Maeda was living in Brazil (Belem, Para) to help establish a Japanese Immigration colony. At this time Brazil held the largest population of Japanese people outside Japan. He was aided in this effort to establish the colony in Brazil by Gastao Gracie. The introduction to Jiu Jitsu to the Gracie family was a key turning point to its popularity.

Brazillian Jiu Jitsu promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique – most notably by applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the other person. BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition or self defense. Sparring (commonly referred to as "rolling") and live drilling play a major role in training, and a premium is placed on performance, especially in competition, in relation to progress and ascension through its ranking system.

The Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu World Cup is promoted as the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu event in the world. Supported personally by his Highness the Supreme Prince and Commander In Chief of the United Arab Emirates National Army, H. H. Sheik Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the tournament boasts the largest prize purse in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. The tournament is managed by Carlos "Carlão" Santos and draws hundreds of high caliber athletes every year.

5 of our Pro Team fighters are headed to the United Arab Emirates this year riding a wave of confidence following spectacular performances at the 2012 IBJJF Pan American JIU JITSU championships. Abu Dhabi better get ready for a SUB Apparel invasion.

• Antonio Carlos Junior, (black belt) took Gold at the Pan Ams in the absolute division and will look to repeat his performance in the under 92kg black belt and absolute divisions in Abu Dhabi.
• Bruno Alves, (black belt), took out the under 83kg black belt trials held in brazil and is heading to Abu Dhabi fit, healthy and fired up.
• Kit Dale, (brown belt) managed an impressive 3rd place in his class at the PanAms. Not content with anything but a win we know that Kit will be looking for redemption in Abu Dhabi
• Dustin Brown, (purple belt) beat 5 opponents to take gold in the masters division at the 2012 Pan Ams. To cap off a stella performance Dustin submitted his final opponent with a triangle, his all-time favourite submission. His confidence is soaring and he will be looking to continue his fine form in Abu Dhabi.
• SUB Apparel co-owner Adrian Thompson, (blue belt) has spent the last few months training twice a day in preperation for his first world class competition. He has managed to cut over 10kgs for the comp and hasn't felt this fit since he was a competing triathlete.

Stay tuned for more updates and results as they come in. Good luck boys Ossss!

SUB Apparel Pro Team Jiu-Jitsu fighters Abmar Barbosa, Garrett Beck, Kit Dale and Dustin Brown are currently in the United States preparing for the 2012 Pan American Championships

Held annually in the USA since 1995, the Pan Championship represented the first step towards the internationalization of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a sport. Back then, in the first event, a group of almost 250 athletes took part in the pioneering and historical enterprise. A lot has changed since then. The tournament has grown tremendously and has achieved recognition as the biggest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition in North America and as one of the most important events in the world.

Australian based fighters, Kit and Dustin have been in the USA preparing for the comp since March 5th. Their training has been based primarily in the gym of the world renowned ATOS team where they have had the privileged of rolling with the likes of Andre Galvao and the Mendes Brothers. Closer to the competition date the boys will leave ATOS and meet up with SUB black belt Abmar Barbosa and purple belt Garrett Beck in California for some last minute training before the first day of competition on the 29 of March. The grueling comp runs for 4 days and ends on the 1st of April.

UPDATE!

We want to congratulate all of our ProTeam figthers who represented at the Pan AMs this year, you all faught like warriors!

Results below.

Antonio Carlos Junior (black belt) - Junior took Gold in the Absolute division after defeating 5 opponents. He also clinched Silver in the Super Heavy weight, unfortunately losing out in points to Bernardo Faria who he had beaten previously in the Absoluete division.

Abmar Barbosa  (black belt) - After a lengthy break due to injury Abmar was stoked to be back on the matts and came out firing with a first round win in the Absolute division. Unfortunately he lost out in a points battle in the second round. It's good to see him rolling again and look forward to his fights to come.

Kit Dale (brown belt) - Took a very impressive 3rd place in his weight at the PanAms. He says he is happy with that considering he has only been brown belt for 6 months but we know Kit and he's not content with anything but a win. We know that he will be fired up and looking for redemption in Abu Dhabi in the coming weeks.

Dustin Brown (purple belt) - Dustin battled 5 opponents and submitted the last with his favourite submission the triangle, to take gold in the masters division. What a machine!!! Don't forget to check-out his personal blog Blood, Sweat & Tears.

Don't forget the 2012 Abu Dhabi World Cup is just around the corner. Stay tuned. Ossss!

Like us on facebook for your chance to win a SUB Apparel Prize pack. The launch of our premium fight wear is just weeks away and one lucky competition winner will be the very first member of the public to lay their hands on some. Fans who have already liked us will, of course, also be in the running to win.

You should see a facebook plugin below where you will be able to click on 'Like' to enter the draw. If the plugin is not working on your browser then click here to access our facebook and like us there.

Once you have clicked there is nothing more that needs to be done on your behalf. You will automatically be put into the draw and be in the running to WIN! We will contact the winner via Facebook when the comp is drawn.