By: Norman Castro, EBC Sports International, New York Bureau
What to know and expect from competing at this prestigious martial arts tournament
(NEW YORK, NEW YORK)
Bowing onto the mat. Shaking the referee’s hand. Approaching the opponent before the match. Greeting with a slap of the hands and a fist bump. This is the standard operating procedure for a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Tournament.
During the summer time, events and competitions can be found almost weekly, but the New York Open is held to a higher standard.
Run by the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), the Summer Open was held in Nat Holman Gym at the City College of New York this past weekend. Hundreds of competitors battled to see who would be crowned as the best while others took the opportunity to test the skills they practiced daily. The tournament itself is broken down into three major categories: Age, Belt Rank (Skill level), and Weight. A timed match starts with a referee awarding points for takedowns, passes, and holding dominant positions.
While most dream of standing on the podium, merely competing is a badge of honor. Representing their gym or team, BJJ practitioners test their physical and mental fortitude against one another. Most will use this as a learning experience to refine their skills, since only a few will stand on the podium head held high with a medal to show for their victory.
For the top black belt competitors, the New York Summer Open is used to accumulate points towards their IBJJF ranking as well as a spot at the World Championships. The Summer Open is definitely the place to watch top level jiu jitsu or for one to test their skills because of the competitiveness and high level of intensity the competitors bring.