Gustavo Dantas' Worlds camp in Phoenix is truly an international affair.

The Nova Uniao affiliate and well-known mental coach's camp has drawn athletes from Norway, Brazil, and beyond -- all hoping to fine-tune their skills in the dry, blazing-hot desert air ahead of the IBJJF World Championships in Long Beach, CA, on June 1-4. Standout athletes currently making GD Jiu-Jitsu Academy their home include Marcio Andre, Horlando Monteiro, Tommy Langaker, Espen Mathiesen, Thomas Keenan, and a slew of purple belt savages.


Below are some photos taken over two hard days and nights of training. Stay tuned for more interviews, training highlights, and technique videos.  


Marcio Andre surveys the scene before teaching fundamentals class.


Tommy Langaker attempts to chase down Espen Mathiesen when drilling takedowns and escapes. 



Marcio Andre sets up the Ezekiel choke.


Positional drilling was a major emphasis at the Nova Uniao camp.


Rodrigo Feijão, black belt under Andre Pederneiras and Nova Uniao leader, was brought up from Brazil by Gustavo Dantas to help lead the camp.

Tommy Langaker and fellow Norwegian work guard-passing drills. 


Alex Sodre (on the back) is one of the up-and-coming brown belts from Feijão's academy in Brazil. Expect big things form him at Worlds. 


Thomas Keenan was on fire all camp long. Dynamic movements with a seemingly endless gas tank.


Marcio Andre teaching fundamentals class with his newly shaved head.


Thomas Keenan drilling takedowns.


Tommy Langaker feels the burn in between rounds.


Another positional sparring exercise: escaping the bodylock.



Horlando Monteiro passes the guard.


Phoenix is, indeed, quite hot. Athletes cool off after a tough session.  

---

Join us for the FloGrappling Road To IBJJF 2017 Worlds

Soul Fighters - Dallas, Texas
Gustavo Dantas Academy - Phoenix, Arizona
Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Charlotte, North Carolina
Atos Jiu-Jitsu - San Diego, California
Cobrinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Los Angeles, California
CheckMat HQ - Signal Hill, California
More to come...

Watch the IBJJF 2017 World Championships LIVE or On Demand ONLY on FloGrappling