UAEJJFJul 17, 2017 by Hywel Teague
Tokyo Grand Slam: The Good, The Bad, And The Unexpected
Tokyo Grand Slam: The Good, The Bad, And The Unexpected
The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in Tokyo was a perfect way to start the 2017-2018 Jiu-Jitsu World Tour season. It had a bit of everything, which we've conveniently recapped for you below.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in Tokyo was a perfect way to start the 2017-2018 Jiu-Jitsu World Tour season. It had a bit of everything, which we've conveniently recapped for you below.
Seeing Satoshi return after injuring his shoulder. It's said by some (us, among other people) that Satoshi is the best black belt to have never won a world title. He did win World Pro a few years back, and his amazing run at Worlds was cut short when he dislocated his shoulder early in his match with Lucas Lepri.
Six weeks later, Satoshi came back -- even though he said his shoulder still isn't 100% -- and put on a classic performance to win gold.
Related: Satoshi Wins Grand Slam 6 Weeks After Injury
Asian jiu-jitsu continues to grow
There were competitors from all over Asia at the tournament, with Japanese and Korean athletes making up the majority of competitors from the continent. Wanki Chae of Korea particularly impressed with his win in the very tough 69kg division. Wanki has never been considered an elite black belt, but his recent performances have seen him get better and better. He went toe-to-toe at Worlds with Cobrinha, narrowly losing via advantage to the eventual champ. If this is an indication of things to come, then keep an eye on Chae.
Inclusion of parathletes
A new initiative at the Abu Dhabi World Pro this year was the inclusion of divisions specifically aimed at parathletes. A team of physically-impaired competitors took to the mats and impressed the crowd with their skills. Look for this to continue throughout the season.
Refereeing is a tough, thankless job and there are few people qualified and able to officiate the complexity of high-level of jiu-jitsu matches without making at least some mistakes. Unfortunately, an inexperienced team of referees lacking confidence and conviction in their calls meant some the most memorable moments from some matches weren't the big techniques, but the lengthy restarts as the points and clock were adjusted.
Alexandre Vieira etched his name into the public consciousness by putting his opponent to sleep in spectacular fashion thanks to a brutal loop choke that looked like something straight out of pro wrestling.
With one million views and counting, the submission was an unexpected but by far the most entertaining moment from the Grand Slam in Tokyo.
The Good
Satoshi bounces backSeeing Satoshi return after injuring his shoulder. It's said by some (us, among other people) that Satoshi is the best black belt to have never won a world title. He did win World Pro a few years back, and his amazing run at Worlds was cut short when he dislocated his shoulder early in his match with Lucas Lepri.
Six weeks later, Satoshi came back -- even though he said his shoulder still isn't 100% -- and put on a classic performance to win gold.
Related: Satoshi Wins Grand Slam 6 Weeks After Injury
Asian jiu-jitsu continues to grow
There were competitors from all over Asia at the tournament, with Japanese and Korean athletes making up the majority of competitors from the continent. Wanki Chae of Korea particularly impressed with his win in the very tough 69kg division. Wanki has never been considered an elite black belt, but his recent performances have seen him get better and better. He went toe-to-toe at Worlds with Cobrinha, narrowly losing via advantage to the eventual champ. If this is an indication of things to come, then keep an eye on Chae.
Inclusion of parathletes
A new initiative at the Abu Dhabi World Pro this year was the inclusion of divisions specifically aimed at parathletes. A team of physically-impaired competitors took to the mats and impressed the crowd with their skills. Look for this to continue throughout the season.
The Bad
Refereeing mistakes leave bad taste in big matchesRefereeing is a tough, thankless job and there are few people qualified and able to officiate the complexity of high-level of jiu-jitsu matches without making at least some mistakes. Unfortunately, an inexperienced team of referees lacking confidence and conviction in their calls meant some the most memorable moments from some matches weren't the big techniques, but the lengthy restarts as the points and clock were adjusted.
The Unexpected
The loop choke seen around the worldAlexandre Vieira etched his name into the public consciousness by putting his opponent to sleep in spectacular fashion thanks to a brutal loop choke that looked like something straight out of pro wrestling.
With one million views and counting, the submission was an unexpected but by far the most entertaining moment from the Grand Slam in Tokyo.
What's Next?
The next stop on the Grand Slam tour is Los Angeles, scheduled for September 23-24. It falls on the same weekend as ADCC in Finland, which means there will definitely be some key names missing. However, with ADCC divisions capped at a maximum of 16 athletes, there will be plenty of high level grapplers available to compete for the cash prizes on offer.