The US Open, set for October 15, 16 and 17 in Santa Cruz, California, has some news to announce. Normally, the absolute in the various belt groups is restricted to the four top-placed athletes of each weight class. This time, though, the absolute will be held beforehand, and everyone can get in the action.

Promoter of the event Claudio França reminds us that there are still rooms to e had in the hotel near the event offering slashed rates to athletes and teachers participating in the tournament. But you’d better hurry.

“There are one hundred rooms, and they fill up quick,” says França, excited about the teams’ receptiveness to the news. The US Open 2010 marks the 15^th installment of the tournament. Among those signed up are Augusto Tanquinho and Theodoro Canal.

“The trophy for best team in the tournament is getting folks around these parts excited. I’m getting the feeling they’re organizing themselves to show up strong. Who wouldn’t want to take a trophy home with them?” he concludes.

For further information and to sign-up, pay a visit to the  official website of the event.

França will fly to Rio with six students for the Rio Open and International Masters & Seniors, but also to spread the word in the South American nation about the 15^th US Open, to be held once again in the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, California, in October. (Waste no time, sign up here)

But there’s news from the classic championship. This year, for the first time, the event will be held over three days, due to the increase in competitor numbers. “Last year 843 competitors took part in the event, which led us to expect over a thousand now, due to how much the sport has grown throughout the United States and the rest of the planet,” remarks Claudio.

On the 15^th, 16^th and 17^th of October, however, Santa Cruz will grind to a halt to watch the high-level Jiu-Jitsu spectacle. Further news is the return of the team competition, yielding a trophy for the winning team. A guarantee of solid teams and top-notch athletes. “We’re going to reward the top three teams in the adult, senior, female and juvenile divisions, just like at the Worlds and the Pan,” he puts forth.

According to the timetable, which is already available on the USOpenBJJ.com website, all the open weight divisions will be held on the first day, Friday the 15^th. With exception to the adult black belt absolute division, which kicks off on Saturday and has its grand finale on Sunday.

Check out the video of the US Open 14, last year’s event.