Month: July 2018

2012 Pan Jiu Jitsu

Absolute Semi-Final

Irvine, California

Kron Gracie vs Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida

We introduced Kron here in his last match at brown belt, but this match ranks as one of my favorites of his.

His opponent is  Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida (Buchecha means ‘big cheeks’ in Portuguese), who without a doubt is the current King of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  He holds 11 World Championships,  5 of them Absolute titles, and 2 ADCC titles.  He also holds 8 World Pro Championships.  So, he is pretty good.

This match is rare because typically the final four contestants of most major absolute championships are at or above medium heavyweight.  There are always exceptions (Marcelo, Terere, Royler come to mind) and here Kron, as a middleweight (175lbs) fought his way through the brackets to face Buchecha, an Ultra-Heavyweight (+215lbs).

And he almost takes it….

Enjoy Kron vs Marcus

ps..the video contains both semi-finals.  Kron and Marcus are first.

1998 World Championships

Middle Heavyweight Match

Tijuca Tenis Clube, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Antonio “Nino” Schembri vs David Meyer

If you want to study open guard, lasso guard, and omoplata’s, then it is best to go to the source of those concepts : Antonio “Nino” Schembri.  Nino, also known as Elvis due to his love for the king, is a Gracie Barra Black Belt that created the open guard styles that we see today.  Nino had minor successes in IBJJF Worlds and ADCC, as well as MMA (he famously upset Kazushi Sakuraba in 2003 in Pride 25).  In every match that I have seen him in, he is extremely active and always hunting for those arms and shoulders.

David Meyer has his place in the pantheon of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as being a member of the “Dirty Dozen” – one the first 12 Americans to be promoted to Black Belt.  David also is distinguished as the first American to medal in a world championship, taking 3rd in the absolute division in 1998.

Enjoy Nino vs David