The first female to achieve the rank of black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was Yvone Duarte, a belt rank received in 1990. This incredible pioneer of the sport was one of the main forces behind the implementation of a female division in Jiu Jitsu competitions, being also the first female to start her own BJJ team.
The history of the closed guard ‘boom’ in Jiu Jitsu starts at Osvaldo Alves’ academy in Rio de Janeiro. The closed guard, in Portuguese: guarda fechada, is regarded today as one of the foundations of guard work in Jiu Jitsu, often classified as the first line of defence of all the guard games in Jiu Jitsu.
Mario Claudio Tallarico was an important figure in 1970s Jiu Jitsu, being the 2nd black belt awarded by the late Rolls Gracie, a deed he achieved at 19 years of age. Tallarico is often mentioned as one of the top guard players produced by Rolls, having later influenced the development of great figures of the sport.
The ‘Grau de Poderosidade’ was scale created as a joke by the late Great Master Carlson Gracie to define a few of his student’s characters. The term (that could be translated as: Scale of Prowess / Slickness / Arrogance or ‘Powerfulness’) was very quickly adopted by many people within the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community.
Fantastic day at the 2014 World Jiu Jitsu Championship, also known as the Mundial. The black belt divisions were on fire and, as predicted by many, this was one of the best Jiu Jitsu ‘Worlds’ in recent history. Check here EVERY result from every fight from the black belt divisions.
Eduardo Gonçalves, commonly known as ‘Edu’, is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the illustrious Francisco ‘Toco’ Albuquerque, and the main representative of the Nova Geração academy in the United Kingdom.
Sérgio Íris, commonly know in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community as ‘Serginho de Niterói’ was the first black belt awarded by the late Master Carlson Gracie. An important figure of the sport during the 1970s decade having defeated decorated fighters such as Rorion Gracie and Carley Gracie.
The Tozi Guard Pass, often referred as the Sao Paulo Guard Pass, or in Portuguese: Passagem Paulista; is a grappling technique created by former Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Pan American champion Roberto Tozi in the mid 2000s.
The Spider Guard, is a grappling position which originated from the sport aspect of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the late 1980’s. Here is a brief history and explanation of this important position in BJJ. Its roots and the best competitors to watch using this effective guard.
Gezary Matuda is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the legendary Ricardo Libório and a top competitor of her generation, known for having one of the most exciting styles of fighting in the women’s divisions, a style that earned her numerous titles, such as the pan american and world championships in the black belt category.
The guard is arguably the greatest contribution Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has given to Martial Arts, here is a run down of the guard’s evolution in the sport/martial art. and the main instigators of the position in sport BJJ and MMA/Vale Tudo. The guard player, known in Portuguese as ‘Guardeiro’, is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner or competitor who has the guard as his preferred stance for combat.
Totila Jordan, commonly known by his nickname ‘Pitoco’, is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the illustrious Renan Pitanguy, being also the co-founder of the Infight Academy. Master Pitoco was also one of the first coaches to develop Jiu Jitsu in the surfing hotspot of Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro.
Leo D’avila is a Jiu Jitsu black belt under Benevenuto Antunes, having become an accomplished grappler with medals at the highest level of the sport, such as the US Nationals, Brazilian Nationals and the Pan American Championships. D’avila is also a coach at the world class Atos Academy in San Diego.
Monir Salomão was a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach and founder of the Academia Monir de Jiu-Jitsu in the Vista Alegre neighbourhood where he several high class black belts such as world champion Marcos Barreto and GF Team leader Julio César Pereira as well as Rafael Caldeira.
The BJJ World Pro Championship in Abu Dhabi is about to start, and this year the UAE is broadcasting the event, live and for free! Check here for the live feed of the stream, also available here the times all over the world for the starting times, so you can tune in according to the country you reside. The World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship is held in the UAE, more precisely in Abu Dhabi, which is also home of the original ADCC tournament.
Fábio Andrade is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athlete as well as a highly regarded coach of Nova Uniao’s BJJ team and a prime figure in the revamping of the team within the sport in recent years, mentioned by Protocolo BJJ as having ‘the midas touch’ due to his consistency in bringing new talent through his social project academy in Bangu.
Robson Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu red belt (9th degree), son of the founder of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Carlos Gracie (Senior) who was an instructor of the ‘arte suave’ at the Gracie Academy during the 1950’s. Robson defended the Gracie family name in vale tudo (no holds barred) fights during the 1950’s, he is also the father of famous BJJ personalities such as Ryan, Ralph and Renzo Gracie.
One of the founders of Gracie Barra and Gracie Gym, Crolin Gracie is the son of Gracie Jiu Jitsu founder, Carlos Gracie (Senior). Crolin was revered as the successor to Rolls Gracie’s throne as the family’s champion in the 1970’s, though a health problem prevented him from following his older brother’s footsteps.
Master Geraldo Flôres is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu red belt (9th degree) from the Oswaldo Fadda lineage, and one of the main developers of Jiu Jitsu in the northern area of Rio de Janeiro. Flôres has also been involved in the development of BJJ figures such as Wendell Alexander, Sergio Bastos and Ignácio Santos Silva.
Eduardo Venâncio, also known in the Jiu Jitsu world as ‘Brigadeiro’, is a black belt in Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the legendary Ricardo De La Riva (BJJ). Though Brigadeiro did not have the flashiest of careers as a competitor in BJJ, he did manage to establish himself as one of the top coaches in Rio de Janeiro creating strong competitors and over 50 black belts.
