Queen of Mats: BJJ and Women
In a huge win for women’s BJJ the AJP tour held it's first-ever Abu Dhabi Queen of Mats (ADQOM) in Rio de Janeiro this month. ADQOM Bronze Medalist, Bianca Basilio says: “It means a lot to us that are competing and living from the sport. It is an important recognition, as women are increasingly representing the best jiu-jitsu everywhere in the world.”
Life Grappling: How BJJ Benefits Young People
If you missed the news: BJJ is great for your body and mind! The internet is literally covered in articles about how it will transform your life, but what about the benefits for young people? You can understand why a fun sport with a strong sense of community would attract interest, but BJJ is more than that. It's key elements are actually great building blocks for life: physical activity, discipline, perseverance,
How to begin: a guide for BJJ white belts
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an amazing martial art that can teach anyone to how to use leverage to defeat opponents larger than us, but in your first few weeks BJJ might seem larger than you. Learning anything new can be a challenge, and there's more to BJJ than jumping on the mats and pulling your first closed guard. Maybe you are new to BJJ or have been wanting to start
Am I too old to start BJJ?
Are you dreaming of taking up BJJ, but worried that you’ve missed the boat? Becoming World Number 1 might be a stretch, but it’s never too late to get hooked on BJJ and get in shape. In fact one of the greatest allures of this sport is how the right skills can overcome gender, body size or age when grappling with an opponent. However, you might need a bit more
Bruno Alves’ goodbye to Abu Dhabi
It’s January 2011 and 27-year-old Bruno Alves stands opposite World Champion Claudio Calasans in the centre of a packed stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. It’s the final day of the IBJJF European Championship and these two titans are about to fight for gold in the adults black belt middle weight division. It’s a gruelling battle that goes down to the wire but Claudio clutches victory in the final seconds. Competing in
