The Grapplers Quest U.S. Nationals is the world's largest grappling tournament with tournaments every other month worldwide.

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In 1996, Brian Cimins was running tournaments out of local martial arts academies with 50 competitors and 50 spectators. Fast-forward 10 years.

The Grapplers Quest U.S. Nationals is the world's largest grappling tournament with tournaments every other month worldwide. This one drew 1,100 amateur competitors and 26 of the world's best professional grapplers in the prestigious Team U.S.A. Trials.

Following are some highlights from the event.

Children's and Teen's Divisions

RATED (The Official World Grappling Ratings available at GrapplingRatings.com) awarded the 2005-2006 kids with nearly $5,000 in college savings bonds. USPLabs.tv and Grapplers Quest sponsored this. A great way to start the day and clearly some of the most exciting matches, the Children's and Teen's No Gi Grappling Divisions kicked the event off.

Team standouts were Team Lloyd Irvin (1st Place), closely followed by two emerging kid's teams, Royler Gracie/Dave Adiv Association and The Jungle Gym, led by No. 1 SportFighting welterweight contender Justin Garcia, from the Bronx, New York.

The Children's and Teen's Advanced U.S. National champions included the following standout competitors: Brendan Parent (Lloyd Irvin), Tanis Taylor (Boyce's Martial Arts), Carlo Levell (Lloyd Irvin), Cedric Bryant (Lloyd Irvin), Dudley Drake (Rickson Gracie), Aarae Alexander (Lloyd Irvin), Ryan Villogram (Lloyd Irvin) and Madison Lofaro (Matt Serra). The new team on the block for 2006 was the Dragon Spirit Martial Arts Kid's Team, led by shihan Peter Tuccino of Lyndhurst, New Jersey.

In Teen's Advanced action, Team Royler Gracie/Dave Adiv, with supporting academies, Performance BJJ (led by Lou Vintaloro at Armlock.com) and Montclair BJJ (led by Mike Mrkulic at MBJJ.com), unleashed some tremendous competitors in these divisions. Standout Mike Trasso (RGDA/Mrkulic) defeated Gianni Grippo (Renzo Gracie) in the finals. Newcomer, Jonathan Torres (RGDA/Performance) showed why RGDA is a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division. Josh Weissman from Jeff Miller's Planet Jiu-Jitsu closed out the heavyweight division.

Advanced Men's Action

• Brazilian Top Team black belt Wilson Reis captured the flyweight title vacated by three-time champion Jeff Glover (now a U.S. Trials Pro competitor).
• The Grappling Gameplan prodigy, Ryan Hall, triangled his way to victory in the lightweights to capture his 8th Grapplers Quest championship title.
• In welterweight action, Alex Vamos (Renzo Gracie under Joe D'Arce) showed America why Long Island is one of the many jiu-jitsu meccas through this grappling star-studded country.
• John Beneduce (Renzo Gracie) defeated standout MMA fighter, Chris Ligouri (Rhino Fight Team) in the finals of the middleweight division.
• Welcome back Mr. Andrew Callendrelli. After nearly two years off, Callendrelli returned to competition and took home the championship belt to Team Renzo Gracie and his Connecticut-based academy.
• Tom Deblass of Ricardo Almeida's competition team won the light-heavyweight belt.
• Tommy Falco of Jungle Gym cruised through the heavyweight class to capture the title, edging out Vin Esposito (Alliance) in the finals.

U.S.A. Trials

The Grapplers Quest Team U.S.A. Trials has earned its reputation from matching America's greatest grapplers against each other to gain supremacy in the grappling world and earn the titles necessary to get into such events as Abu Dhabi. There were 24 ground fighters in three weight classes. Following is how it played out.

Lightweight (160 pounds and below)

• Rani Yahya (returning champion) defeated Daniel Aguilar (Renzo Gracie) via rear naked choke.
• Wilson Reis (Brazilian Top Team) defeated Diego Moraes (Maxercise) via points, 11-0.
• Rob "Spider" Dicenso (2005 Canada ADCC Rep) defeated Roni Batore via rear naked choke.
• Jeff Glover (Paragon) defeated Brian McLaughlin (Rob Kahn) via points, 4-2.

2nd Round

• Rani Yahya defeated Wilson Reis via points, 11-2.
• Rob "Spider" Dicenso defeated Jeff Glover (Paragon) via points, 2-0.

The Finals

• Rani Yahya submitted Rob "Spider" Dicenso via guillotine with 4:25 remaining.

U.S.A. TRIALS: Welterweight (160-180 pounds)

• Gregor Gracie (Renzo Gracie) submitted Jean Rotondaro (Robson Moura) via kimura.
• Jay Hayes (RGDA/Performance) submitted "Baby" Carvalho (Rocinha Project) via triangle.
• Bill "The Grill" Cooper (Paragon) submitted Lou "Emino" Della Penna via flying triangle choke.
• Joe Scarola (Serra BJJ) defeated Ken Primola via points, 8-3.

2nd Round

• Gregor Gracie (Renzo Gracie) submitted Jay Hayes via guillotine choke from the mount.
• Bill "The Grill" Cooper (Paragon) submitted Joe Scarola (Serra) via rear naked choke.

The Finals

• Bill "The Grill" Cooper (Paragon) defeated Gregor Gracie (Renzo Gracie) via points, 8-6. As the match wound down, Gracie was ahead on points. However, Cooper gained rear mount for four points. Gracie never gave up, nearly scoring a takedown as time expired.

U.S.A. TRIALS: Cruiserweight (180-200 pounds)

• Rafael Lovato Jr. (Ribeiro) submitted Nolan Dutcher (Lionkill) via rear naked choke.
• Dave Branch (Renzo Gracie) defeated Ken Kronenberg (Tai Kai Balance) via points, 3-0.
• Bill Scott (Ricardo Almeida) defeated Rick Macauley (Balance Studios, 2005 Reigning Champion) via points 2-0.
• Chris Moriarty (Alliance) submitted Dan Simmler via rear naked choke.

2nd Round

• Lovato defeated Branch via judge's decision.
• Moriarty submitted Scott via rear naked choke.
• In the finals, Lovato submitted Moriarty via rear naked choke.

2006 U.S. National Grappling Kid's Team Champions

1st Place: Lloyd Irvin (2,580 points)
2nd Place: Royler Gracie/Dave Adiv/Performance/Mrkulic (660 points)
3rd Place: Jungle Gym (630 points)
4th Place: Renzo Gracie/Matt Serra/Ricardo Almeida (330 points)

2006 U.S. National Overall Team Champions

1st Place: Team Lloyd Irvin (Dalla, Weiner, Court) (870 points)
2nd Place: Renzo Gracie (Almeida, D'Arce, Serra, Cruz, Calandrelli, Alvarez (657 points)
3rd Place: Jungle Gym (183 points)
4th Place: Alliance/Fabio Clemente (177 points)
5th Place: Balance Studios: (156 points)