço. Confira:

Para verificar quem já está dentro do Pan Sem Kimono, clique aqui.

Xande Ribeiro e o arrocho aéreo no braço. Foto: Ivan Trindade

Xande Ribeiro protagonizou um dos grandes momentos do Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu 2012. O bicampeão mundial absoluto aplicou um armlock voador em Roberto Alencar na semifinal do pesado. O golpe mágico, que encheu os olhos da plateia da Pirâmide de Long Beach, agora vai ser ensinado didaticamente pelo próprio mago. Após um seminário na filial cearense da Ribeiro JJ, o faixa-preta mostrou com exclusividade ao GRACIEMAG.com, como voar para capturar o braço.

Xande Ribeiro on the ground finishing what he started in full flight / Photo by Ivan Trindade

Xande Ribeiro was responsible for one of the most spectacular moments of the 2012 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship: a flying armbar that the two-time absolute champion of the world used to subdue Roberto Alencar in the heavyweight semifinal. The magic move, which had the crowd in the Long Beach Pyramid rubbing its eyes in disbelief, is now getting tactfully taught by the very magician himself. Following a seminar the black belt held at the Ribeiro JJ branch in the Brazilian state of Ceará, he took the time to demonstrate how to take flight and snag an arm—exclusively for GRACIEMAG.com.

Scene at 2012 European Jiu-Jitsu Championship by Kuba Sawicki (MANTO)

In the absolute, Rodolfo Vieira’s first match was against the eventual winner of the middleweight division, Victor Estima.

At the other end of the bracket, sparks flew when Bernardo Faria and Rafael Lovato Jr. got at each other’s necks in the absolute semifinal.

Now in the heavyweight final, Rodolfo Vieira and Roberto Tussa faced off and demonstrated smooth moves even lightweights would proud of.

Cena do Europeu de Jiu-Jitsu 2012, por Kuba Sawicki (MANTO).

No absoluto, Rodolfo Vieira fez sua primeira luta contra o eventual campeão dos médios, Victor Estima.

Do outro lado da chave, Bernardo Faria e Rafael Lovato Jr fizeram um lutaço na semifinal do absoluto.

Já na final do peso pesado, Rodolfo Vieira e Roberto Tussa duelaram e mostraram uma movimentação suave, de pesos levinhos.

The Gracie Barra teacher, who achieved bronzes in the absolute in 2007 and 2008, started off Sunday becoming three-time heavyweight world champion, by submitting Marcel Louzado, of CheckMat, with a flying triangle.

In the big match of the evening, Tussa shone again, beating Antonio Braga Neto (Gordo-Evolve) in the absolute final, keeping Neto from his third open category title.

In the women’s division, recently-promoted brown belt Hillary Williams (Westside) surprised by taking her weight and the absolute.

In the team dispute, CheckMat BJJ won, with Gracie Barra in second and Lloyd Irvin in third.

In the black belt men’s, it is unlikely a No-Gi Worlds will ever see a list of so many stars at the top of the podium again: Pablo Teixeira (rooster), Caio Terra (light feather), Baret Yoshida (feather), Lucas Lepri (light), Lucas Leite (medium), Rominho Barral (medium heavy), Tussa (heavy), Braga Neto (super-heavy) and Josh Barnett (ultra heavy) went home with gold medals.

Now in the Master division, the teams of our GMAs shone: Jorge Britto (absolute), Carlos Francis (heavy), Maycon Carvalho (medium heavy), Hermes França (medium) and Joel Tudor (light) were champions once again.

If you were tuned in to GRACIEMAG.com during the week, were you or weren’t you surprised with the results?