Featured

The 2014 edition of the Pan American Jiu Jitsu championship, one of the top competitions on the BJJ calendar, is about to start, and this year sees some real American born title contenders in several divisions, and may very well be a big year for the US contingent. Here is a rundown on what to expect from each of the Jiu Jitsu black belt male divisions:

John Crouch is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the legendary Gracie Jiu Jitsu fighter, Royce Gracie. Crouch learned his BJJ skill from the Gracie family having used his knowledge as a coach, teaching both MMA (mixed martial arts) and BJJ at the world famous martial arts academy, MMA Lab.

The Brasa academy is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu team with an amazing history. Having been founded in 2004, Brasa appeared in a crucial time, being the product of an Alliance team split in 2002.

Luis Herédia, also known by his nickname ‘Limão’ within the Jiu Jitsu community is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt which he earned training under Rickson Gracie’s tuition, and a historical figure in the development of the martial art in Hawaii, especially in island of Maui, the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands.

John Lewis is former MMA fighter and a martial artist who holds black belts in a variety of fighting styles, including a black belt in judo awarded by the legendary Gene LeBell and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Master André Pederneiras, having been mentioned by many as one of the first true mixed martial artists, considering he mastered many different styles in a time when only style specialists were fighting MMA.

Another quick interview made by our Portuguese correspondent Hugo Miranda, during the European open. This time, with the established Jiu Jitsu black belt, Mr Alan ‘Finfou’ do Nascimento. Alan has been living in Sweden for a number of years, raising some of the hottest prospects in the country. Hugo had a quick chat with the black belt at Casal Vistoso in Lisbon.

Another quick interview by our Portuguese correspondent Hugo Miranda, during the European open. This time, with the rising star Jackson Sousa, newly crowned European heavyweight Jiu Jitsu champion, a man who has trained his fare share in London, England

The European Championship is over, but our correspondent in Portugal, Mr Hugo “Sabugo” Miranda got to spend time with a number of fighters and coaches, hearing what they have to say about some issues such as the state of BJJ in Europe and how the basis of the gentle art has evolved.

Check here the results of the BJJ European Open of 2014. The black belt tournament happened on the 25th and 26th of January in Lisbon, Portugal and it put together some of the top competitors in the grappling world, opening this way the BJJ calender of 2014.

Shanti Abelha is a Brazilian born, black belt competiror in Jiu Jitsu, who fights for the Checkmat team in Denmark (Arte Suave). Shanti is one of the top female athletes in the world, having medalled in many of the top tournaments on the BJJ roster.

Crézio Chavez is an important figure of Jiu Jitsu having attained the 9th degree (red belt) in the gentle art. Crézio Chavez competed several times for the Gracie Academy in the 1950s decade in Vale Tudo fights ending his career undefeated. Chavez was also a great ambassador of BJJ in Petropolis, Brazil, where he opened the first academy of the region

It is finally here! After much thought and months of real world testing the BJJ Heroes x Ezekiel Kimonos collaboration Jiu Jitsu gi is finally here. The BJJ Heroes Gi is a lightweight kimono, fit for BJJ competition with BJJ Heroes embroyded logos at the front (chest), side (right arm) and back (top) as well as Ezekiel logo on the pants/trousers and arm (left). It is fully IBJJF legal, and in fact has already been tested at an IBJJF competition. For more details, check this post.

Helio Vigio is a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and an important figure in this martial art’s history. A former instructor of the Gracie Academy in the 1950’s, alongside Carlson Gracie, Robson Gracie and Joao Alberto Barreto, Helio Vigio defended the Gracie Jiu Jitsu name in several “Vale Tudo” (No Holds Barred) fights later becoming one of the best BJJ/NHB/MMA referees in the world

Bruno Mendes, more commonly known in the Brazillian Jiu Jitsu world by his nickname “Tank”, is one of the leaders and founding members of the BJJ team: Soul Fighters. A black belt under Alvaro Mansor, Tank spent several years working behind the scenes of IBJJF competitions before fouding his own team with his brother, the world champion Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes, Leandro Escobar and Rafael Barbosa.

Marcio Corleta is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Mauricio and Sylvio Behring, who was considered one of the top ultra heavyweights of his generation in the sport. Through his excellent sporting career, Corleta brought awareness to the quality of Jiu Jitsu practiced in the south of Brazil

Soul Fighters is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu team founded by former members of the Kioto BJJ Academy and the Brazilian Top Team. The team was founded in 2008 and quickly elbowed its way in to the top spots of BJJ.

Another edition of the world’s most prestigious submission wrestling/No-Gi Jiu Jitsu tournament in the world happened on the 19th and 20th of October, 2013. Here are the fill results of the ADCC 2013.

Paulo Mauricio Strauch is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Master (9th degree red belt) who trained under Master Reylson Gracie before founding his own academy in 1984. From his academy in Copacabana Master Paulo Mauricio Strauch has taught numerous champions such as the world famous Caio Terra, Alexandre Vieira and many others.

Ricardo Vieira, a 9x world jiu jitsu champion speaks about how he came out of retirement to compete in the ADCC, the world’s biggest submission wrestling competition taking place in China on October 2013.

Cristiano Lazzarini, commonly known in the fight world as “Titi” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Vinicius Draculino, who has had a tremendous career in BJJ with medals at the World Jiu Jitsu Championships, the Pan American and Brazilian Nationals.