Tarsis wins 2010 Brazilian Nationals. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

Alliance standout Tarsis Humphreys won the World Championship for the first time in 2010. Last season, at a medium heavyweight, the black belt came up with other expressive wins, like the Brazilian Nationals.

Back in Brazil after a spell in Miami, Florida, Tarsis is sharpening up his skills for the challenges that await him this season. Check out what he had to say in this GRACIEMAG.com interview:

You’re back in São Paulo now? What will that add to your training?

Yes, I’m back living in São Paulo and I’m so happy to see my family and friends and to be back training hard for competitions. Training at Fabio’s (Gurgel) academy is great, his classes are excellent and the fact someone is supervising and guiding training makes things a lot easier, not to mention the high quality and variety of training partners. I’m also back at training with my physical conditioning coach, Edmilson Dantas, who uses the LPO System to get me in shape. I found out Demian Maia is training with Dimas too, wo it will be really cool to train together with Demian and be able to talk to him about the UFC and his career.

How important was the experience in the USA to you?

I learned to appreciate a lot of things, I matured a lot there with the experience, mainly when it comes to running an academy and being a good teacher.

He fights tooth and nail for a win! Photo: Carlos Ozório.

Last year you won the Worlds for the first time. Is winning it a second time your main goal for this year? Do you want to try for the absolute as well?

I train to win. If I were to tell you I’m in it for the fun, I’d be lying. Jiu-Jitsu titles are proof of how good we are at what we do, and I feel that’s important. I’m competitive in life, determined, and I returned to Brazil to be able to train more. I hope to do better this year than last year and, if I’m in good shape, I do want to do weight and open weight. It will depend on who is doing best from the team and who’s better prepared to compete at weight and absolute; and the team’s strategy as well.

Aside from that, what are your goals for 2011?

To compete at the biggest CBJJ and IBJJF championships and at the World Pro and the ADCC. That’s what I want now. For the second semester, – who knows? – maybe make my MMA debut.

I’d like to remind everyone that the new line of Tarsis Humphreys T-shirts and rash guards have arrived. Anyone interested in seeing can get on Facebook. Thanks!

Tanquinho to compete at weight and open weight. Photo: Gustavo Aragão.

There much time left to secure a spot at the US Open, one of the longest-running events in the USA, with fifteen years of history. Monday is the sign-up deadline (click here).

The event goes down in Santa Cruz, California from October 15 to 17.

This year’s Rio Open and Brazilian Team Nationals champion Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes is one of the black belts guaranteed to be there. Besides giving his opponents in the lightweight division a hard time, the Soul Fighters representatives will mix things up with the heayvweights.

“I really like competing at the US Open, and it’s about that time! I’m going to be in my weight division and the absolute,” he reports.

Check back with GRACIEMAG.com for more news.

GRACIEMAG.com has shown other chapters of the black belt’s roamings. In this sixth episode the Brasa rep visits the far-off North American state of Alaska and prepares for the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

Check it out:

Bernardo in photo by Ivan Trindade

The sports complex of the physical education faculty of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora was inaugurated. Athletes of all styles were in attendance and Jiu-Jitsu wasn’t left out, with a certain state-bred athlete as the main gentle art representative.

“I was invited to take part in the ceremony, where Minister of Sports Orlando Silva, Olympic volleyball layer André Nascimento, judoka Ketleyn Quadros, former volleyball player Marcia Fu, among others were in attendance,” recounts Bernardo Faria, World, Pan-American and Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu champion.

“It was really cool to be recognized as a standout athlete in my city. I was glad to know that little by little Jiu-Jitsu is gaining ground in Brazil’s sports circle,” adds the team Alliance representative.

Photo: Carlos Ozório

A standout competitor ever since he was a blue belt, Bernardo Faria definitively carved out a place for himself at black belt this year, his second year at the highest competitive belt level.

At the European Championship he closed out the heavyweight bracket with is master, Fabio Gurgel. Then he came to prominence once and for all, as you can see in the series of videos the Alliance ace sent in to GRACIEMAG.com.

Physical conditioning work

To guarantee his place at the top of the winners’ stand, one must be both technically and physically prepared. Bernardo doesn’t let that fact escape him.

Pan 2010 highlights

Last April the fighter etched his name in Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu history, when he captured gold medals at both heavyweight and open weight.

Best of the Brazilian Nationals 2010

Then came the Brazilian Nationals in May. Bernardo ended up losing at weight, dropping out in the semifinal to Alexandro Ceconi, but met with victory of a more significant kind, winning the gold medal in the absolute division, where he overcame Rafael Lovato in the championship decider.

Worlds 2010 highlights

Faria’s consolidation at black belt would finally come at the June World Championship event. The native of the city of Juiz de Fora won the heavyweight division at Xande Ribeiro’s expense, edging out the two-time absolute world champion in the decider.

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Cavaca celebrates triumph over Cyborg. Photo: Ivan Trindade

Check out the chat GRACIEMAG.com had with the ultraheavyweight:

How did your campaign at the Worlds go?

I had four matches at weight and four in the absolute, and I got the submission in seven of them. The only one I didn’t finish was the one I lost to Roger Gracie, in the absolute semifinal.

What does finally winning this title as a black belt mean to you?

It was a dream come true, my objective. It still hasn’t hit me yet! I’d already told you before the Worlds and the Brazilian Nationals that I’d been training a lot for this, that I was coming in much better prepared than I was last year. I’d been doing well this year; I made it to the final in all the CBJJ and IBJJF championships I was in. That motivated me a lot and worked in my favor psychologically. Not to mention the prep-work I did with Marcelo, who is my physical conditioning coach in Santos, with my physiotherapist Bruno and nutritionist Marcelo Ferro. We did good work in getting here.

How do you feel about the level of competition?

This was one of the fullest and toughest Worlds, mainly in the ultraheavyweight division. There was me, Gabriel Vella, Big Mac, Corleta, Pé de Pano, Cyborg. All of them had the same chances of winning. I went by them one by one and, when I realized what had happened, I was in the final.

Speaking of Roberto Cyborg, who also caught attention at the Worlds, you two have faced off on two occasions…

I fought Cyborg in the quarterfinals of the absolute. He didn’t let me carry out my game plan, which is to play guard, but I managed to sink a footlock on him in 15 seconds. That was a surprise and worked in my favor psychologically and must have shaken him up some. The weight group final was exciting, a really tough match. I ended up getting the finish from the same position and on the same foot.

In the final of the Brazilian Nationals, Igor Silva fell victim to the footlock. Photo: Gustavo Aragão

That foot hold helped a lot. Is it true you learned it from Hillary Williams’s teacher?

That’s right. And he’s right next to me now! He’s Roli Delgado, who’s fought three times in the UFC. I trained with him here in February and he taught me several details about the position, ironed my game out a lot. He noticed I do the 50/50 a lot and he me make a lot of adjustments. For sure, for what he showed me, a big part of this conquest is his. I got the sub in the final of the Brazilian Nationals with this hold and, of the seven finishes I came up with at the Worlds, five were with this hold. I am very grateful to him.

In the old days the footlock was frowned upon in Jiu-Jitsu, but things have changed. What are your thoughts on that?

During my time the footlock was highly criticized, too. I did it once as a purple belt and the guy ended up reversing and beating me. I told myself I’d never do a straight footlock on anyone anymore and stopped attacking with it. But my game changed a lot as a black belt; I started doing the 50/50 guard and from there you can attack the foot a lot. I started studying the details; my friends helped me with the adjustments and Roli Delgado to. These days public perception has changed and everyone praises me for it. There are guys who even want to schedule seminars just on footlocks! It will be fun! Another thing is that people say doing the 50/50 guard is stalling, but I proved once again that it’s not so. I subbed everyone from the 50/50.

I’d like to thank GRACIEMAG for all the support it’s been giving me and my students. Thanks! I’d also like to thank the sponsors who backed me for this Worlds.

Gui on Gabriel Moraes' back. Photo: Carlos Ozório

How do you feel about your campaign at the Brazilian Nationals?

I feel I fought well, imposed my game and am champion because of it. I fought good opponents and managed to execute what I’ve been doing in training. I felt really solid physically and technically, so I’m at a great stage. I’ve been competing in everything and seeing good results, and that makes me confident and at in good stead to win at the Worlds.

Carlos Esquisito and Caio Terra, among others, should be signed up for the Worlds. Have you been studying those guys?

The division will surely be full of great athletes and that motivates me even more to become champion. I’ve fought most of the athletes in the division and have also studied a lot of positions. But the thing is to be well trained so as to be able to do everything and, thank God, I’ve been doing everything just right. I’m going to compete with the aim of being champion, of developing what I train and not get taken by surprise. I’m not thinking of any one adversary in particular. What matters is winning the championship. I’m not like others who are content to try and beat the champion. I’m content when I’ve completed the mission.

At black belt mistakes are even more fatal” Guilherme Mendes

You took a little while getting settled in at black belt. Did that get you down?

At no moment was I down, if just because I don’t feel I took long. Truth is, I feel I learned from some losses and that helped me to settle in quickly, since I won the Worlds my first year as a black belt. But I’ve been working more and more on evolving and getting better and better. There are things I need to correct and I’m far from where I want to be.

What’s the hardest part for you as a black belt in relation to other belts?

I feel there are several difficulties. It’s really different from the other belts, as the match duration is longer, you compete against more experienced opponents, the matches are harder and the mistakes you make are even more deadly. But if you come up from brown belt and are in competition rhythm training a lot with the support of a team, the adaptation process is quick. I believe the big secret to winning is summed up in training, focus and determination.

Guilherme against Bernardo Pitel in Brazilian Nationalssemifinal. Photo: Carlos Ozório

Do you feel the light featherweight division is now your division?

For the time being, yes. I think next year I’ll compete as a featherweight with Rafael, but I need to see about that with the team. I’ll go wherever they put me. I’m concerned with training and doing well, but at the moment it’s better for the team to have me at light featherweight, if just because Rafael is doing an excellent job at featherweight, winning everything.

You keep an exhausting training and competition routine… Does it ever happen that this routine wears you out, makes you want to slow things down?

It really is an exhausting routine, but the results the team has been coming up with mean we’re on the right track. And for everything to keep going well, we need to keep up the same intensity in our work at the academy. We have a very tightly-knit team that keeps us determined, regardless of the circumstances. And once this Worlds is out of the way, we’re going to take some time off and teach some seminars. We’ll demonstrate the experience we’ve acquired in training and competition in academies in the USA and Canada.

I’d like to take the opportunity to thank those who left positive messages on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000313479380). We’re really happy about the recognition; it fuels us with even more motivation to train and compete even more. Thank you everyone!

Photo: Carlos Ozório

This year’s champion of Brazil Murilo Santana is now preparing for the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, which starts this coming June 3, in California. The Marcos Barbosinha student is also dedicated to MMA, though.

Murilo against Victor Bonfim at the Brazilian Nationals. Photo: Carlos Ozório

“I was training like mad to make my MMA debut, but the fight ended up not happening. What’s more, up until two weeks before the Brazilian Nationals I was training without the gi for MMA,” recounts the black belt.

Despite his desire to make his debut in the rings and cages, Murilo is now focused on the Worlds, from which he wants to return with gold around his neck; but his initiation in the mixed modality should still come about this year.

“Now I put the gi back on and I’ll return to MMA training after the Worlds,” he guarantees.

Durinho is hungry for a gold medal at the Worlds. Photo: Carlos Ozório

You’ve had a series of big wins and, obviously, you want to win the Worlds. What’s different with this competition in relation to the others?

It’s the toughest championship and everyone’s main focus. Everyone is going in well trained and, just as I surprised everyone last year, new blood is coming in that can do the same thing. I’m excited, really determined. I hit the cross bar twice as a brown belt, as a black belt and I took third as a purple belt. I’m hungry and will give my blood there.

Last year you lost to Michael Langhi in the final. Have you been studying him?

Langhi is really tough in the division, the current world champion. I’ve fought him several times and both won and lost. But there are other tough guys: JT, Formiga, Lucas Lepri, Celsinho Venicius, Caloquinha, Tanquinho… A lot of guys. I know he’s a tough guy and I’ve watched some of his fights. But I have a strategy and a good game to go up against anybody. I’m going in with my same old aggressive style and looking to win the title. I’m going after anyone in my way.

Durinho pressures JT's foot. Photo: Carlos Ozório

Photo: Carlos Ozorio

You fought in the final of the Brazilian Nationals against Jonathan Torres. Do you think he could surprise some people at the Worlds?

He’s really tough and has nothing more to prove. He even trained with the gang here last year. He’s good people, looking to carve out his place and has beaten a lot of top guys. He’s another one of the top guys.

What are your thoughts on the current phase in your Jiu-Jitsu career?

I’m at a good stage, evolving with every championship. But, even with all these good results, I know I have much to evolve still. I’m working on improving and showing up at the Worlds even better. My sponsors, Hartmann, Tamoio pharmacies and Red Nose, are helping me a lot, as is my team.

Tarsis will need to get his smile fixed. Photo: Carlos Ozorio

Tarsis Humphreys was wracked with a slew of problems that hindered him in competition. First came a knee injury and them a series of boils, which kept him out of the Abu Dhabi World Pro. As the fighter himself says, sometimes bad things happen for the best. Tarsis made up for lost time in training and had a solid campaign at the Brazilian Nationals, taking gold at medium heavyweight and bronze in the absolute.

“The competition was really high level, both in my weight group and the absolute. It wasn’t easy and I really wore out in the absolute. I didn’t budget my grip strength, used a lot of force in the match with Murilo Santana (quarterfinals), who is an excellent athlete. It was an awesome match; I started out winning by 6 to 0; he got back mount on me and I had to fend him off. I spent a lot of energy and faced [Rafael] Lovato after having only a short time between matches. I don’t think it was the hardest match, but he had a good strategy, beat me and I can’t say otherwise,” says Tarsis.

“At weight I did better and managed to budget my strength and wind. I did well and had good matches, like in the final against Nivaldo. I managed apply what I’d been training to do and it was great,” he adds.

Tarsis against Murilo Santana. Photo: Carlos Ozorio

In the mentioned absolute match against Murilo Santana, the Alliance representative even lost a tooth. But it was worth the effort, as he added another two medals to his collection.

Now the next challenge will be the Worlds starting June 3, in California.

“I’m going to the Worlds. This week I’m training really hard and then I’ll bring it down a bit for the trip to the United States to get acclimated. I want to fight at weight and the absolute, but that’s up to Fabio [Gurgel]. But I’m more focused on the medium heavyweight title that I barely missed winning last year. My loss [to Rômulo Barral] was kind of contradictory and I’m going to try and make things different this time,” he says in closing.

To sign up for the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, click here.

“There were falks talking about winning a grand slam, that tennis and golf-type talk. They’d say they were going to win all the big events this year. But the dream of a grand slam is over! The Brazilian Nationals is ours. We came in quiet, not saying anything, and we won,” prods Chico Mendes, a teacher at CheckMat, responding to statements made by Fabio Gurgel and Romero Jacaré, the leaders of team Alliance.

Cavaca (right) is one of those carrying CheckMat's hopes in the Worlds. Photo: Gustavo Aragão.

And the battle continues at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in California.

“We’re going to set up shop at the academies of Lucas Leite and Leandro Vieira in California. We’re taking a really big team and we’re going to have a solid 20-day training camp. There will be one session for the lower weight belts and one for everyone together,” says Chico in finishing.

Sign-ups for the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship are open. To find out more, click here.

Bochecha is one of CheckMat's standouts. Photo: Carlos Ozorio

Tiago and Murilo celebrate. Photo: Carlos Ozorio

In the post of runner-up, Tiago Alves approved of their effort.

“It was awesome! I managed to do everything I’d trained to. When the opportunity to get the tapout arose, I got the tapout. In the tougher matches I used strategy and managed to win without getting any points scored on me out of carelessness. I think this is the best path, not being a prima-donna,” he told GRACIEMAG.com.

Now the next challenge will be the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, to start June 3 in California.

“I’m heading to the Worlds; I even have my ticket. Murilo and I are both going. He’s my right hand man in training; we help each other a lot. It just makes our Jiu-Jitsu better.”

Tiago gets past Guga in the semifinal. Photo: Carlos Ozorio

In California Thiago expects greater difficulty in taking the division title.

“From what I saw at the Pan, where there were several favorites and many lost, it’ll be rough. Over there everyone’s a favorite and there’s no way to give any one in particular the nod. If he gets out of a footlock or a triangle, that guy’s going to be champion.”

The gold medalist at the Brazilian Nationals, Murilo Santana didn’t expect so much. The fighter had devoted his time to MMA. His debut was postponed and there wasn’t much time to prepare in the gi.

“I went in pretty much without expecting much, but helping the folks train for the event. I didn’t expect it and was really pleased. There were some tough matches, but I managed to submit everyone in the weight group, closing out the final with Tiago and everything went well,” says the black belt, happy about his perfect campaign.

Murilo (in blue) beat Victor Bonfim in the semifinal. Photo: Carlos Ozorio

Murilo had three matches, while Tiago beat four opponents. There’s more to come in California.

“I’m going to put in a lot of effort at the Worlds and will go for it. There will be a ton of tough guys there and I’m going to try and catch them all,” he says in finishing.

Sign-ups for the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship are open. To find out more, click here.