Júlio dos Anjos is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Master Júlio César Pereira. Photo: Ralfh Jigger

Julio dos Anjos, 28, is one of the main propagators of Jiu-Jitsu in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. An avid competitor, winner of titles from the IBJJF’s Pan and Euros, Julio now splits his time between his usual heavy schedule — teaching as many as six Jiu-Jitsu classes in a day — and the launch of his own gym, JDA Training Center.

The gym, located in Dubai, will provide bespoke training for students wishing to improve the quality of their lives or even becoming high-performance athletes, as Julio explained in a recent interview.

“JDA Training Center has a personalized training program for different needs,” he said. “If the practitioner just wants to train as a hobby, to have a healthy lifestyle, or compete also, this is the right place. I’m very excited to teach everything I know to my students and help them achieve their goals.”

JDA Training Center in Dubai. Photo: Ralfh Jigger

After five years — the time he’s been a black-belt — Julio is starting to reap the fruits of his decisions from when he was younger. If nowadays he’s starting his own business, previously he had tougher times, including financial troubles in 2017.

“In 2017, I had to leave Brazil with my family to seek out a better living standard, because we had lots of financial difficulty,” he said. “Thank God now is a new period; we are achieving our goals, and that makes us happy and motivated to carry on with our journey. My daughter will be turning two soon, and I’m able to give her a good quality of life. This country has taught me many things and made me grow a lot as a human being.”

A Jiu-Jitsu student since he was 14, he also plans to compete in the coming months — which means focusing on his physical preparation. “For a long time, it was hard focusing on the training,” said Julio, whose wife Enaile is a fellow black belt.

“Even when you are competing from time to time, it’s not the same as being 100% focused on the training like athletes today are. But I have plans now to train hard and, God willing, arrive better prepared at my next competitions.”

Check out the challenges faced by Catriel inside and outside the World Pro mats. Photo: Reproduction

In the early hours of that Friday, April 8th, during breakfast, athlete Catriel Oliveira had the first Herculean challenge of the day, a big dose of discouragement in a whisper nearby: “Sebastian Rodriguez from Unity is on a roll! He is the best athlete in the tournament. It’s impossible to beat him at 85kg ”. Enrolled in the same division, Catriel had moments of anxiety at the table while eating at that hotel in Abu Dhabi. But the hours leading up to his brown belt duels at World Pro 2021 would be to scare off this old ghost of his day, which would be epic.

“Before the European 2020, I had a lot of problems with that”, revealed Catriel, who represents Braus Fight, in a chat with GRACIEMAG. “If I heard that I would face a tough athlete or that someone was doing well in the category, I would promptly sabotage myself mentally. In the European, I fought with another mindset. I went in to have fun, without pressure and did my best tournament. Since then, these ideas have been trying to get around me, but I focus more on myself, fight as I like and the results keep coming. The goal now is happiness. ”

A week earlier, Catriel had fought the Grand Slam, also in Abu Dhabi. In addition to overcoming two fierce disputes, against Yago Neves in the semifinal and Mikael Rhaillander in the final, the six days that separated the Grand Slam from the World Pro were critical, focusing on his complete recovery for the most complicated tournament of his life, something he did not yet know.

“I was fully supported by coach Leonardo Micussi, who has been working with me and Braus for a while. I gave my all in the Grand Slam and arrived ready to do the World Pro marathon with all those fights. ”

Catriel refers to the complicated road towards the title at the World Pro, which is divided into two stages: a classification event between Brazilians and the main bracket. In total, Catriel faced eight fights to the gold, against the best of the world in his weight division.

In the qualifying round, a real undertaking, Catriel passed by Yago Neves, Jansen Gomes, Pedro Machado, and again, Mikael Rhaillander. The four duels would already be worth a title, but four more duels would be needed to guarantee the gold and the prize money. Only a honey packet, lost in the bottom of his backpack, nourished Catriel amid so many duels. In the main bracket, his first dispute would be against Mateus Meyer, classified directly by the AJP ranking.

“I was going to my fifth fight of the day, after facing tough opponents from Brazil, and Mateus would make his first fight with me. It is at that time that the mind has to be stronger. I focused on fighting forward and it worked, ”recalled Catriel.

After beating Mateus on the points and submitting Saif Alhimany, Catriel beat Hermes Lazarus in the semifinal to finally challenge Costa Rican Sebastian Rodriguez. A complicated fight, with no points or advantages in regulation time, was defined in the golden score, after a takedown applied by Catriel. And so the cycle was closed, with 12 challenges on and off the mat, which culminated in two gold prizes and a bunch of dollars in the pockets of the Brazilian athlete.

“I never had so many fights on the same day, nor in such a short time, seeing as I faced ten fights of a high level in less than a week. I’m happy with my evolution. I lost my father a few months ago and he was my biggest supporter. I really wish he was here to see that it worked, but now my fight is for my family who is in Brazil. I am going to stay in the United Arab Emirates for a while, training and teaching at JDA Center/GFTeam Dubai, of the black belt Julio dos Anjos. But I can only think about rest next month because in June there is another big tournament here ”, concluded the beast.

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It was the last chance for competitors to secure a travel package for the 2015 WPJJC, next April, in Abu Dhabi.

With all the spots filled, the organizers confirm that the champions of each division are already being contacted for travel arrangements.

Here is highlights video of the action in Tampa.

AJ Agazarm went for it against Telles to secure gold

The second leg of the US Pro Nationals takes place this Saturday, Feb. 28, in Tampa, Florida.

It’s the final chance for competitors to win a free package to travel to the 2015 WPJJC, next April, in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Among many names, black belts Roberto Traven, Magid Hage IV, AJ Agazarm, Timothy Springs, Cleber Luciano, Tammy Griego are some of the most well known athletes.

Click here for more info on the competition.

The FGB arena was built primarily for Jiu-Jitsu competitions, the first of its kind in the world

The Australia Pro Nationals takes place this next Sunday, Feb. 22, in Sydney.

It’s the chance for passport holders of Oceania countries to compete for a package to travel with all expenses paid to the 2015 World Professional Jiu-Jitsu championship.

You have until this Wednesday, Feb. 18, to register to compete.

Hurry up and secure your spot.

Get more info and register now here.

Marcos Souza celebrates the title at the 2013 WPJJC, in Abu Dhabi

The final deadline for you to register for the US Pro Nationals in Tampa, Florida is Feb. 23.

It’s your last chance to compete for a chance to travel to the 2015 World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, in Abu Dhabi, on April 22-25.

The event in Florida is scheduled Feb. 28.

Watch the teaser bellow and register here now.

Gabi Garcia after she won the open weight division. Photo: Erin Herle

You can still register for the U.S. National Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship until Jan. 8 as the deadline has been extended. Win a travel package to compete at the 2015 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The opportunity is for select winners of their divisions. This is a gi tournament that has divisions from white to black belt.

The event will be held at Santa Barbara City College: 721 Cliff Dr. Santa Barbara, CA on Jan. 11.

Black belts Clark Gracie and Magid Hage IV are two of the big names that will be competing at the event.

Don’t miss this extended chance to compete for the opportunity to compete in one of the biggest Jiu-Jitsu championships in the world.

Go to www.usprojj.com to register!

The U.S. National Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship has updated the passport requirements for their event on Jan. 11 in Santa Barbara, CA.

Before, you had to present your passport on the day of the tournament but they have loosened the rule and they are now allowing competitors to present their passport within three weeks after the tournament. This is only for those who win the travel package to the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the UAE.

As a reminder, the only athletes eligible o compete in this tournament but be lawful citizens of North America. The list of countries includes:

Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United States

The registration ends tomorrow, Jan. 6!

To learn more about the tournament around the corner and to register, visit www.usprojj.com

Gabi Garcia after she won the open weight division. Photo: Erin Herle

The women competitors of the 2014 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship accomplished yet another year of great fights. Going into the April 17-19 competition, they hit a milestone as the first year the purple belt females competed in their own division. The growth in numbers drove the United Arab Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation to split the categories and this year only the brown belts and the black belts remained together. The males earned all separate categories for their belts in 2013 and by next year we hope that the same will happen for females next year.

But for this edition, brown and black belts went against one another in the same brackets. Here are the results of the weight categories:

-60kg

There were many promising athletes in this division including the champion of 2013 Michelle Nicolini. But this year she met her match, brown belt Adriadne de Oliveira of Mestre Wilson. Armed with a threatening loop choke, she submitted her first, second and third opponents with the submission. The first match of the division was a deja vu of last year as Michelle Nicolini faced Mackenzie Dern and submitted with an armbar leaving Dern out of the competition. In the final, Adriadne competed against Nadia Melo who defeated Nyjah Easton in the semi-final. Adraidne submitted Nadia by a triangle armbar for the gold.

1- Adriadne de Oliveira
2- Nadia Melo
3- Michelle Nicolini

-66kg

Similar to the -60kg division, the first match of the bracket was one fit for a final as Luanna Alzuguir and Luiza Monteiro, who competed in the 2012 WPJJC final, competed against each other. Luiza was able to earn the win with points and also beat Fabiana Borges on her way to the final. Beatriz Mesquita accomplished a win over Marina Ribeiro and Shanti Abelha to make her way to the finals. Fabiana Borges was able to overtake Marina Ribeiro with advantages to win the third place spot. In the final, Luiza maintained the dominant positions against last year’s champion Beatriz and earned the gold via points.

1- Luiza Monteiro
2- Beatriz Mesquita
3- Fabiana Borges

-72kg

New black belt from Sweden by way of Denmark, Janni Larsson proved her promotion once again since receiving her belt last August. In her first match she defeated brown belt threat Monique Elias by points then went on to defeat Fernanda Mazzelli. She faced Polyana Lago in the final. Janni was able to win on points and jumped for joy with the outcome.

1- Janni Larsson
2- Polyana Lago
3- Fernanda Mazzelli

+72kg

The prior champion, Gabrielle Garcia, was able to win her division once more alongside two other Alliance members. Brown belt eighteen-year-old Dominyka Obelenyte was the contender in the final. Dominyka faced Andresa Correa and defeated her by points to go into the final against Gabi. During the final Gabi earned two points by taking Dominyka down and another three by passing. Dominyka recovered her guard a few times but was not able to submit or gain points against the champion and Gabi won via 5-0 on points.

1- Gabrielle Garcia
2- Dominyka Obelenyte
3- Andresa Correa

OPEN WEIGHT

There were 27 brown and black belts who competed in the open weight division. The bracket was created but not all showed up creating byes within the line-up. Here are the full results of each match:

Vanessa Nascimento defeats Michelle Nicolini by 3-0 advantages.
Jackeline Rodrigues defeats Vanessa English by 2-0 advantages.
Jessica Santos defeats Morena Cuba by 7-0 points.
Shanti Abelha defeats Suelen Dos Tobias by 2-2 points, 1-1 adv, 1 penalty for Suelen.
Beatriz Mesquita defeats Dominyka Obelenyte by 2-0 points.
Monique Elias defeats Fabiana Borges by loop choke.
Mackenzie Dern defeats Nyjah Easton by 4-0 points.
Viviane Gomes defeats Andrea Souza by referee decision after 2-2 advantages.
Janni Larsson defeats Marina Ribeiro by 3-1 advantages.
Gabrielle Garcia defeats Maryanne Mullahy by 5-0 points.
Nadia Melo defeats Talita Nogueira by armbar.
Polyana Lago defeats Ida Hansson by knee injury early on as Polyana jumped guard.
Sijara Eubanks defeats Eirin Nygren by 3-0 advantages.

Luanna Alzuguir defeats Nadia Melo by 4-0 points.
Monique Elias defeats Shanti Abelha by 6-0 points.
Mackenzie Dern defeats Jackeline Rodrigues by 2-0 points.
Sijara Eubanks defeats Viviane Gomes by bow and arrow choke.
Janni Larsson defeats Polyana Lago by armbar.
Beatriz Mesquita defeats Jessica Santos by 2-0 points.

QUARTER-FINALS
Monique Elias defeats Sijara Eubanks by 1-0 advantages.
Gabrielle Garcia defeats Vanessa Nascimento by 3-0 advantages.
Janni Larsson defeats Mackenzie Dern by 5-0 points.
Beatriz Mesquita defeats Luanna Alzuguir by 2-0 advantages.

SEMI-FINALS
Gabrielle Garcia defeats Monique Elias by armbar.
Janni Larsson defeats Beatriz Mesquita by 2-1 advantages

THIRD PLACE MATCH
Beatriz Mesquita defeats Monique Elias by 2-0 advantages.

FINAL
Gabrielle Garcia defeats Janni Larsson by arm lock from side control.

For a full photo gallery of all the matches, click here.

Check out a quick photo gallery of the open weight division finals:

Registration for the 2014 IBJJF Munich International Open is open with the deadline approaching. The second edition of the event will be the Winter Open on Mar. 1.

Last year the IBJJF expanded to Munich for the first time and saw a variety of not just teams but countries represented. Local stars in Europe won their golds like Roger Gracie black belt Oliver Geddes as well as athletes competing in their first tournament ever. Even Faisal Alkitbe of United Arab Emirates made his way to Germany and earned a champion title in the brown belt super heavy division.

This year the tournament has a list of athletes from at least twenty countries including Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, United States, England, Norway, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Philippines, France, Netherlands, Jordan, Greece, Brazil and more.

Represent your country in a truly international championship by registering before Feb. 21 at www.ibjjf.org

Watch the variety of athletes and spectators at the 2013 Munich Open:

Earn a ticket to compete at the main event in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Erin Herle

The restrictions have been lifted for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship trial in Montreal, Canada on Feb. 22. The organization previously restricted applicants to competing in the trial where they have citizenship but for this North American trial, it’s anyone’s game.

The registration is for any belt level with the chance to win a Fuji gi and for some, a paid trip to the Abu Dhabu World Pro main event in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in April. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to compete internationally for free.

The number of travel packages to be earned at this trial is distributed as follows:

Eight male black belts, two male brown belts, two male purple belts, two male blue belts, five female black/brown belts, two female purple belts, two female blue belts. Also, the organizers will choose a number of stand-out teens and juniors to earn a package as well.

The first step to earning your ticket is signing up for the event. Register at http://www.worldpromontreal.com/

Registration ends Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 11:59 p.m. EST

Make sure you also become a member of the UAEJJ (only if you’ve never signed up before) by going here: http://www.uaejjf.org/membership/becomeAMember

Make your travel plans, and you’re good to go. Weigh-ins are on Feb. 21 at the Holiday Inn Montreal – Midtown.

Find out more information here: http://www.worldpromontreal.com/

Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with his professors and athletes in 2009.

The professional Jiu-Jitsu black belt in search of new horizons may be in luck. Schools in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, are once again recruiting instructors, married or single, to teach classes in Jiu-Jitsu for children and adolescents.

Benefits include a salary around $ 4,000 per month, a health plan for the teacher and their family, and vacations of one month. The contract with the team of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed lasts for one year, with renewal expected for the following year. The black belt is also provided with a furnished apartment.

The requirements to teach in schools in Abu Dhabi are basically speaking English, being a blackbelt in Jiu-Jitsu, being 21 or older and having experience in teaching the gentle art.

To learn more and apply for a job, click here or send an email to professorjjabudhabi@gmail.com.