Galvão gets finish in weight group. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

The first day of the San Diego tryouts for the World Pro brought electrifying battles at Point Loma High School gymnasium. Among the day’s standouts, André Galvão made a stellar return to Gi competition, securing a spot in the absolute final, where he will face Antonio Braga Neto, and in the under-83 kg semifinals.

In the open weight division, Galvão won his first match by 12 to 0. Also-Atos athlete Bruno Frazatto defeated Bruno Bastos on the same side of the bracket and stepped aside to let André through to the semifinal, where he would face Marcus Bochecha (CheckMat). In a riveting match, Galvão escaped a dangerous back attack, took the lead on advantage points and won after going straight to the mount (7 to 0). Now through to the final, the black belt will face Antonio Braga Neto, who won one match in the open weight class and didn’t need to face Luis Gustavo nor João Assis (both from CheckMat), who cleared the way for him.

Galvão mounts Bochecha. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

But a number of matches in the absolute deserve mention, like Gilbert Durinho’s win over Lucas Leite via takedown, Bochecha’s triumph over Claudio Calasans in a hard-fought affair (4 to 4), and João Assis’s win over Durinho by a sweep.

This Sunday all the finals will take place, as well as the weight group semifinals. Check out what’s coming up:

65kg
Guilherme Mendes vs. Baret Yoshida
Eduardo Ramos vs. Bruno Frazatto

Ed Ramos got the finish in both his matches – a footlock and choke; Bruno Frazatto won via kimura lock; Guilherme Mendes got a by and submitted Samir Chantre with a choke from side mount; and Baret Yoshida tapped two opponents on his way to the semifinal.

74kg
Gilbert Durinho vs. Jonatas Novaes Tagarela
Rodrigo Caporal vs. Rodrigo Freitas

Rodrigo Caporal had two matches, finishing in the second with a choke; Rodrigo Freitas won one bout; Gilbert Durinho defeated two opponents; and Jonatas Tagarela won his first via choke from back mount and his second on points.

83kg
Lucas Leite vs. Claudio Calasans
Clark Gracie vs. André Galvão

Lucas Leite won two matches on points; Calasans won his first via armbar and second via disqualification; Clark Gracie got a by and beat Luis Gustavo by an advantage point; na André Galvão got the finish in one match with a choke from back mount.

92kg
Vitor Toledo vs. Marcel Louzado
Marco Machado vs. Mateus Castaldino

+92
Marcus Bochecha vs. Fabiano Pega Leve Scherner
João Assis vs. Antonio Braga Neto

João Assis won one match on points and beat Bruno Bastos via judges’ decision; Braga Neto won via disqualification; Bochecha won via triangle.

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Marcus Bochecha was one of the standouts at the Las Vegas tryouts. Photo: John Lamonica.

San Diego will play host to the main Jiu-Jitsu academies in the USA this coming 5th and 6th of March, when Point Loma High School receives the World Pro tryouts.

And this Thursday, February 17, is the last day to sign up with a discount. Find out more clicking here.

Besides the San Diego tryouts and the already successful Las Vegas tryouts, Fernando Paradeda, who heads the Abu Dhabi Pro, is also preparing the last chance for residents of South America to qualify, the Gramado tryouts in the South Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.  Click here to find out more.

Caio in action / Photo: GM archives

This Tuesday is the last day to pay a discount rate in signing up for the Abu Dhabi World Pro Las Vegas tryouts to take place January 29 at Sports Center Las Vegas. The final deadline is the 27th. Click here to sign up

The organization has confirmed three big names have joined the roster. After submission wizards like Kron Gracie, Rômulo Barral, and Antonio Braga Neto guaranteed their presence, Caio Terra, João Assis, and Marcel Fortuna joined the fray. Also noteworthy is the fact that the event will be broadcast live throughout the Middle East.

The Vegas Trials are organized by Fernando Paradeda, who is also organizing the tryouts in Gramado, Brazil, which begin March 19, and in San Diego (March 6), for which sign-ups are open until February 1st. The three events promoted by the black belt boast a number of differences that set them apart from other World Pro tryouts: they will also feature a No-Gi contest (worth a trip to Abu Dhabi) and parallel events for kids and master- and senior-category athletes. In all, from each tryout, thirteen champions will earn all-expenses-paid trips to the main event, in Abu Dhabi, not to mention the money prizes. In all, the rewards from each tryout come to a total of 80 thousand dollars. The events will also be broadcast live. Sign up now!

To find out more about the three tryouts in Las Vegas, San Diego, and Gramado, click here.

Sports Center Las Vegas, venue for the trials / Photo: Publicity

Black belt Fernando Paradeda is responsible for three of the five-star qualifiers providing all-expenses-paid trips to the Abu Dhabi World pro. The first of them starts January 29 in Las Vegas. And preparations for the event including a seminar by Carlson Gracie black belt Zé Mario Sperry are at full throttle.

“Spots in some of the divisions in Las Vegas will run out before the sign-up deadline, January 27. Demand is high,” he warns. Click here for further information.

The second tryout organized by Paradeda will take place March 5 and 6 in San Diego, California. Registration begins February 1. Click here to find out more.

Furthermore, the Gramado, Brazil, tryouts (www.abudhabiprojj.com.br) are set for March 19 and 20.

Paradeda’s tryouts have some differentiating factors, like no-gi matches (worth a trip to Abu Dhabi) and parallel events for kids and master and senior division athletes. In all, thirteen champions will earn a trip to the main event in Abu Dhabi with all expenses paid, not to mention cash prizes. Counting all the rewards, each qualifier will pay out a total of eighty thousand dollars in cash and prizes to its participants. The events will also be broadcast live. Sign up now!