Saturday, February 10, 2007

NO KIMONO PAN AMERICAN 2007:



No-gi Pan only for gi participants
IBJJF lays out unprecedented competition

The 2007 Jiu-Jitsu Pan-American is set to take place between March 30 and April 1, in the California State University Dominguez Hills, in Los Angeles. Whoever bears witness, will note the rise of a new tournament: the Jiu-Jitu Pan-American with no gi. The organization responsible, the IBJJF (International Jiu-Jitsu Federation) released details about the tournament, to be disputed this 30th of March, in the same stadium as the Jiu-Jitsu Pan-American.

In the men’s category there will be five weight divisions: under 60.9 kg; under 72.9 kg; under 84.9 kg; under 96.9 kg and over 96.9 kg, divided by four belts: blue, purple, brown and black. The women’s category will include three weights: under 55.9 kg, under 65.9 kg and over 66kg, divided by two belts: blue/purple and brown/black.

The Jiu-Jitsu Pan’s organizers inform that the tournament will be limited to 200 athletes, with exceptions only in the black belt division, depending on approval by the IBJJF. To fight in the no-gi competition the athlete is obliged to sign up for the gi tournament. Every athlete to sign up will receive a kit with a pair of shorts and a lycra shirt, which will be the event's official uniform. No other outfit will be acceptable.