28.11.2007

Now it's official: Joinha speaks of end of Black House

Jorge Guimarães crushes rumors about Vitor Belfort and tells other "inside info"

Invited to the 2nd South American Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Jorge "Joinha" Guimarães, was in Florianopolis, Brazil, during the first half of November, and GRACIEMAG.com took the chance to meet with the founder of Black House to clear up once and for all for MMA fans a series of questions and rumors surrounding the team. Check it out:

GRACIEMAG.com: Jorge, is Black House over?

Guimarães: Absolutely not. We have only changed our address and name. The trainers and the team came too, including Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida. Our new name will be revealed soon.

Why did you leave the old address, in Recreio, Rio?

I had some misunderstandings with one of the three partners, and since Black House was located at X-Gym, I decided to leave. I want to make it clear that the problem did not involve my long time friend Rogerio Camoes or Rodrigo Bethlem, my dear friend [and Brazilian actress] Maria Zilda’s son.

Was the change for the better?

To tell you the truth, I invested a lot of time and money in it, but it wasn’t a complete waste of time. As far as the money goes, the management at X-Gym promised to reimburse me for the investments I made, but I have not yet received anything.

There have been rumors that you and Vitor Belfort are on bad terms. Are they true?

No, not at all. People talk too much. People have told me that Vitor betrayed me, talking behind my back in attempt to assume my position [at Black House], and that he would constantly try to get some of our coaches to take his side. I talked to him about it but he denied it. I believe him. I heard rumor that I have been calling him Judas Belfort. That’s crazy. I would never say that! Anybody who knows me, knows I don’t lie. Anyway, it would be a little immodest for me to compare myself to Jesus, even though I was born on December 25 and he was born on April fools day. But I guess that’s just a coincidence.

Did the fact that Vitor joined the X-Striker team surprise you?

Not at all! Everyone choses their own path, and the name fits him well. Why don’t we change the subject? X-Striker and X-Gym are history for me, and the letter “X” phonetically means “ex”, so it’s in the past for me...

What about surfing? Do you have any trips planned?

I will be with Paulo Filho, who will defend his WEC title on December 12th in Las Vegas, from there I’ll go to Los Angeles to get footage for “Passando a Guarda”, my show in Brazil which is my main focus, until Lyoto’s fight on December 29th in Vegas. On the 30th I’ll take off to Hawaii where I’ll spend January on vacation, surfing and hanging out with my great friends Eddie Rothman and Kai Garcia on Oahu’s North Shore. From Hawaii I’ll go to Canada for Minotouro’s fight on February 1st, and right after it I fly to Las Vegas for Minotauro’s fight on the next day, for the UFC heavy weight title.

Jorge surfing at Tavarua, Fiji in 1996. / Photo by Rick Werneck.

So is there any insider news?

Always! Nino Schembri is going with Daniel Oirin, our muay thai instructor, to Belém in Pará, to train Lyoto with his brother Shinzo Machida. They should also be in his corner during his fight with Sokoudjou on the 29 th. Now Paulao Filho is preparing a surprise for his fight in the WEC: he should enter the ring with a dog. But the animal won't come from here in Rio, it's an American dog they came up with. Stuff only Paulao can come up with! Buddy bye!!