Vanessa Oliveira vs. Janni Larsson. Photo: Erin Herle

As if winning the 2014 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship during her first year at black belt wasn’t enough for Swede Janni Larsson, she also earned the 2014 World Championship black belt middleweight title–all while studying as a medical student.

The one thing about Janni that stands out against most black belt competitors is her excitement when she wins. While most would be proud of their accomplishment and celebrate with the idea that a goal was accomplished, Janni allows those in the audience to join in on her excitement. As the clock showed the seconds wind down in her final match against Vanessa Oliveira on Sunday, June 1, she looked at the score as the advantages were in her favor and her eyes grew wide and her smile took over her entire face. It looked like someone had just told her she won the lottery. She was surprised, excited, grateful and in awe that she overcame the top females in the sport to earn her place at the top of the podium. And her jumps for joy (which she doesn’t even remember doing) were true showings of emotion.

Perhaps even more impressive with Janni is that her time in Copenhagen, Denmark, away from her family in the neighboring Sweden, is spent mostly on her studies. The medical student attends the University of Copenhagen and her time spent training at Arte Suave is less of a priority than the training she completed to earn her world title.

Learn more about her impressive wins, the injury she had to overcome during her matches at the Worlds and the real priorities in her life:

GRACIEMAG: Tell me about your run at the worlds, both in open weight and in your weight.

JANNI LARSSON: I was really happy for getting the opportunity to fight in the open weight at black belt. In my first fight I met Vanessa Oliveira. It ended up being a sweep-sweep match that went back and forth. I won on points after full time. In my second fight in the open I met Beatriz Mesquita. I had fought her in Abu Dhabi, so I thought I knew what I was in for, but boy was I surprised. Bea had such sharpness to her techniques at Worlds that I did not stand a chance. She danced past my guard and as I turtled to avoid the passing points she caught my arm.

Janni against Sophia Drysdale. Photo: Erin Herle

In my weight class I won my first fight with a foot lock after a few minutes. My second match was against Sophia Drysdale. I pulled guard and swept her. My arm was hurting after the armbar, so I didn’t feel safe in Sophia’s guard, especially not when she was gripping my bad arm. When I backed away from Sophia’s guard she stood up, and I could pull again. I managed to do this throughout the fight and won with three sweeps and a few advantages from sweep attempts that ended outside the mat area. In the final I fought Vanessa Oliveira again. This fight was less exciting than our fight in the open, because I was playing it very safe. We double-guard pulled and she came up for the advantage. I worked my x-guard and got advantages for a foot lock and a sweep attempt. When I was ahead on advantages, I tried keeping Vanessa out of balance until time ran out.

What’s the scoop on your arm and how did it affect your performance mentally and physically?

I didn’t want my run at the open class to end as early as it did, so I ended up tapping too late to Bea’s armbar. I have had an operation on the arm Bea caught before and when I heard “CRACK CRACK CRACK”! I knew it was a bad decision not to tap earlier. My elbow grew to twice its original size and the swelling resulted in that I couldn’t bend or straighten the elbow. I had the elbow taped in a 90-degree angle in my fights in the weight class. During the fights up to the final I couldn’t use the arm, so I was very happy that I got an early submission in the first match and that the second girl stood up between sweeps, so I didn’t have to work from the top.

I personally feel that the final would have been much more exciting to watch if I hadn’t hurt my elbow. I was scared of standing up in Vanessa’s spider guard with one unusable arm, so there were situations were I most likely could have swept, but ended up staying on the bottom.

The injury had quite an effect on me mentally. Before I stepped on the mat, I had already lost the fight in my head. When I made it to the final I was sure that I was going to lose. Vanessa and I had a close fight in the open, so I knew my odds weren’t good when I had to fight her with an injured arm. I was happy for making it to the final and was already imagining a silver medal as I stepped onto the mat.

What went through your mind when you realized that you were going to win a black belt world title?

Disbelief. I did not think that I had it in me to win that fight. When there was ten seconds left of the fight I realized that I would win. It was an amazing feeling. A few months ago I never would have dreamed of this. It would have felt like an unreachable fantasy.

What other priorities takes up your time off the mat?

I am studying medicine at the University of Copenhagen, so BJJ is something I only do in my spare time. When I got home after Worlds this year I had less than two weeks to prepare for my exam, so after I landed in Denmark I forgot everything about Jiu-Jitsu and I locked myself in my apartment to study. I am done with my exam now, so I have summer holidays.

How will this world title change your training moving forward?

Janni reacts to winning the world title. Photo: Erin Herle

I don’t think it will have much impact on my training. There are many factors to life that will affect me more than this title. Next semester at university I will start working in the clinic, so I will have less time to train than I have had before. I have come to terms with the fact that Jiu-Jitsu is something I do in my spare time and that there are many things that must be prioritized higher. I will enjoy it for now and in the future winning a world championship will be a good story to tell.

Any new opportunities arisen since the worlds?

I have been offered a few seminars in Europe, which is a great opportunity for me to travel and see new countries.

Klara Tibbling won the purple belt adult female open class. Photo: Pasando Guardia

The females took to the mats at the 2014 IBJJF Rome Open even though their numbers were small. Most categories were not filled and some were not able to fight in their weight classes. But the attendants took up their opportunities for what they were and did what they came to do– compete.

Here is Oliver Geddes’ gathering of the main female results:

Despite traveling all the way to Rome from Denmark, Checkmat’s Shanti Abelha was the only black belt female present, taking her weight and open titles unopposed.

In the women’s brown belt division, the final came down to Poland’s Irena Preiss against Olga Lyashevska of Carlson Gracie Holland. Although both had been the only fighters within their weight classes, they were in Italy to fight and seized their opportunity in the open class. After two fights each, Olga took the gold, defeating Irena by a single guard pass.

Sweden’s Klara Tibbling took gold in the purple belt Female open class, adding that medal to her gold in the female heavyweight category. She defeated middleweight champion Sofia Nordenö to secure the open weight title.

You can check out the full results here.

Check out Samir describing all these opportunities and blessings in a video made in Stockholm, Sweden during one of his seminars:

Janni after winning the final of the brown belt female absolute at the 2013 World Championship. Photo: Erin Herle

We have a new female on the black belt roster today as Janni Larsson earns her final belt rank. The Checkmat team member won double gold at the World Championship two years in a row at both purple then brown belt. After she devoted herself more to Jiu-Jitsu nearly three years ago when she moved to Denmark from Sweden for medical school, her competitive skills were unmatched.

In 2012, Janni won the Europeans in purple belt adult lightweight and the absolute division then achieved the same result at the Worlds after bumping up to middleweight. She began this year as a new brown belt winning the absolute at the Europeans, her division at the Pan American Championship with second in the absolute, and then achieved another pair of gold medals at the World Championship in June.

Janni with her coach at the graduation ceremony. Photo: Arte Suave

She was granted her black belt from her instructor Shimon Mochizuki in Copenhagen, Denmark. This fall she focuses her efforts back on her studies at university but as long as she is studying, her freedom garners much training and competition. We will be sure to see her next year at the Worlds.

Showing off all of her medals from 2013 alone. Photo: Personal Archive

Thirty Mongolians from a Judo club made their way to Long Beach for the 2011 World Championship. Photo: Ivan Trindade

The list of reasons so far that show why you should follow, support, watch and enter the 2013 World Championship is strong. Number twelve is no different as we give you and your whole country reasons to join in May 29 – June 2.

Reason #12: See people from all over the world reach the podium and prove evolution

As if we don’t have enough politics in the realm of sport Jiu-Jitsu, the presence of nationalism can create unnecessary tension. Jiu-Jitsu is Jiu-Jitsu and claiming its roots in Brazil is necessary in terms of history and lineage but associating nationalities with the art only serves as another divide. All politics aside, though, non-Brazilians on the top spots of the podium have a way of determining expansion and evolution.

We don’t need new teams in the form of countries or ethnicities but taking note of non-Brazilians and even non-Americans proves a lot. These places can be less privileged and the people training have less advantages as they are from a country that has not harbored great training for many years. Just a sample of athletes shows evidence of this evolution.

People such as Sebastian Brosche and Alexander Trans from Denmark, Oliver Geddes and Luke Costello from Britain, Dais Yoshioka and Daisuke Nakamura from Japan, Ida Hansson from Sweden, the Iturralde brothers Francisco “Sinistro” and Leo from Ecuador, and the troop of Mongolians who took home medals from the 2011 Worlds.

Even for the Americans to top the podiums at black belt at the mundials or even in other organizations like Abu Dhabi World Pro and Copa Podio it still not as rare. Rafael Lovato, Jr. made his way to an absolute black belt title at the Brazilian National as the first American. Clark Gracie, Orlando Sanchez, JT Torres, DJ Jackson, Mackenzie Dern, Tanner Rice, Aj Agazarm, Keenan Cornelius, Gianni Grippo and more are making names for themselves amongst the many champion Brazilians in their categories.

Represent your team and your country. Register for the worlds and let your country be recognized and in doing so, show that Jiu-Jitsu is excelling in even the farthest corners of the Earth. Click here to sign up!

Herbert Burns (grey sleeves) with his buddies in Sweden, where he even helped train UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gusfasson (Personal archive photo)

One of the most hotly disputed qualifiers for the April main event in Abu Dhabi, the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil leg of the WPJJC Trials will be held Jan. 19 and 20 at Caio Martins Gymnasium in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State.

The tournament is sure to go off, as world champions Rodolfo Vieira and Gabi Garcia are set to hit the mats there.

Another big name confirmed for combat is Herbert Burns, brother to Gilbert “Durinho”, who is traveling Europe and will return home raring to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the United Arab Emirates.

What do you expect at the Trials in Niterói?

I expect the best. I always go in it to win it, and this time will be no different. With six-minute matches the action becomes more dynamic, much more explosive, but that’s how I fight. Anyone who wants to win has to stay ahead on the scoreboard the whole time.

How’s your training been going, with this tour of Europe and all?

I arrive in Brazil on the 10th because I’ve got a series of seminars to teach in Sweden. Truth is, here I’ve been training more MMA and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, but as soon as I return I’m going to tune up my gi game with my teacher Casquinha at Top Brother and Oriente academies in Niteroi. Here in Sweden I managed to keep in shape, and I even competed at and won a grappling tournament. Check out one of the matches.

You’re coming off a blemishless campaign at the 2012 Brazilian National No-Gi Championship. Do you consider yourself to be a firm favorite to win at the Trials?

I never enter a competition for competing’s sake; if I don’t think I have what it takes to win I don’t even sign up. I feel this business of there being favorites only exists before the match begins. I’m going to give it my all and gun for my objective, which is to make it to top spot on the podium. I always work on everything and try to be prepared for any situation I might encounter, so my game is always free-flowing and attacking, with lots of movement. I’m going to fight like I always do—going for the finish, which is Jiu-Jitsu’s essence.

What about you, gentle reader, how about competing in the United Arab Emirates with all expenses paid? Click here to get in on the WPJJC Trials in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State.

Professors:

Black Belt Sergio Souza Bolao

Black Belt Joao Pedro Santos

Address: Hyllie Kyrkoväg 35, 216 11 Limhamn

Phone: 45 2858-2637

Website: www.chokeacademy.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chokebjj

About:

Choke Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was established in 2004. We are the most traditional BJJ organization in Denmark and the only group that is directly connected to the Gracie Family in Brazil and in the United States. In fact, when the Gracies come to Scandinavia they usually train and teach at our schools.

We have two schools – Copenhagen & Århus – and over 250 members.

Our founder and head instructor is Professor Joao Pedro Santos, who is a second degree black belt under 7th degree Carlson Gracie disciple Sergio “Bolao” Souza.

The name Choke is short, strong and relates directly to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. According to Grand Master Helio Gracie, it is also the most powerful move in Jiu-Jitsu . It was suggested by Morten Pedersen, one of our first students.

Our logo is evidently based on the traditional Gracie Academy logo that’s been used in Brazil for almost a century. There are three equilateral triangles inside the circle. They represent balance and connection to our roots.

Video:

Herbert Burns (white trunks), Alexander Gustafsson (in red) and team in Stockholm preparing for UFC on Fox 5 / Publicity photo

The one sending the warning is Brazilian national Jiu-Jitsu champion Herbert Burns.

Of course, Burns, after reading about it on GRACIEMAG.com, is aware of how Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is well-trained on the ground, thanks to the help he’s getting from Team Alliance aces Leo Nogueira, Antonio Peinado and Sergio Moraes.

But Burns bets the house on Shogun’s rival, Alexander Gustafsson, a purple belt in jiu-jitsu, for their showdown at UFC on FOX 5 on Dec. 8.

“I taught Gustafsson for two weeks in Stockholm,” Burns told the GRACIEMAG.com reporter Vitor Freitas. “I can assure you he’s really tough on the ground. If it goes to the ground, he can surprise Shogun with his jiu-jitsu,

Curiously, the only loss on Gustafsson’s ledger came by way of submission — choked out by Phil Davis in 2010. Gustafsson, however, has three tapout wins to his name.

Shogun has only won by tapout once, against Kevin Randleman in Pride FC, and he himself has been tapped out twice.

The brother of Gilbert “Durinho” only took part in the early part of the training of the Swede, who is now going through his final stretch in preparation in the U.S. at Alliance MMA, home to UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.

“I participated in the early stage of Gustafsson’s training for Shogun. What impressed me was his takedown defense,” remarked the black belt featherweight.

“He’s really awesome in the standup, with powerful boxing and kickboxing. He has excellent octagon presence and is stoked about the fight. He’s the way the fans see him. The guy has a bunch of knockouts in the UFC, and that explains his style. Gustafsson will have a strategy and will go for it. He’s really strong and has great endurance, so it’ll be a great fight. Despite Shogun being Brazilian, I’m betting on Gustafsson for this one,” Burns said, before praising the Swede as a student.

“He paid a lot of attention to the jiu-jitsu techniques I taught him. He’d repeat them until I’d tell him it was enough. He’s really tough on the ground.”

The one saying so is a Brazilian national champion.

Do you think Gustafsson can beat Shogun, GRACIEMAG.com reader? How does this fight end? Comment below.

UFC on Fox 5
KeyArena, Seattle, Washington
December 8, 2012

Main Card

• Benson Henderson vs Nathan Diaz
• Mauricio Shogun vs Alexander Gustafsson
• BJ Penn vs Rory MacDonald
• Mike Swick vs Matt Brown

Preliminary Card (FX)

• Michael Chiesa vs Marcus LeVesseur
• Raphael Assunção vs Mike Easton
• Dennis Siver vs Nam Phan
• Ramsey Nijem vs Joe Proctor
• Yves Edwards vs Jeremy Stephens
• Brendan Schaub vs. Lavar Johnson (canceled due to Johnson injury)

Preliminary Card (Facebook)

• Daron Cruickshank vs Henry Martinez
• Scott Jorgensen vs John Albert
• Tim Means vs Abel Trujillo

Travel package winners of the 2012 Sweden Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials

The Sweden Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials were held in Stockholm, Sweden on November 25, this past weekend. The scandinavian natives fought it out to win paid-for tickets to the main event in Abu Dhabi. Contestants will be headed to the spectacle in April 2013.

This was a 4 star event with travel packages only going to winners of certain divisions. In order to qualify athletes had to place in their weight divisions so that they could be entered into their appropriate absolute divisions. Only after winning the gold in the absolute would they be awarded the golden ticket.

Open Class White Belt Male – Marcus Buksinski of MMA Gerke

Open Class Blue Belt Male – Max Lindblad of Prana

Open Class White / Blue Belt Female – Ambar Villagrán of Checkmat

Open Class Purple Belt Male- Sasa Srndovic of Checkmat

Open Class Female Purple / Brown / Black Belt : Ida Hansson of Checkmat

Open Class Brown/ Black Belt Male Light: Sebastian Brosche of Frontline

Open Class Light Brown/Black Belt Male Heavy: Iran Mascarenhas of Checkmat

The next trials to be scheduled are coming up soon! See some of the locations & dates below!

December 1 – Argentina (3*)

December 1 – Portugal (5*)

December 15 – Italy (3*)December 15 – Hong Kong (3*)

January 19-22 – Rio de Janeiro (5*)

January 26-27 – San Deigo, CA (5*)

February 2 – Hawaii (4*)

For more information please visit: www.uaejj.com

First, take a look at Philip Westman’s film about the Alliance fighter who like so many other girls was once shy, and is now an athlete brimming with health and friends. Afterwards, comment: how do you train to compete and win in Jiu-Jitsu? How many hours do you dedicate to winning each day?

http://vimeo.com/45334141

Brazilian police officer Paulo Thiago landed without his consciousness at UFC on Fuel last Saturday. Photo: UFC publicity.

Caught by surprise just 42 seconds into his encounter with Siyar Bahadurzada, Paulo Thiago hit the ground unconscious at UFC on Fuel TV last Saturday in Stockholm. The officer on Brazil’s elite police force BOPE took a hook to the tip of the chin and crashed to the canvas, resulting in a long hospital stay thereafter. When such potent blows like this occur, the UFC requires that fighters go through a complete battery of exams to be sure no serious injury was incurred.

His teacher, Ataide Junior, discussed his preparations and the lessons that come with such misfortune.

“BAD LUCK”

“There’s no way to analyze a fight like this. Paulo was really well trained and physically well prepared. I’m positive he was in his best shape. He had the bad luck of the punch landing, and right at the beginning of the fight. That, everyone saw. The important thing is that he’s fine. We did all the exams the UFC asked for, and thank God nothing came back. Now we’re going to wait on the promotion’s decision as to how long he’ll be out of action. We’re already anxious about getting him his next fight. I don’t mean to discredit his opponent, but there was no fight,” said the coach and Jiu-Jitsu black belt.

The Afghan fighter himself was surprised by the outcome. “I really wanted to win this fight, but it never occurred to me it would go like that,” said Siyar.

Now Paulo Thiago will fulfill some other commitments in Europe before returning home to the Brazilian capital of Brasilia to pick up training again and get ready for his next obligations. What do you think, gentle reader, was it more Paulo Thiago’s mistake, or does the revelation from Afghanistan deserve all the credit. Share your take on what happened, in the comments field below.

Thiago Silva warms up his shins for what may be his toughest MMA fight yet, in Sweden. Photos: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images.

Any trainee worth his salt, whether at a Jiu-Jitsu, MMA or interior decoration magazine, loves spouting cocky discourse—and a prepackaged statement.

Flipping through the latest GRACIEMAG, hot off the press, GRACIEMAG.com’s chesty trainee started spewing murmurs of approval from his desk, between the water cooler and the gi rack. “Really great this magazine,” he said, trying to catch someone’s attention. “All that’s missing is a bit more self-defense…”

While begging to have his predictions for UFC Sweden put up on the site, he let slip another one smacking of hubris: “This UFC, I dunno… Some of the fights are real obvious. But Stockholm syndrome may rear its head in MMA!” and rolled his eyes, trying to impress.

What do you think, savvy reader, who comes up big in the octagon this Saturday?

UFC ON FUEL TV
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
ERICSSON GLOBE ARENA, STOCKHOLM

Jason Young vs Eric Wisely
Prediction: Jason Young

Simeon Thoresen vs Besam Yousef
Prediction: Simeon Thoresen

Reza Madadi vs Yoislandy Izquierdo
Prediction: Reza Madadi

Francis Carmont vs Magnus Cedenblad
Prediction: Magnus Cedenblad

Cyrille Diabate vs Tom DeBlass
Prediction: Tom DeBlass

Papy Abedi vs James Head
Prediction: Papy Abedi

Main card

Brad Pickett vs Damacio Page
Prediction: Brad Pickett

DaMarques Johnson vs John Maguire
Prediction: DaMarques Johnson

Dennis Siver vs Diego Nunes
Prediction: Diego Nunes

Paulo Thiago vs Siyar Bahadurzada
Prediction: Paulo Thiago

Brian Stann vs Alessio Sakara
Prediction: Brian Stann

Alexander Gustafsson vs Thiago Silva
Prediction: Alexander Gustafsson

Gustafsson training for the press on Wednesday: the big European hope in MMA.