While all eyes were set on Polaris 2 (results here), on the other side of the planet some of the world’s top Brazilian jiu jitsu athletes were going to war in IBJJF’s Asian Jiu Jitsu Championship in Tokyo – Japan.
The tournament captured the interest of a few big names such as Mackenzie Dern, Rikako Yuasa, Andris Brunovskis, Rodrigo Caporal, Roberto Satoshi, Koji Shibamoto, Mike Fowler, Vitor Toledo, Isaque Paiva, to name a few.
The tournament passed with no big upsets, below are the results:
ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP MEN’s DIVISION
Rooster
Champion – Koji Shibamoto – Tri-Force Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Silver – Tomoyuki Hashimoto – Carpe Diem
Bronze – Masaaki Todokoro – Paraestra
Bronze – Hisashi Ezaki – Paraestra
Shibamoto is one of the most prestigious grapplers in Japan, a position he has held for quite some time. Koji came strong as ever and managed to impose his game over Hashimoto, this way successfully defending his title.
Light Feather
Champion – Kazuhiro Miyachi – Shooto Gym Roots
Silver – Tsuyoshi Tamaki – Carpe Diem
Bronze – Yuto Hirao – X-Treme Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Bronze – Takuto Kako – Grappling Shoot Boxers
After winning the Asian Jiu Jitsu Championship title last year as a brown belt, Kazuhiro Miyachi is working his way towards the top of the sport’s ladder with strong wins at this year’s tournament, including against the veteran Yuto Hirao. Certainly a name to keep in mind for the future.
Feather
Champion – Isaque Paiva – Saikoo Jiu-Jitsu
Silver – Masahiro Iwasaki – Carpe Diem
Bronze – Wanki Chae – John Frankl Jiu Jitsu
Bronze – Ichitaro Tsukada – Damm Fight Japan
The highly talented veteran Isaque Paiva cruised through the division. Paiva is one of the most underrated grapplers in the world. Though he is not affiliated with any of the sport’s big teams, Paiva continues to display masterful jiu jitsu in this talent deep featherweight division.
Light
Champion – Roberto Satoshi – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Silver – Choi Choi – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Bronze – Takuma Tokito – Purebred Omiya
A surprisingly short division, understandably dominated by the phenom that is Roberto Satoshi.
Middle
Champion – Andris Brunovskis – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Silver – Rodrigo Caporal – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Bronze – Pedro Guaracy – Gracie Barra
Bronze – Hansel Co – Peter de Been JJ
A great display by Brunovskis‘s who went up a weight class, possibly to score more points for the team as Satoshi and Choi both competed for Atos. Andris had one of the toughest draws, going against a very tough Bruno Amorim in the very first round, but that didn’t stop Andre Galvao’s student, who put his omoplata game to work, submitting Amorim and Hansel, winning the final against the always tough, Caporal on points.
Medium Heavy
Champion – Marcelo de Toledo – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Silver – Akihisa Iriki – Team Legnum
Bronze – Yuta Nakamura – T-Rex Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Another clean sweep for team Atos with Marcelo “Colat” Toledo (brother of Vitor Toledo) earning the top spot.
Heavy
Champion – Vitor Toledo – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Silver – Howon Jung – John Frankl Jiu Jitsu
Bronze – Michael Fowler – Purebred Jiu Jitsu Guam
The day did not go Mike Fowler’s way, as the popular American grappler finished 3rd on a 3 men division. The big winner was Toledo, AKA “Gigante”. Another win for Atos.
Super Heavy
Champion – Marcos de Souza – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Silver – Leigh Burger – Will/Machado
Usually a middleweight,Yoshio decided to try his luck in the 100kg division. The smallest division in the adult black belts, with the ultra heavies.
Ultra Heavy
Champion – Dany Gerard – Purebred Jiu Jitsu Guam
Silver – Charles Gaspar – Impacto Japan
Absolute
Champion – Dany Gerard – Purebred Jiu Jitsu Guam
Silver – Rodrigo Caporal – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Bronze – Hansel Co – Peter de Been JJ
Bronze – Wanki Chae – John Frankl Jiu Jitsu
A good win on the day of his birthday, French Polynesian Dany Gerard earned 2 gold medals at the Asian Jiu Jitsu Championship black belt division. Dany is an European and Pan American medallist as a brown belt who earned his black belt just recently. A perfect way to start his black belt journey.
ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN’s DIVISION
The women’s adult black belt divisions were slightly disappointing in terms of numbers, but the ones who showed up put on good performances. The highlight of the day was the battle between 2 IBJJF 2015 world champions, Dern and Yuasa. A match fully dominated by the Humaitá athlete.
Feather
Champion Mackenzie Dern – Gracie Humaita
Silver Rikako Yuasa – Paraestra
Light
Champion Isabelle de Souza – Impacto Japan
Silver Sarah Johnel Black – Nova Uniao Arizona
Middle
Champion Leanna Dittrich – Fight Sports (sole athlete)
Absolute
Champion Mackenzie Dern – Gracie Humaita
Silver Isabelle de Souza – Impacto Japan
Bronze Leanna M Dittrich – Fight Sports
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