JT Torres, while in town to compete in the IBJJF Pan No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship, stopped by his friend Chris Savarese’s academy, Savarese BJJ in Lyndhurst, NJ to give a kids-only seminar on Friday night, Sept. 27. He returned to his NJ/NY roots from the Atos academy in San Diego, CA where he now resides under GMA member Andre Galvao.

Professor Savarese has been trying to offer kids-only seminars as of late and has seen a good reaction in the kids learning more about BJJ and its roots as well as following the tournament scene more closely. In July, friend and fellow GMA member Rafael Lovato Jr. taught his own kids-only class as well.

The focus on the kids is explained by Professor Savarese: “We constantly have friends of mine in for seminars for the adults and the kids were getting short-changed. I used to play baseball and it was always easier for kids to relate to their “baseball heroes. After watching Professor Rafael Lovato Jr. do a kids-only seminar at our academy, we noticed more children showing up to watch him compete at our Metamoris party and cheering him on. They are constantly asking when he competes next. Now a bunch of our kids are going to watch JT compete tomorrow as well as our competition team at the No-Gi Pan. It has been a positive experience for them.”

JT taught some takedowns, a guard pass and some of his trademark finishes from the back. He even played some games that the kids loved! After the techniques he watched them train together and gave them pointers.

For more information about Savarese BJJ and their kids program, go to www.njbjj.com

JT shows a bow-and-arrow choke. Photo: Chris Savarese

Cyborg gave a free pass to "brother" Vagner in the absolute final. Photo: Dan Rod.

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu kicked off 2011 the way he ended 2010: at the top.

At the World Pro tryouts in New Jersey the teacher living in Florida closed out with his teammates once again. But he said that won’t be happening anymore.

“The event was great, although I wasn’t training that hard because I was setting up my new academy in Florida, but I felt really good at the event. I closed out both divisions: my weight group with (Marcus Vinicius) “Bochecha” and the absolute with (Vagner Rocha) “Ceará”, he said.

“Bochecha is gold, we’ve been training together for some time and we’ve become great friends. But for sure, regardless of our friendship, we’re going to fight at upcoming events,” pondered Abreu.

“Now Ceará is my brother, truth is I ended up competing in the absolute because of him. I’m really happy he conquered this title. Now it’s all about the Abu Dhabi Pro. I hope to keep up the results and outdo myself with every day. This year will be excellent!” he says in finishing, sending his best regards to GRACIEMAG.com readers.

Lucas Lepri, in photo by Dan Rod

Lucas Lepri (Alliance) kicked off the season with some big wins. First he won the European Open, closing out with Michael Langhi. Then last weekend he drove from New York to New Jersey and earned a ticket to Abu Dhabi for himself, winning the World Pro tryouts.

And it was no easy ride, as he tells GRACIEMAG.com.

What did you think of the European Open?

The 2011 European Open weas high level, just as high as the Worlds. Everyone in it was good. And there was something else: before the Euro Open I stopped by Athens to teach a seminar, and when I arrived in Lisbon I was three kilos over weight (laughs). I had to lose it all on the day! I faced Helder “Bob Esponja” in the first match; he’s tough, I’d faced him a few times before. It was a hard match, I was weak, but my second was better: I ended up facing Jonathan Torres and everything went according to plan. Thank God I managed to win the two matches to close out the final with Michael.

Is the plan to double up like that all year?

That’s always the plan. If it’s possible, we’ll close out every event we’re in together. Michael is a great friend and incredible athlete. I admire what he does a lot!

What’s cooking now?

I’m going to continue training in New York with my students and friends. I’m heading to Atlanta for a training camp for the Pan with Master Romero Jacaré. It’ll be great to learn from the master and train with the whole elite squad at Alliance Atlanta. Then, right after the Pan, I’ll head to Abu Dhabi, since last weekend I won the under-74-kg qualifiers in New Jersey. I had three matches and faced JT in the final again. I’m really glad to have participated in the event and taken a student, Chris Visentin, with me. He won the purple belt absolute.

It’s worth reminding readers not that anyone can participate in the World Pro main event. The tryouts are just meant to reward the winners with free travel and board.

So you’re training at full steam now. Who are the opponents who may get in your way this season?

I can name a number of up-and-coming lightweights. Really talented new guys come up in the division every year. I can always mention Celso (Venicius), Durinho, Augusto Tanquinho, JT, but there are a lot of athletes who may surprise us. That’s why I dedicate my training to all types of opponent.

Smiley rivals: Lepri repeats at Euro 2011 and beats JT. Photo: Dan Rod.

Check out who came out on top in New Jersey, where the winners took home all-expenses-paid trips to Abu Dhabi in April.

It’s worth noting that the World Pro is open to all athletes, the tryouts only serve to provide travel and board and to the winners of each weight group and determine who will figure at the top of each bracket.

Check out the results of the finals and check back for an exclusive photo gallery taken by our own Dan Rod.

92+ Kg

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida – CheckMat

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu – Avengers

Carlos Eduardo da Silva – Team Oliveira

Abraham M. Messina – Yamasaki

92 Kg

Josh Griffiths – Clockwork Jiu Jitsu

Fabio Holanda – BTT

Gilmer F. Santos – Fenix Fight Club

Roberto Torralbas – Lloyd Irvin

83 Kg

Abmar Barbosa – Drysdale BJJ

James Harbison – Lloyd Irvin

Roberto Traven – Roberto Traven BJJ

Gabriel Rollo – Check Mat

74 Kg

Lucas Lepri – Alliance

Jonathan “JT” Torres – Lloyd Irvin

Juan Barrantes – Renzo Gracie

Jonatas Gurgel – ATT

65 Kg

Renan Borges – BTT

Isaac Chaves – Nova União

Samir Chantre – Gracie Fighter

Milton Bastos Nascimento – Paragon BJJ

63+ Female

Tammy Griego – Gracie Barra

Karen Miller – Clockwork Jiu Jitsu

Sijara Eubanks – Lloyd Irvin

Libbie Corney – Peloton BJJ

63Kg – 138 Female

Juliana Holanda – BTT

Marissa Talley – Yamasaki

Rachel Demara – Lloyd Irvin

Fiona Watson – Nova União

“We’re going with JT at black belt, Jimmy Harbison at brown, purple belt world champions Frank Camacho, Andris Brunovskis, and Sijara Eubanks, as well as also-purple belt Keenan Cornelius and many others,” said Lloyd.

Check out the team’s training camp for the 2011 Worlds.

Photo: publicity

This coming February 5 will mark the New Jersey leg of the tryouts for the World Pro, and a number of great black belts are expected to show. Among those confirmed are Roberto Cyborg, Fabio Holanda, JT Torres, Marcus Bochecha, Lucas Lepri, Juliana Holanda, Vagner Rocha, Josh Griffiths, Roberto Traven, Renan Borges, and Mark Ramos among others.

Furthermore, the event will raise funds to help Pablo Popovitch, who recently lost his mother, Soraya, in the landslides that struck the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro. Pablo’s father survived but is still in intensive care. A portion of ticket sales will be destined to the cause.

To sign up and for further information, visit www.abudhabiprousa.com.

Claudio Calasans, against Braulio, was the big name from the World Pro 2010. Photo: Luca Atalla

Sign-ups for the New Jersey World Pro tryouts are open. The event set for February 5 is organized by Emilio and our GMA Riccardo “Baleia” Ammendolia, and it will reward thirteen athletes with travel, room, and meals for the World Pro main event, in Abu Dhabi.

It’s worth noting that athletes from any nationality are welcome to participate, the tryouts are not restricted only to local residents, as they were in previous years.

To sign up, click here. For further information on the event, click here.