With the pandemic still disrupting the world as we knew it, Tatami Fightwear had to take a new approach when attending the World Master IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Championship, in Las Vegas last week. Instead of trading our usual pop-up shop and selling our amazing products, restrictions meant we had to make this all about marketing ourselves and networking with the great and the good of jiu-jitsu… and boy, did it go well!
Some of Tatami’s top athletes were present for this incredible event, either competing or coaching their teams and even their family in the case of Tatami’s own Vitor Ribeiro ‘Shaolin’; who’s son Henrique, managed to scoop Gold at his weight!
JT Torres took time from coaching his amazing EssentialBJJ Team to host a Q&A session on Instagram, so thank you to JT and for those of you who sent us questions. JT is all systems go in preparing to become the first American in history to win 3 x ADCC Titles at his weight range next year and having caught up with him, he is looking & feeling very confident! JT’s answers can be seen on our Insta Highlights so please check them out, as you’ll find out who his dream match would be against…?!! What an awesome fight that would be…!!!
8 x World Champion and general all-round legend, Michelle Nicolini also stopped by to chat with us and was her usual lovely self. We also managed to chat to Tatami’s Rita Tana who fought brilliantly to win a medal in her class.
Team Tatami also scooped another couple of Gold Medals at the event, with Italo Ferreira Nunes shining in his competition and proudly coming to show off his bling, before we met Italo’s good friend and World Number 1 ranked, Abraoa Amorim Magalhaes, who also caught up with us after fighting through great pain but still grabbed a silver medal, before he then refereed the Kids Event; it was a pleasure to catch up with both of these great gentlemen! Italo proudly flies the Tatami flag very high, and we are honoured to have him on our Team!
Talking of Tatami flags, one of our best highlights of the whole trip was cheering on the incredible Micah Sala. Micah was one of Ty (our CEO)’s first younger additions to Team Tatami a couple of months ago and it was a true honour to be in Vegas to watch the little man win Gold in his exciting division! Tatami is actively supporting an inclusive approach to BJJ across all ages and all genders and nothing made us more proud than watching 10 year old Micah perform so well and take his well-deserved glory in front of a jubilant crowd and his lovely family. After his amazing win, Micah has now been selected to fight in a World League Match at the end of January in California… remember his name, because this kid is going places and you won’t find a prouder member of our Tatami family!!
In our down time, Team Tatami also managed to take in some of the spectacular sights (and bars and restaurants!!) of Las Vegas! From the Fountains of Bellagio to the cool views of the Waldorf’s SkyBar high up in the Vegas skies, it was a truly incredible 3 days for us over in Vegas and we join everyone who attended, including the 8000+ athletes who fought so well, in congratulating the IBJJF on hosting a great jiu-jitsu convention.
This event has focused us on growing our brand presence even greater over in the USA and please watch this space for some exciting news over the coming months…
Team Tatami is flying high, and we cannot wait to be back States-side very soon!
