The IBJJF decided to alter the names of the master & senior divisions in its tournaments next year.

From 2014 on, no division will be named senior.

With that, the names now are:

Master becomes Master 1

Senior 1 becomes Master 2

Senior 2  becomes Master 3

Senior 3  becomes Master 4

Senior 4  becomes Master 5

Senior 5 becomes Master 6

For more info, go to ibjjf.com.

Among the many weapons he used on his way to the top of the podium, there was this choke from the guard against Allan Patrick Kell.

Ricardo Bastos wa sthe master open class champion

A black-belt from Nova União, professor Ricardo Bastos went back to shining at the Worlds Masters and Seniors last weekend in Long Beach, Calif. An absolute champion in the Pyramid, Bruno Bastos’s brother had no easy task– which does sound like a cliché, but in fact he only took bronze in the heavyweight division. In the semifinal of the open, Rico eliminated Flávio Almeida by two penalties. Then he had a close match versus Roberto “Tussa” Alencar, in a final decided by the jurors. Bastos analyzed his path to the gold for GRACIEMAG.com:

GRACIEMAG.com: What lesson did you learn from your first match against Flávio “Cachorrinho” Almeida at weight, and how did it influence your triumph in the absolute?

RICO BASTOS: I learned that the secret is control. I started out losing by points and didn’t have enough time to come back. I wound up with bronze at heavyweight and Flávio closed it out with Tussa. But in the open’s semifinal, I met Flávio again and things were different. I attacked first and pulled him to my guard game, where I feel safest. I stayed in half-guard and sought the game. On the bottom, I give my opponent the option to squash me, but I’m still able to have great control to come out for underneath. Flávio took two penalties and I won.

Soon afterward you faced Roberto Tussa at the absolute final. How was it?

A tough match as always, Tussa has some great positions. But I managed good sleeve control and restrained his attacks – control makes all the difference. The fight ended in a draw and the jurors gave it to me. I sought the fight more, I kept Tussa in my guard, but always looking for attacking positions to sweep and try to finish. I didn’t give him a chance to score points or advantages by trying to pass; I worked my grips to use my hook sweep, but couldn’t score.

And your hook sweep worked very well once again at the Masters’ Worlds. What was the reason?

Because there are a lot of athletes worried about the berimbolo and the like,so they forget about basic, efficient BJJ. They’re trying to do the consonants before the vowels [laughs]. I think I proved that you can be a world champion by getting the basics right.

What are the main points to a good hook sweep?

Practice the same sweep for 300 times, or more. Put your training partner between your hooks and lift him – that works your hips and makes your legs strong. Another detail is the grip: always keep one sleeve under firm control.

Stephen Hall

The 2013 Worlds Masters & Seniors was an amazing celebration of the gentle this weekend at the Cal State Pyramid, in Long Beach.

Among more than 1,800 athletes, an eleite squad made the podium its natural habitat.

Our GMA members showed the usual display of technique and heart that led to a ton of medals.

GRACIEMAG celebrates our partners and highlights their results,

Here are the main results from our members (want to become a GMA member? Send an email to gma@graciemag.com).

And you can click on the links and know more about each one of our members.

BLACK / Master / Male / Light

First – Marcos Alejandro Pagliere – Torregrosa – Yemaso Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

BLACK / Master / Male / Medium Heavy

Third – Joao Paulo Faria – Gracie Del mar

BLACK / Master / Male / Heavy

First – Flavio Alves de Almeida – Gracie Barra Dana Point / San Clemente

Second – Roberto Camargo de Alencar – Gracie Barra New Mexico

Third – Ricardo Bastos Cruz – Bastos BJJ Midland

BLACK / Master / Male / Super Heavy

First – Bruno Bastos Cruz – Bastos BJJ Midland

BLACK / Master / Male / Ultra Heavy

Second – James Eric Foster – Foster BJJ

Third – Rodrigo Munduruca – Gracie Winnipeg

BLACK / Master / Male / Open Class

First – Ricardo Bastos Cruz – Bastos BJJ Midland

Second – Roberto Camargo de Alencar – Gracie Barra New Mexico

Third – Flavio Alves de Almeida – Gracie Barra Dana Point/San Clemente

BLACK / Senior 1 / Male / Feather

Second – Sandro Ribeiro Santiago – Sandro Batata Brazilian Jiu-jitsu – Santa Cruz

Third – Daniel V. Alvarez Jr. – Alvarez BJJ

Third – Ezekiel Zayas Latorre – Brasa/Ases Jiu-Jitsu

BLACK / Senior 1 / Male / Light

Second – Julio Armando Echeverria Dulon Neto – Sandro Batata Brazilian Jiu-jitsu – Santa Cruz

BLACK / Senior 1 / Male / Middle

First – Gustavo Muggiati – Gracie Barra Orlando

Second – Cássio Rios Werneck – Cassio Werneck BJJ

BLACK / Senior 1 / Male / Heavy

Third – Fabio Leopoldo e Silva Neto – Gracie Morumbi Ventura

BLACK / Senior 1 / Male / Open Class

Second – Fabio Leopoldo e Silva Neto – Gracie Morumbi Ventura

BLACK / Senior 2 / Male / Feather

First – Alexandre C Freitas – Soca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Third – Renato Sampaio Tavares Filho – Renato Tavares Association

BLACK / Senior 2 / Male / Light

Third – Andre Luiz Leite – Andre Maneco BJJ

BLACK / Senior 2 / Male / Middle

Third – Thomas Scott Oberhue – Five Rings BJJ

BLACK / Senior 2 / Male / Medium Heavy

First – Luiz Eduardo Rocha de Faria – Rocha JJ

Second – Carlos Alberto Terrinha – Gracie Barra New England

BLACK / Senior 2 / Male / Super Heavy

First – Ricardo Miller Ribeiro – Paragon BJJ Academy

Second – Sean Bansfield – Ann Arbor Jiu-Jitsu

BLACK / Senior 2 / Male / Ultra Heavy

Second – Stephen Vincent Hall – Alliance / Pesadelo BJJ

BLACK / Senior 2 / Male / Open Class

Third – Carlos Alberto Terrinha – Gracie Barra New England

BLACK / Senior 3 / Male / Feather

First – Wellington Leal Dias – Gracie Humaita / Team Megaton

Third – Michael Chapman – Impact Jiu Jitsu

BLACK / Senior 4 / Male / Light

Third – Rafael Robert Lovato Sr. – Lovato JJ

Ricardo Bastos (blue gi) was sthe master open class champion

The 2013 Worlds Masters & Seniors wrapped up this Sunday, October 6, with 0ver 700 athletes from brown belt and black belt being responsible for over seven hours of great Jiu-Jitsu in thrilling matches.

In the master black belt division, the open class competition was marked by the duel between Gracie Barra and Nova União.

The semifinals set two batles between Flavio Almeida (GB) and Ricardo Bastos (NU) and Roberto Alencar (GB) and Leonardo Peçanha (NU).

In the first one, Ricardo Bastos defeated Flavio Almeida only in the penalties count, after a 0-0 tie on points and 1-1 on advantages.

In the second semi, also a close match, Roberto Alencar outscored Leonardo Peçanha 4-0 on advantages.

The final was in the same note, and it was up to the refs to decide who was going to take the gold medal home.

After a 0-0 tie both on points and advantages, two out of three judges thought tha Ricardo Bastos was more aggressive during the six minutes and awarded him with the win over Roberto Alencar.

“It’s a outcome of the perseverance I had after so many years competing,” said Ricardo about his victory, his first ever absolute gold at a IBJJF event.

In the other master black belt weight divisions, the results were:

Rooster
Fabio Passos (Alliance) defeated Marcelo Pererira (Nova União) for the gold

Light-feather
Daniel Beleza (SAS) beat Marcel Oliveira (Fratelli Leteri) ffor the title

Feather
Denilson Pimenta (GFT) beat Andre Marques (NU) by one advantage for the gold

Lightweight
Marcos Torregrosa (Yemaso) defetaed Theodoro Canal (GF Team) by points for the title.

Middleweight
Rafael Barbosa (Soul Fighters) defeated Adriano Araujo (Barbosa JJ) by refs decision to win gold

Medium-Heavy
Rodrigo Pinheiro (GH) defeated Diego Gamonal (BTT) by pints for the gold

Heavyweight
Flavio Almeida (GB) closed out with Roberto Alencar (GB) and took gold

Super-heavy
Bruno Bastos (Nova União) defeated Fabio Villela (GB) by points for the gold

Ultra-heavy
Marcio Corletta (Winner JJ) defeated James Foster (Foster JJ) by points for the title

In the senior black belt division, the stand outs were:

Senior 1:

Saulo Ribeiro is the senior 1 male black belt absolute champion. He defeated Fabio Leopoldo 3-0 (guard pass) for the gold. Saulo also won the superheavy division.

Senior 2:

Fabiano Scherner defeated Givanildo Santana 2-0 in the final for the absolute gold. He also won the ultra-heavyweight division.

Senior 3:

Admilson Brites and Ailson Brites closed out the open class. The gold went to Admilson.

In the team competition, the final standings were:

Master and Senior Worlds – Male
1 – Gracie Barra – 301
2 – Gracie Elite Team – 178
3 – Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu – 141

Master and Senior Worlds – Female
1 – Nova União – 70
2 – Gracie Humaita – 34
3 – Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu – 27

For the complete results, go to ibjjf.com

Here are the best images of the day by GRACIEMAG photographers:

Erin Herle

[flickr set=72157636268707986]

Ivan Trindade

[flickr set=72157636269982505]

Carol Gracie

[flickr set=72157636271862424]

Michael Alexander Quintero (BJJ Revolution Team) defeated Andy Kazik (Brasa Warrior International)

Day one of the 2013 Worlds Masters & Seniors was totaly devoted to blue belts and purple belts.

Even so, the 1,050 competitors, from Master to Senior 5, put on a show that left nothing to be desired by the crowd that filled the stands at the Cal State Pyramid, in Long Beach.

The day wrapped up with the crowning of the absolute champions for both belts.

In the blue belt open class master division, Anthony Ferrara (Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu) choked Jamil Fakhoury (Gracie Barra) with an ezequiel for the male gold, and Niceli Guerino (CheckMat) beat Amie Parcinski (Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu) 2-0 for the female title.

In the purple belt open class master division, Michael Alexander Quintero (BJJ Revolution Team) defeated Andy Kazik (Brasa Warrior International) 5-2  for the male gold, and Sarah Johnel Black (Nova União) tapped Tesa Ho (BJJ Revolution Team) with a clock choke for the female title.

In the teams competition, the first day ended with the following stands:

The action returns tomorrow, with the brown belts and black belts.

For the results of day one, click here.

Take a look at the best images of day 1 by GRACIEMAG photographers:

Ivan Trindade

[flickr set=72157636234028176]

Erin Herle

[flickr set=72157636230818264]

CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR UPDATES, PHOTO GALLERIES AND RESULTS!

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE PAY PER VIEW AND WATCH THE MATCHES LIVE!

Gustavo Pires vs. Rodrigo Comprido, in 2012

It’s almost time to go.

The 2013 World Master & Senior Championship kicks off this Saturday, October 5, and wraps up Sunday.

The 30+ beasts are already roaming around California and will gather this weekend at the famous Walter Pyramid, at the California State University, in Long Beach.

The IBJJF has already released the brackets and the schedule for the event.

Click the links to check that out.

Reminding everyone that even if you can’t make it to Long Beach, you can still follow all the thrills of the weekend through the Live Broadcast.

A quick look at the competitor list is enough to expect two days of amazing action.

Here are some of the talents that will be on display in the pyramid.

Nelson Monteiro (GB) – Senior 3

Ricardo Guimarães (GH) – Senior 3

Wellington Dias (GH) – Senior 3

Stephen Hall (Alliance) – Senior 2

Ricardo Miller (Paragon) – Senior 2

Amal Easton (Gracie Elite) – Senior 2

Carlos Alberto Terrinha (GB) – Senior 2

Renato Tavares (RTA) – Senior 2

Alexandre Freitas (Soca BJJ) – Senior 2

Roberto Godoi (Godoi JJ) – Senior 1

Saulo Ribeiro (Ribeiro JJ) – Senior 1

Fabio Leopoldo (Gracie Elite) – Senior 1

Marcio Corleta (Winner JJ) – Master

João Assis (Checkmat) – Master

Gabriel Vella (Street Sports) – Master

Flavio Almeida (GB) – Master

Roberto Alencar (GB) – Master

Bruno Bastos (NU) – Master

Marcos Torregrosa (Yemaso JJ) – Master

Denilson Pimenta (GF Team) – Master

Daniel Beleza (SAS) – Master

And many, many more!

Xande Ribeiro during last year’s Worlds Masters & Seniors

The 2013 Worlds Masters & Seniors will be bigger than the first edition, in 2012.

Scheduled for October 5-6, the event has grown in size and will grow in quality as well.

The IBJJF has opened the registration period and urges athletes to register early, so they can pay less and not risk being out, once the event must reach full capacity before the final deadline (09/27/2013).

If you want to register now, go to ibjjf.com

Here’s a video of GMA member Marcos Torregrosa showing some great skills last year.