The IBJJF International Master – North America Championship 2023 took place on May 31st, 2023 and there were several top competitors stepping on the mats. Master 1 is usually where the biggest names compete, and that was no exception this year as Joao Miyao walked away with a gold medal from the light-featherweight division. Arnaldo Maidana also stood on top of the podium in the super-heavyweight division, while Nikki Lloyd-Griffiths achieved the same feat in the women’s medium-heavyweight division. It was Jaime Canuto who took home the biggest prize from the Master 1 divisions though, as he won gold in both the middleweight and the absolute divisions.
Maria Rosenthal also won two gold medals from the Master 1 divisions, but she didn’t have any opposition in the women’s heavyweight division and took a default gold there. She did get the opportunity to step on the mats regardless though, as she won the absolute division against some tough opposition. Veteran ATOS competitor Josh Hinger made an appearance at the tournament too, competing in the Master 3 division. Hinger not only won gold at medium-heavyweight, but he also won the absolute division in impressive fashion too.
Last but not least was the ever-present dominant force in masters divisions, Wellington ‘Megaton’ Dias. He battled his way to victory at Master 6, with the experienced grappler winning gold at lightweight and in the absolute division just a little over a year after he received his coral belt. Even more impressive than his performance at the event is the fact that Dias also plans on competing with the adults at the IBJJF World Championship 2023 later this week. The IBJJF International Master – North America Championship 2023 delivered plenty of fun moments from start to finish and the fans in attendance got to see some of the best grapplers from across the last few decades compete again.
