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)

[flickr set=72157629561409081]

“We had one match at weight before closing out, and then we had two more in the absolute. Now, I’m guaranteed at Abu Dhabi. I’m going to fight in the No-Gi World Pro and I’ll stick around for the Gi one too. I’ll do battle in both styles,” says Bastos.

Bruno and Pega Leve share podium. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

“I’ll be at the Pan. The whole Nova União crew will stay at the same hotel. Gustavo Dantas, Robson Moura, Shaoin and I will take our students. Two weeks later there’ll be the World Pro, so I don’t know if I’ll enter the absolute. It depends, I’ll speak with my physical conditioning coach and the guys on the team to decide,” says Bruno, who has a special reason for wanting to make it onto the winners’ stand:

“March 27 is my birthday and I want to win!” he warns.

In the meantime, the black belt carries on with his toil as a teacher and looks forward to further positive results in that field.

“I’m happy about how my students did at the San Diego tryouts. One of my girl blue belts, Kelly, qualified for the main event, and others did well too, earning medals,” he says in closing.

Do as Bruno Bastos and his students do: participate at the Pan. Sign-ups go until March 16. Find out more by clicking here.

On the World Pro, no need to win a tryout to fight in Abu Dhabi. Visit www.uaejj.com for details.

Group sings before No-Gi training. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

The training camp in California is going full steam. At the big house on Mannix Street in San Diego, thirteen black belts and a few young promises from team Atos are in intense preparation for competition. In their crosshairs, the Jiu-Jitsu Pan on the coming 24th to 27th of March and the World Pro in April.

Training goes along frenetically. From outside André Galvão’s academy one can hardly see in. The glass is completely fogged over from the contrast of temperature between the winter cold of the northern hemisphere and the heat emanating from the hard work going on in the dojo.

Galvão at the door of academy with windows completely fogged over / Photo: Carlos Ozório

The gi is the article of clothing most worn during the day, but no-gi training is also on the program, with such a category featuring at the Abu Dhabi tournament.

“The gang’s going there to win it all,” comments Galvão.

Indeed, the black belt has returned to gentle art competition. His first results are promising, having won the San Diego tryouts for the World Pro in the under-83 kg division and taking second in the absolute. At a hard-training pace, Galvão figures among the favorites for the big competitions during the first half of 2011.

“On the first day with the whole gang together we managed to give him a hard time. But André’s getting stronger and stronger with every day. He was a monster before the first week was through, running everyone over,” recounts Gilbert Durinho.

“I’ll show up there sharp,” comments Galvão.

In the video below, check out the team’s perspectives for the Pan and the post-San Diego tryouts, even featuring a little ditty likely to get the team going in the gymnasium:

Do as these guys do and sign up for the Pan, the IBJJF’s most traditional international competition, by clicking here.

Braga against Bochecha in San Diego / Photo: Carlos Ozório

Antonio Braga Neto was the big standout at the World Pro tryouts in San Diego. The Roberto Gordo black belt beat such stalwart competitors as André Galvão, Marcus Bochecha and João Assis to secure top spot on the winners’ stand at weight and open weight.

Check out an exclusive Portuguese interview with the grappling whiz in the video below, where he comments on his campaign and preparations for the Jiu-Jitsu Pan and the World Pro.

Do as Braga Neto does, participate at the Pan, too. Sign-ups go until the 16th of this month. Find out more by clicking here.

Guilherme Mendes

The GRACIEMAG.com team is already in California, where all’s set for the World Pro tryouts in San Diego. The event organized by black belt Fernando Paradeda counts 560 participants and will yield all-expenses-paid trips to the April main event in Abu Dhabi for 13 of the competitors to take to the mats at Point Loma High School.

Among the athletes from the main academies in the USA are beats like Marcus Bochecha, Braga Neto, Ricardo Demente, João Assis, Bruno Bastos, Rhalan Gracie, Claudio Calasans, André Galvão, Clark Gracie, Lucas Leite, Gilbert Durinho, Baret Yoshida, Ryan Hall, Bruno Frazatto, Guilherme Mendes, Penny Thomas and Emily Wetzel, among numerous others.

Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com for complete coverage.

Check out the list of those signed up in the main divisions, below:

BROWN/BLACK BELT ADULT MALE (74) (6-min. matches)

Brown/Black Belt -143 lbs (15)

Michael Strangis (Sandro Batata Bjj)

Daniel Elias (Crispim Bjj)

Derrick Easterling (Team Silva Bjj)

Danny Alvarez (Nova Uniao)

Flavio Meier (American Top Team)

Milton Nascimento (Paragon Bjj)

Eduardo Ramos Da Silva (Atos Bjj)

Baret Yoshida (Undisputed)

Michael Cusi (Stronghold/ATOS)

Jordan Collins (Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy)

Ryan Hall (Fifty/50)

Chris Westfall (Nova Uniao)

Bruno Frazatto (Atos)

Guilherme Mendes (Atos Bjj)

Samir Chantre (Gracie Fighter)

Brown/Black Belt -163 lbs (20)

James Guyton (Checkmat)

David Farias (Jcbjj)

Santino Defranco (Southwest Mma)

Nathan Mendelsohn (Clube Barra)

David Brown (Roots Bjj Miami)

Mike Gomez (Drysdale)

Yukito Isoda (Check Mat)

Steven Rosenberg (Nova Uniao)

Rodrigo Benedito Caporal (Atos Bjj)

Marcos Torregrosa (Yemaso Bjj)

Daniel Aguiar (Constrictor Team)

Rodrigo Faria (Check Mat)

David Agajanian (Clube De Jiu-Jitsu Pitbull)

Romulo Melo (Gracie Tijuca)

Christopher Story (Nova Uniao)

Alfredo Barum (Bjj Revolution)

Rodrigo Freitas (Gracie Barra)

Gilbert Burns (Atos Jj)

Jonatas Gurgel (Atos)

Gabriel Pontes (Check Mat)

Brown/Black Belt -183 lbs (18)

Brandon Magana (Clark Gracie Jiu Jitsu)

Juan Pablo Garcia (Gracie Barra Team Crane)

Moses Baca (Graciefighter)

Beneil Dariush (Ralph Gracie Oc)

Rhalan Gracie (Relson Gracie)

Olusegun Williams (Charles Gracie – San Francisco)

Alberto Juarez (Rbbjj Barra Brothers)

Claudio Calasans (Atos)

Andre Galvao (Atos Jj)

Nathan Drona (10Th Planet Jiu Jitsu)

Diego Gamonal Nogueira (Brazilian Top Team)

Lucas Leite (Check Mat)

Luis Gustavo (Check Mat)

Raphael Carrao (Street Sports Bjj)

Bruno Antunes (Gracie Barra)

Brad Sandoval (Brad Sanoval)

Jared Nathanson (Academy Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)

Clark Gracie (Bjj Revolution)

Brown/Black Belt -202 lbs (9)

Eliot Kelly (Cia Paulista Sacramento)

Jj Holmes (Alliance)

Alexander Stuart (Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy In Torrance)

Paul Silva (Bjj Revolution)

Marco Sharpei (Drysdale Academy)

Marcel Louzado (Checkmat)

Mateus Castaldini (Minotauro Team)

Vitor Toledo (Atos)

Kevin Casey (Casey)

Brown/Black Belt +202 lbs (12)

John Hansen (Sucuri Jiu Jitsu)

Mario Barbosa (Checkmat La Habra)

Adam Provence (Checkmat)

Raymond Seraile (Kong Submission Academy)

Fabiano Scherner (Team Quest/Ataque Duplo)

Bruno Bastos (Nova Uniao)

Joao Assis (Wct)

Marcus Almeida (Checkmat/Armory)

Fabiano Silva (Carlson Gracie Team)

Ricardo Barros (Ricardo Barros Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)

Antonio Neto (Ralph Gracie)

Jarrod Bunch (Werdum Combat Team)

PURPLE/BROWN/BLACK ADULT FEMALE (10) (5-min matches)

Purple/Brown/Black Belt -128 lbs (5)

Amanda Grummon (Gracie Barra America)

Kristina Barlaan (Nova Unio)

Samantha Faulhaber (Gracie Humaita)

Kiri Liao (Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu)

Angelica Vieira Ferreira (Atos)

Purple/Brown/Black Belt -139 lbs (2)

Kelly Nakagawa (Gracie Barra Chino)

Charlene Coats (Raul Castillo Martial Arts)

Purple/Brown/Black Belt -150 lbs (1)

Nicole Leite (Rickson Gracie Academy)

Purple/Brown/Black Belt +150 lbs (2)

Emily Wetzel (Revolution Bjj)

Penny Thomas (Gracie Humaita)

Galvão in photo by Gustavo Aragão

This Monday the 28th is the final day to sign up for the World Pro Trials in San Diego. Among the many mat wizards confirmed in the black belt division are new names like André Galvão, Bruno Bastos, Antonio Braga Neto, Ryan Hall and Penny Thomas, as well as numerous athletes in the intermediate belt groups.

Don’t miss the chance to travel to the World Pro in Abu Dhabi with all expenses paid.

Click here to sign up.

Furthermore, Monday also marks the last day to pay the lowest rate for the Gramado, Brazil, tryouts; another event organized by Fernando Paradeda. Sign up here.

“I didn’t arrive on time,” laments the Atos black belt, currently the No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu champion of the world.

Photo: Carlos Ozório

Nevertheless, the fighter falls back on one of the greatest lessons he has learned in the gentle art and doesn’t give up. In his sights: the World Pro tryouts in San Diego and the Jiu-Jitsu Pan. Check out the chat the fighter had with GRACIEMAG.com.

Is it true this will be your first Pan?

The Pan is like a preview of the Worlds. It’s an important title and it’ll be the first time I compete at the event. I want to go in there and do my free flowing Jiu-Jitsu, getting takedowns, going on the attack… I want to attack more. At the World Pro tryouts in Rio I ended up kind of stuck in the fight with Langhi; I want to attack more than that. Before that, though, I’ll fight at the San Diego tryouts for Abu Dhabi.

Atos closed out the featherweight division at the European Open with four athletes and promises to make life hard on everybody else at other events. Is it true that the team is putting together a squadron for the lightweight division?

Rodrigo Caporal and myself will be in there tearing things up, as will Davi Ramos. We’ll go in together at the San Diego tryouts, the Pan, World Pro, Brazilian Nationals, ADCC tryouts. We’re training a lot. There’s still Jonatas Tagarela too. We have four at featherweight and at lightweight.

Now it isn’t one against everyone else, we’re going in with four!

What are your thoughts on the tryouts you did in Rio?

I lost to Michael Langhi, who’s someone who, like I’ve said before, you can’t make a mistake against. I messed up early in the fight. My strategy was to stay in the lead, but I ended up suffering two points early on, two more advantages, and I even was on top later on, which is a tricky situation against him. It’s rough to be behind and have to attack his guard.

You two have really tough matches, with lots of rivalry. What did you learn from yet another match against him that you can carry with you into the next one?

Losing is awful, but I feel you can learn from it. Every situation that comes up, mainly against Michael, teaches me a lot. Jiu-Jitsu gives me strength to do that. I train a lot and, even when I mess up, although it bugs me, the next day I’m back in training. Jiu-Jitsu teaches us not to give up. I have a rivalry with Langhi – we’ve been competing against each other since purple belt –, besides the usual rivalry between Atos and Alliance. But I feel it only strengthens me and I learn when I win and when I lose.

Do as Durinho does, be a part of the Jiu-Jitsu Pan-American Championship. Find out more here.

And to sign up for the World Pro tryouts in San Diego, click here.

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

Weight and open weight winner and big standout at the 2010 World Pro Claudio Calasans will see action at the San Diego qualifiers for the event. The Atos black belt is yet another beast confirmed to be there alongside Guilherme Mendes, Clark Gracie, Rodrigo Caporal and Joel Tudor, among others, at the event to take place March 5 and 6 at Point Loma High School.

February 28 is the cut-off for sign-ups for the event guaranteeing all-expenses-paid trips to thirteen winners of the adult division at April’s World Pro, as well as a ticket to Abu Dhabi for the No-Gi absolute winner.  Click here to find out more. It is worth remembering that only at the tryouts organized by Fernando Paradeda (Las Vegas, San Diego and Gramado) are there No-Gi, master, and juvenile divisions.

“I want to advise people that they should sign up quickly, as there’s great demand and space is limited. And also to avoid any confusion. Our event is going to take place March 5 and 6. There’s an ADCC qualifier coming up, but it has nothing to do with our organization,” explains Fernando Paradeda.

Gymnasium where San Diego trials will be held / Photo: publicity.

On the wake of the success of the World Pro tryouts in Las Vegas, Abu Dhabi Pro, a company headed by black belt Fernando Paradeda, is heading full steam into the San Diego and Gramado tryouts – these being the last chance for residents from the Americas to qualify.

Sign-ups for the March 5 and 6 San Diego tryouts are already underway. The deadline to register is February 28, but there is a discount for anyone who signs up by the 17th of this month. The competition will at place at the modern gymnasium at Point Loma High School (2335 Chatsworth Boulevard San Diego, CA 92106). The brown and black belt finals will be broadcast live and the event timetable has already been set out (see more below).

As with January’s Las Vegas tryouts and the March 19 and 20 Gramado tryouts, the San Diego event will feature No-Gi and master and senior divisions. Besides the prize money and paid-way to the World Pro for the 13 winners, the winner of the No-Gi absolute will win a ticket to Abu Dhabi as well.

For the inside scoop on the Paradeda-held tryouts and their differences, click here.

Now to sign up for the San Diego qualifiers, click here.

Check out the San Diego timetable

Saturday 03/05

09:30 Open Doors

10:00 Opening Ceremony

10:20 Start

Gi White Belt All Weights Categories Male

Gi Blue Belt All Weights Categories Male

Gi White and Blue Belts All Weights Categories Female

Gi Purple Belt All Weights Categories Male

Gi Purple, Brown and Black Belts All Weights Categories Female

Gi Brown and Black Belts All Weights Categories Male

Gi Master and Sênior All Belts and Weights Categories Male

Gi Open Weight White and Blue Belts Male

Gi Open Weight White and Blue Belts Female

Gi Open Weight Purple Belt Male

Gi Open Weight Purple, Brown and Black Belts Female

Gi Open Weight Brown and Black Belts Male

Sunday

09:00 Open Doors

09:30 Start

Gi Kids and Teens All Weights Categories

NoGi Beginner All Weights Categories Male

NoGi Beginner All Weights Categories Female

NoGi Intermediary All Weights Categories Male

NoGi Intermediary All Weights Categories Female

NoGi Kids and Teens All Weights Categories

NoGi Advanced All Weights Categories Male

NoGi Advanced All Weights Categories Female

NoGi Open Weight Beginner Male

NoGi Open Weight Beginner Female

NoGi Open Weight Intermediary Male

NoGi Open Weight Intermediary Female

NoGi Open Weight Advanced Male

NoGi Open Weight Advanced Female

15:30 ( Finals Tv Live Broadcast )

No-Gi Advanced Male Final

Gi Open Weight White and Blue Belts Male-163lbs.

Gi Open Weight White and Blue Belts Male +163 lbs.

Gi Open Weight White and Blue Belts Female -139 lbs.

Gi Open Weight White and Blue Belts Female +139 lbs

Gi Open Weight Purple Belt Male -163 lbs

Gi Open Weight Purple Belt Male +163 lbs

Gi Open Weight Purple, Brown and Black Belts Female -139 lbs

Gi Open Weight Purple, Brown and Black Belts Female +139 lbs

Gi Open Weight Brown and Black Belt Male Final

Gi Brown and Black Belt Male Final -143 lbs

Gi Brown and Black Belt Male Final -163 lbs

Gi Brown and Black Belt Male Final -183 lbs

Gi Brown and Black Belt Male Final -202 lbs

Gi Brown and Black Belt Male Final +202 lbs

San Diego / Photo: Publicity

Sign-ups for the World Pro tryouts in San Diego. The Fernando Paradeda-organized event will take place March 5 and 6.

As with the Las Vegas trials, which took place in January, and the Gramado ones, which will take place March 19 and 20, the San Diego event will feature No-Gi and master- and senior-division matches. Besides cash prizes and all-expenses-paid trips to the World Pro main event in Abu Dhabi rewarded to the thirteen adult-division champions, the winner of the No-Gi absolute will get a trip to Abu Dhabi.

To get the inside scoop on the Paradeda-promoted tryouts, click here.

Now to sign up for the San Diego tryouts, click here. Registration is open till the 28th of February, but there is a discount for signing up by the 17th of this month.Now to sign up for the San Diego tryouts, click here. Registration is open till the 28th of February, but there is a discount for signing up by the 17th of this month.

Photo: publicity

This Thursday marks the deadline to sign up for the World Pro tryouts in Las Vegas. Monsters of the mat like Kron Gracie, Rômulo Barral, Antonio Braga Neto, Caio Terra, João Assis, Marcel Fortuna and others are confirmed for the event to take place at Sports Center Las Vegas.

Besides the thirteen winners earning all-expenses-paid trips to the World Pro in Abu Dhabi, the winner of the No-Gi absolute division will also get a paid trip to the No-Gi main event. There are also cash prizes for the adult, advanced (master and senior), and No-Gi divisions. It’s worth noting that the three Abu Dhabi tryouts produced by black belt Fernando Paradeda all feature No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu and advanced divisions.

The next tryouts thereafter will be on March 5 and 6 in San Diego and in Gramado on March 19 and 20.

For further information on the three and to sign up, visit www.abudhabiprojj.com.