On Sunday, September 24th, the Arena Cel. Wenceslau Malta in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, bore witness to the excitement and intensity of the 2023 Brasileiro Sem Kimono, the first major no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament of the year. With competitors from all over the world converging in Rio, the event showcased remarkable talent and fierce competition. We caught up with five outstanding champions from the event, each of whom shared their experiences and aspirations.

Aurelie Le Vern: Absolute Champion

The adult female black belt absolute champion of the Brasileiro Sem Kimono was France’s Aurelie Le Vern. She shared her thoughts on her amazing performance in Rio, stating, “I had four fights in total and three submissions. I weighed 69 kilos! My performance was historical for France. I’m the first woman ever to become Brasileiro No-Gi adult black belt heavyweight and open class Champion!” Aurelie shared some words of wisdom for those looking to achieve success in the sport. “Winning double gold and being in the history books shows that when you connect a goal, passion, and hard work around jiu-jitsu, your life can change and you can become an example to follow for our next generation of strong women.”

Ruan Alvarenga: Lightweight Champion

Ruan Alvarenga emerged as the victor in the lightweight division, securing three impressive victories. Reflecting on his performance, he said, "My fights were great, I had a great performance and didn't concede any points. I managed to dominate all the fights and also apply some techniques I've been working on in my game." However, Alvarenga is not one to rest on his laurels, noting areas for improvement, stating, "I'm happy but not satisfied. I feel like there are some things I can and will improve, like position adjustments. These are things I've been working on and managed to get right in some fights, but in the first fight, I ended up losing a position on my back, and even though I won that, it didn't make me happy. So I'm going to go back home and work on this so I don't miss any submissions in the next competitions."

Jessica Caroline: Light Featherweight Division Champion

In the light featherweight division, Jessica Caroline showcased her skillset with two victories, one via guillotine submission and the other through a points win. She expressed her satisfaction with her performance, stating, "I had excellent fights, always fighting forward and very aggressively. I've been training hard for a long time and always leaving my comfort zone." Jessica is now eagerly anticipating her next challenges, including the South American No-Gi and BJJ Pro Rio competitions. She also took a moment to express her gratitude, saying, "I want to thank my training colleagues, my R1NGBJJ team, and my sponsors for all their support."

Vitoria Assis: Featherweight Division Champion

Vitoria Assis conquered the featherweight division with two decisive victories, finishing her first fight with a heel hook and the final with a choke from the back. She expressed her happiness with her performance and her growing confidence in her game, stating, "I am happy with my performance; I feel that with each competition, my game is getting better, and I have been able to impose the aggressive rhythm that I like." Assis is gearing up for her upcoming challenges, including the No-Gi Pans and the No-Gi Worlds. She also plans to compete with the gi in the Houston and Waco Open, aiming to stay active and ready for any challenge that comes her way.

Shay Montague: Roosterweight Division Champion

Shay Montague, hailing from Scotland, secured his first black belt competition win in Brazil, winning the roosterweight division with two victories. Montague expressed his happiness in competing and winning in a country he loves, saying, "I was super happy to get my first comp and first win at black belt out of the way, especially in Brazil, a country I love so much." Despite dealing with the unfamiliar heat of the venue, Montague prevailed, winning one match by heel hook and the other by advantages after several close submission attempts. He looks forward to improving his game for future competitions and appreciating the Brazilian experience.

In the male black belt open class division, Daniel Ribeiro of GF Team - Jiu Art emerged as champion. Daniel achieved third place in his division before securing the open class victory.

2023 Brasileiro Sem Kimono adult male team results:

1. Alliance

2. GF Team - Jiu Art

3. Carlson Gracie Team

2023 Brasileiro Sem Kimono adult female team results:

1. GF Team - Jiu Art

2. Nova Uniao

3. Double Five

2023 Brasileiro Sem Kimono juvenile team results:

1. Melqui Galvao Jiu-Jitsu

2. CheckMat

3. Top Brother

2023 Brasileiro Sem Kimono master team results:

1. Gracie Barra

2. GF Team - Jiu Art

3. Double Five