There are no two ways about it, when an athlete is passionate about competing, he’ll come up with an excuse no matter what. In 2008 he won the Worlds and Gi Pan, and the No-Gi Worlds, but that wasn’t enough.
Hence, when he calls early the following day, he comes up with a farfetched reason to justify his addiction:
“In 2007, I couldn’t make it to the first No-Gi Pan. So this will be my first, I couldn’t miss the chance.”
So the Alliance Atlanta instructor, who is all alone over there while Master Romero Jacare works on spreading Jiu-Jitsu across Croatia, bore the responsibility and will head the team intending to take Manhattan by storm during the championship set to take place October 4th.
The most fascinating island in the world is familiar turf to the talented black belt, as he spent a few days around there when he tried to fight at the ADCC, in early 2007. And the hordes of people are no surprise to the one who has worked as a motorcycle delivery boy in Sao Paulo…
“Whoa, hold on, that’s a myth! I had a little motorcycle, but I never was a motorcycle delivery boy. Before Jiu-Jitsu, besides teaching capoeira, I was a confectioner. I even adorned the cake for Jacare’s daughter’s birthday the other day. Everyone was impressed with my skills.”
And to confection the third year of success in big championships in a row, it will be no surprise to see the star shine yet again among the big guys.
“Look, I still think I can make it [to shine in the absolute]. Of course the guys are big and technical, and that makes it tough. But if I don’t put myself in a lousy situation, and jump around the whole time, I can show that Jiu-Jitsu still allows smaller fighters to handle bigger ones.”
He’s neither a motorcycle delivery boy, nor a confectioner. Cobrinha’s vocation really is that of showman.
So, the closer to Broadway, the better.
