SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – More than 800 fighters took part in this weekend’s 14th Annual U.S. Open of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, a new record.

Over years the tournament has shaped up to be one of the sport’s best and most important events; Organizer Claudio Franca says the event has grown from 150 fighters to the hundreds it gathers now from all over the world.

The tournament included senior level matches; some ten-percent of fighters were women.

Longboard surf champion Joel Tudor also took part for the second straight year.

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