Samir's in. Photo: Carlos Ozório

This coming February 26, Oakland, California’s Merritt College will host the San Francisco Open, the maiden IBJJF tournament in Northern California.

Of the big names signed up in the adult black belt division, so far there’s Samir Chantre and Osvaldo Queixinho of Gracie Fighter, Steven Rosenberg of Nova União and John Carlquist of Gracie Humaitá, besides the always-hard-to-handle folks in the master division.

Sign-ups end this Sunday, February 19. Be part of the inaugural San Francisco Open!

Sign-ups—click here.

For further information, visit www.ibjjf.org.

Samir está dentro. Foto: Carlos Ozório

San Francisco, na Califórnia, recebe o Jiu-Jitsu no próximo dia 26 de fevereiro. Precisamente no Merritt College, será realizado o San Francisco Open, primeiro torneio da IBJJF por lá.

Por enquanto, estão dentro da categoria adulto os faixas-pretas Samir Chantre e Osvaldo Queixinho da Gracie Fighter, Steven Rosenber (Nova União) e Jonh Carlquist (Gracie Humaitá), além do sempre cascudo pessoal do master.

As inscrições vão até domingo, dia 19 de fevereiro. Participe do San Francisco Open!

Inscirições – clique aqui.
Para maiores informações, acesse www.ibjjf.org

What’s not so simple is how they plan to get there. Without the aid of many of their top counterparts in Brazil, the team has to rely on its growing stable of US talent. Talent that has helped capture two IBJJF International Open titles for Nova União in just two weeks. Having played an integral part by leading the charge to victory in both Phoenix and Dallas, Gustavo Dantas black belt Steve Rosenberg is a shining example of how deep the talent pool is at Nova União’s stateside branch.

Steve Rosenbergb in action

Having shown his mettle at earlier belts, through such achievements as winning the lightweight class in the 2009 Pan adult division as a brown belt, Steve is no stranger to competition. Belonging to what is considered one of the toughest weight brackets, he has been working hard to stand his ground as a black belt, a division predominantly won by Brazilians.

With the momentum from his back-to-back wins at the Phoenix and Dallas Opens, Steve isn’t planning on slowing down as he heads into the 2011 World Championship. Being only one in a handful of American black belts representing Nova União at the 2011 Worlds, Steve represents the caliber of the team’s US-bred competitors. Characterized by fierce loyalty, hunger to succeed, abilty to rise to challenges, and willingness to defend the team’s flag to the death, Steve has become the beacon of hope Nova União has been waiting for.

It’s the beginning of a new age for Nova União. With team unity playing a pivotal part in achieving its goals, Nova União is set to create a new squad of elite competitors to lead the team. Just as Robson Moura and Vitor Shaolin were part of Nova União’s elite during the team’s golden age, in the late nineties in Brazil, the team is ready to recreate its frontline with the American talents under Nova União’s main leaders in the US. Consider Steve Rosenberg ready for battle.

Watch the Dallas Open semifinal between Steve Rosenberg and Tony Tipton:

Gustavo Dantas comemora com a Nova União.

O Phoenix International Open, que aconteceu no último sábado, teve um sabor especial para o professor Gustavo Dantas e a Nova União nos Estados Unidos. Com mais de duzentos pontos de diferença para o segundo colocado, o time ficou com o primeiro posto no placar por equipes.

Gustavo Dantas, um dos comandantes da NU nos EUA, inscreveu seus alunos em peso, tendo computado 328 pontos contra 106 da BJJ Revolution Team e 100 da BTT.

Com o resultado, a equipe americana da NU garantiu, pela primeira vez, o primeiro posto em eventos da IBJJF, uma das metas para esta temporada.

Confira abaixo alguns dos destaques do time no evento:

Steve Rosenbergb em ação.

Steven Rosenberg, ouro no leve faixa-preta adulto
Robert Judson, ouro no peso e absoluto faixa-preta sênior
Daniel Hampton ouro no absoluto faixa-azul
Alex Centner ouro no pesadíssimo faixa-azul
Kevin Duran ouro no pluma faixa-branca
Nick Nelson ouro no pena faixa-branca
Gary Hatch ouro no médio faixa-branca
Michael Ballard ouro no pesado faixa-branca
Benino Gurrola ouro no pesadíssimo faixa-branca

Laércio ao lado do mestre Giva Santana. Foto: Deb Blyth.

Está virando moda os mais levinhos irem bem na categoria absoluto, prova de que, muitas vezes, a técnica supera a força. No Phoenix International Open, no último sábado, foi assim.

O grande nome do evento da IBJJF foi o faixa-preta Laércio Fernandes, representante da Lotus Club. O lutador, que geralmente compete na categoria pluma, ficou com o ouro no peso pena. Para completar, o guardeiro subiu ao alto do pódio no absoluto também.

Na categoria aberta, Laércio enfrentou o mesmo adversário da final na categoria de peso, Gustavo Carpio.

Steven Rosenberg garantiu o primeiro ouro como faixa-preta na IBJJF.

Outro destaque na faixa-preta adulto foi Steven Rosenberg, aluno do nosso GMA Gustavo Dantas, ouro entre os leves.

Entre as equipes, quem levou a melhor foi a Nova União, seguida pela BJJ Revolution Team e Brazilian Top Team.

Gustavo Dantas comemora com a Nova União.

Confira todos os resultados clicando aqui.

Laércio with his master, Giva Santana / Photo: Deb Blyth

Little guys winning the absolute division has become something of a fashion, proving how, often, technique can overcome strength. That was the case last Saturday at the Phoenix Open.

The big name of the IBJJF event was Laércio Fernandes, who fights under the Lotus Club coat of arms. The fighter usually competes as a light featherweight, but took gold in the featherweight division this time around. The icing on the cake, though, was that the diminutive black belt hopped atop the winners’ stand for the open weight division too.

In the absolute divisional final Laércio faced the same opponent from his final at weight, Gustavo Carpio.