Santa Cruz, California - All Star BJJ Tournament

Santa Cruz, California
When: Sunday, Janaury 22, 2012
Registration Deadline: Monday, January 16th, 2012

Start the year off with your first Jiu Jitsu competition of the year in Santa Cruz, California.

'The ALL STAR #1 BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU TOURNAMENT will take place Sunday January 22nd, 2012 at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, CA. The All Star is brought to you by the promoters of the U.S. Open and American Cup Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament. All schools are welcome to participate in this highly lauded and exciting new tournament. The All Star was created by the popular demand of people that love to compete in the beautiful city of Santa Cruz for more than 15 years. It will take place in Northern California in the beautiful city of Santa Cruz, approximately 30 miles south of San Jose. All belt levels in the Junior, Adult, Master, and Senior age categories are welcome to compete. Sorry, but there will be no kids divisions at this tournament.'

IBJJF releases a NEW Jiu Jitsu Tournament Rule Book

If you have competed, then you have been through it before. Some referees seem to create their own rules during your match, and coaches and fighters alike seem to have their own interpretations as well.  And each and every Brazilian Jiu Jitsu professional seeks to clear up misconceptions and confusing rules, so that the sport will become standardized and more widely accepted as a worthwhile competition sport.

IBJJF's new 'Rule Book' offers an updated competition guideline, with illustrations to make it easier to understand various rules. It is hoped that this guideline can also be used at other Jiu Jitsu tournaments that are looking to conform to standardized Jiu Jitsu competition rules as well.

If you will be competing in 2011, be sure to read through the rules, as their are some changes to the rules from last years.

Let's do this, Lisbon! 2012 European Open Jiu Jitsu Tournament

Start off 2012 with a fresh start, and prepare yourself for your best Jiu Jitsu tournament year ever. The first IBJJF tournament of the year will be in Lisbon, Portugal, at the 2012 European Open. Have YOU registered yet?

If not, visit IBJJF to register now for the 2012 European Open.. Registration closes on January 18th, 2012. (01/18/2012-REGISTRATION HAS NOW CLOSED)

Click here to see the posted brackets for all divisions, and the tournament schedule for the week.

See below to see the most up-to-date competitor list for all divisions....

Roll into the Near Year with a Rear Naked Choke

Leave 2011 in style by rolling into the New Year, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu style, with a rear naked choke on your favorite training partner, best friend, or girl friend. Whatever submission you choose, be sure to show your friends and family you truly care, and that 2012 will bring new choke holds and submissions throughout the year! 

Happy Jiu Jitsu Year! (Or Happy New Year for you non-Jiu Jitsians.) From yours truly, World of Jiu Jitsu.

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2012. 

Leandro Lo assassinates Caloquina - Copa Podio de Jiu Jitsu Final

Watch Leandro Lo (Cicero Costha), finish off Claludio Caloquina (Gracie Bara), in the final match of the Copa Podio de Jiu Jitsu (2011). The tournament took place last weekend, and consisted of 10 of the best Lightweight (Leve) Black Belt Competitors in the world. 

Leandro Lo finished the match in less than one minute, by a bow and arrow choke. 

2011 Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Rankings

We have posted our 2011 Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Competitor Rankings on our World of Jiu Jitsu website. Click on the "Black Belt Rankings' link on the main page of the site.

Once on the page, you will be able to select the division (Adult, Masters, Female, or Senior) as well as weight class. The page will filter the results by the black belt with the highest points at the top. You can also use additional filters, such as sorting by the fighters name or team.

2011 Copa Podio GP Results

And the excitement comes to an end in Porto Alegre, Brazil, as we take a look at the results from the 2011 Copa Podio Jiu Jitsu Grand Prix. Ten of the fiercest Lightweight Black Belt Jiu Jitsu competitors battled it out today on the mat to fight for the 1st place trophy.

Leandro Lo - 2011 Copa Podio Jiu Jitsu GP Champion

After 24 vicious matches, Leandro Lo (Cicero Costha) was named the 2011 Copa Podio GP champion. In second place, Caloquinha (GB BH). Congratulations to all of the competitors.

Copa Pódio Jiu Jitsu 2011

2011 Copa Podia Fighters

Just because you are not in Brazil does not mean you should not follow what the Jiu Jitsu fanatics are doing over there. And following MMA just won’t cut it. So, if you haven’t heard about the Copa Pódio Jiu Jitsu tournament happening tomorrow, now would be a good time to catch up and begin to follow.

This will not be your typical single elimination Jiu Jitsu tournament style. There are 2 groups, the yellow group, and the green group. Each of the lightweight black belt competitors in the Copa Pódio will have at least 4 fights, taking on each of their opponents within their group. The top two fighters with the most points in each group will move onto the semi-finals.

Scoring during Group Rounds:
Each match in the first 5 rounds will be six minutes long. A competitor will take 3 points for a win.
Today, the promoters released the table fans can use to count each competitor’s score as they go.
The criteria for a tie-breaker, in order, are the following: 1) the result of the match directly between the two tied athletes, 2) number of finishes, 3) point tally over all matches (points for minus points against), and 4) lastly, advantage point tally (advantages for minus advantages against).

Semifinals & Finals:
Moving onto the semifinals and final matches….These fights will be 10 minutes. Point will NOT be counted during the first five minutes. After five minutes of the match, points scoring will begin. Advantage points will not count for sudden death, only full points.

Take a look at the Copa Pódio lineup below:

1st Round
Green -  Denilson Pimenta  VS  Ed Ramos
Green – Leandro Lo  VS  Moacir Mendes Jr.
Yellow – Bob Esponja  VS Vinicius Marinho
Yellow -  Eduardo Pessoa  VS Leonardo Cascao

2nd Round
Green – Leandro Lo  VS  JT  Torres
Green – Moacir Mendes Jr.  VS  Ed Ramos
Yellow -  Eduardo Pessoa  VS  Caloquinha
Yellow – Vinicius Marinho  VS  Leonardo Cascao

3rd Round
Green – Moacir Mendes Jr.  VS  Denilson Pimenta
Green – Ed Ramos  VS  JT Torres
Yellow – Leonardo Cascao  VS Bob Esponja
Yellow – Vinicius Marinho  VS  Caloquinha

4th Round
Green – Ed Ramos  VS  Leandro Lo
Green -  JT Torres  VS  Denilson Pimenta
Yellow – Vinicius Marinho  VS  Eduardo Pessoa
Yellow -  Caloquinha  VS  Bob Esponja

5th Round
Green – JT Torres  VS  Moacir Mendes Jr.
Green – Denilson Pimenta  VS  Leandro Lo
Yellow – Caolquinha  VS  Leonardo Cascao
Yellow – Bob Esponja  VS  Eduardo Pessoa

Semifinals
First Fight -  1st Place Green Group  VS  2nd Place Yellow Group
Second Fight – 1st Place Yellow Group  VS  2nd Place Green Group

Finals
3rd Place Match – Loser of First Fight VS Loser of Second Fight
FINAL – Winner of First Fight VS Winner of Second Fight

2012 European Open - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament

Preparations are under way for the 2012 European Open International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament. The tournament will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, and is the perfect setting for an amazing display of Jiu Jitsu technique. The Euro Open will kick off the IBJJF's 2012 season of tournaments. To track the rankings of your favorite black belt Jiu Jitsu fighters throughout the year, visit the World of Jiu Jitsu website. Scores are determined based on each black belt competitors rankings at the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Opens, Pan American, and Worlds tournaments.

Click here to see an up-to-date competitor list.