The United States Jiu-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) was founded in 2002 in order to represent, promote and regulate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the United States. USJJF is directly affiliated with the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), an association that was first started by Master Carlson Gracie, the head of Gracie Barra and son of Carlos Gracie. Keep in mind that IBJJF is connected with all the local federations around the world including a close affiliation with the Confederacao Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Confederation). The Confederacao Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu is an organization that is well established in Brazil where the sport is highly popular and follows established guidelines.
The USJJF and IBJJF have united to bring about an annual competition involving popular international events including the well known Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championship (also known as the “Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championships”). The Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championships has helped to attract athletes from all over the United States. The unification of the USJJF and IBBJF has brought about a continuous growth of prestige and media exposure which serves as foundations for the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in our American territory.
The growth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has generated a strong consumer market and has spread through all sorts of media including magazines, television and even internet websites. The powerful influence of this martial art has helped evolutionize Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), the fastest growing sport in the world today. More and more skillful fighters are integrating the use of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to their everyday training, which helps them tremendously when their fights are taken to the ground. The fighter can use this technique to submit their opponent or to minimize physical damage.
The Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championships was founded in 1995 and it started with 250 athletes that took part in the pioneering and historical establishment. Since then, the tournament has changed in so many ways. Today, the Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championships is considered the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition in North America and one of the most important events on this planet.
The 2009 Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championships will take place on March 27th, 28th and 29th in California State University Dominguez Hills, in Carson, California. Over 1500 competitors have signed up to this year’s tournament, which sets a new record for this event.
Rules of 2009 Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championships:
Junior 16/17 year-olds
Only bluebelts
Men and Women
16 and 17 year-olds will compete in the same division
Athletes born on 1992 and 1993 are eligible to compete
Fight time: 5 minutesAdults
The division is open for everyone, but athletes of other age divisions willing to compete here will not be allowed to fight in their own division (athletes can only enroll in one age division)
Fight time:
bluebelts – 6 minutes
purplebelts – 7 minutes
brownbelts – 8 minutes
blackbelts -10 minutesMasters (30-35)
Athletes born between 1974 and 1979
Fight time: Bluebelts – 5 minutes
Purple/brown/blackbelts – 6 minutes
Men onlySeniors 1 (36-40)
Athletes born between 1969 and 1973.
Fight time: all belts – 5 minutes Men onlySeniors 2 (41-45)
Athletes born between 1964 and 1968.
Fight time: all belts – 5 minutes Men onlySeniors 3 (over 46)
Athletes born in 1963 and before.
Fight time: all belts – 5 minutes Men onlyWomen
There will be six weight divisions (check weight list)
Brown and blackbelts will compete in the same division
Adults only
Fight time: Bluebelts – 6 minutes
Fight time: Purplebelts – 7 minutes
Fight time: Brown/blackbelts – 10 minutes
Weigh-In Rules:
Before his/her first fight, the athlete will check his/her weight with the Gi. There is only one opportunity to check the weight. If the competitor does not make his/her weight,they will be immediately disqualified. Please make sure that you are in the correct weight division. You can not change divisions ,if you do not make your designated division. No changes will be accepted in the tournament day, no refund.
All athletes should fight and weigh-in with traditional weave fabric gi only (single, double or golden). All blue, all white or all black. No other kind of gi is allowed.
Rinaldo Santos, trained under Carlos Gracie, is currently prepared to make a statement come March 27th, 2009. He represents Rinaldo’s Jiu-Jitsu Academy which is located on Internatinal Drive in Orlando, Florida. Rinaldo holds a 2nd degree black belt and was a member of the famous Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu team. He trained with popular Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu names including Clovis DaSilva, Ricardo De La Riva, Crezio de Souza, Sergio de Souza, Carlos Rosado, Rodrigo Medeiros, Ricardo Diego, Wallid Ismail, Carlson Gracie Jr., Murico Bustamante, Mario Sperry, Marcelo Alonso, and Luis Manimal.
Rinaldo is well known for his 21 years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experience, his purple belt in Judo and the experience he has gained through a variety of competitions he has participated in. The next step he has been wanting to achieve is to triumph against top competitors at the 2009 Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championships. Rinaldo is both mentally and physically prepared to compete with high-quality athletes that may have equal or more experience in this martial art. We wish our very good friend Rinaldo Santos the best of luck in this upcoming tournament.
Important quote from Rinaldo Santos:
“Carlson Gracie taught me Jiu-Jitsu, he prepared me for life and taught me to use my skills for good, to help those in need, and to never hide anything from my students.”
Click here to learn more on Rinaldo Santos and the Rinaldo’s Jiu-Jitsu Academy
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