View of tryouts in Miami (Photo courtesy of Pro Sports BJJ)

The 2013 iteration of the World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship (WPJJC) is getting closer and closer to defining all its contestants.

This past weekend another tryout event was held to determined who will be traveling with all expenses paid to the April 10-13 main event in the United Arab Emirates.

In Miami, athletes of all belt colors took to the mats to vie for a spot on the big stage.

Check out who accomplished that mission:

Male – adult – white – open absolute – Jonathan Santiago  – American Top Team

Male – adult – blue – under 175.5 – Dante Leon – Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu

Male – adult – blue – over 175.5  – Derek Brown – Gracie Barra Orlando

Male – adult – purple – under 175.5 – Hunter Ewald – Fight Sports

Male – adult – purple – over 175.5 – Jordan Hayman – Hooligans BJJ

Male – adult – brown / black – under 143 ( 143.00 ) – Brian Mahecha – American Top Team

Male – adult – brown / black – under 163 ( 163.00 ) – Lucas Lepri – Alliance

Male – adult – brown / black – under 183 ( 183.00) – Ricardo Souza de Rezende – Avengers

Male – adult – brown / black – under 202 ( 202.00 ) – Romulo Barral – Gracie Barra

Male – adult – brown / black – over 202 ( unlimited ) – Thiago Domingues – De La Riva Academy – Copacabana

Female – adult – white / blue – open weight absolute – Laurel Aiken – Alliance

Female – adult – purple / brown / black – under 139 – Nyjah Easton – Team Lloyd Irvin

Female – adult – purple / brown / black – over 139 – Amanda Tubby Santana – Alequin BJJ

The winners (Photo taken from Jonathan Uzcategui’s Facebook page)

The series of tryout events ends in March. Check out where the next ones will be by clicking here.

Find out more about the Miami trials and other events by clicking here aqui.

 Imagem geral da seletiva de Miami. Foto: Pro Sports BJJ

A edição de 2013 do World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship (WPJJC) está cada vez mais perto e pouco a pouco os participantes vão sendo definidos.

No último final de semana foi realizada mais uma seletiva para o evento mundial, marcado para acantecer de 10 a 13 de Abril, em Abu Dhabi, nos Emirados Arabes Unidos.

Em Miami, nos EUA, atletas de todas as faixas lutaram pelo direito de viajar com todas as despesas pagas para o evento mundial.

Confira abaixo, quem saiu vencedor após dois dias de duras batalhas:    

Male – adult – white – open absolute – Jonathan Santiago  – American Top Team

Male – adult – blue – under 175.5 – Dante Leon – Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu

Male – adult – blue – over 175.5  – Derek Brown – Gracie Barra Orlando

Male – adult – purple – under 175.5 – Hunter Ewald – Fight Sports

Male – adult – purple – over 175.5 – Jordan Hayman – Hooligans BJJ

Male – adult – brown / black – under 143 ( 143.00 ) – Brian Mahecha American Top Team

Male – adult – brown / black – under 163 ( 163.00 ) – Lucas Lepri – Alliance

Male – adult – brown / black – under 183 ( 183.00) – Ricardo Souza de Rezende – Avengers

Male – adult – brown / black – under 202 ( 202.00 ) – Romulo Barral – Gracie Barra

Male – adult – brown / black – over 202 ( unlimited ) – Thiago Domingues – De La Riva Academy – Copacabana

Female – adult – white / blue – open weight absolute – Laurel Aiken – Alliance

Female – adult – purple / brown / black – under 139 – Nyjah Easton – Team Lloyd Irvin

Female – adult – purple / brown / black – over 139 – Amanda Tubby Santana – Alequin BJJ

Os campeões. Foto: Jonathan Uzcategui/Facebook

O calendário de seletivas segue até março. Confira onde serão as próximas clicando aqui.

Saiba mais sobre a seletiva de Miami e outros eventos clicando aqui.

Today, February 5, is the last day to register for the Miami WPJJC Trials.

The event is open for athletes of all levels of experience and ages, male and female.

The winners of selected categories will get a free trip to Abu Dhabi to compete in the main event, in April.

The costs is:

Category 1: USD 120 Adults – Master – Senior

Category 2: USD 89 Kids – Teens – Juvenile

All kids and teens will have at least two matches, and all competitors will get medals.

Visit the events’ pages on Facebook.

Miami – WpjjcMiami

Several top athletes have already confirmed their presence at the trials, such as Marcus “Bochecha” Almeida, Roberto “Tussa” Alencar, Roberto “Cyborg” Alencar, Clark Gracie, Ryan Beauregard, Rafael “Barata” Freitas.

Below you will find which categories will grant the champion a travel package to Abu Dhabi:

ADULT MALES TRAVEL PACKAGES

Brown and Black Belts (Combined)

1. 143lbs

2. 163lbs

3. 183lbs

4. 202lbs

5. Over 202lbs

Purple Belts

6. Light Absolute

7. Heavy Absolute

Blue Belts

8. Light Absolute

9. Heavy Absolute

White Belts

10. Open Weight Absolute

ADULT FEMALES TRAVEL PACKAGES

Purple, Brown and Black Belts (Combined)

11. Light Absolute 139lbs

12. Heavy Absolute Over 139lbs

White and Blue Belts (Combined)

13. Open Weight Absolute

The Miami WPJJC Trials are open to all athletes, but the travel packages can only be reclaimed by competitors who have a valid US work permit or by athletes from the following countries:

• United States

• Antigua

• Bahamas

• Barbados

• Belize

• Bermuda

• Canada

• Costa Rica

• Cuba

• Dominican Republic

• El Salvador

• Grenada

• Guatemala

• Haiti

• Honduras

• Jamaica

• Mexico

• Nicaragua

• Panama

• St. Kitts & Nevis

• St. Lucia

• St. Vincent & the Grenadines

• Trinidad & Tobago

For further info, go to prosportsbjj.com.

Folwer with wife Tracey and son Thor

Black belt Mike Fowler is best known for two big reasons. His technical and competitive Jiu-Jitsu and the leopard pattern painted hair. It’s easy to spot him fighting even when there’s 10 or 12 mats side by side. Look for the guy with the yellow and brown spotted hair. The next place his style will be displayed will be Hawaii, at the WPJJC trials, this Saturday, February 2. Ready to roll, the husband of (also black belt) Tracey Fowler and father of Thor talked exclusively to GRACIEMAG.com and shared his views on training, diet, competition, the evolution of Jiu-Jitsu and also family life. For more info on the Trials, go to prosportsbjj.com. 

How was your training for the Abu Dhabi trials in Hawaii?

It has been Great!  This year Tracey and I just got married so my focus hasn’t’ been on Jiu-Jitsu 100% but, excited that I never have to go far for a training partner!  Tracey’s workouts are really good. Her class here in Hawaii is huge! She has really gotten good at making the training always a good time.

How do you think will be the WPJJC this year, with big names confirmed for this event?

I haven’t seen the names since I registered but I have heard plenty of talk its really great to have a Trials here in Hawaii.  I think it will be a hit, and will hopefully be returning every year.

In which competitions are you planning to compete in 2013?

I plan on doing more seminar and super fights rather than tournaments this year.  I have a family now so I want to focus on making sure that Tracey can train and compete, and we provide for our boy.  There is a super fight in the mix that I have heard talk of no guarantee but would be a dream come true.

How’s your diet? Any secrets?

My diet has improved greatly over the past year.  Learning more about what to eat and what not to…and when!  A lot of all natural foods.  The other big staple is my Vi-Shake that has been a huge part.  Diet really makes a huge difference in everything.

Who’s helping in your training?

I have been in contact with Andre Galvão for direction, but all of my training has been done with my students and my new wife Tracey Fowler. 

You are an athlete that has competed in many competitions around the world. What is your vision of BJJ today and how do you see the growth of the sport?

Its amazing…and scary!  It is spreading and growing roots in more and more people and places.  Guys out there kicking butt tell me how they watched my videos when they were young…Wow!   How time flies but it is really growing and having a very big impact on people’s lives.

Your wife is one of the biggest names in female BJJ. Does she help you in your trainings?

All of the time! She is my biggest partner.  She has really grown and is quite the martial artist and has been a good experience to grow together in the art and as people.  She really helps by the straight attitude. She never quits.,…never gives up.  Qualities that are hard to teach. Very good in helping to keep me motivated!

You are now a family guy, married with a kid (Thor) … How’s to manage your family life with your trainings for the competitions?

We are a Jiu-Jitsu family.  Its all about prioritizing. My focus is different for sure. Its not about me anymore…. its about the family first.  Right now my focus is to take care of family and make sure Tracey gets to train and help her career.  Then we worry bout me!