The Ginásio de Esportes do São Paulo futebol clube hosted the 2022 Sao Paulo International Open. As Brazil’s most populous city, Sao Paulo is home to some of the most prestigious jiu-jitsu academies in the world, including Alliance, Gracie Barra, and Academia Cicero Costha. This year’s gi and no-gi tournament saw standout performances from Sabatha Lais, Gabriel Oliveira, and Rider Zuchi, among others.

2021 World Championship bronze medalist Gabriel Oliveira of Alliance won two gold medals in the gi in Sao Paulo. Coming off a gold medal performance at the Vitoria Open back in August, Gabriel started his campaign by winning two matches in the heavyweight division. Three more victories in the open class gave Gabriel two gold medals and a 5-0 record in Sao Paulo. Sabatha Lais of the Fratres Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu team was the female double gold champion. At medium-heavyweight, Sabatha won two matches including a choke from the back in the final. She secured another victory in the open class to cap off a great weekend of competition.

2022 Brazilian National rooster weight champion Rodrigo Otavio of Dream Art returned to competition in Sao Paulo, this time in the light-featherweight division. Rodrigo defeated his opponent via advantage to add another gold medal to his 2022 tally. Natan Chueng of PSLPB Cicero Costha won lightweight gold. Prior to the Sao Paulo Open, Natan had earned a bronze medal at the Pans and a gold at the Brasileiro Sea Kimono. This weekend he won three matches to take gold in the lightweight division. Rider Zuchi of Fratres Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu won super heavy gold. He won two matches to make it to the top of the podium.

The female no-gi open class winner was Jessica Caroline of R1NG BJJ, who entered the open class after not having an opponent in the lightweight division. She defeated her opponent in the final with a toe hold from the top position. Jessica also won the light-feather division in the gi on Saturday.

Although Francisco Lo of PSPLB Cicero Costha is a relatively new black belt, he put on a superb performance in Sao Paulo, winning double gold without the gi. He racked up three victories and a gold medal at medium-heavy before winning the open class. Francisco won the 2022 Brazilian Nationals as a brown belt and was promoted to the black belt rank in May of this year. Lucas Gualberto of Dream Art also had a great performance in Sao Paulo as he won no-gi middleweight gold and also took second at middleweight with the gi.

2022 Sao Paulo International Open team results:

1. Alliance
2. Gracie Barra
3. CheckMat

2022 Sao Paulo International No-Gi team results:

1. Gracie Barra
2. PSPLB Cicero Costha
3. Alliance