Deneatra talks candidly about shutting down and fighting back at her first Worlds. Deneatra suffers from PTSD stemming from a brutal assault.

If you have never been disoriented, a hyped-up athletic competition certainly can get you to that point. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the Worlds is like the Olympics for all other sports. The best-of-the-best come from all over the world to compete for the opportunity to say I am the World Champion.

The moment I stepped onto that mat at the Pyramid Arena, I couldn't hear a thing. In that split second, I withdrew. All these thoughts of ‘firsts’ started rushing through my mind. My competitor and I shook hands…Combatchee. The next thing I know, I was flat on my stomach and completely disoriented. I wasn't sure where I was or what I was doing there. I felt pressure thrust into my back and I had a flash of me training for the very first time, no confidence, no desire, no idea where the journey would lead.

All of a sudden, a familiar voice brings me back to the room. It was faint but I could hear someone shouting to me and I couldn't quite make out what was being said. A flash hit me again and I was seeing my very first competition, so clumsy, so unsure, and not able to tell which voice I should listen to. I feel a shift as I turtle and the voice became clearer. I heard my professor guiding me. I was back in the room and begin to realize my competitor was attempting to set me up for an arm bar. At that moment, my face got scratched and again I was gone, back at my home based gym attending my first competition training. I was preparing for Worlds. I was focused; I was confident. I am borderline psychotic about my training regimen.

Once again, I heard a familiar voice. This voice was different; this was the voice of a teammate. This was the voice of the teammate who had consistently helped me train since I began my journey in BJJ. She had trained with me daily, prepared me for every competition, and helped me get to Worlds. The moment I heard her voice it was as if all the what-ifs began to subside. I fully returned to the room and back to reality. I was able to capitalize off my competitor’s arm bar attempt and passed her guard. The moment that happened, it was as if no one else was in the arena. I could hear two voices and only two voices.

By now, my competitor and I were standing. I attempted a single leg take down; she stumbled but did not fall. We were evenly matched position for position and then.... TIME. It was over. I let out the biggest sigh and smiled. When I began BJJ, I had no idea where it would lead. I was proud of what I had accomplished. A year has passed since I took my first step in BJJ and little did I know my first step towards Worlds. I am 31 years old. I started BJJ at 30. I attended Worlds as a one stripe white belt and I lost. My loss was a victory to me. I showed up, I utilized my training and I know that I left everything out there on that mat. I have NO regrets.

Deneatra M Terry is a white belt at  training under 3rd Degree Black Belt Bruno Alves. BJJ Legends is excited to welcome Deneatra to our family of bloggers.

Deneatra & team at Worlds                              Lana Hunter and Deneatra Terry

Buy Luciano T-shirt here -> JamminBJJ.org 

Designed by Seattle-area artist Javier Villalpando of Revolver MMA to support Luciano Mariano and his first trip the United States to compete at the IBJJF World Championships.

JamminBJJ is a non-profit affiliate of the CarlyStowellFoundation that brings gis to athletes that need them, both in Brazil and the US (Give the Gift of a Gi). We also provide financial aid so that all athletes can experience participation in BJJ.

Luciano Mariano is a blue belt BJJ fighter from the municipality of Japeri in Rio. He lost both of his arms at the elbow after a crib fire and competes despite being a double-arm amputee.  He will be competing in his first ever international tournament in the rooster-weight division at Worlds next weekend. His trip was made possible through JamminBJJ, The Challenged Athlete Foundation and donations from the ever-supportive Jiu-Jitsu community. Jiu-Jitsu can change lives, build character, give hope and help athletes fulfill their lifelong dreams.

Questions? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NEWS RELEASE

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athlete, Garcia, Accepts Finding Of No Fault And Loss Of Results

Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 26, 2014)- USADA announced today that Gabrielle Lemos Garcia of São Paulo, Brazil, an athlete in the sport of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has tested positive for a prohibited substance, which was determined to have been ingested by her without fault or negligence, and will lose competitive results.

Garcia, 28, tested positive for Clomiphene as the result of an in-competition urine sample she provided on June 2, 2013 at the International Brazillian Jiu- Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Long Beach, Calif. USADA was contracted by IBJJF to conduct testing for the event and collected Garcia’s sample in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency International Standard for Testing.

Clomiphene is a prohibited substance in the category of “Hormone and Metabolic Modulators”  under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (the “Code”) and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. Clomiphene is classified as a Specified Substance, and therefore the presence of Clomiphene in an athlete’s sample can result in a reduced sanction.

After a thorough review of the case, USADA was able to conclude, to a comfortable satisfaction, that Garcia had not acted negligently and was not at fault for the positive test. Although Garcia was not found to be at fault or to have acted negligently, in accordance with the Code, a violation of the anti-doping rules in connection with an In-Competition test automatically leads to the disqualification of all results obtained in that competition.  While her results from the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships shall be disqualified, Garcia did not receive a period of ineligibility and, in accordance with the Code, remains eligible to compete.

In an effort to aid athletes, as well as all support team members such as parents and coaches, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on its website on the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (www.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, periodic newsletters, and protocol and policy reference documentation.

USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.

CONTACT:

Annie Skinner, Media Relations Manager
Phone: (719) 785-2046
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Link to News Release on USADA site: http://www.usada.org/media/sanction-garcia32614

Sofia Amarante wrote on her donations page, “I have a great chance to become the First American Female to win the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship as a black belt.” It is 2013 and there has never been an American to win gold in the Female black belt division?

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship came to the US from Rio de Janeiro Brazil in 2007. This move helped make the sport much more accessible to American athletes male and female. In 2007, Emily Kwok won the middle weight black belt division. Emily, “Japan, to be more specific I was born in Aomori, Japan.” She is the first Canadian to win the worlds and one of the first non-Brazilians. “I was 19 when I moved to the US. We immigrated to Canada when I was one and a half years old and I was raised speaking Japanese only until I went to elementary. My father is Chinese from Hong Kong and tri-lingual.” She continues, “Try Penny Thomas or Laurence Cousins.”

Penny is South African and Laurence French.

Read More ->

We have all heard the same BJJ rise-to-fame story. It usually consists of the same formulated components. Against the odds, rising through the grueling ranks. Competing in a multitude of tournaments and rising victorious countless times. The story usually stars a captivating human being who is Personality-rich, genuine and down-to-earth.

For Beneil Dariush, the components are the same but with heavy emphasis on the last detail. Beneil (Benny) began training three days after his 18th birthday. Training under Bruno (Mamute) Paulista at Ralph Gracie Anaheim, CA since the day it opened, Benny earned his brown belt in just three years, along the way winning multiple prestigious events which include: White Belt World Champion, Blue Belt Pan Am Champion, Blue Belt World Silver Medal, Purple Belt Pan Am Silver Medal (absolute), Purple Belt World Silver Medal, Brown Belt Pan Am Bronze, and Blue-Brown No Gi World Champion.

Read More->

Attention 2010 Worlds competitors:

According to the IBJJF website there are some strict rules regarding placement of gi patches.

http://www.ibjjf.org/rules.htm

Article 13 Rule 9 Shows this image with the proper placement for all your patches:

The Portuguese states "Above the knee", "Below the knee" -> "Leave a 15cm gap between the patch and the hem of the pants."

On the back of the pants the patch cannot be wider than 10cm.  (Seems butt patches are out.)

Help a friend and pack a seam ripper. People were charging $10 to remove a patch in previous years.

Thank you to Mafu for bringing this to our attention.

Kris