The Steroid Problem in BJJ and Grappling

 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and grappling are disciplines that have witnessed tremendous growth over the past few decades. A sport once practiced by a niche community in Brazil has now exploded onto the global scene. However, like many sports experiencing rapid growth and increased financial opportunities, BJJ and grappling are facing an issue that threatens to tarnish its reputation: the use of steroids.

The Prevalence in High-Level Competition

It's no secret that steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) have found their way into high-level competitions. There is a growing number of cases and rumors about top athletes using these drugs to gain an advantage. While many of these are allegations without conclusive evidence, there's no smoke without fire.

Prominent figures like Gordon Ryan, Felipe Pena, and Andre Galvao have been surrounded by whispers and speculations about their physiques and performances. It's essential to note that accusing someone without concrete proof is harmful. However, the mere presence of such accusations at the highest levels indicates a problem that needs to be addressed.

Unfairness and Damaging Examples

The use of steroids creates an uneven playing field. When one competitor uses PEDs to enhance their performance, it becomes incredibly unfair to the athletes who have put in the hard work and dedication without resorting to shortcuts. It diminishes the accomplishments of clean athletes, sometimes even pushing them out of podium spots or lucrative opportunities.

Even more concerning is the message it sends to the younger generation. The youth look up to these athletes as role models, and seeing them potentially succeed because of PEDs can inadvertently convey that cheating is the way to get ahead. Instead of teaching discipline, perseverance, and dedication, we risk instilling values that promote shortcuts and deception.

The Need for Community Pushback

Despite the growing concerns, there seems to be a lack of public pushback against this issue. While this could be attributed to various factors, including fear of defamation or causing rifts within the community, it is essential to address the elephant in the room.

Notable community leaders like the Gracie family, Renzo Gracie, and others hold significant influence in the BJJ world. Their voice and stand on this issue can make a world of difference. Similarly, Sheikh Tahnoon and organizations like the IBJJF need to take a more robust stance on PEDs in the sport.

Towards a Clean Future

To safeguard the integrity of BJJ and grappling, there must be stricter testing protocols and severe penalties for those caught using PEDs. Banning athletes found guilty will send a strong message and deter others from considering this route.

It's also essential to create an environment where whistleblowers feel safe coming forward with information without fear of retribution. Education campaigns about the dangers and consequences of PED use can also play a vital role.

In conclusion, BJJ and grappling have the potential to inspire millions across the world. Let's ensure that the sport's growth is rooted in integrity, fairness, and the core values that made it great in the first place.

Cauliflower Ear and Grappling: Prevention, Treatment, and Potential Pitfalls

 Cauliflower ear, a common yet often misunderstood condition in the world of grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), is a deformity that occurs due to repetitive trauma to the external ear. Wrestlers, BJJ practitioners, and other combat sports athletes are particularly susceptible to developing cauliflower ear. In this article, we'll explore the options available for prevention and treatment when cauliflower ear strikes, as well as the potential pitfalls that can arise when it goes untreated.

Understanding Cauliflower Ear:

Cauliflower ear, scientifically known as auricular hematoma, is caused by blood and other fluids pooling between the skin and cartilage of the ear following trauma. This occurs when the ear sustains repeated impacts or friction, leading to inflammation and separation of the connective tissue. If not managed properly, the ear can harden and take on a cauliflower-like appearance, hence the name.

Prevention Measures:

Preventing cauliflower ear starts with taking preventive measures during training and competition:

1. Ear Protection: Wearing ear protection, such as wrestling headgear or BJJ ear guards, can significantly reduce the risk of cauliflower ear. These protective gear options can help disperse the impact and friction, safeguarding the ears from trauma.

2. Proper Technique: Learning and practicing proper technique in grappling and BJJ can reduce unnecessary ear injuries. Being mindful of how you engage with your opponents can prevent unnecessary pressure on the ears.

3. Immediate Care: If you experience ear trauma during training or competition, seeking immediate care and attention can help prevent or minimize the severity of cauliflower ear. Applying ice and compression to the affected area can be beneficial until professional medical care is obtained.

Treatment Options:

In the unfortunate event that cauliflower ear does occur, seeking proper medical treatment is essential. There are several treatment options available:

1. Aspiration and Compression: In the early stages of cauliflower ear, a medical professional can drain the accumulated fluids through aspiration. They may also use compression to prevent further fluid buildup. Early intervention can help restore the ear to its normal shape and prevent permanent deformity.

2. Surgical Drainage: For more advanced cases of cauliflower ear, surgical drainage may be necessary. A healthcare professional will make an incision to remove the accumulated fluids and then apply compression to prevent further complications.

3. Aftercare: Following treatment, proper aftercare is crucial to ensure a successful recovery. This may include wearing compression dressings, taking prescribed medications, and adhering to follow-up appointments.

Potential Pitfalls:

When cauliflower ear goes untreated or is improperly managed, several complications may arise:

1. Permanent Deformity: Untreated cauliflower ear can harden and become permanent, leading to irreversible deformity. This can affect an athlete's self-esteem and may require corrective surgery.

2. Infection: If the condition is left untreated, the fluid buildup can become infected, leading to severe complications and requiring more aggressive medical intervention.

3. Hearing Loss: In rare cases, untreated cauliflower ear can result in hearing impairment if the ear canal becomes blocked or damaged.

Conclusion:

Cauliflower ear is a common occurrence in grappling and BJJ, but it is not an inevitable consequence. Preventive measures, such as wearing ear protection and practicing proper technique, can significantly reduce the risk. If cauliflower ear does occur, seeking immediate medical treatment and adhering to proper aftercare can help prevent complications and promote successful recovery.

Awareness of the condition and the available options for prevention and treatment are essential for the grappling and BJJ community. By prioritizing preventive measures and promptly addressing any ear injuries, practitioners can protect themselves from the potential pitfalls of cauliflower ear and continue to enjoy their martial arts journey without unnecessary hindrances.

Bodybuilding For BJJ

Competition training for BJJ and grappling can sometimes be demotivating. The constant grind can wear out the body and the mind and it is important to vary training methods. 

One of the best ways to vary training is to spend X hours a week with weight training. Spending just a few hours a week especially with friends and team mates can give you the extra confidence and that extra edge when getting ready for competition. 

Strength plays an important part of grappling no matter what anyone tells you. Grapplers benefit from with explosive strength exercises but whatever you do, there is a mental benefit as well. 

Get some health workouts in guys!!

Take a look at Nick's inspiring weight training videos and take yourself off the mats for a bit while still improving!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCw4QzPM4Rs

Wrestling Game for Grapplers & BJJ

After more than ten years training brazilian jiu jitsu, I definitely feel that in order to achieve the next level of confidence and excellence in technique, one needs to gain a good understanding of wrestling.

When I talk about wrestling, I am talking about freestyle wrestling or amateur wrestling as I believe it is called in the US.

In my view, judo and sambo are also very effective for take-downs, but freestyle wrestling gives a more universal system for taking the opponent down and also controlling the opponent on the ground.

If you are interested in competition in BJJ, the other issue is conditioning. Wrestling is very good for improvement of endurance, cardio conditioning and explosiveness. Most of the gyms I see do very little to prepare you for a real competition environment. Flow rolling, light warm-ups and short rounds are just some of the examples of this kind of behaviour that makes bjj more attractive for the regular guy but at the detriment of improving actual ability to compete at a higher level.

The other thing I would say is that BJJ players are just too happy to go on their back. This is not necessarily bad if you are outstanding guard player but there is a cost to developing this bad habit. As soon as I off-balance a BJJ passer, instead of trying to stay up right and maintaining balance they fall on their back giving up the 2 points for the sweep. A wrestler would avoid this and even use this scramble as an opportunity to counter-attack.

Lastly unlike judo for example, wrestling has some great technique of controlling an opponent from the knees. How often do you pass and the guy tries to grab your leg and sweep you from practically any guard and especially half guard? Very often. A wrestler has additional tools in his arsenal for this eventuality that I think are worth learning even if you don't want to improve your conditioning or compete.

Something to think about. After all after a long time if you feel your growth in BJJ is stalling, you need to change it up. Go do some wrestling and then try to utilize it more in BJJ. Change your game, get into uncomfortable positions. That will for sure make you a better version of yourself.

10 Tips to Improve Your Grappling Game

Whether you are a serious competitor or an avid UFC fan, or just training brazilia jiu jitsu for self defense, we all are looking to improve our grappling game. Here are my tips:

1. Train More :)  obvious but cannot be overlooked. If you have a friend or an extra few hours a week, why not train a little more than your partners. Hours on the mat never lie and you cant find a serious competitor that is not a mat rat or spent years on the mats.

2. Train Smart. This one cannot be overlooked. If you keep doing half guard on white belts, never pass guard or simply are a one hit wonder, you are not going to go very far. Jiu jitsu is a huge game and you have to be proficient in a variety of situations. Get out of your comfort zone, train leglocks if you suck at them... train guard passing if you are a leg lock guy... pass standing if you pass on your knees... do something you dont normally do .... take a white or blue belt and master something new that will take your game to the next level

3. Cross Train. You dont have to be a takedown wizard but you dont want to be the bjj black belt that flops on his bit and knows nothing about taking a guy down... nor do you want to be a judo guy with no ground game. Train a little bit of everything and your overall game will improve

4. Cardio. Technique conquers all they say but I think there should be a caveat and that is you need the cardio. Even if your jiu jitsu game is sick, if you cant handle the pace of your partner you will get tired and lose especially in competition. How you develop cardio is your business. Regular sparring is a fun way of doing it though:)

5. Compete. No matter what they tell you, competing is an important element of grappling and you will progress much faster when you regularly compete. It not only motivates you but you learn from your mistakes. Believe me when you lose in competition, you will remember your mistake for a long time. Get to it!

6. Privates.  It is expensive but if you can afford it or can share a private with a friend, its worth it at any level. Find a guy that you admire, respect. Put together list of questions, problems you have had with your game and figure it out. Spending an hour or two going through positions that are a problem is the ultimate way of training smart. Choking random whitebelts with the same technique you have been doing for 10 years is not going to get you very far.

7. Travel  This could sound strange or unloyal but if you want to be great you have to get out there and learn from as many people as you can. Go to Roger Gracie's Academy in London or Atos Jiu Jitsu in California. Train with the best and learn from the best as much as you can. There are now academies all around the world and in almost every city you go to. Drop an email in advance and visit, you wont regret it. It will be a fresh perspective, different training partners and you might just learn something or see something you havent seen before

8. Drill.  you have to become proficient and beyond in your technique. Hours of drilling will make your game better and accustom your body to new positions and moves. You will also wear your body out less by spending time on drilling.

9. Open mats. Open mats are often held at many academies around the world. Why not come by and roll with some tough guys from other academies. You will develop better cardio and gain access to training partners you dont know. I think too many academies have relatively low level of bjj among students so training with a tougher group of competitors could be beneficial to leave your ego at the door and learn.

10. Ask questions. I think this one is the most critical of all. You need to constantly ask your instructor questions, Questions about techniques, questions about mistakes or positions you lose. This one will really separate you from the others., After class stay and take a few minutes to try to figure out some errors you made 

ADCC 2011

Awesome event, certainly one of the coolest grappling events out there, really enjoyed watching it on Budovideos.com and its a real shame I couldnt make it to the event in person.

So many great fights, some performance dissapointments but also a lot of great guys displaying great skill. Its amazing to me that some guys like Xande Ribeiro that thrashed everone in 2009 now finds it more difficult. Is the level of grappling rising in the divisions? Well, Marcelo Garcia certainly showed that he is still the top dog in the middleweight divisions showing some incredible grappling prowess. I hope to see more of him.

Really a big shame Lucio Lagarto did not get further but the level of competition is extremely high.

A great thank you to Budovideos guys that have made the event available via the internet to so many jiu jitsu and grappling fans. Look forward to going to the next one in person!

Grappling Proves MMA Wrong

While it has been virtually accepted that to win an MMA fight against the best you have to be a well-rounded fighter, today guys with great grappling continue to prove people wrong.

Grappling is a difficult and sophisticated art to master. The ADCC, the Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championships is the biggest event in the sport so far but it is clear that there are few who can deliver an all rounded game in grappling.

Grappling seems to have two crucial elements. The first is takedowns. Takedowns are critical in an MMA fight, but in grappling they can mean the difference between winning and losing against a strong jiu jitsu player. Freestyle wrestlers perhaps have the best takedowns in the sport. UFC fighters like Brock Lesnar, Velasquez, Matt Hughes, GSP and many others have shown that their ability to take down their opponents makes them superior fighters.

Jiu jitsu is the second part of grappling however. If you have great takedowns, you also need to pass the guard and submit your opponent. Most wrestlers who for the first time meet a jiu jitsu fighter struggle here. Jiu jitsu guys are phenomenal fighting from the guard and their amazing guard retention makes it difficult not only to escape every submission attempt but also to get anywhere from there.

Judo is a great takedown martial art but it is mainly a gi-focused art. Judo without the gi can be difficult to do when you have a freestyle wrestler facing you who is looking for a single or double leg.

Don't get me wrong. I am a great fan of the gi game and Judo, but to be successful in grappling you need to have a great takedown defense. You have to defend a single leg and counter yourself and I think Judo does not prepare you in this case.

Jake Shields is a great example of a guy that is not the king of grappling but has mastered it well enough to cause trouble for guys even as good as Dan Henderson. You can't submit Henderson but he has shown that you can consistently take him down, pass his guard and cause trouble. This is something that GSP has managed to do in his division as well.

Other guys like Frank Mir and even Shinya Aoki have shown the opposite. Their wrestling is poor and they try to rely on unorthodox and less effective takedowns . Once they are on the ground, they can do their magic, but without a good takedown they are not going to win the match against a great striker and here is the great flaw.

Jake Shields I think just proves how effective grappling is though. Dan Henderson was so much better at the strand up striking game but by setting up his takedowns and getting the fight to the ground Shields managed to defend his title against a guy that was highly favoured to win and who seemed a lot bigger and more powerful than him.

Grappling Open Moscow Competition in May 2010

Lion Sports Club will hold an open grappling competition for all in Moscow, Russia in the middle of May this year. I understand there will be teams from across the country competing from a whole range of disciples including jiu jitsu, sambo, judo and wrestling.

Here is the link for more information: http://sportclublion.ru/portal2/component/content/article/19-introscroller/126-announce

More news to follow, stay here

Grappler Hall of Fame

Once every 50 or 100 years, there comes a champion so great that it is seemingly impossible to defeat him. Grappling sports have developed over decades and below are a few legends that have entered the hall of fame and will remain there for many years to come.

Judo - Masahiko Kimura

The world will never really know but most agree that Kimura was the greatest judoka that ever lived. Kimura is famous for many things. His incredible tough training is well known with training regimes averaging nine hours a day that resulted in concussion for his sparring partners. He trained by doing one thousand push-ups in a row.

At the age of only 30, the Judo legend attained 7th Dan and an unprescedented list of competition accomplishments. Today, the reverse ude-garami arm lock is commonly known as the "kimura" in the jiu jitsu and judo circles after his impressive victory of the brazilian jiu jitsu founder and champion Helio Gracie.

Sambo - Alexander Pushnitsa

Alexander is perhaps one of the greatest Sambo players that ever was having achieved more in the discipline than any other competitor throughout his exciting 20 year career span. Three years after gaining the title of master of sports he became USSR champion. His titles include 3-times World Sambo Champion (1974, 1979, 1983), 3-times World Cup winner (1977, 1980, 1987), 2-times European Champion (1976, 1984), 9-times USSR Champion (1974-1980, 1983, 1984), 7-times Russian National Champion.

Pushnitsa after becoming USSR champion in 1974 went undefeated until 1981. His trainer Vasiliy Grozin said about him "Pushnitsa is like any other fighter, just wins more often".

Freestyle Wrestling - Alexander Medved

Alexander Medved is one of the most accomplished free-style wrestlers of our time. A Soviet/Russian/Belurussian wrestler famous in his home country, he has been the first to ever win three gold medals in World Championships ever and was named the greatest freestyle wrestler of the twentieth century by FILA. He is 7x World champion and 3x European champion.

Greco-roman Wrestling - Alexander Karelin

Alexander Karelin throughout his brilliant career was the most dominant Greco-Roman wrestler of all time and universally considered so to the present day. He competed at the heaviest weight class of his day at 130kg and was known for his superhuman strength, incredible conditioning and a reverse body lift nicknamed "Karelin Lift".

Karelin's unbeaten streak was 13 years until his only defeat in the Olympic finals in 2000 to Rulon Gardner. He holds 3 Olympic gold medals (and one silver) and World Championship gold medals for every year between 1989-1999.

Jiu Jitsu and Grappling - Roger Gracie

Roger Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 2nd degree black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr. and perhaps the most accomplished submission fighters of all time. (and still competing) Not only has he won the BJJ World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (the Mundials) a record 8 times including 6 time in this weight class and twice at open weight but he is a multiple time ADCC Champion and the only person to submit all of his eight opponents taking Gold in his division and in the absolute.

Roger Gracie is a phenomenon that we will hear more about soon. A competitor that has proven that basic jiu jitsu fundamentals can be used to defeat even the toughest opponents.

Greatest Submission Fighters of All Time - ADCC Athletes Ranking

Gracie Magazine has kindly compiled a ranking of all the ADCC competitors and ranked them based on their accomplishments. Please see link here.
It is exciting to see how the top athletes of today compare to the legends like Royler Gracie and Mark Kerr, who have dominated in the past. Well done Gracie Mag!

What surprised me of course was how high Jeff Monson is on the list. He is higher on the list than many others, even higher than Roger Gracie, but I guess not for long since Roger will certainly return in ADCC 2011 as strong as ever.

Mark Kerr of course took the top position, closely followed by Mario Sperry and Marcelo Garcia. Marcelo Garcia however is set to take the top spot as he will undoubtedly take gold in his division this year as well. It is also exciting to see so many faces that have not competed for years come and participate like Ricardo Arona and Saulo Ribeiro. Both should do well but can they pull off winning their divisions, I don't know especially if Saulo competes in the +99kg.

Jacare vs Drysdale will be an exciting highlight but I am betting Xande will be in the absolute final and will probably take the most prestigious gold in the competition.

Anyway, I will be there, so look forward to seeing pictures and if you can't wait then watch the event live or on video on demand. Please click here if you are interested.

Gi or No-Gi: a few thoughts on the subject

Should one train with or without the gi many ask. I would like to give some of my thoughts on the subject in this article.

Gracie Magazine had a good page with all the experts giving their opinions on the subject a couple of months back. The traditional view is that one should train with the gi and then once he has absorbed the fundamentals of jiu jitsu he can transition to no-gi while continuing to train in the gi.

This traditional view is no often debated as jiu jitsu continues to evolve and new techniques are developed like the Rubber Guard for example. Guys like Eddie Bravo will tell you that it worth starting your jiu jitsu training without the gi. There are certainly fewer moves and if you are training in mixed martial arts, you don't have the gi to work with.

Training with the gi is no doubt more technical. There are far more techniques available here and in a way you get used to relying on the opponents gi which can be a bad habit. For both it is a little strange to transition from one style to the other.

Some also argue that no-gi is more effective in real life for self-defense purposes. You or your opponent may not have a gi and for this reason it is worthwhile training without it. The same argument also works the other way as well and I would argue that from standing the argument is especially strong. During the colder seasons of the year everyone has a coat or something to grab. Here judo players would no doubt be at a great advantage performing throws that could be very effective especially if you land on concrete. With the gi you have so much more control and you have many more options. You can use the spider-guard, you can use chokes, you can use the additional control to carryout effective sweeps.

The central issue is that everyone has his own opinion on this and that is mainly based on the background of the person. Wrestlers prefer no-gi while judo and often jiu jitsu guys like the gi.

The other issue is how exciting to watch each of the sports are. Many opinions here also. No-gi grappling is much more dynamic, much faster but less technical. Gi jiu jitsu like the BJJ World Championships are a great display of highly technical ground game and judo from stand up. I think that both are great as long as the opponents really look for the submission and do not focus on defense and stalling.

ADCC 2009 will be a very exciting event and I will be there to enjoy it:)

ADCC more invitees announced

Some more names are now being announced for the ADCC 2009.

We have got

-65.9kg: Baret Yoshida. USA

-76.9kg: Pablo Popovich. USA

-87.9kg: Daniel Tabera. Spain


All are very experienced fighters and have competed in the ADCC in the past.

I think I'm going to have to make a table for the invitees so we can see everyone on one page broken down by category plus the superfight Robert Drysdale vs Roger Gracie which is going to be extremely awesome. More to come I gather.

I heard some rumor that Fedor Emelianenko might not be participating. Nothing on the ADCC official website about this however but with so much going on with Affliction and his career, who knows what is going to happen in the next month or two. Just have to hope for the best.

I have heard of the first two, Yoshida and Popovitch but not Tabera since he is less acomplished than the other two. Daniel Tabera of course has additional pressure among these guys since he will be representing Spain. Good luck to him.

my road to mastering grappling

When I started learning bjj, I had already some experience. I did some Judo a few years back for a year while at university and also a year and a half of traditional jiu jitsu. My first class was not really much of a surprise actually. I always knew I enjoyed learning and becoming good at groundwork vs. the stand up game since I was naturally much better at it than stand-up judo.

BJJ techniques I loved from the start. My first technique that I started to apply after very few lessons successfully was the scissor sweep. It is basically the first one you learn and it is probably a very difficult one to carry out successfully against and advanced player. Some I heard say it is obsolete, but I found that I could do very well with it and it showed me how much more there is to learn.

Watching DVD instructionals helped a lot. Personally my next big step as I saw it was learning about the half guard and how effective it really was. As a Judo player I saw the bottom half-guard position as highly disadvantageous and really had little idea how to improve from it. I basically focused on getting back to closed guard instead of sweeping. So when I finally saw Saulo Ribeiro demostrate his half guard techniques in his Revolution 1 series, I was really amazed. I simply could not believe how much there was to the position and I further was impressed when I watched Rigan Machado's DVD "Secrets of the Half-Guard". The half-guard for me turned out to be fundamental. For those looking to improve this part of their game, I really recommend starting by pulling half-guard in sparring and developing from there by practicing some of the basic sweeps and then passes.

My preference is really to sweep and pass the guard. I love to submit opponents but when I train I feel that submission is not as important to carry out as achieving a good position. This is because submission often requires strength and I prefer to develop my positional game further rather than spending a lot of time trying to apply a certain submission during training. I also try to as our masters tell us to give weaker players a chance. It is actually very satisfying to give your weaker opponent an opportunity and then fight back with your own technique.

It is certainly great to cross-train in both jiu jitsu and judo. I've always loved rolling with strong judokas. The game is a little different and I am very aware of the pins. It is good practice on working not to be pinned by your opponent. Of course you get to display your superior groundwork as well. Judokas can be extremely athletic and strong. I think it is worthwhile practicing against every kind of opponent and taking something away out of every defeat.

Having sometimes grappled with Sambo players, I have also focused on my leg lock defenses and in particular the straight ankle lock. When I first sparred against a Sambo player having been only trained in Judo, I was very surprised. The guy was very quick to go for the straight ankle lock and I simply was not prepared. I did not know what to do and instinctively tried to stand up but was too slow to do so and had to quickly tap out. This was a lesson that taught me that I had to learn those as well and showed me that Judo was not complete.

Jiu jitsu, judo, sambo. Really all these are one single art. The art of grappling and submission. It will almost certainly take me many many years to master this art. And I am only talking about the with-gi side. To me it seems there is no universal truth here. No one has completely mastered the art but there are many guys that have mastered the foundations and have gone beyond them and I really hope to do so myself one day.

ADCC 2009!!!

Ok quickly, for those that don't know ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) Submission Wrestling World Championship is a competition for professional athletes who have been successful at the highest levels of Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Judo, Sambo, Shooto and Mixed Martial Arts. The rules disallow strikes while promoting grappling and submissions.

This is one of the most prestigious and exciting events combining different styles of grappling and minimizing restrictions. The competition was created by Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the son of the former United Arab Emirates president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, together with his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor Nelson Monteiro. The first competition took place on March 20, 21 & 22, 1998 in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. (Source: Wikipedia)

In the past many stars have competed in this tournament including Royler & Renzo Gracie as well as top-players of today including Xande Ribeiro, Roger Gracie and Jacare. (in fact almost all top stars have competed here since this is the biggest no-gi tournament around)

Now here is the link to the 2009 tournament link

I am telling you it is going to be amazing. This year it will be held in Barcelona, Spain at the end of September. This is going to be a tournament that even a remote fan is going to want to see. They havent announced the full list of competitors yet but......... just think, it is official, Fedor Emelianenko will be participating. The greatest MMA fighter ever. Everyone is going to want to be there, watch, fight it doesnt matter.

I think it is going to be very interesting. Yes jiu jitsu is very different to Sambo, but a guy with so much experience, training and ability, it will be very interesting to see how the fight goes. Of course I would also love to see Xande, Roger, Jacare and Monson there together with the other heavyweights.

Lets keep our eyes open for this one. This is going to be a sensation for the martial arts world.