BJJ World Championship 2009

The Walter Pyramid at California State University, Long Beach.  The mecca of BJJ for 4 full days.

Three weeks ago I received a call.  An opportunity.  To compete in the world championships.  “Think of doing it as a walk on,” urged my sponsor.  And I thought to myself, “Why not?” 

After all, my body felt good.  No neck, knee, or back issues (this is, not coincidentally, largely due to the Ashtanga Yoga practice I’ve begun).  Plus, regular chiropractic care is the cherry on top for the martial athlete.  Everything was aligned for me to have another adventure.

This time, I would do things differently from my last competition (the 2008 Pan Ams).  I felt I made mistakes on several fronts in preparation for it.  First off, too many people knew, and I felt that I took on those expectations of friends and students.  E-mails of encouragement from people I’d never met added to it.  I was stressed, doing everything to cut weight in the last few days, and was grumpy in the process.  I felt that I went into the Pan Ams event weakened and sapped.  I’d go medium heavy this year, as opposed to middleweight.  I never wanted to cut weight like that again.

Another mistake was spending too much time at the event before my match.  Watching a good battle can rob you of energy if you get emotionally swayed through the ups and downs of a roll, especially if you’re rooting for a particular player.  So this year, I would fly in on Saturday, check into the hotel, and step in there before my division started at 5 p.m.  Simply business. 

I was also going without ridiculous expectations.  All but one person loses at the Worlds.  The division I was in is filled with beasts.  I would definitely be light for my division, too.  Weighing in at home, I was 190 pounds with the gi on.  Figured I was giving up 4.5 pounds, but I would later realizing I was giving up more.

Rick Ellis was the only person I told, and we hit the road Saturday morning to make the pilgrimage to the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California, representing Harris International.

We got there about 4:30 p.m., watched a few matches and the middleweight and medium heavy divisions were called to warm up in the bullpen.  It’s a BJJ who’s who down on the floor inside those plastic gates.  You’re shoulder to shoulder with Rickson Gracie, Saulo Ribiero, Victor and Braulio Estima, and many others.  Who just bumped my elbow and apologized?  Oh, it’s Roger Gracie.  No problem bro.  Please don’t collar choke me.

Roger Gracie (right) begins his journey of taking the mount and finishing another fight with a collar choke.

It’s tempting to want to shake hands with these icons and tell them how much you love their jiu jitsu, what an honor it is to meet them, etc.  But it’s neither the time nor place, so I kept to myself, warming up lightly and just being positive and relaxed.  I kept reminding myself it was just for fun, for experience, and to have roll with another black belt.  I was just happy to be part of the show and participating in the process.

Kron Gracie facing off against Lucas Leite in the quarter finals.  Leite edged out Kron by 2 points in a very tight match.

After the match with his father Rickson behind him, and Saulo Ribeiro on the right.

Preston Rawlings and Louie Cercedez (also a BJJ blackbelt under Mr. Harris) made a special trip just to provide coaching and say hello to me in the pen.  Very thoughtful of them and it really does give the competitor a little extra juice knowing there are souls in the vast Pyramid rooting for them.

My name was called on the loudspeaker and after a thorough uniform check by IBJJF officials, I weighed in at 182.5 pounds.  This gave me 12 pounds to spare in my division, and just 1.5 pounds over the middleweight class! 

My first match was against Sebastian Munoz, a representative of Gracie Humaita Argentina.  He bowed onto the mat and I liked him immediately.  Respectful.  We shook hands and got to work.  Sebastian had a different body type, much thicker and a few inches shorter.  I felt out an inside trip, and he responded with a foot sweep of his own, nicking my foot and I stumbled to guard.  2 points for him.  He immediately passed and received 3 more.

Royler Gracie smiles with the success of Gracie Humaita, as he turns toward the teams of Gracie Barra and Alliance. 

Not a great start.  I escaped and we were back on our feet.  I pulled guard aggressively, looking for a flying armlock.  No dice.  I shot for a triangle.  He shucks it off and I replace guard. I play my open and half guard for some time.  He’s dropping his weight on my right leg and knows how to use it.  Very strong passing pressure, but he can’t quite get around my leg.

It wasn’t until about 2 minutes into the match that I really felt warmed up and flowing.  Even though I was down on points, it’s never over till it’s over, and with 8 minutes left in the match, I still had time. 

About 4 minutes in, I look at the scoreboard and reaffirm I’m down 0-5.  I have to make something happen and from open guard I push his head into a sleeve choke.  He tries to roll out of it and I follow the change in positions to sidemount.  My hand is still on his collar and the choke tightens.  He taps and it’s all over!

It had been a while since I’d had my hand raised in competition.  My first win as a black belt, in the World Championships, by submission.  Not bad.  I was told to return to the bullpen and they would call me for the next match.

I had seen the brackets and knew that if I got through my first match, Victor Estima would be waiting for me.  Victor is the younger brother of Braulio Estima, multiple time BJJ World Champion, and being a bad ass runs in the family.  Of course he had won the Pan Ams at brown belt, and had just been in the finals of the Professional BJJ Cup held in Abu Dhabi.  I have been a fan of Victor’s for some time, after watching him on YouTube, trying to replicate his patented sweep to armlock from guard.  His jiu jitsu is smooth and dynamic.  Even my good friend Alicia Anthony, who kept me company in the bullpen for awhile, couldn’t help but gush about his game when I told her we were matched. 

Victor Estima to my left in the blue gi.  Tarsis Humphrey to my right, sitting on the floor.  Tough crowd!

I thought I’d be back in action within 20 minutes or so, but it ended up being over an hour until I got back onto mat number 5.  This would be Victor’s first match, and my second of the tournament.  We shook hands, fist bumped, and got down to business.  But Victor was much more business than I was, I could tell that right away.  Crouched with his hands in front of him, he stared directly into my chest, and did not look away.  The moment I went to grip, he grabbed me, pulled guard, and immediately went to work on his sweep to armlock technique.  I dropped to my knees to avoid the sweep and try to stabilize.  He continued to reach for my far knee undeterred by my attempts at basing and opening his guard.

I knew what he was going for and felt like I was watching it in slow motion.  His highlight reel technique was being applied to me.  Damn.  I felt my left hip touch the ground and knew it was all over.  Checkmate, my friend.  His leg came over my face and I tapped as my arm extended out.  He released with perfect control.

I got owned by Victor Estima and it was a pleasure.  I could feel that he’s at another level with his competition game.  His mental focus, his athleticism, and his game plan of knowing EXACTLY what he’s looking for allows him to succeed at the highest levels in this sport. 

The great Marcelo Garcia (left) squaring off in the quarter final, en route to his gold medal and title of World Champion.

Of course I was rooting for Victor to win the entire tournament.  He armlocked his next opponent, and the following day in the quarter finals, won a tough and technical match on points against a beastly man in a black gi.  I missed his semi final match, which he somehow lost and ended up being awarded the bronze medal.  Congratulations Victor!

I felt lucky to have had both matches.  I won and lost.  Duality at its finest.  And there’s respect and camaraderie amongst the competitors, too.  Sebastian and I have already connected and I’ll be sending him a copy of the match, and Victor and I are now Facebook friends.  Perhaps we can train together in the future.  It would be an honor.

Renzo Gracie coaches from the sidelines as Gregor Gracie (black gi) battles Tarsis Humphrey.

There was a touching and well produced tribute to Grandmaster Helio Gracie on Sunday before the mens finals.  Everyone in attendance was on their feet and clearly reminded on whose shoulders we stand as we practice this incredible art.  The BJJ of today, when played at the highest level, is strategic, innovative, and often decided by the slimmest of margins.  My category was so closely contested in the final match that a referee’s decision gave Romulo Barral the victory over Tarsis Humphrey in a 10 minute battle without a single point or advantage being scored. 

Will I compete again next year?  Perhaps.  You have to be realistic and realize that to succeed at the World level, you need to have training partners that are also competing and active at that level.  The game changes rapidly now that everyone can study matches on YouTube and DVDs, and our martial consciousness continues to expand like no other time in human history.  It’s very exciting, and I’m thankful to be involved in this process of evolution, at this moment, in this art, and making friends along the way.