Royce Gracie against Ken Shamrock at UFC 1, in phot by Japanese master Susumu Nagao

There are major attractions in store for those who attend the inaugural World Jiu-Jitsu Expo this coming May 12 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. The Renzo Gracie-promoted event will gather established competitors for a special IBJJF tournament, as well as free seminars headed by the likes of André Galvão, Bráulio Estima, Robert Drysdale, Rodrigo Comprido and Roger Gracie.

Another high-caliber presence confirmed to be there is legendary photographer Susumu Nagao, considered the “Wizard of the Lens,” who was a fixture at the early UFCs, Prides and ADCCs. At the Expo, Susumu will have an exhibit of never-before-seen and classic photos, in a thrilling trip back to the early days of MMA and Jiu-Jitsu.

For the competitors, the attraction will be the Spring International Open, the first IBJJF tournament of its kind.

You’re not going to want to miss the chance to see all the Jiu-Jitsu stars in one place, will you? Then mark it on your calendar. Jiu-Jitsu World Expo, May 12, a Saturday, at the Long Beach Convention Center.

To find out more about the Expo, click here.

In the wake of the European Open's success, the IBJJF returns to holding Jiu-Jitsu championships in the USA. Photo: Kuba Sawicki/MANTO.

Parents, professors and practitioners, it’s almost time to test your Jiu-Jitsu and have some safe, clean fun at the next IBJJF tournaments on the calendar. This weekend, things will be going off in Texas at the Houston Open, where the likes of ADCC double champ André Galvão and others will be putting in appearances.

After that, the invite is open for competitors to head west for the February 19 Pan Kids, to let the little ones have their fun at a one-of-a-kind Jiu-Jitsu party. A rare and instructive celebration, or as Professor Léo Vieira puts it, “There’s plenty to learn in watching the kids rolling, because their moves come so naturally.”

For anyone wanting to participate or get a glimpse of Jiu-Jitsu’s future, the Pan Kids will go down at University of California, Dominguez Hills campus, and the sign-up deadline is already upon us—today is the last day.  Sign up here.

JIU-JITSU TO WARM UP CHICAGO WINTER

The newest championship to grace California is the San Francisco Open, although it will be held in Oakland, on the 26th. Among those signed up thus far, there’s young black belt James Puopolo (Lovato), as well as two masters you should be familiar with from GRACIEMAG.com: Professors Kurt Osiander and João Cunha, who will be competing in the senior division.

Click here now to sign up and still get the discount rate.

Another tourney that’s still open for registration is the Chicago Winter Open, coming March 3. Make haste and sign up now to help put your school at the top of the podium and make it onto the cover of GRACIEMAG. Click here to register.

Jiu-Jitsu ace Charles do Bronx sinking the fight-ending calf-crunch, to Eric Wisely's chagrin / Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

The calf crunch, a weapon of surprise in Jiu-Jitsu, finally had its moment in the sun last Saturday in Chicago, when Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira used one to swiftly bring his fight at UFC on Fox to a close.

IT’S WRAP IT UP, GRAB THE WAIST, AND WRAP UP

An expert on the position in sport Jiu-Jitsu, Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes (Soul Fighters) got his girl’s dad to help him show GRACIEMAG.com readers how it’s done, on his break between seminars in Lyon.

So, direct from France, Tanquinho and Megaton go over the details of the move Charles honed so smoothly in São Paulo. Or was it in the Bronx?