2011, another year, another great start to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’s competitive season. This year again, many new faces coming out of Europe’s prime tournament with hot prospects for the forthcoming years in the lower belt divisions and many fresh new candidates in the black belt divisions (special lookout for newcomers Ary farias and Gabriel Goulart [...]
Moises Muradi is an important figure in the development of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the state of Sao Paulo. A BJJ black belt under Octavio de Almeida (Senior), Moises Muradi was the main organizer behind the two first Sao Paulo State Federations (FPJJ and FESP), both institutions which he also presided. Moises also became the [...]
Diogo Sampaio Araujo, also known as Diogo “Moreno” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt from the Soul Fighters academy in Rio de Janeiro. One of the hottest prospects to have come from the Soul Fighters Team, Diogo Araujo has conquered numerous important medals in BJJ, including a silver medal at the world championships and a Rio Open title.
Caroline de Lazzer is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and a wrestler, having participated in numerous international events as a team member of the Brazilian National Wrestling Squad. One of the most gifted athletes in the women’s division, Caroline de Lazzer has conquered many important trophies, being her World title in 2006 her proudest [...]
Yuki Nakai is a true martial arts legend. Mostly known for his MMA bout against Gerard Gordeau in 1995, where he was illegally eye-gouged partially losing the eyesight on one of his eyes permanently (though progressing through the tournament, reaching the final against Rickson Gracie). Nakai has also been responsible for bringing the Brazilian Style [...]
Daniel Otero is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Fabricio Martins (6th degree black belt), having won several important trophies such as the “Brasileiro” and the World Championship. Otero has also ventured successfully into the world of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) where he competed in prestigious shows such as Max Fights and Shooto.
Raphael Chaves, also known as “Catatau” is a well known Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt in the No Gi (submission wrestling) competition circuit. Originally from Brazil, Raphael Chaves focussed more on the No Gi aspect of grappling since he arrived in the USA having conquered titles in several important organizations, such as the NAGA, Arnold Classic and Copa America. Rapahel Chaves has also ventured in MMA.
Ryan Hall is a remarkable BJJ practitioner with a list of achievements longer then his legs. The lanky BJJ’er owns one of the most exciting games in the business and has proved this at numerous events with and without the gi throughout the world. In this Ryan Hall Triangle DVD Instructional he shows one of [...]
Marcus Almeida “Buchecha” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca who is one of the stars in the super-heavyweight division of the sport. Before completing his twentieth birthday he was already being pointed out as the “next big thing” in BJJ, a claim he has confirmed with successive podium achievements in the black belt divisions.
A short interview with the MMA and Jiu Jitsu fighter Andre Galvao, going over the rumours of his appearance in the Ultimate Fighter 13 (TUF) show, his release from the fighting organization Strikeforce and the launch of his new academy in San Diego (Atos)
Jonatas Gurgel, also known as “Tagarela” is one of the top Jiu Jitsu fighters in the famous American Top Team (ATT). With an amazing grappling record in which you can add up World Cup, Pan American and Brazilian National BJJ titles, “Tagarela”, (who is an instructor at the ATT academy) has also added an MMA [...]
Huanderson Pavão is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 3rd degree black belt and Luta Livre master from the Grapple Fight Team (former Gama Filho). An important figure of the Grappling Fight Team roster, Pavao has a wealth of experience in many different branches of the fight game with wins in BJJ, Luta Livre and having fought [...]
Fabiana Borges is one of the top black belts in the women’s Jiu Jitsu division today. The two time Pan American Champion and six time Brazilian National Champion was one of the first successful exports from a social project run by Professor Fábiano Gáudio that brings BJJ to some of the impoverished regions of Rio [...]
One of the biggest talents in the lightweight division (leve) today, JT Torres had been winning tournaments in the lower belts divisions long before he made it to the big scene. A strong competitor in both the Gi and the Nogi tournaments “The Spiderman” has been hinted by many BJJ experts to be the next “big thing”.
Carlos Vieira Holanda, also known as “Esquisito” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Master Faustino Neto, and another important fighter to come out of the BJJ hive that is Manaus in Brazil, the birth place of several important fighters such as Ronaldo Souza, Ary Farias, Saulo Ribeiro and many others. In 2010 “Esquisito” (who fights for the Checkmat Academy) was crowned Pan American champion, defeating Caio Terra to reach his gold medal.
Mauro Chueng is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the legendary Sérgio Bolão and one of the top instructors teaching in the southern region of Portugal, the Algarve – Albufeira. Chueng is also one of the founding members of the Rio Grappling Club, a strong BJJ team with affiliates all over Europe, a team [...]
Anthony Scales, most commonly referred to as AJ Scales is a Canadian BJJ black belt under Wagnney Fabiano, and a Nova Uniao team Canada representative, being also the head coach of the Complete MMA gym and the first Canadian ever to have a super fight in a submission wrestling event in Brazil AJ Scales in [...]
The 1997 pluma BJJ black belt World Champion, Joao Roque went on to have a fruitful MMA professional career, fighting in shows such as the Shooto Japan, UFC, Deep and VTJ. Roque is also one of the first African native BJJ black belts in the world.
Happy announcement to all United Kingdom readers: The prestigious CBJJ referee Muzio de Angelis (4 Grau black belt and Director of the refereeing department at the IBJJF) will be directing a 4 hours course with the latest rules on sport Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. . The BJJ Judges & Referee course will be conducted in London, [...]
Master Marcelo Saporito is the head coach of one of the most iconic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academies in the world, the “Academia Carlson Gracie” in Rua Figueiredo Magalhaes, Copacabana. He took the mammoth task of replacing the late Master Carlson Gracie at the helm of the gym, which he did to perfection with over 200 team titles to this date.
