Purple belt middleweight division at the 2013 NY Summer Open. Photo: Erin Herle
As per usual, the IBJJF tournament is set for its on-time delivery of matches starting at 9 a.m. The 2014 New York Spring Open will be held on the west side of the north end of Manhattan on Saturday, April 12.
The location for the event is at the Nat Holman Gymnasium at the City College of New York: 160 Convent Ave. New York, NY 10031.
The black belt divisions begin at the perfect time: twelve noon. The open weight division begins not long after at 2:20 p.m. giving the perfect window for a spectator to admire the top skill levels.
Some matches to watch out for in the black belt divisions will be JT Torres of Atos Jiu-Jitsu in the same division as former Team Lloyd Irvin teammate DJ Jackson at middleweight. As the only two in the division, their first match will also be a final– but that is a match that can carry that kind of standard.
AJ Agazarm of Gracie Barra in the lightweight division alongside Diogo Almeida of Gracie Barra, Rafael Barbosa of Renzo Gracie and Chicago native Bricklin Welch of Team Redzovic. Another in the mix is Boston Spring Open stand-out Gianni Grippo of Alliance Marcelo Garcia at featherweight who will face David Trader of Big Brothers.
Also in play will be Antonio Antonioli of Atos Jiu-Jitsu in the heavyweight category who also won the Boston Spring Open this past weekend. He will perhaps face GMA member Christian Uflacker of Uflacker Academy in Chicago.
