Rodolfo Vieira celebrates his win with friends and family at the 2012 World Championship. Photo: Dan Rod

Reasons to compete in the 2013 World Championship starting May 29 mostly involve individual or team success with personal achievement. Out of our eighteen reasons, this one has to do with those closest to you and how they can be involved in your Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle.

Reason #14: Get your family and friends to take part on your special day.

For most, competing is important–especially at the World Championship. If you prepare for a tournament, you spend time in the gym that is designated for yourself and your teammates. Most of the time you’re putting more hours in as the date of the competition closes in, leaving you less time to spend with friends and family. So let this moment be one to share with those who were left out of your training preparation.

Whether your closest friends or your parents are watching, their support can mean the world. Being a spectator in the stands or through the livestream, the ability to include them in your success is a special experience.

Some people have had the support of their family from day one, like Atos purple belt Michael Liera, Jr. “My dad and I have always been together every tournament and I owe a lot of my success to him. Ever since I was a kid white belt he helped me so much in developing my competition mind set,” he explains. With a world title as a blue belt already from 2011, the influence of his family leads to great results. “A few years ago my mom and sister started coming, too. It’s really nice to have all of them there and to see all of the support they give me. I love having them in my corner at all times!”

Another person who enjoys the support of their family is three time world champion black belt Romulo Barral. A champion who has medaled at the worlds more than ten times since 2004, he gives a lot of credit to his biggest fans. He says, “It means the world to have my family watch, especially for the first time. They are the real supporters, through a win or a defeat they are the ones who will always be with you.”

Compete in the Worlds and let your family and friends be there for you on what could be a monumental day. Don’t let it happen alone!

[highlight]And don’t forget to register for the 2013 World Championship to be held May 29 – June 2 at the Long Beach Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, CA. Click here to sign up before May 21![/highlight]

Even Braulio Estima is a fan of Romulo Barral! Photo: Instagram

The 10th reason out of the 18 for following/participating in the 2013 World Championship involves the stardom and achievements of the top athletes. But this motivation is not for those athletes, but rather the fans like you who want to meet them.

Reason #10: Share the same space with your Jiu-Jitsu idols and get to know them at the Long Beach Pyramid.

The legends of Jiu-Jitsu, as the saying goes, are simply white belts who never gave up. With that, these champions have given us something to aim for, something to motivate us, learn from and appreciate for paving paths. Even though some are only in their early twenties, these are our idols and they have taught us a lot.

The 2013 World Championship is held each year at the Long Beach Walter Pyramid and while it is a rather large venue, you will surely run into your favorite Jiu-Jitsu stars. There is no VIP area. The bullpen you wait inside is the same bullpen the top black belts wait inside. You share the same refs, the same gi checkers, mat coordinators, same mats.

The ability to meet and talk to your favorite grapplers is not hard at all, just simply talk to them. Most are around days before they compete so they can coach students and scope out the landscape. The seats you sit in to watch the matches are the same ones shared with these athletes who are doing the same thing as you: Learning.

Being at the venue brings many chances to meet your idols so don’t be scared they’ll bite!

If you have yet to sign up to compete at the 2013 World Championship you can do so here: www.ibjjf.org