Leandro Lo against Otavio Sousa in the World’s middleweight final. Photo: Ivan Trindade / GRACIEMAG

In 2014, Jiu-Jitsu shook the world. The star players of the gentle art flashed during the entire season, from January to December – both men and women. This Dec. 26, GRACIEMAG presents you with a technical retrospective of competitive Jiu-Jitsu with five of the most striking techniques of 2014.

And you, dear reader, remember another great movement or submission? Share it here.

1. Buchecha’s single-leg over Rodolfo Vieira in the World’s absolute final

2. “The sweeper spin” by Leandro Lo against Otavio Sousa in the World’s middleweight final

3. Bia Mesquita’s legdrag over Nicolini in the World’s absolute final

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvjzDeTtuNo

4. Felipe Pena’s sweep against André Galvão at the World’s heavyweight final

5. Michelle Nicolini’s armbar in the featherweight final at the Worlds 2014

Mikey works his passing against Hiago Gama. Photo: Erin Herle

Mikey Musumeci, one half of the Musumeci sibling duo, received his brown belt from the Mendes brothers after winning the purple belt light-featherweight division at Worlds in June. His run at Worlds included back-takes, berimbolos and leg drags.

Here Mikey teaches how to get to the leg drag when an opponent puts you in the lasso and spider guard. He also goes over how to counter the defense when someone opens their knee to try to prevent the leg drag.

Check it out:

Learn why this type of training is helpful for Jiu-Jitsu:

After shining in the absolute, Monique received her black belt from the hands of Mario Reis. Photo: Erin Herle / GRACIEMAG

Monique Elias nearly had a perfect performance at the World 2014, with seven fights, seven wins and six submissions. The Student and wife of world champion Mario Reis, Monique shone at the light heavyweight and absolute brown belt, and was crowned with two respected IBJJF medals and deserved the new black belt.

There was not an unexpected result, as Monique keeps wining big since the blue belt when she also took the weight and absolute divisions, in 2012.

Happy with her victories and the new graduation, the Alliance Star talked about the Worlds campaign in 2014, analyzed her victory over Dominyka Obelenyte at the end of the open class and commented the lessons she absorbed from her experience in the tournament.

GRACIEMAG: Monique, how you define your campaign in the Worlds 2014?

MONIQUE ELIAS: I think it was the best tournament of my life. I fought seven matches and finished six. I felt pretty good in my head and the techniques came naturally. I was strong and fit. I have so much to thank my teachers and my trainer Zaccani Wagner, who has done an extensive work with me. I’ve learned throughout my career that to be a champion you have to earn it, you gotta work hard for it. My ankle was injured before the Worlds so I suffered to endure training while feeling pain. I had to go over my cry and let my body ready. This really helped prepare my mind. Before getting on the mat I talked to myself: “No one has suffered more than you to be here!” My victory confirmed that thought.

What did you do to defeat Ashley Easton, at the final match for the light heavyweight tittle?

I finished with a triangle choke, a move that Mario adjusted with me at the last Brazilian Nationals. Thus, using these adjustments he passed me I had success in the fight.

In the Absolute division, you won gold again. And in the end, you fought your teammate Dominyka Obelenyte. Are you against making agreements in the finals?

We face each other since the purple belt, which was the first time we met in a final match. I’m actually not against it; I think there are different scenarios. In our case, we have never trained together and we did not participated in the same training camp together. We only belong to the same team. I think it’s cool to have her as my partner. Dominyka is an athlete, I know that if I do not reach the finals, she will be there and it ensures points for the team. She is the toughest opponent I’ve ever had. Because she is my partner, I only face her in the finals. For example, people who train together and go to training camps together, if they reach the finals, I do not think it’s cool for them to fight each other; the person who helped you to be there. It is a victory for both of them.

How did you beat Dominyka at the Absolute?

As always it was a tense final. I pulled guard and she tried to pass. I got a straight foot lock; she weighed her hip to defend and we stayed there for five minutes. Then I got away from her hip and tried to sweep in every way I tough it was possible, but I could not do anything, not even an advantage. The fight ended in 0-0 and my victory came from the judges. It was exciting for me to be once more a champion in my weight class and the Absolute division. I got this done in all my belts up to the brown. I hope to be able to also realize this dream in my new phase, now as a black belt.

Braulio Estima Celebrates at the Worlds. Photo: Erin Herle | GRACIEMAG

Black Belt World champion, Braulio Estima (Gracie Barra) won the light heavyweight tittle when closing out the division with his friend Romulo Barral at the 2014 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in early June, in Long Beach, California. To win the gold, Estima over scored the competent Murilo Santana (Barbosa) by 8-2, in the semifinal.

In a conversation with GRACIEMAG, Braulio explains how were his body and mind before winning his 4^th World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

GRACIEMAG: Were you confident to reach the final? Did you expect closing the weight division with your teammate Romulo Barral?

Braulio Estima: I was well trained, but my head was not very good. It was in the middle of a turbulent phase I’m going through. Romulo was more confident than me. I think I fought well: I finished three of the four fights I had. I won the semifinal dominating the fight against the tough Murilo Santana. The biggest lesson I had was that I’m not too old to fight as I thought [laughs]. Although, I suspect that I am the older adult champion in history, so I think I have more wood to burn. I’m certainly going for the 5^th Worlds tittle.

What did you do to beat Murilo Santana in the semifinals, Braulio?

It was an interesting fight, with pressure from beginning to end. Murilo is a very difficult fighter to face. He is very strong and applies constant pressure. I cannot let him get in a good position, otherwise he capitalizes and complicates everything. I pulled guard and straightened my position before him, so I could apply the sweep. I made some passing attempts, but he swept me. Then, I got a good grip in the process and I’m happy that I swept him back. So, I continued pressuring him; kept attacking and almost passed guard. Murilo had to turn on all fours, and then I got his back. He is very strong and defends well. I could not get him in the last ten minutes of the fight. At the very end, it was everything or nothing, but I did not finish. It was a great fight.

With this fourth title, you entered the Hall of Fame of Jiu-Jitsu. Is it still something missing in the competitive career of Braulio Estima?

Writing my name in the Hall of Fame made ​​me very proud. My children and grandchildren will one day see my name there; it is marked. Since I fought my first IBJJF Worlds as a black belt, I have always been in the finals. I think I did a nice job in my career, and I don’t crave any specific goal. If I’m feeling good I fight and I’m always trying to win whatever I find ahead of me. I still want to fight the IBJJF Opens around the world. The atmosphere is pretty cool. This year I won two major titles in Jiu-Jitsu, the WPJJC in Abu Dhabi and the IBJJF Worlds. I’m stoked. Now, I want to put on some weight to bother in the absolute division.

In your opinion, what went wrong in the fight against Bernardo Faria at the Absolute?

When you fight at the absolute against an opponent that has Bernardo’s caliber, you cannot relax or stop to think for a second. You have to have the right game and plan it before the fight. Bernardo took the game to where he knows best, I was a little frustrated. In the middle of the fight when it was a draw, I’ve tried to do something to change the direction of the game and he capitalized at the right time. From there it was only “God help us”. He is very strong, heavy and fair, besides being technical. It was difficult to recover [Laughs].

What moment called more your attention in the tournament?

It sure was my brother’s victory over Victor Claudio Calasans; it was very exciting. I cried too [laughs]. Soon after his fight, it was my turn to get on the mat. So I had to compose myself there. I’m quite fond of my brother. His title will arrive soon, it should have arrived already.

Bia Mesquita celebrates victory in Jiu-Jitsu. Photo: GRACIEMAG

The city of Long Beach, Calif., received last weekend the IBJJ Worlds Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the popular local university pyramid. Among the female’s black belts refined Jiu-Jitsu, the biggest highlight was Bia Mesquita, Champion at lightweight and absolute divisions after winning seven fights.

The star of Gracie Humaita conquered the greatest achievement of her career, at the open weight final, by defeating Michelle Nicolini (5-0) and winning the absolute gold at black belt. To get there, Bia sweeped and passed the guard of  the Checkmate phenomenal athlete using a leg drag. In a conversation with GRACIEMAG, the student of Leticia Ribeiro analyzed her achievement. Check out and learn:

GRACIEMAG: What have you learned from this conquest in Jiu-Jitsu?

BIA MESQUITA: Did not sink in yet: that I’m the best in the world today. It’s a dream come true. On Saturday, I was flawless in my struggles, managed to finish three of my fights in the absolute and two in my weight division. In the finals, I knew the duels require more strategy. I just knew it would not come out winner if God thought it was not yet time. The defeats and the mistakes I made in the WPJJC Abu Dhabi made me improve and felt better about my game for the World in California. My Jiu-Jitsu is even more complete. I trained a lot of guard pass for this World, not because I didn’t know how to pass, but because I wanted to have more confidence passing – wanted to have the same confidence that I have sweeping. I’m enjoying becoming a guard passer [laughs].

What went on in your mind before the big final against Michelle Nicolini?

I’ve fought a few times against Michelle and we always have beautiful fights. Among us, whoever makes fewer errors wins. Because it was a match between lightweights in the female absolute, I knew it would be electrifying. The will to win was fixed in my head, no matter who my opponent was. In this year and every year.  I always fight forward in search of victory and it was no different in this final. And finally, the much desired absolute title arrived. I always knew it would arrive, so I patiently waited my turn. I’m Brazilian and therefore never give up!

And how did you get through Michelle’s guard?

Having not yet watched the fight, I cannot remember for sure. I think it was with a leg drag with the foot on the bicep. I was trying to do it during the fight, but because of the adrenaline I do not know exactly how I finished the position – if it went exactly as planned or if I improvised [laughs].

In the lightweight final, you faced Luiza Monteiro, the opponent you submitted at the absolute semifinal on Saturday. How were these two fights?

We face each other a lot, but we get along and we know how to leave the rivalry on the mat. She’s tough, and I know that all our fights will be great battles. In the absolute semifinals, the arm bar from the 50/50 came out of nowhere. Not sure how I adjusted that position – I have been training it for a little bit in Brazil, but it is not a position that I typically use. Fortunately, I did it with the necessary pressure to finish. In the lightweight final, I placed emphasis on my guard passing. I felt very confident on top once I sweept.

Felipe Preguica attacks Galvao in the Worlds 2014 Photo: GRACIEMAG

Overweight as a child, Felipe ” Preguica ” Pena (Gracie Barra) though he was clumsy in Jiu-Jitsu, but like an ace he proved to himself he was wrong. Absolute world champion at purple belt and runner-up at brown, the Brazilian kid from Minas Gerais already showed everyone that he would bring trouble to whoever crossed his path as a black belt.

Last weekend in Long Beach, California, Felipe fought his first IBJJF Worlds as a black belt and exited with gold, beating the star Andre Galvao in the finals of the heavyweight by 6-4, with a festival of sweeps and attacks on the foot.

What the new phenomenon of Jiu-Jitsu learned from the World title? GRACIEMAG uncovered.

GRACIEMAG: Felipe, what made a difference in your conquest of the World?

FELIPE PENA: I was complete; I played top and bottom, wherever I felt confident. Just believed and everything worked. It was my first worlds as a black belt so it could not be better. In the heavyweight division I had five bouts and finished all my fights but the final match against Andre Galvao. I was fighting at light heavyweight, but it already had Romulo Barral and Braulio Estima, so I decided to take my chances on the heavy and it felt great, I think I’ll stay in this category. I do not want to keep losing weight for every tournament, so I prefer to fight in the category accordantly to my body weight. I want to reach the superheavyweight division one day to become stronger in the absolute.

You played open in the Worlds, top and bottom. The bread and butter were the secret?

The basic Jiu-Jitsu is without any doubt the most important, but I also think it is necessary to monitor the development of the sport. I love the modern Jiu-Jitsu and different positions. I putted in my head that I would be champion. No matter what your opponent has won or how many times he was world champion, at that time in the fight it is only you against him, the winner will be the best in the fight that day.

In your opinion, how was the fight against Andre Galvao? Have you received any hints from Barral?

Rominho gives me a lot of confidence. I always ask him about what to do in my fights and he always says the same thing: “Brother, do anything. You are good in every position, you will be the champion “[laughs]. I think I surprised everyone in the pyramid. Who knew me, knew I could be champion; but most of the viewers were expecting André to be the champion. It was an honor to fight him, always been a fan of his Jiu-Jitsu and fighting against him at the Worlds final is amazing. It was a bustling and beautiful match without stalling, and I think that was what everyone wanted to see. The end of the fight was “hell” [laughs]. Galvão took me down, but I got under him fast to attack his foot. I need to sweep to win, so I managed to get up at the end and score 2 points.

What lesson did you learn after the world’s gold, Felipe?

When I became champion I saw a movie in my head, everything I’ve been through to get there. I was “chubby”, lazy and clumsy in Jiu-Jitsu; so that day turned out to be the best day ever. If I am a champion, it is because I never stopped believing. It’s all about if you’re willing to pay the price. Now I’ll rest a bit, focus on seminars and working at my gym. Next month, I begin to train hard again for the “Copa Podio” in September. Anyone interested in seminars, just look for me on Facebook.