Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Monday, September 19, 2022
ADCC 2022: The Yankees Are Here
A friend of mine who knows nothing of grappling but did know that I was especially excited for this week's event asked me which country tended to do the best at ADCC.
Up until very recently, this was a pretty easy question to answer.
But now it looks like the 2022 ADCC will be the first one to feature more gold medals for the U.S. than for any other country - including historic ADCC gold medal-collector Brazil.
2022 ADCC Division Champions
- 66 kg Brazil
- 77kg USA - Won all matches by submission
- 88kg USA - Submitted IBJJF no gi 2017 division and Absolute champion
- 99kg Brazil
- >99kg USA - Now three-division champion
- Absolute Brazil
- <60 kg Wales
- >60kg USA - Defeated 2019 division champion in semi-finals
That adds up to:
2022: USA 4, Brazil 3, Wales 1
Compare that with this history of Brazilian dominance.
- 2019: Brazil 5, USA 3
- 2017: Brazil 6 USA 2
- 2015 Brazil 6 USA 2
- 2013 Brazil 8 USA 0
- 2011 Brazil 5 USA 1
- 2009 Brazil 6 USA 0
- 2007 Brazil 5 USA 1
- 2005 Brazil 7 USA 1
- 2003 Brazil 4 USA 1 Norway 1
- 2001 Brazil 4 Japan 1 South Africa 1
- 2000 Brazil 4 USA 2
- 1999 Brazil 3 USA 2 Russia 1
- 1998 Brazil 5 USA 1
Friday, September 16, 2022
Gordon Ryan: This Is My Game on Gi
Days before the greatest no-gi grappling competition, and I'm fascinated by Gordon's thoughts about how his game translates into the gi.
"My entire game is like, if you're standing and I'm on bottom, you go into ashi garame. Well, if I have pants to grab, then it's going to be easier to knock you down. If you're on your knees, then I go into butterfly sweeps with sumi gaeshis. If I can get to a belt, and pull you on to me, sumi gaeshis is easier. Then it's forcing half guard from top position. And if I can get to half guard and I can feed a lapel and use a stronger crossface, I can pass your guard easier. And then mount and back, there's just more friction to hold people and more collars to strangle with ..."
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Friday, September 02, 2022
Mega Coral: IBJJF Recognizes Wellington Dias' Coral Belt Promotion
Once upon a time, I used to fantasize about competing in the Masters divisions of some of the IBJJF's biggest events in the U.S. My favorite vision involved winning the Masters 5 division at the Seattle Open and then defending my title against one of the greatest competitors of all time: Wellington "Megaton" Dias.
For a variety of reasons - some more obvious than others - there's little chance of that vision coming true. But I've always kept an eye on Megaton's performances, all the same. His accomplishments are truly inspiring.
Today with the IBJJF Masters underway and having received his Coral belt in March, Megaton was awarded his Coral belt certificate today by the IBJJF.