Tijuca Tennis Club gymnasium. Photo: GRACIEMAG
Once again, the International Masters and Seniors Championship promises to be a great feast for lovers of Jiu-Jitsu in Rio de Janeiro, and this time even the Pope will be in town. The blackbelts, masters and grandmasters spring into action over the weekend of 27 and 28 July at the Tijuca Tennis Club.
Among those enrolled in the masters’ are Felipe Costa and Leandro Escobar (rooster), Douglas Rufino, João Marques and Marcio Oliveira (light featherweight), Denilson Pimenta and Theodoro Canal (lightweight), Adriano Silva and Alan Finfou (middleweight), Paulo Pinto and Rodrigo Pinheiro (medium-heavyweight), Thiago Reinaldo and Gabriel Souto (ultra-heavy).
Among the even more experienced are Osiris Maia, Adimilson “Juquinha” Brites, Gabriel Willcox and Cicero Costha, all in search of gold medals in the seniors’ section.
Adults also have their turn the following week at the Rio Open.
Those signed up for the IBJJF tournament include again Alan Finfou, Willcox, Theodoro Canal and Adriano Silva, as well as Leonardo Cascão, Isaque Paiva, Kim Terra and Erick Raposo (feather), AJ Agazarm and Caio Cipriano (lightweight), Jake Mackenzie, Luis Gustavo, Bruno Ramos and Augusto “Tio Chico” Vieira(middle), Felipe Pena, Rodrigo Fajardo and Kleber Buiú(medium-heavy), Leonardo Maciel, Diogo Almeida and Helvecio Penna (heavy), João Gabriel and Afrânio Silva (super-heavy), Igor Silva, Ricardo
Evangelista and Thiago Gaia(ultra-heavy).
In an unexpected note, current two-time world lightweight champ Leandro Lo is signed up for the medium-heavyweight class. Will he be testing his game amongst the big guys?
The Brazilian Federation (CBJJ) will disclose the full schedule on their website by Saturday, and the brackets will be released on Wednesday. Check out all the athletes confirmed by clicking here.
