Riga Grappling Club at the first AJP Latvia

What is AJP?

AJP, short for Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro, is one of the largest jiu-jitsu organizations globally, hosting approximately 150 tournaments each season across all continents. This year, Latvia had the honor of hosting its first AJP event, marking a historic milestone as the first Baltic country to do so. The event was well-organized by Andrejs Maslovs from Gracie Barra Brasa team, drawing over 400 participants from 25 countries and making it the biggest jiu-jitsu competition ever held in Latvia.

BJJ in Latvia

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has been growing steadily in Latvia for just over a decade. With approx. 10 teams in Riga and more in Jelgava, Sigulda, Liepāja, Ventspils, and Saldus, the sport has gained significant traction. The rising popularity of BJJ in Latvia can be partly attributed to influential figures like Joe Rogan and other celebrities such as Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Tom Hardy, who have also embraced the sport and whose influence has reached many Latvians.

Riga Grapling Club

Founded at the end of 2022, the Riga Grappling Club was established with the vision of providing an good training environment for athletes, hobbyists, and beginners alike. Our goal also is to foster interaction among related sports, including freestyle wrestling and judo. The core coaching team comprises Dainis Barkāns (black belt in BJJ), Valerijs Acuta (purple belt in BJJ), and Mārtiņš Taube (black belt in judo).

‍

Image: Graplingaklubs.lv

From the outset, we have collaborated closely with Brazilian coach Iran Mascarenhas (5th degree black belt), who frequently visits for seminars and training camps in Latvia. During the Latvian AJP, our joint efforts with Team Mascarenhas led to a remarkable second-place finish in the team standings, with 11 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze medals. This successful debut confirms that the foundational values of our club are indeed yielding results.

Want to try?

We encourage everyone to experience the benefits of this incredible sport. While competition is not mandatory, it is a significant aspect of BJJ that showcases the diverse range of participants—from full-time athletes to novices with just a year of training—competing together in events like AJP Latvia.

Closing

Stay updated on the Riga Grapplin Club’s activities and training schedule by following us on social media platforms like Instagram and FB.

Izmantojam sīkdatnes