2010 has not been a bad year for US Brazilian Jiu Jitsu sensation Hillary Williams.
On 11th April 2010 she won gold in her weight category and bronze in the Absolute division at the 2010 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Pan-Am Championships and then, in the same month scooped a bronze at the inaugural women’s event at the Abu Dhabi Pro.
Earlier this month she scooped her biggest win to date by becoming only the second US female Brazilian Ju Jitsu World Champion [after Lana Stefanac in 2009] at the 2010 Mundials in Long …

By David Webb, 11th January 2010
This, the second of two interviews done with Emily Kwok and Valerie Worthington, is meant to highlight the work being done by both, alongside fellow world champion Felicia Oh over in the United States of America and Canada to promote women’s grappling. At various intervals Emily and Val are responsible for sharing their world-class knowledge on a number of women only camps with an ever-increasing number of dedicated and committed female grapplers.
For further information on the camps in question check out: http://www.womensgrappling.org
Enjoy!

Photograph by kind permission of Lauren Elle photography
By David Webb, 19th December 2009

Valerie “Valhalla” Worthington is champion grappler based in Santa Fe Springs, CA who currently teaches and competes out of the New Breed Academy run be Johnny Ramirez and John Ouano. Originally a marathon runner Val has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 1998 where she gained her Blue and Purple belts under Carlson Gracie, Jr. and his legendary father Carlson Gracie. Heavily into CrossFit and now a Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Val was placed second at this year’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Mundials that were held in Long Beach, …

Interview: By David Webb, 20th November 2009
(photo: kind permission of Jennie Kennedy)

Interview: David Webb, 21st October 2009
You simply do not get much better than this guy! 29-year old Rubens Charles Maciel aka “Cobrinha” and sometimes referred to as Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor. He is considered the “best featherweight of the decade” and to be among the best pound for pound Jiu Jitsu competitors in the world. Originally from a Capoeira background Cobrinha is a black belt in BJJ under Fernando “Terere” Augusto and a member of Alliance Jiu Jitsu. Cobrinha has won a total of six …

Interview: David Webb, 16 October 2009
One half of arguably the most successful siblings in World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Alexandre ‘Xande’ Ribeiro is in a good place right now. The multiple World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Abu Dhabi World Submission Wrestling Champion is working hard to establish the San Diego based University of Jiu Jitsu with his elder brother Saulo Ribeiro.
Not that the Ribeiro’s need to; as just in the weeks leading up to the 2009 ADCC world championships the UNIJJ mats were used as a base for preparation for …

Interview: David Webb, 23 August 2009
Pablo Popovitch became involved in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a precocious 5-year-old. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Popovitch began instruction at Barra Gracie School, where his teachers were the Machado brothers, Rigan, Carlos and Jean-Jacques. “I knew early on that I wanted to be the best” Popovitch said. “I had my first tournament when I was eight. I defeated Carlinhos Gracie [Carlos Gracie Jr., now head of Gracie Barra] in the finals. He and I were really good friends, but we were very competitive on …