Project completed / Photo: personal archive

Marcos Souza is a fixture at IBJJF events in Asia, he’s the 2010 Asian Open absolute champion, for example. The brother of stalwart competitor Roberto Satoshi, he is now in mourning following the death of his father, Master Adilson Souza, three months back. Now Marcos has set to work to create a tribute honoring his father.

“I went through a really rough phase and sat out the last few competitions. Our main academy is very basic, in the back of my grandparents’ house, and it was through it that my father supported my mother and four brothers. We decided to open a bigger one as an homage to our father and hero, and as we didn’t have much money, my older brother and I had to do the work ourselves,” says Marcos.

Under construction / Photo: personal archive

The new São Paulo branch of Bonsai academy was inaugurated on Fathers Day. There’s a weightlifting room, functional training room, and a 150-square-meter dojo, not to mention an amply-sized dressing room and parking lot.

“It was my father’s dream. Unfortunately we were unable to do it before. My brother Maurício Souza and I zealously worked on refurbishing the place every day. We got the building on June 1 and did everything and more to be sure we’d open on Fathers Day. We have faith the old man saw his present!” he says in closing.

Hard at work / Photo: personal archive

Marcos Souza at Asian Open / Photo: Kinya Hashimoto

Winner of the Asian Open black belt division Marcos Souza, the brother of brown belt world champion Roberto Satoshi, has been living through all the tension and anguish of the Japanese people ever since the devastating earthquake that caused the greatest natural disaster in the nation’s history.

“Things are bad, but thank God here, where I live, nothing serious happened. I was dieting for a fight and, for a few moments, I thought I was getting sick from hunger. Only when I saw the lamp shaking did I realize that shaking was an earthquake,” he recounts.

“I tried to talk to my brother Roberto, but the phones didn’t work. Worried, I went looking for him in the street, followed the path to the academy and found him returning home,” adds Marcos.

In Japan, many have rallied together to help deal with the tragedy, and Jiu-Jitsu is there showing solidarity too.

“Thank God nothing happened at my house nor at my academy. But things here are ugly. There’s no more water in the markets and in many regions gas stations no longer have gasoline. The Jiu-Jitsu folks here are rallying to collect food and clothing to donate to the most affected regions. Those interested can contact me by email (marcossouzajiujitsu@hotmail.com). Any help is welcome,” he says in closing.

Marcos gets the choke in photo by Fernando Ferreira.

Brazilian brothers who shine on Japanese mats Marcos Souza and Roberto Satoshi won again in the Land of the Rising Sun. Better still, thanks to their latest triumph they’re guaranteed action at the European Open this January 27 in Lisbon, Portugal.

“My brother and I competed at a No-Gi event promoted by Deep last week. Roberto won the under-77kg division and I won the one above that,” says Marcos, who is the current champion of Asia.

“Thanks to the result, we won the cash prize and we’re going to Portugal to compete at the European Open! My brother will enter as a lightweight brown belt, the division in which he is world champion. I’m lighter now, so I’ll go in as a middleweight black belt. I’m going to cause some commotion over there too!” says the beast from Bonsai academy in closing.

And to keep up with all the goings-on at the competition, stay tuned to the GRACIEMAG at the European Open Blog. Ooosss!

After putting away Matt Hughes is glorious fashion at UFC 123, BJ Penn is on fire. And to keep up the momentum, he’s counting on the help of Abmar Barbosa, who this year stood out for his performances at events like the Pan, where he took second, and the Asian Open, which he won. Abmar spoke a bit about what he’s doing in Hawaii with GRACIEMAG.com:

So what’s the news?

I’m here in Honolulu, Hawaii, and I’m teaching a seminar this weekend. Soon I’ll go spend a week or two training with BJ Penn.

How did this opportunity to train with BJ Penn come about?

We spoke when Joe Lauzon introduced us, at UFC 123. I promised to pay him a visit to train and here I am.

And what’s on the schedule for after training with BJ?

I’ll return to Virginia, because I’m going to lead the Fairfax Jiu-Jitsu team in competition. There’s going to be a mega-training camp in February of about ten days at my branch in Providence. Besides that, there’s my DVD, which was launched in November and is selling like mad. I hope everyone likes it, I dedicated myself 100%. I’d also like to thank GRACIEMAG.com for the space it’s given me.

Starting with the good, Marcos is in São Paulo to practice boxing and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu to get ready for his MMA debut, a superfight at Deep in Macau against Korea’s Park Jeong Gyo in January 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrBvyOZlaDA

“The fight is at 77kg (welterweight), I’m on a diet and training a lot at Bonsai headquarters in São Paulo,” he explains.

The bad news is that the black belt went to São Paulo from Japan because his father, Adilson Souza, the master of the team, discovered he has pancreatic cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. Be strong, Master!

Always a handful in competitions, black belt Abmar Barbosa has traveled the world to compete and teach seminars. Furthermore, Abmar helps out in the training of UFC fighter Joe Lauzon, who has a fight coming up. Check out the fighter’s chat with GRACIEMAG.com.

How has life been since you left Brazil for the United States to compete and teach class?

Since moving to the United States to fulfill my dream, which is to teach, a lot of good stuff has happened to me and lots of opportunities have arisen. This past month I had the pleasure of teaching a number of seminars around the world.

Where all did you go?

My trip started in Hawaii. I went to compete at the IBJJF’s Honolulu Open and managed to take silver in the absolute. After that I went to Japan, where I competed at the Asian Open and won my division and the absolute, closing out with my friend Marquinhos de Souza, of Bonsai.

You have any new projects coming up?

Following the championship in Japan, I returned to the USA to shoot my DCD, which will launch in November. Once filming was over, I went to teach at a Drysdale JJ branch in Canada, where I stayed for six days and taught a seminar. Then I went to Europe: Ireland, Belgium, and Holland, teaching seminars and classes.

Is it true you are also helping out fighters training for the UFC?

When I was in Europe, Joe Lauzon, a UFC fighter who trains Jiu-Jitsu with me, called me saying he is going to fight at UFC 123 on November 20, the one where Lyoto Machida and Quinton Jackson will fight. So I returned to returned to the USA to help Joe brush up on his ground game for the fight.

And how is Joe Lauzon’s Jiu-Jitsu? In his last fight, against Gabe Ruediger, he put on quite a show on the ground…

A lot of folks ask me about his Jiu-Jits and our strategy for the fight. I reply by saying our aim is to be good in all respects. I don’t want to know about the opponent, I want to know about Joe. I want him to do well in Jiu-Jitsu, but also to have good cardio, explosiveness, and standup. Joe has a number of excellent professionals helping him and, aside from that, he’s naturally good. He’s really strong. I feel Joe is a complete fighter who always has a lot of desire to win. His ground game is sharp and it’s really hard to keep him from getting out of a position. And if you blink and mess up, it’s over. He gets you.

What’s your next competition?

As I have to train Joe Lauzon for his fight, I won’t make it to the South American Championship in Brazil. I have an American student named Garret who will represent me there. He a purple belt and recently was runner-up in the absolute division of the Pan and the New York Open, and he’s only 70 kg (155 lbs).

And will you carry on teaching seminars?

This Saturday, October 22, I’ll be at one of my branches, Two Swords BJJ academy. On Sunday I’ll be at black belt Brian Caldwell’s Intenze MMA Academy. Those interested can shoot an email to abmarbarbosa@hotmail.com. Thanks to you all at GRACIEMAG.com and GRACIEMAG magazine!

Photo: Kinya Hashimoto

A world champion at blue, purple and brown belt, Roberto Satoshi, now living in Japan, is still fulfilling his dreams in Jiu-Jitsu. This season the brown belt added the Asian Open absolute title to his collection and then went on to finish off three black belt in the Deep GP. In a conversation with GRACIEMAG.com, Satoshi talks a bit about his story and analyzes how the gentle art is doing in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Tell us about your participation in the Deep GP…

Thank God my participation at Deep was perfect. I managed to finish all three of my matches in under two minutes. Everything went just right because I’d been training hard for the Asian Open and so just had to keep up the rhythm.

Tell us about your family history in Jiu-Jitsu. Why’d you take off for Japan?

My family started in Jiu-Jitsu because of my father (Adilson Antonio de Souza), who is our teacher. There are five of us siblings: Mauricio “Dai” Souza, Marcos Yoshio de Souza, and Cristiane Yukari de Souza, all black belts; me at brown belt; and the youngest, Murilo, who is a yellow belt. Only my mom doesn’t fight. She’s a police officer, so if we can’t handle something with Jiu-Jitsu, we call her (laughs)!

In Brazil, we have a really great team, but we like to compete a lot and these days most of the championships are outside Brazil. Sometimes it’s hard to compete at championships abroad due to lack of sponsorship. After I won the Worlds, in 2006, I went two years without being able to compete at the event, for it having been moved to the USA. There were no sponsors to help out. These days, thank God, I’m in Japan and able to make a living teaching class. With the help of Bull Terrier and Dragão, I managed to make it to the Worlds in 2009 and 2010, and won.

What’s your take on Jiu-Jitsu in Japan at present? Do you feel the country is progressing a lot and that Japanese fighters will be harder to beat at black belt in the near future?

Here in Japan there are a lot of good, skillful guys at blue, purple, and brown belt. But not everyone manages to compete abroad. I feel that within two years we’ll have a great Japanese revelation at black belt. These days, Japanese fighters are already making a lot of waves at the Worlds and Pan, catching a lot of good guys off guard.

On Asian Open winners' stand

What are your goals in Jiu-Jitsu? Do you plan to compete outside Japan?

My goal right now is the Pan and European. Those are two championships I’ve never been to. I’m always competing around here to not lose competition rhythm and I always do the Worlds and Abu Dhabi Pro. Next year I’ll try and do more competitions besides the Pan and European.

What are your hopes for the future? Do you plan to do MMA?

I want to carry on teaching class and being recognized for the work I do, to be remembered as a good fighters. I’ve received several offers to do MMA here in Japan. Who knows? Maybe down the road I’ll do it. For now, my dream is to win the worlds at black belt. I managed it at blue, purple, and brown. But that’s my dream now at black; that’s all I think about. I’m 100% Jiu-Jitsu (laughs)!

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I want to thank everyone who’s helped me, provided me incentive, and sent me messages wishing me good luck. You can be sure I’m really happy about it. You are the best and greatest motivators. Thanks a lot, gang. Best wishes!

Durinho, seated, and Satoshi, wearing brown belt. Photo: publicity.

Another to put in a good appearance at the event was Roberto Satoshi, winner of this year’s Asian Open at middleweight and absolute brown belt.

“He did really well. He did the GP and, even as a brown belt, he submitted three black belts in less than a minute. The kid’s on fire,” said Durinho in praise, now going to continue his training in Japan before embarking for the No-Gi Worlds.

“I’ll stick around here training at Bonsai academy, with Marcus Souza and Satoshi. I’ll stay here for over a month. I have seminars to teach this Monday and two more scheduled in Tokyo. Tuesday I’ll head back to Hamamatsu, where I’ll continue my no-gi training for the Worlds,” said Durinho in closing.

“I taught a seminar in south Texas last weekend, as well as doing a Jiu-Jitsu demonstration at a US Army event at the Fort Lee base (Richmond, Virginia). We held gi and no-gi activities for the American soldiers stationed there. It was an honor to receive a certificate of services rendered to the American army, and it was also really cool to interact with the soldiers,” he says.

Bruno with American army soldiers

Beyond the recent excitement, the black belt is also motivated by his results as a coach. His student, blue belt Nicolas Nuila, won the Las Vegas Open and Asian Open, and his team took second place overall at last month’s Grapplers Quest in Texas. Bruno is excited and has only winning gold at his next outings on his mind.

“It’s hard to believe that, after all I’ve been through to get here, all this has happened in so little time (ten months). But I’m also sure this is just the beginning. Now I’m going to turn my attention to the competitions coming up and will try to win both my weight and the absolute weight groups. I’m thirty years old, but I’m still fighting in the adult division. I only compete in the master division at the International Master and Senior, which is a really important event. I’ll give people a hard time for a while yet! I’m training hard and will continue to represent Nova União well,” he says.

Bruno at seminar in Harlingen

And finally, so as not to say everything is pure joy, Bruno laments not being able to compete at the Brazilian Team Nationals to take place this coming weekend in Rio de Janeiro.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to wish the gang competing at the Brazilian Team Nationals good luck. I’d like to be with them, but now I have commitments here in the USA. Thiago Gaia will captain the team along with my cousin, André Bastos, and some others who are going to cause some havoc in the heavyweight brown and black belt division. I know the team will be well represented,” he says in closing.

Do as Bruno Bastos does and register for the No-Gi Pan. Sign-ups end on the coming 25^th. Find out more by clicking here.

Even so, Marcos was not the favorite going into the Asian Open that ended September 12. And he nearly put off signing up, due to a foot injury.

In the end, he stuck his neck out among beasts like Abmar Barbosa, Mike Fowler and Jonathan “JT” Torres, and showed the worth of the Brazil-Japan blend – he won both his weight and the open weight group at the IBJJF competition. And he even had breath left to answer five questions from GRACIEMAG.com.

Marcos Souza celebrates victory over JT in absolute. Photo: Kinya Hashimoto.

Was the 2010 Asian Open your first major title?

Yes, there was a special flavor to it. Two years ago, at the same championship, I was winning 15 to 2 with 40 seconds on the clock and my I wanted to finish off my opponent any way I could. I let myself get carried away by emotion and I got caught in an armbar with 20 seconds remaining… This year I wanted to prove how that Asian Open was unfortunate.

This year I won all the events I was in here in Japan, at weight and open weight. Cups like the Dumau International, Aichi Open, West Japan, All Japan and the Abu Dhabi Asian Qualfiers…

How did the match go against JT, one of the sensations of the current season?

Everyone was saying it would be an interesting match, perhaps the most heavily anticipated of the absolute. He’s been gaining ground in Jiu-Jitsu, has been beating a lot of tough guys and deserves respect. He has a highly offensive guard, has been catching everyone in his path, but I believed in my game. I passed his guard and got my knee on his belly, winning by 5 to 0. He’s really strong for a lightweight, and on top of that he’s really quick. I was pleased.

Then came the absolute final. Why did you and Abmar opt not to fight?

Last year, Abmar came to compete in Japan and stayed at my house, we trained together and we’ve been great friends ever since. He said that as I helped him last year, this year he’s going to reciprocate what I did for him. The curious part is that, on Saturday, he told me he wasn’t going to compete in the absolute because he was going to watch the judo Worlds. So I joked with him asking whether he was afraid of somebody, and bugged him about the title having to go to a Brazilian. Besides the Japanese threats, there was JT and Mike Fowler, each in a different bracket, and the danger of the two closing out. We joked about each of us having to take out one of them along the way, which is what ended up happening.

The Bon Sai teacher score 5 to 0 over Torres. Photos: Kinya Hashimoto.

You nearly stayed out of the Asian Open. How did you get injured?

Last month in the final of the All Japan, I hurt my foot against a 170-kg (374-lb) opponent! It was right at the start of the match. I ended up winning, but haven’t been able to train since. I’d already told my students and sponsors I wasn’t going to compete, since I hadn’t been training. But my desire spoke louder, and as I was in Tokyo to accompany my students, I decided to sign up at the last minute. I overcame the pain and fear of competing untrained.

I’d like to take the chance to thank my sponsors, Bull Terrier, Fightwear, Dragão Kimonos, Brutal Company. And of course, all those who rooted for me, it’s because of you that I try to improve with every day.

You brother won the absolute brown belt division, getting the finish in all his matches. What are you guys’ training sessions like?

My brother has enviable focus and responsibility. He wins a championship and on the next day he’s training again like he’s about to compete.

Now he’s even going to compete in the Jiu-Jitsu GP against another sever fighters, to prove who’s the best in the under 75 kg (155 lbs) division in Japan.

We trust each other a lot, corner each other and know exactly what the other is going to do in a match. We train every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at our academy Bon Sai Hamamatsu. Everyone asks who submits who, but that’s a family secret! (Laughs).

What’s you guys’ routine like in Japan?

I teach class from Monday to Saturday, while my brother heads training at Bon Sai Iwata. There are three of us brothers here in Japan. At first we worked in a factory. Hard times… The food was bad and the work grueling. Even worse, we didn’t have time to train. Now we have three branches here, aside from the 14 in Brazil, which we always visit. In October, for example, we’ll be back there to be with the family.

Brown belt brother Roberto: now in the fight to determine best lightweight in Japan.

Mesmo assim, Marcos não era o favorito para vencer o Asiático de Jiu-Jitsu, que terminou no último dia 12 de setembro. Com uma lesão no pé, aliás, ele quase não se inscreveu.

No fim, meteu-se entre as feras Abmar Barbosa, Mike Fowler e Jonathan “JT” Torres, e mostrou o valor da mistura Brasil-Japão – conquistou o peso pesado e o absoluto da competição da IBJJF. E ainda teve gás para responder de bate-pronto a cinco perguntas do GRACIEMAG.com.

Marcos Souza comemora vitória sobre JT no absoluto. Foto: Kinya Hashimoto.

O Asiático 2010 foi seu título mais importante?

Sim, teve um gostinho especial. Há dois anos, na final do mesmo campeonato, eu estava ganhando de 15 a 2, e restando 40 segundos eu quis finalizar meu adversário de qualquer jeito. Me deixei levar pela emoção e fui finalizado no braço faltando apenas 20 segundos para acabar… Este ano eu queria provar que perder aquele Asiático tinha sido uma fatalidade.
Este ano ganhei todos os eventos que lutei aqui no Japão, peso e absoluto. Copas como o Internacional Dumau, o Aichi Open, West Japan, All Japan, a Seletiva Asiática para Abu Dhabi…

Como foi a luta contra JT, ele que é uma das sensações da temporada?

Todos comentavam aqui que seria uma luta interessante, talvez a mais esperada do absoluto. Ele vem ganhando muito espaço no Jiu-Jitsu, já venceu muitos atletas duros e merece respeito. A guarda dele é muito ofensiva, vinha pegando todo mundo que encontrava pelo caminho, mas eu acreditei no meu jogo. Passei a guarda dele e pus o joelho na barriga, vencendo por 5 a 0. Ele é muito forte para o peso leve, e ainda por cima muito rápido. Fiquei feliz.

Aí veio a final do absoluto. Por que você e Abmar Barbosa optaram por não lutar?

No ano passado, o Abmar veio competir no Japão e ficou na minha casa, treinamos juntos e desde então somos grandes amigos. Ele falou que como ajudei-o ano passado, ele este ano iria retribuir o que fiz por ele.
O curioso foi que, no sábado, ele me disse que não lutaria o absoluto, porque queria assistir ao Mundial de Judô. Eu então brinquei com ele, perguntei se ele estava com medo de alguém, e pus pilha dizendo que o título tinha que ficar com algum brasileiro. Além das ameaças japonesas, tinha o JT e o Mike Fowler, um de cada lado da chave, e o perigo de os dois fecharem existia. Ficamos brincando que cada um de nós ia tirar um deles do caminho, o que acabou acontecendo.

O professor da Bon Sai meteu 5 a 0 em Torres. Fotos: Kinya Hashimoto.

Você quase não competiu no Asiático. Como se machucou?

Foi mês passado, na final do All Japan. Machuquei meu pé contra um adversário de 170kg! Foi logo no início da luta, acabei vencendo mas não consegui treinar desde então. Eu já tinha conversado com meus alunos e patrocinadores que não ia lutar, pois estava destreinado. Mas a vontade foi maior, e como estava em Tóquio para acompanhar os alunos, decidi me inscrever nos últimos dias. Superei a dor e o medo de lutar destreinado.
Aproveito para agradecer aos patrocinadores, Bull Terrier Fightwear, Dragão Kimonos, Brutal Company. E, claro, aqueles que torcem por mim, é por vocês que eu tento ser melhor a cada dia.

Seu irmão foi campeão absoluto marrom, finalizando todas as lutas. Como são esses treinos aí?

Meu irmão tem um foco e uma responsabilidade invejáveis. Ganha um campeonato e no dia seguinte já está treinando como se fosse lutar de novo.
Ele inclusive agora vai disputar um GP de Jiu-Jitsu contra outros sete lutadores, para provar quem é o melhor até 75kg do Japão.
Confiamos muito um no outro, nos revezamos no córner e sabemos exatamente o que o outro está fazendo na luta. Nós treinamos toda terça, quinta e sábado na nossa academia Bon Sai Hamamatsu, todos perguntam quem finaliza quem, mas isso é um segredo de família! (Risos).

Como é a rotina de vocês no Japão?

Eu dou aulas de segunda a sábado, enquanto meu irmão puxa o treino na Bon Sai Iwata. Somos três irmãos aqui no Japão, no início trabalhávamos numa fábrica, foi um tempo difícil. A comida era ruim e o trabalho pesado, e pior, não tínhamos tempo para treinar. Hoje temos três filiais aqui, fora as 14 no Brasil, que a gente visita sempre. Outubro, por exemplo, estou de volta aí para ficar com a família.

O irmão faixa-marrom Roberto: agora na luta para saber quem é o melhor leve do Japão.

“He put on a true show for the Japanese crowd in attendance at Tokyo’s Ayase Budokan gymnasium. In his first match he won with a choke. In the final not a point or advantage point was scored against him, and he finished with a sweet armbar,” said Roberto Massao, a teacher at Gracie Barra and Pablo’s guide in the Japanese capital.

Light featherweight winners' stand. Photo: Publicity.

The defining hold came at the tail end of the final, making the match all the more exciting. The Draculino student first pulled off a sweep to open the scoring. In the waning moments of the ten-minute affair he sunk an armbar from the omoplata that brought the crowd to its feet.

After recovering from his battle wounds (Pablo is recovering from knee trouble), the world and Asian champion will go on to hold seminars around Japan, and returns to Brazil on the 20^th.

* 17 September: Extreme BJJ Academy in Komaki, 9 pm.

* 18 September: Gracie Barra Gifu and Paraestra Gifu Academy, 9 am

* 18 September: Gracie Barra Aichi Academy in Anjo, 7:30 pm

* 19 September: Rocha Okazaki Academy, 9:30 pm