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Jiu-Jitsu World #15
WHAT’S
INSIDE
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City of Champions
With upcoming stars and returning champions, the black belt division at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour was once again worthy of Rio’s Jiu-Jitsu tradition
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Three days of thrills and honor Athletes and fans rejoice during a full weekend of Jiu-Jitsu in Rio and get rewarded with a special visit by Brazil’s President
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The riders of the middleweight crown Get to know the 10 warriors that will battle in Abu Dhabi for the chance to challenge the middleweight King of Mat champion
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With the President’s Approval
His Excellency Mr. Jair Bolsonaro pays a visit to the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Rio and praises the work being done to promote the sport in Brazil and all over the world
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UAE News & Opinion Shifting Politics and Rising Stars: Jiu-Jitsu and the New Year
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Greetings
His Excellency Abdulmunam Al Hashemi
Editorial
Season of Greatness
Interview
Furious George
Get Social
Dreams come true in Rio
Know your way to the top
Understanding the UAEJJF athletes ranking
Hungry for the belt
Rafael Carino beats Alexandre Barauna in Rio and challenges Marcio PĂŠ de Pano for a chance to take the Abu Dhabi Legends heavyweight title
Around the Globe
Jiu-Jitsu takes over the world
Lifestyle Tips
The 5 fundamentals of strength training
My Grand Slam A Gringo in Brazil
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BE Y O N D T H E D U N E S A N D A L L I M A G I N AT I O N y o u d i s c o v e r a n A r a b i a n t r e a s u re with glistening pools, nestled in the golden sands. This hidden palace invites you t o c o u n t l e s s a d v e n t u re s , e n d l e s s re l a x a t i o n a n d u n f o rg e t t a b l e i n d u l g e n c e . But what to do first? I t d o e s n ’ t re a l l y m a t t e r when you have it all a t y o u r f i n g e rt i p s .
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara #InAbuDhabi
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Greetings
Stronger than ever, Jiu-Jitsu comes home
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The Chairman of the United Arab Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation, His Excellency Abdulmunam Al Hashemi shares his views on the groundbreaking work that is being done by the Federation to incentive the sport in the country and around the world. Following the vision and intelligent leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAEJJF is working tirelessly for a greater future for Jiu-Jitsu.
The Brazilian leg of the 2018/2019 season of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour was everything Jiu-Jitsu fans asked for. Top level matches on the mats featuring some of the biggest stars of the sport treated the crowd to a full weekend of great action on November 16-18, 2018. The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro has become the most important Jiu-Jitsu event in Brazil, thanks to all the hard work put by our team of officials. The season now travels to its home grounds, in Abu Dhabi, on January 10-12. Once again, the Jiu-Jitsu community will come together to celebrate our art. Other than the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, the UAEJJF season took our sport to all corners of the world. The National Pro and International Pro series featured successful events in countries near and far, like Brazil, South Korea, Tajikistan and Romania, among others. The UAEJJF will continue to work relentlessly to make it possible for our sport to keep growing and changing the lives of people all over the world. In this new season, we wish all Jiu-Jitsu competitors and fans the best of luck on the mats and trust once again that there will be some incredible moments — the likes of which only Jiu-Jitsu can deliver. We once again would like to express our gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, for his continuous support of Jiu-Jitsu. His Highness has always been a source of inspiration for us and we are fortunate to have him on our side. For every single Jiu-Jitsu player in the UAE, the ultimate honor has always been meeting His Highness after winning a local, intercontinental or international championship. After the 2018 ADWPJJC, once again, His Highness welcomed the champions at the presidential palace to commend them on their excellence.
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Editorial #15
Chairman: H.E. Abdulmunam Al Hashemi CEO: Fahad Al Shamsi Executive Manager: Rodrigo Valerio Editor in Chief: Ivan Trindade Editor: Ane Nunes Design: Henrique Diniz Editorial Production: Gentle Art Media Advertising Director: Ane Nunes Newsroom: news@jiujitsuworldmag.com Advertise with us: marketing@jiujitsuworldmag.com Customer Care: info@jiujitsuworldmag.com
Jiu-Jitsu World Magazine - Head Office: Capital Tower, 17th Floor 33rd St - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates PO BOX 110004
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Photo by Ane Nunes Artwork by Henrique Diniz
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Season of
Greatness
The
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour in Rio de Janeiro was the event of the year for the sport in Brazil. Even Brazil’s President Elect, Jair Bolsonaro, paid a visit to athletes and fans on Sunday, November 18. Over 1000 competitors of all ages and skill levels got together to test their skills. Jiu-Jitsu World Magazine’s news team was mat side for the entire duration of the event and once again we bring you a definitive document of how our sport is growing everyday. With every new issue, Jiu-Jitsu World Magazine embraces new challenges to deliver the best content possible and to make your Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle more thorough. In this issue, we bring you the second article by fitness specialist and Jiu-Jitsu black belt Sophia Drysdale. In every article, Sophia aims to present our readers with real useful tips to speed up your physical development for a better performance on the mats. Since its first issue, Jiu-Jitsu World Magazine made it a compromise to shine a light on Jiu-Jitsu competitions whenever they take place. The Around the Globe section does just that. In this issue, we take you on a exciting world trip that makes stops in 11 different countries in four continents. If you competed in a UAEJJF event in the National Pro and International Pro series, chances are you could show up in our pages. Jiu-Jitsu World Magazine also loves to shine a light in the individual stories of athletes that devote their lives to compete in the events we cover. The My Grand Slam section does just that. In this issue, Flo Grappling Journalist Chase Smith offers us an colorful portrait of how was it like to compete and work at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio. As the 2018/2019 season of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam moves to its hometown of Abu Dhabi, our team is already packing their bags to once again provide our readers with the best coverage possible. Stay tuned and we hope to see you again on our next issue. Have a great read and stay on the mats.
Ivan Trindade
Editor in Chief
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INTERVIEW
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Everything we want in life comes at a price. It hurts to get where you want to go and not everyone is able to make it.
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Since the humble beginnings in a small city in northeast Brazil, Hiago George set his sight on great goals and he has since been working really hard to achieve each one of those goals. In this exclusive interview, he reveals the hardships he’s gone through on his career on the mats and the lessons he learned since the first time he put on a gi. Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes
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Jiu-Jitsu World: How did you first get in touch with Jiu-Jitsu and what made you decide to turn the sport into your career? Hiago George: I have always been into martial arts. I trained Boxing for two years before starting with JiuJitsu, in 2008, at my hometown of Livramento de Nossa Senhora, in the State of Bahia, Brazil. At 13 years old, one friend of mine called Neto de Seu Louro invited me to train. Two blue belts, Alex Azevedo e Wbiara Dantas, were in charge of teaching the class, once we had no higher belts around. One year later, I was able to move to Vitória da Conquista and start taking classes with Professor Fabio Medeiros. That’s when I really started to evolve both on and off the mats. I am very thankful to all the people who helped me in my Jiu-Jitsu career. As I started to compete and go up the rankings, I started to have good results. As a purple belt, I began to travel to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to compete in bigger events. In 2013, I spend a few weeks training at Professor’s Cicero Costha academy in São Paulo. I competed in a major event in São Paulo and was able to win it. Soon after I decided to move from Bahia to São Paulo and train full time at Cicero’s. In one year with Cicero and all the champions that trained with him I managed to conquer several titles, both nationally and internationally. I was hooked. I took the opportunity God gave me and to this day I keep working hard towards my goals.
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If you are not humble, if you do not show people respect and if you do not help others, you are not going to make it anywhere.
What were the most important lessons you learned in your successful journey on the mats? The most important lesson I learned was that everything we want in live comes at a price. It hurts to get where you want to go and not everyone is able to make it. When I left my home in Bahia, my parents asked me if I had a plan B in case the Jiu-Jitsu thing didn’t work out. I told them there was no plan B and that I was willing to do everything I could to make plan A work. I had to jump over many hurdles to get where I am today. I learned that if you are not humble, if you do not show people respect and if you do not help others, you are not to make anywhere. The time I spent with Master Cicero helped a lot to see the world with different eyes. My biggest boost through thick ad thin was always my family.
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You are one of the most consistent athletes in the UAEJJF competition circuit. What are your secrets to maintain such a high level of performance to reach your goals? I don’t think I have any big secret. Everyday I get up, have breakfast and I do what needs to be done. I train hard everyday and the desire to achieve my goals only grows. I thank the UAEJJF for promoting so many events of the highest quality. The value it gives to athletes in unmatched. In the last two stops of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam you had tough matches against João Gabriel Sousa. What changed in the second match compared to the first one so you could win in Rio after losing in LA? I did everything almost the same way as always. I do not train to face one guy, but to face all opponents in my division. As I advanced in the bracket and made it to the final, I knew I had one more obstacle to beat. What changed from LA to Rio was really the amount of desire I had to achieve my goals. I was ready to be the division’s champion, but always showing a lot of respect for all my opponents. The UAEJJF competition circuit has become a stronghold for athletes for awarding them with hefty money prizes. In your opinion, what is the importance for a professional athlete to have their efforts and results rewarded with monetary prizes? It’s unmatched! The UAEJJF gives true value to the athletes. The events are very professional and the prizes really help the competitors. After I entered the UAEJJF circuit, I was able to help my family in huge ways. I was also able to donate food and supplies to less fortunate people in Brazil. I have this big dream of being able to buy my mom a house and the UAEJJF money prizes are really helping me get closer and closer to that dream.
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GET SOCIAL
Dreams come true in Rio Athletes and fans celebrate the joys of Jiu-Jitsu in the wonderful city Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Instagram
In three glorious days of competition in the Carioca Arena, at the Olympic Park, athletes and fans of Jiu-Jitsu came together to celebrate their passion for the art. On and off the mats, thousand of people lived together the joy of being part of a very tight community. Before and after the matches, athletes and fans posted on social media about their achievements in Rio. In these pages, you have a small taste of the atmosphere in Brazil on November 16-18. The next stop is Abu Dhabi, on January 10-12, 2019, at the Mubadala Arena. Join the movement using the hastags #adgsabudhabi #abudhabigrandslam
Follow us on the social media /jiujitsuworldmag @jiujitsuworldmag @jitsuworldmag www.jiujitsuworldmag.com
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UAEJJF Athlete’s Ranking
Know your way to the top Understanding the UAEJJF athletes ranking Words: Rodrigo Valério, Ivan Trindade | Image: Ane Nunes
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The New UAEJJF World Ranking Format Based on rules of the Olympic Charter, the Qualification System aims to ensure that the principles of universality, performance, country, representation and gender equity, remain the focus for the UAEJJF participation. In addition, a number of other technical principles and rules have been established to provide a basis for the development of the UAEJJF Qualification System. The ranking is the most fair way of awarding the effort and the talent of each athlete that signs up to one of the UAEJJF tournaments throughout the year. It is also a great incentive for more and more athletes to take part in as many events as they can. The next pages will explain how the ranking works and the new changes. Have a good read, put on your gi and go out there to add points right away.
How does the ranking work and what are the main changes?
The ranking period will be in general for 24 months. The Seven (7) best results during next season (12 months’ period) will count + one extra (8th) result from the Continental Pro + the result of Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship, starting from 1st May 2018. The points for each individual tournament will expire as follows: • From May 1st, 2018 to April 30th, 2019 the points will count 100%. • After May 1st, 2019 the points will be reduced to 50%. • After May 1st, 2020 the points will be reduced to 0 and not count anymore. The dividing line is the first week of May 2019. Example: If tournament is held in first week of May 2018, the points are reduced to half on the first week on May 2019 and expired in the first week of May 2020.
How to add points in the ranking?
You add points in the ranking by at least participating in one of the events of the UAEJJF calendar (the current calendar started on May 1, 2018 and ends on April 30, 2019). There are six kinds of events in terms of how many points you’ll get: 1 - ADWPJJC – 6 stars; 2 - Abu Dhabi Grand Slam – 5 stars; 3 - Continental Pro – 5 stars; 4 - National Pro – 4 stars; 5 - International Pro – 3 stars; 6 - Regional Tournament – 2 stars. Here are the number of points athletes will earn on each event depending on their performance.
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Here are a few examples of how to count an athlete’s points.
How many rankings are there?
The UAEJJF has divided the ranking in several categories. You can say that the two most important are male adult black belt and female adult brown/black belt. Each belt has its own ranking starting with white belts. You also have a ranking in the male master division, an academy ranking, continental and country rankings. There are also No-Gi rankings. For what else is the ranking used for by the UAEJJF? The Federation will use the ranking to decide your position on the bracket of the ADWPJJC. It will also use the ranking to invite athletes to compete in the ADWPJJC. In addition the ranking will be used to select fighters for the new Abu Dhabi King of Mats through Continental Ranking and Grand Slam Placements. What are the prizes for ranking leaders? After all the effort, it is natural that ranking leaders at the end of the season receive proper rewards. The tables bellow show the main prizes for both the Gi and No-Gi rankings. The male adult Gi black belt division alone will award US$40,000, while the female Gi brown/black belt division will award US$18,000. That’s the same amount reserved for the male adult brown belt ranking leaders and the master 1 male black belt division.
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What else do you need to know about the ranking? Yes. There are a few details you need to know about the ranking. If you are alone in a division, you won’t earn points in the ranking. If you change belts during the season, you lose the points from the previous belt. The same happens if you change age divisions during the calendar. Due to the academies ranking, the UAEJJF will not change an athlete’s team during the same season. Another features to be implemented are that athletes will get points for not only placements, but also for each matches won. For example, athletes can get a certain point for a gold medal, but will also earn extra points for each win. So if athletes win a really large bracket that could lead award more points than smaller brackets. On top on that athletes will be awarded even extra points for different type of wins, for example winning by advantage or by submissions. Are there any more novelties in the ranking for the 2018-2019 season? In case of equality of total RANK points, the higher ranking will be decided by: 1. The highest sum of the current points from World Pro. 2. The highest sum of the current points from all Grand Slams. 3. The highest sum of the current points from all Continental Pro, followed by National Pro, International Pro and Regional Championships. 4. The highest current points from one single event, then, if needed, the second highest, and so on. 5. If the competitors are still equal the decision will be taken by the number of matches done by the fighter through the season, followed by the fastest submission(s) or who made more points during the matches in case of World Pro Qualification. Scan here for more info
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ABU DHABI GRAND SLAM RIO
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City of Champions With upcoming stars and returning champions, the black belt division at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour was once again worthy of Rio’s Jiu-Jitsu tradition Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes / Ivan Trindade
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Adult Male Black Belt
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56 kg
Golden Debut Carlos Alberto Silva controlled the action throughout the entire gold medal match against Felippe Melo. He eventually worked his way to the back to get the tap with a choke and celebrate his first ever ADGS title. To get to the final, Carlos Alberto debuted with a 12-0 win over David Herrera, followed by a submission win over Robson Soares. In the semifinal, Carlos beat Levy Ferreira 10-2. Felippe Melo debuted in the division beating the reigning champion Jorge Nakamura 2-0 on advantages and then outscored Aldo Ubaldo 4-2 to reach the semifinals. The spot in the final came with a decision win over Frederico Guimarães. Podium
1st – Carlos Alberto da Silva (GF Team) 2nd – Felippe Melo (Equipe WF) 3rd – Frederico Guimarães (USK)
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62 kg
Sweet Comeback What a rematch! After waging war at the ADGS LA, on September, Hiago George and Gabriel Sousa met again in another final, this time in Rio. Hiago left nothing to chance and managed a foot lock to reclaim his place on the top of the podium. On Saturday, November 17, Hiago had his first match against Magno Vieira and won 3-0 on points. Then, he went on to face Franklin Silva, finished with an armbar. In the semifinal, Hiago beat Jonas Pereira 8-0. Batista debuted in the bracket with a win over Jose Tiago, followed by a 2-0 win on advantages over Fernando Soares. In the semifinals, Batista faced Guilherme Carvalho and finished the match with an armbar.
Podium
1st – Hiago George (PSLPB Cicero Costha) 2nd – João Gabriel Batista de Sousa (ZR Team) 3rd – Fernando Soares (GF Team)
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69 kg
No Country for Young Men
Isaque Paiva is actually old enough to compete in the masters division. Even so, he registered as an adult and ended up champion. In the final, he finished João Mendes with an armbar from inside the triangle. Paiva had a long way to go until he secured his spot in the gold medal match. He first finished Richar Nogueira with a choke from the back. Then he repeated the outcome against Alessandro Costa. A 2-0 lead over Mateus Garcia granted Isaque a spot in the semifinals. He made it to the finals with a 6-4 win over Lucas Gomes. On the other side of the bracket, João Mendes debuted with a 1-0 win on advantages over Gabriel Villela. Then he beat Jean Adamy via WO and outscored Victor Moraes in the quarterfinals 2-0 on advantages. The semifinal was against Rafael Mansur, defeated by referee decision after a 2-2 tie. Podium
1st – Isaque Paiva (Saikoo) 2nd – João Mendes (Atos JJ) 3rd – Victor Moraes (PSLPB Cicero Costha)
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77 kg
Hard Path to Gold
Hugo Marques finished a brilliant campaign with a very tough match against Yan Paiva. After a 0-0 tie, a split referee decision made Marques the champion. No easy path for the finalists in the most crowded division. Hugo Marques debuted with a finish on Caio Cipriano. He then faced Luan Rodrigues, defeated with a 5-0 lead. The opponent in the quarterfinals was the always tough Jaime Canuto and Hugo managed a referee decision win after a 0-0 tie. Finally, in the semifinal, Marques beat Leandro Souza 3-2 on points. Yan Paiva also had a tough path to the final. He first beat Alexandre Cavalieri 2-0 and then beat Vitor Corte by referee decision. In the quarterfinals, Paiva beat Marlus de Souza 3-0 on advantages. The semifinal was against Bruno Tosto, beat with a 2-0 lead. Podium
1st – Hugo Marques (Soul Fighters) 2nd – Yan Paiva (Ribeiro JJ) 3rd – Jaime Canuto (GF Team)
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85 kg
The Return of the Champion
Another 2018 ADWPJJC champion in the scene, Isaque Bahiense was unstoppable. In the final, he imposed his game on Diego Ramalho to build a 11-0 lead and take the gold medal home. Bahiense made it to the final with four matches on Saturday, November 17. He first finished Raimundo Italo with an armbar to face Juan Siva, who also had to tap. In the quarterfinals, Bahiense beat William Martins 5-2. The semifinal was against Matheus Souza and a 2-0 lead was enough. Diego Ramalho also worked hard to reach the final. He first beat Bradley Hill 4-2, then he caught Edjonson Andrade with a foot lock. In the semifinal, a toehold was the weapon of choice for Diego to beat Henrique Moreira.
Podium
1st – Isaque Bahiense (Alliance) 2nd – Diego Ramalho (ZR Team) 3rd – Matheus Souza (NS Brotherhood)
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94 kg
One Step Higher After settling for silver in Los Angeles, Kaynan Duarte made it to the top in Rio. He faced his Atos teammate Helton Jose Jr in the final. A sweep was enough for the 2-0 lead that granted Duarte the gold medal. Kaynan had three appearances on his way to the final. He first beat Mario Netto 4-0 on advantages and met with Rudson Mateus in the quarterfinals. A 1-0 lead on advantages was enough to put Kaynan in the semifinals against Adam Wardzinski. The spot in the final came with a 2-0 lead for a sweep. Helton Jr also had three matches on his way to the final. He first finished Allef Silva and then beat Caue Rodrigues 2-0. In the semifinal, Junior beat Anton Minenko by referees decision following a 0-0 tie. Podium
1st – Kaynan Duarte (Atos JJ) 2nd – Helton Silva Junior (Atos JJ) 3rd – Adam Wardzinski (Checkmat International)
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110 kg
Erberth the Ruler
After winning in LA, he came to his home country to defend his title. In the final, he made his way to Fernando Reis’ back to sink a bow and arrow choke and retain the title. In the early rounds, Erberth Santos first finished Gilmar Oliveira with a rear naked choke. He then beat Guilherme Cordiviola 2-0 and reached the semifinals against Igor Schneider. A 3-2 lead on advantages put Erberth in the final. Fernando Reis first beat Max Gimenes by decision, then finished Marcelo Castro and outscored Raphael Souza 3-0. In the semifinal, Reis was able to beat Ricardo Evangelista by referees decision. Podium
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Adult feMale Brown/Black Belt
49 kg
Unstoppable Mayssa 50
Mayssa Bastos is now three for three in the ADGS season. She faced a very tough opponent in Rita Reis and worked hard to reach the mount and finish the match with a cross choke to win her third title. She fought twice on Saturday, November 17, and finished both her opponents on her way to the final. She first choked Vanessa Santos from the mount and then choked Mariana Rolszt from the back in the semifinal. Rita Reis fought once to reach the final. She choked Julia Pareja from the mount.
Podium
1st – Mayssa Bastos (GF Team) 2nd – Rita Reis (Ivo Neto JJ) 3rd – Julia Pareja (Nova União)
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55 kg
No Break for Talita
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The 2017 ADWPJJC champion, Talita Alencar, returned to the circuit and went all the way to beat Amanda Monteiro via split referee decision following a 0-0 tie in the final. Her campaign was tough from the very first match, where she faced the 2018 ADWPJJC champion, Amal Anjahid. In a tough match, Talita beat Amal 2-0 with a sweep. She then finished Edivania Silva with a leg lock. On the other side of the bracket, Amanda Nogueira fought twice to reach the final, finishing Thaisy Buchebuam and then beating Ana Rodrigues 2-0 in the semifinals.
Podium
1st – Talita Alencar (Alliance) 2nd – Amanda Nogueira (GF Team) 3rd – Ana Rodrigues (Alliance)
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62 kg The Boss is Home
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The champion is back! Bianca Basilio came back to the season after winning the division at the 2018 ADWPJJC. In the final, she beat Michele Oliveira by unanimous referee decision following a 1-1 tie on advantages. Bia fought twice to reach the final. She finished Renata Melo and then also finished Ruthe Caen with a triangle. Michele Oliveira beat Pamela Boveda 5-0 and then Juliana Costa 2-0 on advantages to make it to the gold medal match.
Podium
1st – Bianca Basílio (Atos JJ) 2nd –Michele Oliveira (Nova União) 3rd – Renata Melo (Nova União)
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70 kg Still the Queen
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After winning in LA, Thamara Silva went to Rio and successfully defended her crown. An armbar on Julia Boscher put the final touch on a flawless campaign. Thamara fought twice to reach the final. She first finished Luiza Buzele and then waged war against Samantha Cook. A 3-1 lead took Thamara to the final. Julia Boscher fought three times to reach the final. She first finished Rafaela Bertolot, then also finished Renata Moreira. In the semifinal, Boscher beat Melissa Cueto 2-0.
Podium
1st – Thamara Silva (PSLPB Cicero Costha) 2nd – Rita Reis (Soul Fighters) 3rd – Jessica Swanson (Soul Fighters)
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90 kg Flawless Season
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Three strikes for Gabi Pessanha. The brown belt won her third gold medal in the 2018/2019 ADGS season with a Ezekiel choke from the back on Chile’s Francisca Floras. The finish was the perfect grand finale for a great performance. On her quest for the gold medal, Gabi fought twice on Saturday, November 17, to secure a spot in the final. She beat Carina Santi 4-2 and then finished Mayara Oishi with a choke from the back in the semifinal. Francisca Floras also fought twice and beat Karla Albuquerque 1-0 on advantages to meet Thais Santos in the semifinal and also win with a 1-0 lead on advantages.
Podium
1st – Gabrieli Pessanha (Infight Japan) 2nd – Francisca Flora (PSLPB Cicero Costha) 3rd – Carina Santi (G13)
Jiu-Jitsu World
Teams
Kings of Brazil GF Team kept its grip on the competition circuit in Brazil. The athletes under Master Julio Cesar Pereira had an impressive showing in Rio and once again topped the teams podium followed by Nova União in second and Gracie Barra in third. GF Team is going strong for another trophy as best International Academy at the Abu Dhabi Awards, following the 2019 ADWPJJC, this coming April.
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Podium
1st – GF Team (Brazil) – 32946pts 2nd – Nova União (Brazil) – 10450pts 3rd – Gracie Barra (Brazil) – 6408pts
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MASTERS / ADGS RIO
Three days of thrills and honor Athletes and fans rejoice during a full weekend of Jiu-Jitsu in Rio and get rewarded with a special visit by Brazil’s President
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Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes
Rio de Janeiro lives and breathes Jiu-Jitsu. On November 16-18, 2018, thousands of athletes gathered at the Arena Carioca 1, at the Olympic Park, to compete in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Rio de Janeiro. From white belts to master black belts, the 9 mats set in the state of the art arena saw all around top level action for three whole days of competitions. As usual, the ParaAthletes inspired the fans with their relentless devotion to the sport that allowed them a second chance in live. In the black belt master division, talented stars brought their fans to their feet with great performances. In the next pages, you’ll be able to relive all those thrills.
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Denilson Pimenta was the master 1, 69kg division champion with a referees decision win over Luiz Fernando Vieira following a 0-0 tie in the final
Juan Lopes beat Rodrigo Santos 2-0 to win the master 1, 56kg division, title
Gabriel Moraes reached the top of the master 1, 62kg division, with a 4-2 win over Douglas Silva 60
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Marcos Tinoco flew from NYC to win the master 1, 85kg division title with a 2-0 win over Fabio Pulita
Ursula Pinto won the master 1, 70kg division final with a 2-0 lead over Nivian Oliveira in the final
Sandro Vieira outscored Sergio Rios 3-0 in the master 1, 77kg division final to claim the gold medal
Vinicius Marinho beat Thales Leites 10-0 to secure the gold medal in the master 1, 94kg division final Number 15 - 2019
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Igor Silva moved up to the master 1 division to beat Sergio Brittos by referees decision and claim the 110kg title
The blue belt division was a fan favorite in Brazil 62
The Para-Athletes gave all they had on the mats of Rio
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Phenomenon Thalison Soares was one of the big names in the brown belt division
All the hard work leads to the moment your hand is raised
The women’s division was also a source of big thrills for the audience
In the purple belt division, all matches were fought at the highest intensity
No neck was safe in Rio
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The first challenge of every athlete is make the weight one before the matches
The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio was the opportunity for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to donate $ 190,000 to Cancer research and for the development of Para-Jiu-Jitsu
The line for the scale is always a tense moment for every athlete 64
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Arges swept Rice twice to win 4-0
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ADGS RIO / LEGENDS
Hungry for the belt
Rafael Carino beats Alexandre Barauna in Rio and challenges Marcio Pé de Pano for a chance to take the Abu Dhabi Legends heavyweight title
Carino celebrates his second win in Rio Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes
Right before the black belt finals, the attention of the crowd turned to another match in the always exciting Abu Dhabi Legends Series. In the heavyweight division, Rafael Carino once again stepped on the mat to defend his position as challenger for the belt. After defeating Carlão Barbosa in 2017, this time the opponent would be Alexandre Barauna. The GF Team black belt was set to dethrone Carino and get a chance to challenge Marcio Pé de Pano. As soon as the match kicked off, it was clear that respect to the opponent and avoiding taking unnecessary risks would be the themes of the contest. The match remained in the standing position for the entire six minutes of action with both fighters looking for an opportunity for a takedown. The combination of experience and caution meant that no opportunity arose. Carino kept his title in the Abu Dhabi Legends series with a win via referees decision following a 0-0 tie. After the win, Rafael asked for a chance to challenge Marcio Pé de Pano for the heavyweight belt. 68
Carino and Barauna knew that whoever managed a takedown would be on the way to victory Jiu-Jitsu World
Since the very beginning of the match, they searched for the best grip
Lots of respect and friendship between the two Legends in Rio Number 15 - 2019
Carino wants a shot at PÊ de Pano’s belt and he asked for it after the match 69
ADGS RIO
Brazil’s President Elect Jair Bolsonaro was a very illustrious guest of honor at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio
With the
President’s Approval
His Excellency Mr. Jair Bolsonaro pays a visit to the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Rio and praises the work being done to promote the sport in Brazil and all over the world
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Mr. Bolsonaro shared a moment of joy with the athletes on the podium
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Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes, Antonio Zanella
Mr. Bolsonaro spoke with the Abu Dhabi Sports about the importance of the event for Rio and Brazil
Local authorities and Jiu-Jitsu Legends like José Mario Sperry were also there to welcome the President
Mr. Bolsonaro joined the crowd and authorities for the National Anthems of Brazil and the UAE Number 15 - 2019
He was welcomed by H.E. Ibrahim Al-Alawi, Consul General of the UAE in Brazil, and Mr. Walter Matos, President of Brazil Jiu-Jitsu Federation
Mr. Bolsonaro assured the General Consul of the UAE that he shares the views of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on sports and Jiu-Jitsu
In a big surprise both for athletes and fans on the stands, the President Elect of Brazil (in office since January 1st, 2019), His Excellency Jair Bolsonaro, paid a visit to the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam JiuJitsu World Tour Rio de Janeiro. In the morning of Sunday, November 18, Mr. Bolsonaro accepted the invitation from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, through the UAEJJF and local organizers and walked into the Arena Carioca 1. He was welcomed by H.E.Ibrahim Al-Alawi, Consul General of the UAE in Brazil; H.E Yousuf Al Batran, UAEJJF Board Member; Mr. Tariq Al Bahri, Director of Abu Dhabi Grand Slam; Mr. Walter Matos, President of Brazil Jiu-Jitsu Federation; and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend, José Mario Sperry. The President discussed the development of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil and assured that policies that support sport activities will be a priority in his administration. Bolsonaro also commented: “Brazil has strong relations with the United Arab Emirates, I have a firm desire to deepen these relations during my term in office, especially all the things that we have in common between the two countries. I appreciate what His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has done for the sport of Jiu-Jitsu around the world, and organizing the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam championship in Rio de Janeiro. I congratulate the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the organizing committee on the success of the championship and I wish them with continuous progress.” The President-elect added: “I have great respect for the UAE, the government and the people; I have strong relations with them. I have already visited them and I am very happy with the development of bilateral trade between the two countries. We will work to strengthen our joint communication in the next phase in order to provide prosperity for our people.” The director of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, Mr.Tareq Al Bahri, said, “It was an honor to receive the President elect of Brazil, Mr. Jair Bolsonaro, today. He is a very busy person, but he showed today that he works for the people of the country by coming and greeting his supporters. He showed great support towards the wise leaders of the UAE, the people of the UAE and especially towards the sport of Jiu-Jitsu and the para-athletes, by spending time talking with them.” During the event, Mr. Bolsonaro was invited by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to visit the UAE this coming April, during the 2019 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. The Brazilian President thanked His Highness for the invitation and wanted to know the exact date to schedule the visit. Mr. Bolsonaro completed his visit by posing for pictures with athletes in the warming up area and taking part in a award ceremony on the podium. His presence at the ADGS Rio was covered by all Brazilian media and was featured on newspapers all over the country. 71
Mr. Bolsonaro arrived around 11AM at the Arena Carioca 1, for the final day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio
The President met with local and UAEJJF authorities to discuss the evolution of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil and all over the world
The President posed for pictures with a proud group of athletes and para-athletes
The President awarded medals to some of the champions in Rio 72
The Brazilian media followed the President and his visit to the ADGS Rio made the headlines of every major news outlet in the country Jiu-Jitsu World
He saluted the crowd of cheering Jiu-Jitsu fans as his presence was announced in the venue
The President was very at easy among the Jiu-Jitsu athletes
Mr. Rodrigo Valerio, the UAEJJF Technical Manager, answered Mr. Bolsonaro’s questions about the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio
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AROUND THE GLOBE Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: UAEJJF
Maintal Germany October 20, 2018
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GERMANY NATIONAL PRO There were tons of great matches in the beautiful city of Maintal, during the Germany National Pro. The event held October 20 got hundreds of athletes together for a actionpacked day of Jiu-Jitsu. In the black belt division, champions were: 69kg – João Gabriel Batista de Sousa; 77kg – Jan Basso; 85kg – Charles Cachoeira; 94kg – Adam Wardzinski; Open -77kg - João Gabriel Batista de Sousa; Open -110kg – Adam Wardzinski; Female 55kg – Rose El Sharouni; Female 70kg – Larissa Paes; Female 90kg – Marta Szarecka; Female Open – Marta Szarecka. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Checkmat International 730pts; 2nd -Cicero Costha 1220pts; 3rd – Roger Gracie Academy 1050pts.
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South Korea
October 21, 2018
Seoul
SOUTH KOREA NATIONAL PRO The exciting city of Seoul became the center of the Jiujitsu universe in Asia on October 21. The South Korea National Pro was a milestone event for Jiu-Jitsu in the country. Hundreds of athletes gave their best on the mat. In the black belt division, champions were: Adult 77kg – Yoon-Ho Jung; Master 1, 94kg – Jinsung Kim; Master 1, 110kg – Youngwook Kim. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – De La Riva Korea 1370pts; 2nd – Korea BJJ 1295pts; 3rd – DCBS BJJ 980pts.
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Campinas Brazil
October 21, 2018
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CAMPINAS INTERNATIONAL PRO Hundreds of athletes and para-athletes gathered in Campinas, Brazil, on October 21 for another thrilling day of Jiu-Jitsu. The crowd was treated to an awesome display of technique and drive to win at the Campinas International Pro. In the black belt division, champions were: 62kg – Jorge Nakamura; 69kg – Hiago George; 77kg – Ygor Dantas; 85kg – Geraldo Pessoa; 94kg – Rodrigo Miguel; Female Open 90kg – Ana Rodrigues. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – GF Team 2710pts; 2nd - Alliance 2175pts; 3rd – Gracie Barra 1282pts.
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Greece
October 27, 2018
Athens
GREECE NATIONAL PRO Some big names showed up to compete at the Greece National Pro, in Athens, on Saturday, October 27. Abu Dhabi Grand Slam champion Diego Ramalho won the adult black belt 85kg division, Gabriel Sousa won the 69kg division and Adam Wardziak won the 110kg division. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Gracie Barra Greece 2225pts; 2nd – Atos Jiu-Jitsu 2080pts; 3rd – Alliance 1615pts.
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Moscow
Russia
November 4, 2018
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RUSSIA NATIONAL PRO Jiu-Jitsu took over Moscow on November 4. The Russia National Pro brought athletes of all ages together for a full day of Jiu-Jitsu. In the black belt division, champions were: 69kg – João Gabriel Batista de Sousa; 85kg – Diego Ramalho; 110kg – Ricardo Evangelista; Open -77kg – Dzhimsher Razmadze; Open -110kg – Ricardo Evangelista; Female 70kg – Larissa Paes. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Ludus Dome Team International 5700pts; 2nd – Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu 4230pts; 3rd – ZR Team 2055pts.
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Italy
November 10, 2018
Rome
ITALY NATIONAL PRO The Eternal City turned into Jiu-Jitsu city for one day on November 10. The Italy National Pro brought hundreds of athletes from all over the continent to compete for the ultimate glory and add valuable points in the annual UAEJJf ranking. In the black belt division, champions were: 69kg – João Gabriel Batista de Sousa; 77kg – Jan Basso; 85kg – Diego Ramalho; 94kg – Charles Cachoeira; 110kg – Ricardo Evangelista; Open -110kg – Ricardo Evangelista; Female 49kg – Serena Gabrielli; Female 90kg – Marta Szarecka. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Team Italia 2380pts; 2nd – Roots BJJ 1445pts; 3rd – Aeterna Jiu-Jitsu 1290pts.
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Cassis
France
November 18, 2018
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FRANCE NATIONAL PRO The beautiful city of Cassis welcomed the Jiu-jitsu community on November 18. The France National Pro gathered some of the best athletes in the region for a full day of action. The matches were thrilling from beginning to end. In the black belt division, champions were: Male 69kg - Leonardo Kohpcke; 77kg - Bruno Borges; 94kg Luca Anacoreta; 110kg - Eldar Rafigaev.
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Spain
December 2, 2018
Malaga
SPAIN NATIONAL PRO The city of Malaga was the center of the Jiu-Jitsu universe in Europe for a day. Hundreds of athletes gathered on December 2 for the Spain National Pro. In the black belt division, champions were: 69kg – Alejandro Carreras; 77kg – Jonathan Maflin; 110kg – Eldar Rafigaev; Open -77kg – Jonathan Maflin; Female 62kg – Ffion Davies; In the teams competition, results were: 1st - Crazy Team 1155pts; 2nd – Mathias Ribeiro JJ 980pts; 3rd -Adamas BJJ 900pts.
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Florianopolis
Brazil
December 2, 2018
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FLORIANOPOLIS INTERNATIONAL PRO Brazil is a Jiu-Jitsu hotspot. The Florianopolis International Pro was a hit on December 2. Hundreds of athletes got together to test their skills in a full day of action on the mats. In the black belt division, champions were: Female 62kg – Thaisy Buchebuam; Female 70kg – Juliana Teixeira; Female Open 90kg – Juliana Teixeira; 69kg – Jorge Nakamura; 77kg – Luciano Bernert; 85kg – Alexandre Vieira; 94kg – Gerard Labinski. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Rilion Gracie 2140pts; 2nd – Gracie Barra 1620pts; 3rd - AS Team 1205pts.
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Jordan
December 14-15, 2018
Amman
JORDAN NATIONAL PRO Jiu-Jitsu is getting stronger and stronger in the Middle East. One big proof of that came in the form of the Jordan National Pro, in Amman, on December 14-15, 2018. For two days, hundreds of athletes gave their best on the mats both in gi and no-gi divisions. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Team Mirza 3605pts; 2nd – The Dojo Academy 1825pts; 3rd – Team Meedan 1315pts.
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ABU DHABI KING OF MATS
The riders of the middleweight crown Get to know the 10 warriors that will battle in Abu Dhabi for the chance to challenge the middleweight King of Mat champion Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes
Gabriel Arges Gracie Barra
From Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Arges is one of the most accomplished competitors coming out of Romulo Barral’s talent factory. At 25 years old, he just opened his own academy in Thousand Oaks, California, but he keeps very active in the competition scene. A 2-time ADWPJJC champion (2015/2016), Arges is known for his guard game, specially the X and single-leg X and is a bog contender for the chance to fight for the belt.
Roberto Satoshi Bonsai Japan
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Satoshi, now 29, comes from a rich lineage within Jiu-Jitsu. Son of the late Master Adilson de Souza, he and his brothers Mauricio Souza and Marcos Yoshio moved to Japan to teach the art in the country of his origins. Known for his power up routine before every match and his deadly guard game, Satoshi is very active in the competition circuit with great results. A 2-time ADWPJJC champion (2012/2014), Satoshi will be a problem to each one of his opponents in Abu Dhabi.
Isaque Bahiense Alliance
From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Isaque Bahiense started his Jiu-Jitsu journey under Professor Fabio Andrade, as part of the Nova União squad. As a brown belt, he changed teams and joined Alliance under Professor Fabio Gurgel, where he eventually earned his black belt. At 23 years of age, Isaque has become one of the most accomplished competitors of his generation. A 2018 ADWPJJC champion, he will try to impose his guard passing game on every opponent.
Espen Mathiesen Kimura/Nova União
From Egersund, Norway, Mathiesen, now 23, came into the black belt scene with a boom. After great results in the lower belts, he had his great breakout at the 2018 ADWPJJC, with a powerful performance to win the 77kg division. A skillful guard player, Mathiesen will be a threat to all opponents. 88
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Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa Atos Jiu-Jitsu
From Andre Galvão’s den of champions in San Diego, Lucas Barbosa exploded in the competition circuit with very powerful performances and also a highly technical game. At 26 years of age, the Brazilian born in Boa Vista, Roraima, first made his presence felt in the lower belts, with a series of titles in important events. He is a 2015 ADWPJJC champion as a brown belt. After receiving his black belt, the level of performance remained steady and Lucas will make use of his well-rounded game to steamroll his opponents in Abu Dhabi.
Diego Ramalho ZR Team
From Recife, Brazil, Diego Ramalho is another upcoming talent out of Zé Radiola’s black belt forge. Now living in California, he divides his time between competition training and teaching Jiu-Jitsu. At 25 years of age, Ramalho is a force to be reckon with at the middleweight division. With a strong game and dangerous attacks to the leg and feet of his opponents, he’s been a familiar face on podiums throughout the current season.
Alan “Finfou” Nascimento Checkmat
At 36, Finfou is the most experienced of all competitors in the middleweight roster. He has competed against everyone and everywhere. Born in Niteroi, Brazil, Finfou got into Jiu-Jitsu under the legendary Fernando Tererê. Now living and teaching Jiu-Jitsu in Sweden, Finfou often travels to compete all over the world. He’ll certainly bring his dangerous guard game to the mats in Abu Dhabi and it should be no surprise to anyone if he catches one or more opponents in his dreaded triangle chokes.
DJ Jackson Team Lloyd Irvin
The American of the group is a powerful wrestler with a intense game that relies on his impressive physical strength. From District Heights, Maryland, DJ Jackson, now 30, trained his whole career under Professor Lloyd Irvin. In Abu Dhabi, he’ll take someone down, pass their guard and probably go for a kimura lock from side control. Just watch.
Manuel Ribamar NS Brotherhood
From Manaus, Brazil, Ribamar is one of the top talents of his generation with awesome results in tournaments all over the world. He developed under Professors Rodrigo Pinheiro and Cicero Costha, Ribamar established himself as one of the top contender in his weight class. With 25 years of age, he arrives in Abu Dhabi to make a serious dent in the competition with hopes of getting to the top.
Rudson Mateus
Caio Terra Association
No arm is safe when Rudson Mateus is on the mat. Born in Manacapuru, Brazil, he shot through the competition scene like a rocket, achieving important results in the lower belts. As a black belt under the highly technical Caio Terra, Mateus only developed his game further. He’s been very successful in the present season. In Abu Dhabi, he’ll be a serious contender for the top spot in the middleweight bracket. Number 15 - 2019
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LIFESTYLE TIPS
The 5 fundamentals of strength training As athletes, it is expected of us to do some supplement training to help increase our performance. Even though we may know what we are doing on the mats, for a lot of us hitting the gym for the 1st time it can be scary. Knowing how to use all all these elaborate fitness machines can be daunting. What about the squat racks, the weights, the cardio machines? Figuring out the machines and equipment is one thing, knowing exactly what to do with them and in what order with what level of resistance and how many times is a whole other thing altogether. The truth be told there is a daunting amount of equipment in a gym because there are so many different ways you can workout, depending on what your objectives are what level you’re at. Additionally training to look good and training to increase performance are two vastly different things. Most traditional workouts in gyms is all geared towards looking good, but that may not help us become better
athletes. Since most of us are BJJ athletes let’s focus on training for performance (even though this training will still get you looking good) and let’s keep it simple by sticking to the five fundamentals.
FIVE FUNDAMENTALS
A properly balanced body is essential for optimal performance. The concept with this workout is to maintain that balance so that the upper body and lower body are both worked as well as the anterior and posterior chain (the front and back.) Too often people go to the gym and focus on only on area such as the chest and biceps so they look good for the beach but from a functional point of view, constantly working just the pushing motion can lead to posture problems and shoulder injuries. I am going to share with you the most basic and simple, yet effective exercises of the five fundamentals to avoid any confusion when hitting the gym which can be used by the brand new beginner or by the seasoned gym junkie athlete.
Upper Body
For the upper body we need to focus on the two major actions which are the push action and the pulling action. The push action works the front of your body which is the anterior aspect of the best example of this is a push-up or bench press. The pulling action works primarily the posterior aspect or back of body. Best example of this is a pull up or seated row.
Pushing action - Push ups are the exercise of choice for the main upper body pushing action. They are such a great exercise since they also work the core and stabilizers which are essential for athletes. The intensity can be increased by various ways including changing the level of your hands or feet such as doing them on a bench, performing push ups on an unstable surface.
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Pulling Action - For the pulling exercise
pull ups are a great option. If done correctly with shoulders back and chest out they are very good for posture. Most of us spend our days slouched at a desk where our upper back muscles are stretched and slack a rotator cuff muscles a week and a posture is compromised. This exercise helps to pull back the shoulders and strengthen up the upper back muscles to maintain a good posture and counter all the sitting and slouching that we does during the day.
Lower Body
For the lower body the most effective exercise you can do is the squat movement. There are lots of squats variations but let’s stick with the basic squats. You can increase the intensity by adding weight by either holding a wait at your chest or holding dumbbells either side or having a barbell across your shoulders.
Core - Anterior Chain
The anterior chain which is the front of the body we are going to perform basic crunches but on a physio ball or a Bosu ball. But these will be small movements performed with focused attention with hips up the whole time, ensuring the abdominal muscles and glutes are always contracted.
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Core - Posterior Chain
The posterior chain is very important and often neglected. It is one reason why so many people have muscular imbalances. Basically, if we are going to work the front side of the body, we must work the back. And a great exercise for beginners is superman raises arm and legs raised off the ground. This exercise works your upper back lower back glutes and hamstrings.
Start with these five five exercises which cover the five fundamentals and increase the difficulty as strength increased. For athletes it is best to do these exercises in a circuit format beginning with:
Squats:
Push-ups,:
10 - 20 reps
Crunches:
20 - 40 reps
Pull ups,:
10 - 20 reps
Superman raises/back extensions:
20 - 40 reps
8 - 15 reps
Rest and then repeat this circuit 2 to 4 times through
Sophia McDermott (Drysdale) is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt and
coach, personal trainer and mother of two. Sophia is certified with National Academy of Sports Medicine, NASM CPT (USA) and specializes in functional training for athletes as well as nutrition. She runs seminars and camps about BJJ, nutrition and healthy lifestyle. Sophia is the first Australian female BJJ black belt. World Champion, 2X no Gi World Champion, 4X Pan Am Champion. Sophia also competes in Figure shows and holds the distinction of being the Overall Unlimited Figure winner for 2015 for NPC.
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UAE NEWS & OPINION
Hosani Mohammed Alommentator Jiu-Jitsu Analyst/C
Shifting Politics and Rising Stars: Jiu-Jitsu and the New Year As the 2018-2019 Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Tour reaches a halfway point, we have an idea of what’s in store come April 2019. Like past seasons of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s (UAEJJF) World Circuit, fans witnessed an unexpected turn of events during the 3rd leg of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam (ADGS). This time, “shock” came in the form of Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro making a surprise visit to the Carioca Arena to watch the festivities and exchange pleasantries with competitors. Mr. Bolsonaro’s visit is a testament to ADGS as a world-class brand that enjoys extensive media coverage as well as dozens of high-profile sponsorships. Truly, the surprise presence of Bolsonaro in the ADGS is testament to the inextricable link between sport, culture, and bilateral relations. Mr. Bolsonaro, a sportsman, realizes how sport increases ‘soft’ power and solidifies bilateral relations. The exceptional BrazilUAE relationship dates back to 1974, and both nations are keen to advance exceptional economic, cultural, and diplomatic cooperation. Bolsonaro’s surprise appearance at the ADGS illustrates how sport could become a springboard for greater economic cooperation between the two nations. On the political front, Bolsonaro’s 1-hour attendance and subsequent post-event interview personifies his desire to deepen relations with the UAE and the broader Arab world. From an ideological standpoint, it seems that Jiu-Jitsu is the linking element that establishes common ground between the Brazilian and Emirati leadership. On a different note, UAEJJF Global Rankings heated up in the upper tier of the male and female black belt categories. The UAEJJF circuit is enjoying unprecedented popularity largely in part to exciting, emerging talent and an intuitive UAEJJF
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Rankings system that motivates fighters to new heights. The 4th leg of the ADGS is arguably the toughest of the 5, and here’s what to look out for when the stars collide: 1. Gabrieli Pessanha (#1) vs. Mayssa Bastos (#2). Although they compete on different sides of the spectrum - Bastos, the lightest weight (-49kg) and Pessanha the heaviest weight (-90kg) in the female division, the points war will be followed closely. Both stars have dominated the ADGS Circuit this year with gold medals in Japan, Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro. Bastos and Pessanha are deadlocked in 1st place with 600 points respectively. Nonetheless, when this season concludes, only one superstar will own the top spot. 2. Joao Gabriel Batista (#1) vs. Hiago George (#8). These topperformers could be squaring off in a highly anticipated rubber match in the 62kg weight division. This contest has major implications for #2 ranked Diego Ramalho, as he is in position to take top spot with a win in the 77kg division and a Batista loss to George. 3. The Middleweight King of Mats. The third ever King of Mats is expected to be one of the most exciting with current World Pro Champions Isaque Bahiense and Espen Mathieson competing. The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam events in Abu Dhabi and London, two star-studded events, have game-changing implications for competitors, as they represent the final chance to amass points prior to the April event. We are stoked to have competition back in Abu Dhabi!
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Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup Abu Dhabi December 22, 2018
The Bainunah Educational Complex, in Abu Dhabi, welcomed UAE athletes for the 2nd round of the Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup, on December 22, 2018. The competitors entered the mats representing their clubs and each victory meant points for the team. In the end, results were: Men Ne-Waza – Juniors/ U21 / 18-20 / Club - 1st – Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club; 2nd – AFNT; 3rd – Al Wahda Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Elimination Aspirants – 1st – Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club; 2nd – Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club; 3rd – Commando Group. Elimination Seniors - 1st – Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club; 2nd – Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club; 3rd – AFNT.
Dubai International Pro Dubai December 14-15, 2018
For two days, the Jiu-Jitsu community gathered for the Dubai International Pro, on December 14-15, 2018. Hundreds of competitors tested their skills on the mats to come on top of their divisions. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Commando Group 3025pts; 2nd – AFNT 1874pts; 3rd – Al Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy 1770pts.
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Al Shaheed Jiu-Jitsu Championship – Under 18 Abu Dhabi November 22-24, 2018
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Young athletes entered the mats in Abu Dhabi on November 22-24, 2018, for the Al Shaheed Jiu-Jitsu Championship – Under 18. For three days, the crowd was treated to great matches. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Al Wahda Jiu-Jitsu Academy 1691pts; 2nd – Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club 1556pts; 3rd – Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club – 1324pts.
Al Ain International Pro Al Ain October 26-27, 2018
Hundreds of athletes came together for the Al Ain International Pro, on October 26-27, 2018 for lots of thrills both on gi and nogi divisions. The matches were filled with great moments and the crowd was pleased with the high level of technique displayed by competitors. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Al Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy 2243pts; 2nd - Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club 2060pts; 3rd – Team Nogueira Dubai 1310pts
Number 15 - 2019
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MY ABU DHABI GRAND SLAM
A Gringo in Brazil A first person account of a purple belt belt divided between competing and reporting on the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour Rio Words: Chase Smith* | Images: Personal Archives, Vitor Freitas
Few on this earth are lucky enough to say they have a career following their passion, but I’m grateful to say that I can count myself among them. My name is Chase Smith, and my full-time job is to document the sport and art of Jiu-Jitsu for FloGrappling.com. A bulk of my duties include writing preview articles, analyzing results, and generally creating context surrounding events, but the true joy in my work falls under ‘live coverage’: being on the ground, in the arena, mat side, watching the legends and future stars of Jiu-Jitsu go head to head in pursuit of greatness. The UAEJJ is truly one of the most progressive and forward thinking Jiu-Jitsu bodies in existence. The tournaments are tightly organized and the athletic talent is incredible. It’s always a memorable experience covering their events, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Rio was no exception. Over the course of three days this past November I had the pleasure of filming Erberth Santos’ untouchable run; a fired Isaque Bahiense hit the mats like a a heavily modified muscle car, barely able to keep it’s tires on the road as he flew through opponents on his way to the top of the podium in the 85kg division. Of course, the real reason I took the job with FloGrappling in the first place is that I’m simply obsessed with Jiu-Jitsu. Sometimes It’s a quiet torture to be at all the best tournaments of the year, only to be ‘sidelined’ (ie: working) and not be able to compete, but every so often, I get lucky and the tournament schedule is organized in a way that let’s allows me the chance to step into the arena – which was the case at the Rio Grand Slam. This year I competed in the 69kg Masters 1 purple belt division, there were 12 men, all from Brazil, and I was eager to test myself once again in the birthplace of Jiu-Jitsu. There’s simply something different in the atmosphere at a big tournament in Brazil – the team chants are louder, the humidity overwhelming,
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and you know that nobody wants to lose to the gringo. It’s absolutely nerve-racking and exhilarating at the same time. About 45 minutes before my match I swapped my press badge for my athlete’s tag and headed down to the warmup area. The first match was a success. I pulled guard, threatened sweeps and chokes from both the DLR and closed guard positions, and while I was being not able to complete any of them, I was awarded the referee’s decision. My second bout saw me face the eventual champion of the division, where I went down on points and was submitted via armbar in the dying moments of the round. All was not lost, though, as I had qualified for the bronze medal match – which I unfortunately lost by referee’s decision after being unable to escape my opponents formidable deep half guard. Despite going 1-2, I was satisfied. I had nearly 18 minutes of match time, and only decisively lost one match. I am not a professional athlete, so the simple act of testing myself in competition serves as an excellent learning experience and way to gauge my progress. Of course, I want to win – who doesn’t? –but really what I am for is to make less mistakes in each subsequent completion I enter. I could go on for several more pages about the rest of my time in Rio- the beaches really are fantastic, the training is incredible, but really, I just recommended you take plunge and experience the place for yourself. It’s not an easy trip, but the fruits of your labor are justly rewarded. I can’t wait for next year.
*Chase Smith is a visual media specialist who’s been a member of the FloGrappling staff since 2015. A 30-year-old displaced California, currently living in Austin, Texas he’s currently a purple belt under Robert Dumbeck and Jose Portillo of Paragon Jiu-Jitsu.
Jiu-Jitsu World
PRESENTS
Number 15 - 2019
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Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 15 - 2019
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Jiu-Jitsu World