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Interview by
Submission Addict |
When did you start in BJJ?
I started training 1998 in Itu, a small city outside Sao Paulo, when I was 16 years old.
Was Jiu-jitsu your first martial art?
No, I did some Hapki-do when I was nine but never got into it like I did with BJJ.
Tell us about yourself and your background.
After I began my training in Brazil in 98, I graduated Highschool in Brazil and decided to move to the U.S. to go to college. Since I liked BJJ so much and wanted to continue my training I decided to look for a BJJ gym in Vegas so I went over to John Lewis school, J-sect, where I got my blue and purple, before I moved back to Brazil. I wanted to go back because by then, I was so into BJJ that I knew I needed to train and compete full time if I wanted to excel. At the time the sport was still developing over here and there were few competitions. So I decided to go back to Brazil and gain that competition experience. I trained from 2000 to 2002 in a BJJ club called Maromba, were I won my first world title as a purple and got promoted to brown belt. I also started teaching at my own school in Itu around the same time. After that I decided to start training in Sao Paulo with Leo Vieira, Terere and Demian Maia. They had recently left Alliance and invited me over to train with them. I got my butt kicked so bad that I knew I needed to train with those guys if I wanted to go to the next level. I won the worlds and the brazilian championships as a brown belt and got promoted to Black by Leo Vieira in 2004. Next year I won the worlds as a black belt. And in 2007 I won the open division in ADCC.
How long did it take you to achieve each belt?
From white to blue and blue to purple around a year each. I stayed around 2 years purple and a year and a half brown.
What do you see is the developmental and strategic difference in each belt level ?
They're all important. I highly recommend guys stay for a while in each belt and gain that competition experience that's so important in developing your skills. I always thought blue was the toughest of them all because of the number of competitors in those divisions. But other than that they're all pretty much the same.
Besides Black Belt, what was the most significant belt to earn for you and why?
To be honest I don't consider them that relevant. My priority was always getting good at BJJ and competing at the highest level. Belts are a consequence and they represent your development as a fighter and competitor. In that sense, the belts are only part of a process I went through to achieve my goals. Actually I don't consider myself fully accomplished. I still feel I have a long way to go. In a way, I consider myself to be a beginner.
What was the most difficult aspect of jiu-jitsu for you as a beginner?
Defeating myself. I believe that is the biggest challenge in a fighters career. Dealing with your fears, doubts and obstacles in your development. These are difficulties that every human being is confronted with but few are willing to confront. That is something I've always struggled with. That and trying to sweep Leo Vieira
What do you think is the most important aspect of competing in the mundials or at any high level?
Being ready, mentally, technically and physically are obviously very important. The competition experience is probably the most important aspect though. I've seen amazing grapplers never do well at Mundials because they lacked that experience. You should understand that losing and dealing with defeat is part of your evolution as a fighter and person. Guys that haven't been through that rarely do well in the big competitions.
For a long time the Brazil has dominated the grappling circuits. Do you think Brazil holds an edge over America in grappling dominance or is it equal now?
Right now I think Brazil still has and edge. Just take a look at the big grappling tournament results. But this will change soon. I see a new generation of grapplers in the U.S. that will be dominating soon. The sport is growing here rapidly. Not to mention that the best instructors in the world are in the U.S. right now.
What do you perceive as the difference between the Brazilian and the American levels?
There are a few differences between BJJ in Brazil and the U.S. In Brazil grappling is more gi orientated in complete opposition with grappling in the States were most guys are into no-gi grappling. Also, BJJ in the U.S. is a hobby for most, while in Brazil it's a ā??way outā? for many guys who know they won't have a chance at anything else. There's a lot more sport knowledge in the U.S. though. Guys over here know how to train and eat like athletes for example. As far as the levels, they are getting closer and closer every year.
The Gi vs. No-Gi debate rages on and will for eternity. What is your point of view on the Gi vs. No-Gi debate since you have been at the top of both of games?
I'm a gi advocate. Until 2007, 90% of my training had been done with the gi. Now that I'm beginning a MMA career, it's more like the other way around. It seems to be the same for most of the other top grapplers out there (look at the results in ADCC for example). I'm not saying that if you train exclusively without a gi that you can't be good. There are examples of guys that are successful despite only training no-gi. I compare the gi to boxing with weights strapped on your body. Moving is much harder, hence, it forces you to learn the proper technique. You just can't get sloppy and rely on being slippery when defending an arm-bar, triangle or when escaping side-control and the back. You have to be technical all the time, athleticism won't work as often. Also, the gi will amplify your mistakes which makes it much easier to teach and correct your mistakes. The adaptation is the key though. Guys that have a gi-orientated game have a harder time transitioning while others that are less dependent on grips will transition easier. Watch the guy that are successful in both worlds. They tend to have the same game in both.
Tell Submission Addiction about your DVD sets.
I did the Nth Dimension about a year ago. It was my first time filming an instructional. I tried to have a different approach towards grappling. Most instructors teach that a submission follows a dominant position. I disagree. I try to see a submission from every angle possible. What's interesting is that this approach actually makes it easier for you to gain position, since an opponent who's defending a submissions attempt is more likely to give away position. I learned this the hard way grappling with some of the best fighters in the game. Try to establish side control on guys like Demian or Leo and you'll see how frustrated you'll getā?¦
Tell us about your connection with Extreme Couture and how you came to teach there.
It's been a great experience. I've learned a lot. I've been teaching and learning from some of the best in the sport and it's been a great trade off. I got an invitation to check the gym out and I immediately jumped on board. I always wanted to train with Randy cause I know that a guy like him is someone who can help me a ton with MMA. I wanted to be somewhere where I was a "white belt" again and had to start learning all over again. It's been really fun being the guy asking questions again
What are your MMA plans?
To reach my maximum potential. Slowly in my own way I accomplished everything I wanted to in BJJ. It'll be the same with MMA and I'll get there, it's just a matter of time.
What does your current training regimen consist of?
Two training sessions a day, alternating between BJJ, boxing and wrestling. For a while I was doing a lot more stand-up than BJJ but I missed training jiu-jitsu everyday, plus I still feel I have a lot to develop on the ground.
What are your future plans as a competitor, fighter, and coach?
Excel at all of them. I try not to limit myself to this or that title, but rather reach maximum capacity at everything. Teaching is a passion I have and that helps me with fighting. Analyzing technique is the best way of learning something. My comprehension of the sport has really grown since I've been teaching it. Ideally I want to become a great coach and fighter.
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