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There are very few events in Brazilian jiu-jitsu calendar that generate as much excitement as the IBJJF World Championships. For many in the BJJ community, the chance at being able to call yourself a "World Champion" is the ultimate dream. 

Indeed, every year, thousands of jiu-jitsu competitors converge on the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach just for that very chance. Divisions are filled with fierce competition - both seasoned veterans and new faces ready to make a name for themselves. For all but a very few, that chance eludes them... leaving them hungry to get back on the mat and return again the following year.

For those very few, however, all of their hard work and dedication over the past year culminated in that one glorious moment: standing on the top of the podium as the 2025 IBJJF World Champion.

An amazing nine on our Kingz Athletes team were among those who achieved that coveted dream! Not only that, but FIVE of them leveled up as they did so! 

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Every year at the IBJJF World Championships, there are always a few highly-anticipated black belt promotions that happen on the podium or just after an incredible finals win. This May, two happened within minutes of each other.

You've probably already guessed it, but we're talking about Mia and Ashlee Funegra, who were awarded their black belts from their long-time coach, AOJ co-founder Guilherme Mendes. The twins had been training for just about a decade, having started when they were just small girls. Their leveling up happened just after Ashlee secured her finals match win in the brown belt light-featherweight division... and right before Mia made her black belt debut, that very same day.

But... how was Mia able to register and fight in the black belt division of the World Championships? This kind of thing doesn't happen often, but it's not unheard of. According to IBJJF rules, a prior world champion can sign up for the upper belt division, before he or she has officially been awarded that belt. In this case, Mia and Ashlee had become world champions in the purple belt division last year, where they received their brown belts. So, technically, she could sign up for the black belt division while still a brown belt.

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In this, our third issue of the "BJJ 101" blog series, we cover one of the - if not the - most fundamental position in Brazilian jiu-jitsu: closed guard. Whether you're a guard player or a passer, or somewhere in between, there's no denying that mastering the closed guard is absolutely indispensable to your game. 

What do you really know about the closed guard? In BJJ, closed guard is often the very first position that you learn. And that's for a reason. For the unseasoned jiu-jitsu practitioner, it's the safest place to be. There are very few things your opponent can do to you unless they escape from the closed guard, and there are a great many things that you can do to your opponent. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore the essentials of the closed guard position in jiu-jitsu, including a basic overview of the position, key principles for maintaining control and employing it your best ability, and some common submissions that you’ll want to add to your toolkit.

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Want to know a secret? You don't have to spend your life on the mat to amass a professional-level knowledge of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. 

Not only do most of us lack the time - we have families, careers, school, and any number of other hobbies or obligations - but it is absolutely taxing on the human body. There is definitely a fine line between training just enough, and too much... as many of us older than 30 have found out (numerous times). In fact, even the pros don't spend each and every waking moment on the mat. They recognize that it's entirely unfeasible, and in many ways, counterproductive. 

No, the best practitioners in the world recognize that there is an optimal balance between training the body on-the-mat, and training the brain off-the-mat, through studying BJJ. But just as there are more productive ways to physically train jiu-jitsu, there are more productive, and efficient, ways to mentally study the gentle art. Heard the saying: "work smarter, not harder"? The same applies with jiu-jitsu.

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It's officially spring, and while most people might be looking forward to warmer weather and greener views, for those in the jiu-jitsu community, spring means one thing: the IBJFF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship. 

This year did not disappoint, and for many of the amazing Kingz athletes in our roster, the views were all gold. 

With absolutely stacked divisions and some of the world's best of the best, an incredible 14 of our athletes battled it out in electrifying matches, earning their positions on the top of the podium... and for some, twice! While the Pans might not be THE most prestigious jiu-jitsu event of the year (the IBJJF Worlds takes that honor) it IS one of the Grand Slam events and gives BJJ fans a peek into what to expect in the coming months. Based on the performances, we're in for a treat: impeccable technique, submission after submission, and double-gold victories. 

Here's the list of our Kingz athletes who came out victorious at Pans... 

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