Rubens Charles is the current two-time black belt featherweight world champion. As if that was not enough, he is the only athlete to hold both Gi and No-Gi world titles. Since last year, he moved to Atlanta, where he has been teaching his top class Jiu-Jitsu along with Master Romero Jacare at the Alliance headquarters, GMA member in Georgia. In this interview, Cobrinha talks about his life in Jiu-Jitsu, what he likes to teach and what makes him spot a new talent. This is the first of a series of interviews with GMA members. Enjoy.
When and where did you start in Jiu-Jitsu? I began in 2001, in the city of Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, with professor Mauro Pacifico.
Since when do you teach Jiu-Jitsu? I teach since I was a purple belt. I began helping my master Pacifico out.
When did you get your black belt? I became a black belt in 2005. At that time I was training in Sao Paulo with professors Eduardo Telles, Fernando Tererê and Andre Galvao , at TT Jiu-Jitsu.
Cobrinha on the way to his first No-Gi world championship
When did you join the Alliance team? I joined Alliance in 2006, right after the Worlds. Back then, Telles and Terere were not getting along so great anymore and so TT Jiu-Jitsu ended. Terere recommended me to Fabio Gurgel, who had been his professor. As I was invited to TT by Terere, I decided to follow his advice. That was the best advice I ever got.
Less than one year after joining the team, you went to the USA and started teaching in Atlanta along Jacaré. How was that transition? Within the first year since I joined Alliance, Masters Gurgel and Jacaré invited me to teach a seminar in Atlanta, along with Marcelo Garcia. There, I met master Jacare and discovered a very charismatic person, realy friendly. I really connected with him. So one day he came up to me and asked what I thought about staying in Atlanta. At first, I thought it strange but when I returned to Brazil I talked it over with Fabio and he told me to do it. So Jacare made a official offer and I said yes.
How is your life in Atlanta? I am very happy here. I am learning a lot with Jacare, not only Jiu-Jitsu but about life in general. I think that moving here was the best move I could have done. Sometimes I get a little homesick, but other than that it is all great.
Cobrinha at the 2006 Pan-Ams
What is your favorite part of teching? I like the technical part. I like to repeat positions with my students until they get it.
Is there a lot of difference between American and Brazilian students? Oh yeah, a lot. Brazilians have their own way of doing things. If you teach a technique to a Brazilian student and for instance say that he has to hold the sleeve of the opponent, in a minute he is holding the sleeve and the lapel and doing all sort of different things. Americans, instead, are way more abedient. If you say to hold the sleeve, they’ll do so until the end of the class.
What does a student has to show you to prove he is different from the others? He has to have discipline above all else. With time I start noticing if he is using what he learns in class.
Cobrinha next to his second world championship in 2007
The GRACIE Magazine Association is build around many ideas and one of then is the idea that GRACIE Magazine is a tool in the learning process of the practioners/reader. What do you think about that? I read GRACIE Magazine every month. Jacare tells his students that they have to be aware of what is going on. The magazine brings history of the sport, training, physical conditioning, etc. I am sure that it helps a lot of people with doubts that they don’t have the chance to ask. Other than that, GM helps the public to know athletes.
As a last question, what is your favorite position/move? To tell you the truth, I feel good and like all positions. But once you asked for my favorite, I have to say it is the submission from the back and I will tell you why. When you get the guys arm and does the lever perfectly, sometimes the guy does not tap out. But if you get his back, there is no two ways about it. He has to tap or he is going to sleep.
As a bonus, we offer a video of Cobrinha in action. Here, you can see him against Marcio Feitosa (also a GMA member, by the way) at the 2006 Worlds.
