Even Braulio Estima is a fan of Romulo Barral! Photo: Instagram
The 10th reason out of the 18 for following/participating in the 2013 World Championship involves the stardom and achievements of the top athletes. But this motivation is not for those athletes, but rather the fans like you who want to meet them.
Reason #10: Share the same space with your Jiu-Jitsu idols and get to know them at the Long Beach Pyramid.
The legends of Jiu-Jitsu, as the saying goes, are simply white belts who never gave up. With that, these champions have given us something to aim for, something to motivate us, learn from and appreciate for paving paths. Even though some are only in their early twenties, these are our idols and they have taught us a lot.
The 2013 World Championship is held each year at the Long Beach Walter Pyramid and while it is a rather large venue, you will surely run into your favorite Jiu-Jitsu stars. There is no VIP area. The bullpen you wait inside is the same bullpen the top black belts wait inside. You share the same refs, the same gi checkers, mat coordinators, same mats.
The ability to meet and talk to your favorite grapplers is not hard at all, just simply talk to them. Most are around days before they compete so they can coach students and scope out the landscape. The seats you sit in to watch the matches are the same ones shared with these athletes who are doing the same thing as you: Learning.
Being at the venue brings many chances to meet your idols so don’t be scared they’ll bite!
If you have yet to sign up to compete at the 2013 World Championship you can do so here: www.ibjjf.org
