IBJJF San Jose Open 2024 Brief review

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) San Jose Open took place on January 20th and 21st, 2024, drawing in skilled grapplers from across the United States. However, the tournament’s scheduling coincided with the IBJJF European Championship, resulting in lower-than-anticipated registration numbers, particularly evident in the women’s divisions.

With a limited number of competitors, the women’s no gi black belt weight classes only featured one match at featherweight. This sole encounter, however, proved to be a clash of titans, as Karen Terra emerged victorious over Andreza Morais.

The gi competition offered similar matchups, with both Terra and Morais securing medals. Terra took silver behind Larissa Campos at featherweight and bronze in the absolute division, while Morais earned bronze at featherweight. Mayara Melo topped the absolute division podium.

Despite fewer participants than usual, the men’s divisions showcased impressive performances. Benji Silva dominated the heavyweight no gi category, clinching gold and adding a silver medal in the absolute division.

The gi competition, held on the first day, saw a stronger presence of renowned grapplers. Art of Jiu-Jitsu enjoyed a successful weekend, with Jordan Vaisman securing gold at light-featherweight and Mateus Rodrigues achieving the remarkable feat of winning both the absolute and heavyweight divisions. Rodrigues’ absolute division victory came against Caio Vinicius, following his default bronze at medium-heavyweight behind two ATOS competitors.

ATOS also celebrated Rafael Silveira’s triumph in the middleweight division, marking a strong start to his 2024 campaign.

While the IBJJF San Jose Open 2024 faced registration challenges due to scheduling conflicts, it still delivered exciting matches and noteworthy performances from some of the world’s top jiu-jitsu athletes. The reduced field offered opportunities for lesser-known competitors to shine, making for a diverse and captivating tournament.