The Nova Uniao team takes first at the 2014 IBJJF Vegas Summer Open. Photo: Personal Archive

For the second year in a row, the IBJJF Vegas Summer International Open first place trophy went back to Arizona. The one-day tournament on Aug. 9 was a big day for the Nova Uniao team.

Led by GMA member Gustavo Dantas of GDJJ, team Nova Uniao took 34 competitors to Vegas and captured a total of 37 medals! That’s 17 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze medals

“Winning is the result of being technically, physically and mentally prepared,” says the BJJ Mental Coach. “I am the leader of the team, but I’m not the only one responsible for the win, this was a team effort. This result would not be possible without the help of all coaches and assistant coaches of GD Jiu-Jitsu Association,” stated Dantas.

For more information about Gustavo Dantas and his team, please visit www.gdjiujitsu.com

Leader Gustavo Dantas. Photo: Personal Archive

Gustavo coaching. Photo: Erin Herle

Jackson Sousa vs Samir Chantre. Photo: Ivan Trindade

Two tournaments are closing their registration. Both the 2014 IBJJF Las Vegas Summer Open and the 2014 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open are scheduled for the same weekend. In Vegas, the one-day event will be on Saturday, Aug. 9 and in Chicago, the gi and no-gi divisions will be split on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10.

The location of the Vegas event is the Sport Center of Las Vegas at 121 East Sunset Road Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Already signed up is a a black belt fleet consisting of Francisco “Sinistro” Iturralde, Gianni Grippo, Osvaldo “Queixinho”, Rodrigo Freitas, Mackenzie Dern, Antonio Antonioli, Nathan Mendolsohn, Fabbio Passos and more.

You can register here before 11:59 p.m. PST: https://www.ibjjfdb.com/CampeonatoInscricao/Edit?CampeonatoId=294&FederacaoId=3 

The location of the Chicago event is the Chicago State University at 9501 South King Dr. Chicago, IL 60628.

Names that will be competing include Vitor Oliveira, Wellington Megaton Dias, Eliot Kelly, Edson Oliveira and more.

To register for the gi portion, go here before 11:59 p.m. PST: https://www.ibjjfdb.com/EventoInscricao/Create?EventoId=17

Make sure you sign up before the deadlines!

More information can be found at www.ibjjf.org