Draculino Team MarbellaBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Marbella, Spain

This past weekend, the Gracie-Barra Andalucia team traveled to Granada to compete in the Copa Granada BJJ tournament, hosted by Luis Zarate. Several of our usual competitors couldn’t make the event, and Edson couldn’t compete due to his recovering elbow injury, but even with a relatively small team, Edson coached the team to take home third place overall in the team competition.

• Marcelo – First Place. Marcelo Uirapuru Azevedo won the black-belt superfight at the end of the day with a triangle submission 40 seconds into the fight. What a great way to announce his arrival in Spain!

• Jose Antonio. Jose Antonio had a very tough fight in the purple belt division, losing to the 110 kg competitor (and eventual champion) on points.

• Pablo Paleta – Third Place. Paleta finished third in the purple belt division. Even though he lost to the eventual champion of the division, his fight was considered one of the best and most technical of the whole event, as he moved from technique to technique against the competitor almost twice his size.

• Matt – Second Place. Matt finished second place in the purple belt division, winning his first fight, and then losing in the finals.

• Leo – First Place. Leo won the blue belt absolute division, and was also considered among the most technical fighters on the day. He just keeps getting better and better.

• Juan – First Place Juan continued to demonstrate a great progression as he won the white belt division with control and technique.

• Aida. Aida lost her first fight, but put in a very good performance, nearly securing a triangle. She keeps getting better and better.

• Hans. Hans also had a tough first fight, overcoming some initial breathing difficulties, to nearly win. Hans also demonstrates better and better performance in each event.

• Roberto Roberto was having a good first fight, but lost by disqualification on an unfortunate technicality (something legal in grappling, but not in BJJ).

• Tanya Tanya gained experience in her BJJ tournament, losing to the eventual champion of the division.

• Javi Javi demonstrated a great take-down, but lost a close one in his first fight.

Team results:

1. Furia Kioto
2. Zarate Team
3. Gracie-Barra Andalucia

Photo Album:

Thanks to our new photographer extrodinaire Carole, we’ve got another GREAT set of photos for you. Carole is a new student with us. She runs a new interior design and architecture business in Marbella, so if you need some talent in that area, well, look no further!

• Click here to see the Copa Granada Photo Album

Other links:

• Official Results
• Event discussion in FightSol Forums

Big thanks to Luis Zarate for putting on a great event. We look forward to next year!

This morning, as I was driving to the Muteki Dojo in Málaga for our four-hour seminar with Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhães, I have to say I was thinking about the questionable value of such events in an age where you can find half a million techniques instantly available on YouTube.

Well, today I was reminded that, when offered by a true “maestro”, the concept of the seminar still has its very important place in the training of the serious martial arts practitioner! The seminar was, in a word, excellent.

Draculino, who runs his famous academy in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, is known around the world as one of the best BJJ/grappling instructors on the planet. He’s the instructor of our own teachers, Edson “Sururu” Jorge and Marcelo “Uirapuru” Azevedo. And he’s been the trainer of famous athletes such as Vitor Belfort, Babalu , and Romulo Barral — recently crowned world champion in the Brazilian Mundiales.

Draculino came to town to inaugurate the opening of the Gracie-Barra Andalucia academy in Muteki Dojo, in Málaga, Spain. (The Muteki Dojo, by the way, is one of the nicest martial arts gyms I’ve seen here in Spain!) The seminar was split into two sessions — morning focusing on Gi (kimono) techniques, and the afternoon focussed on grappling (no-gi). It was a full house, as we had nearly 20 participants, coming from Marbella, Malaga, and as far away as Sevilla.

In both sessions, Draculino carefully examined some of the classical positions — arm drag with kimono, and no-gi attacks from the back. As any BJJ/grappling practitioner will recognize immediately, these are very common positions in the fight. What Draculino offered in the seminar, was an indepth study of the evolution of these positions, analyzing many of the defenses and counter attacks. In each session, we were shown improvements on classical techniques and shown some techniques that are completely new, never before seen. They were some simple techniques, and some complex techniques — but I was particularly impressed that all the techniques are directly applicable in a fight. Overall, it was a great seminar!

On behalf of all the participants in the seminar, we want so offer a big “Thank You” to Draculino for an amazing seminar, and we are looking forward to his return next year, to continue helping to guide the evolution of the sport.