For those of you who would like a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Cup event on April 11-13, 2013, here it is:

Date: February 2, 2013

Location: Bill Greehey Arena on the St. Mary’s University Campus, 1 Camino Santa Maria St

San Antonio, TX 78228

Stars: 5* meaning trip packages available for every brown/black male weight category and the two absolute divisions for every other belt. (Only one absolute division for male white belts and female white/blue belt)

Registration: Open until January 28, 2012

Eligibility: You must be of these nationalities (USA greencard okay), Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas , Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Rep, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, United States

Register now to automatically increase your chances of competing in Abu Dhabi in 2013!

More information: http://abudhabijiujitsuprotrial.homestead.com/SA-PRIZES.html

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

Paulo Miyao in back control at WPJJC Trials in Natal. The 21-year-old will be competing in Abu Dhabi next year. Photo by Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com.

A competition standout ever since he was a purple belt, Paulo Miyao, 21, was recently promoted to brown belt, and already met with success last weekend at the Abu Dhabi WPJJC tryouts in Natal, Brazil.

The last opponent standing between him and the all-expenses-paid trip to Abu Dhabi for winning the under-65 kg division was Nova União black belt Lucas Dantas.

After dispatching Dantas, the beast from Andirá, Paraná State, had a brief chat with GRACIEMAG.com about the conquest and his expectations for the April 2013 competition in Abu Dhabi. Check out what Miyao had to say and watch two of his matches from the weekend event in the following videos shot by Junior Samurai.

GRACIEMAG: How do you feel, now you’ve won the tourney in Natal?

PAULO MIYAO: It was really cool to have won this event, but now I want to train a lot so I’ll be in good shape for the upcoming tryouts and the main competition in Abu Dhabi. I tried to impose my game from start to finish. I didn’t make too many mistakes, but I will correct the ones I did so I’ll be better at the next competitions.

What was the final with Lucas like, and what do you expect now?

It was a tough fight. He’s really strong, but thank God I managed to beat him. I’m going to compete at all the tournaments I can until the end of the year.

The winners in New York / Photo: Bruno Malfacine's personal archives

While the Pacific side was treated to tryouts for the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in sunny San Diego, the aces of the gi on the Atlantic side got their shot at free tickets to Abu Dhabi in New York. And fans in the Big Apple were treated to performances from some of the greatest gentle art aces out there.

Check out who won:

+92kg – Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu

Cyborg got the tapout in all his matches. Personal archive photo.

92kg – Roberto “Tussa” Alencar

Tussa on the podium / Personal archive photo

83kg – Lucas Leite

Lucas Leite had five matches before claiming overall victory. Personal archive photo.

74kg – Lucas Lepri
65kg – Bruno Malfacine

Lepri and Malfacine celebrate for Alliance. Personal archive photo.

Xande defeated Andre Galvão in open weight final. Photo: Kid Peligro.

Two-time absolute champion of the world Xande Ribeiro was the big standout at the World Professional Championship Trials this Sunday in San Diego, when the weight class finals and the entire course of the absolute division played out. At 31 years of age, Xande proved he’s still got plenty to show in the gentle art, an adversary on par with the likes of Rodolfo Vieira and Roger Gracie. At Point Loma high school gymnasium, Xande won at weight and open weight and looks to be a force to be reckoned with at the main event, in Abu Dhabi. All the following information comes from real-time Twitter postings by Deb Blyth.

In the under-92 kg division, Ribeiro outpointed Rômulo Barral by two points in a match that had the crowd on its feet. In the final of the absolute, Xande came up against André Galvão. Ribeiro took his back, but Galvão drew even at 4-4. Ultimately, three advantage points would hand the win and paid travel to the finals in Abu Dhabi to Xande, who was rewarded with a standing applause.

Xande on absolute podium / Photo: personal archive

Galvão was the star of another barn burner, as well. When the Atos ace faced Clark Gracie at the same event last year, André needed a judges’ decision to get the nod. This time, however, a guard pass secured him an unquestionable victory.

In the over-92 kg division, Marcel Fortuna earned his airfare to Abu Dhabi upon defeating Gustavo Elias by 6 to 0. Now in the under-74 kg division, Zack Maxwell took Kron Gracie’s back and managed the advantage that would see him win gold in the weight class. Guilherme Mendes had the stalwart guard of Laércio Fernandes to contend with in the under-65 kg final. Gui ended up winning the lively encounter by 4-2.

In the female light absolute, purple belt Angélica Galvão, André Galvão’s wife, took top spot, with Tracey Goodell in second. Now in the heavy absolute, Emily Wetzel scored 6-2 over Maia Matalon.

Xande sets lapel up for a choke. Photo: Alicia Anthony.

Some of the cream of the world Jiu-Jitsu crop hit the mats this Saturday at the San Diego leg of the World Professional Championship Trials. This Sunday’s action will determine the winners of the weight groups, as well as the absolute, all of whom will travel for tree to compete at the main tournament, this April in Abu Dhabi. Check out who will be facing who and a photo gallery from day one of the tryouts. The information is Deb Byth’s, and the photos are Alicia Anthony’s:

+92kg – Marcel Fortuna (Ralph Gracie) vs. Gustavo Dias Elias (Gracie Humaitá)
92kg – Alexandre Ribeiro (Ribeiro JJ) vs. Romulo Barral (Gracie Barra)
83kg – André Galvão (Atos) vs. Clark Gracie (BJJ Rev)
74kg – Kron Gracie (Gracie Humaitá) vs. Zak Maxwell (Gracie Humaitá)
65kg – Guilherme Mendes (Atos) vs. Laércio Fernandes (Cobrinha BJJ/Lotus)

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Willcox going for omoplata / Photo: Carlos Ozório

At the Rio de Janeiro leg of tryouts for the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship this past weekend, Gabriel Willcox captured a berth for himself at the main show in Abu Dhabi. The black belt beat five opponents in qualifying, so one could say the training he’s been doing under submissions aces like Ricardo de la Riva and Felipe Costa its effect.

FORMULA FOR YOUTHFUL TRAINING

Always at the top of the heap at the International Masters—a tournament where the featherweight has even won the absolute—, the 35-year-old Willcox is still giving the young bucks more than their fair share to chew on. By the time he compete’s at the main event in Abu Dhabi he’ll be 36. Now to put on a show for the Sheikh, Gabriel will carry on with the formula for youth that’s got him thus far. In fact, he plans to stick with it for a while yet, to keep him going strong into his 40s. Here’s his secret to prolonged youth, as he explains in Portuguese in the video below:

“To keep fighting into your later years you have to do good physical conditioning. The secret is to lead a healthy life, eat well, rest well, train hard. These days I train a lot more correctly than I used to. I feel experience counts for a lot. I used to do a lot of wild stuff. These days I train properly; I feel a lot better at 36 than I did at 16.

I’ll keep at it for as long as I can keep it up in the adult division; I’ll be in there till I’m 40.”

Rodolfo attacks from mount. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

Following the excitement determining the finalists on Saturday, Sunday saw the athletes to qualify for the World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship come through the pipes. The winners will travel with all expenses paid to the main event in Abu Dhabi.

Among the standouts was 2011 double Worlds winner Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam), confirming his status as favorite by beating brown belt Luiz Panza (Barbosa) in the final. After landing a takedown, passing guard and making it to mount, Vieira finished up with an armbar. Of his four-total matches, three ended by this same submission hold.

Adriano rallied back and beat Vitor Henrique. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

At under-83 kg, Vitor Henrique (GFTeam) had a one-guard pass lead over Adriano Silva before the Barbosa black belt swept and then mounted to rally back and win by 6-3. Adriano had a total five matches at the event.

Willcox hunts for omoplata. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

Another hard fought encounter saw the veteran Gabriel Willcox (Soul Fighters) overcome Marcelo dos Santos (Instituto Reação) by first sweeping and then scoring an advantage from half-guard. Marcelo did fight back with a sweep but ended up losing on the scorecards. At 35 years of age, Willcox had five matches and is through to the big event in the UAE.

In the under-74 kg division, GFTeam’s Vinicius Marinho and Theodoro Canal shut out the final, with Marinho designated the gold-medal winner. In the over-92 kg division, Thiago Gaia (Nova União) didn’t make it to his match with Ricardo Evangelista (GFTeam) on time and ended up losing by WO.

Gabi still unbeatable / Photo: Carlos Ozório

In the female contest, Gabi Garcia’s reign continues. Having won her lone Saturday match, on Sunday she outpointed Fernanda Mazelli with a takedown and guard pass. Now in the under-61 kg division, Jessica Santos was the big winner, having overcome Hellen Bastos.

And then there was the men’s absolute final, worth US$ 400 to the winner, which Augusto Ferrari won by choking out Theodoro Canal.

GFTeam drum section celebrating results / Photo: Carlos Ozório

What would bring someone to take a one-hour ride by bus to a scalding hot gymnasium at another city on a sun-drenched long weekend in Rio de Janeiro? The answer’s simple: top-notch Jiu-Jitsu. This Saturday marked day one of the World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship-qualifying tournament held in Niteroi, a city across the Guanabara Bay from Rio de Janeiro. The gymnasium wasn’t in the best of shape but the fighters made up for it, making the trip worthwhile for anyone who forwent spending the day at the beach.

Besides getting to meet up with old friends, the highlight of the event was being able to get a glompse of heavyweight and absolute word champion Rodolfo Vieira. The GFTeam ace submitted three opponents on his way to Sunday’s under-92 kg final against Barbosa team’s Luiz Panza. Besides the excitement of having made it through to the weight class decider, Rodolfo was even more overjoyed by the news he would he seeing action at the European Open later this month: “It was a surprise. A friend of ours said he’d pay the trip, and I’m going,” he reported.

Thiago Gaia against Igor Silva / Photo: Carlos Ozório

In the brown and black belt division, Rodolfo’s team secured another four berths in the main event in Abu Dhabi. In the over 92 kg division, Ricardo Evangelista overcame Bruno Bastos (Nova União) by a sweep. Besides having overcome one of last year’s finalists in Abu Dhabi, Evangelista went path three other opponents. At the other end of the bracket, Thiago Gaia (Nova União) had four matches himself. He had his work cut out for him in the semifinal against Igor Silva, but Gaia managed to work his way to back control and squeeze out a choke.

Another Master Julio Cesar student, Vitor Henrique reached the under-83 kg final after four matches. The semifinal started out with him training by a sweep to Victor Bonfim (Gordo Evolve), but he reciprocated with a sweep of his own and notched two more advantages for the win.

Barbosa team representative Adriano Silva had four matches of his own. In going through to the final, he beat David Vieira by a sweep.

Vinicius Marinho against Davi Ramos / Photo: Carlos Ozório

The under-74 kg division belonged to GFTeam, with Vinicius Marinho and Theodoro Canal dominating the action. Marinho had three matches, with the semifinal standing out most, where he faced No-Gi Pan winner Davi Ramos. In a back-and-forth affair stuck in 50/50 guard, the match ended tied at 8-8 but with Vinicius holding a two-advantage point lead. Canal beat four opponents in closing out with his teammate.

Willcox celebrates. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

Now Master Julio’s team sat out the under-65 kg division. The weight class belonged to the veteran Gabriel Willcox (Brazilian Fight), who can often be seen putting on a show at the Rio International Masters championship. Ahead of him, the black belt will take on the also-experienced Marcelo “Galinha” dos Santos (Instituto Reação). Willcox had four matches, while Marcelo had three really good ones.

In the femae division, Gabrielle Garcia (Alliance) carried on with her winning ways and now has Fernanda Mazelli ahead of her in the final. In the under-61 kg final, Jessica Santos takes on Hellen Bastos.

Below, watch the absolute brown/black belt final between Denmark’s Jiu-Jitsu world champion Alexander Trans (CheckMat) and Marcin Held. It’s worth noting how the Danish ultraheavyweight hasn’t tasted defeat in the gi since being promoted to brown belt – at ADCC 2011 he only lost to the finalist Fabricio Werdum.

Leandro Lo was the standout at the World Pro 2012 tryouts in Natal. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

The Natal tryouts out of the way, the next set of Brazilian qualifiersfor the April 13 and 14 World Pro 2012 is coming up November 19 and 20 in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state.

The Amazonian city lives and breathes Jiu-Jitsu, producing champions the likes of Ronaldo Jacaré, Xande and Saulo Ribeiro, Fredson Paixão and Antonio Braga Neto, among others.

 Click here for further details.

The World Pro only comes around again in 2012, but Manaus is already getting ready to host Jiu-Jitsu’s finest, according to information provided by our collaborator Arthur Castro.

The biggest city in the Brazilian state of Amazonas will be a venue for one of the qualifying legs for the tournament in Abu Dhabi, planned for November 19 and 20. Black belt Fábio Holanda is passing through the city to review Manaus’s installation.

Fábio is the head organizer of the tryouts in the cities of Natal, Brazil; Montreal, Canada; and now in Manaus, and he confirmed the competition will be held at Amadeu Teixeira gymnasium, which he says has excellent facilities.

According to Holanda, Manaus will host one of the tryouts due to a partnership with the Manaus prefecture and the Amazonas state government.

Fighter Roberto Pato is part of the team preparing the city to host the event and is one of the few natives of Amazonas state to compete in Abu Dhabi. According to him, big names are likely to make it to the tryouts, like current weight and absolute champion Rodolfo Vieira, Rodrigo Cavaca, and champions Gabi Garcia and Luanna Alzuguir.

Some news regarding this year’s tryouts, to kick off in Natal, is that fighters will only be allowed to try out in their countries of origin, unlike in previous years, where a number of Brazilians qualified for the main event at tryouts in the USA. This means the battle for berths in Brazil will be all the more hotly disputed. The prize money for winning the brown/black belt tryouts remains the same: 4,000 dollars to the winner of the absolute division and 1,000 to the runner-up. The reward for winning the other divisions is a all-expenses-paid trip to Abu Dhabi, which comes to around 8,000 dollars, according to the organizers’ calculations.