“After 1 month of surgery I put on my gi and was able to train for 30 minutes.”

My name is André Silva, 38 years old. I have had a Gracie Barra unit in the neighborhood of São Francisco – Niterói for 6 years. I have always been an athlete, but insulin intolerance (metabolic disease) made me lose autonomy over my body and almost led to my death. Even though I’m overweight, I’ve always maintained my Jiu Jitsu training routine at my gym.

I weighed more than 200 kg due to complications from insulin intolerance. This disease also caused pre-diabetes, gastric reflux, sleep apnea, fatty liver, among other health risks. 1 year and 8 years ago I needed bariatric surgery as a last resort. According to the medical team, after the surgery, discipline and a strictly healthy lifestyle routine would be necessary to try to return to fighting at high performance. After 1 month of surgery I put on my gi and was able to train for 30 minutes. The body was adapting. In 12 months, 60 kg was lost and I was discharged earlier than expected due to post-operative care, appropriate diet, physical rehabilitation work and Jiu Jitsu training.

In 2022 the opportunity arose to go to the United States and be a Jiu Jitsu athlete, an audacious project by Professor Fábio Gigantinho Villela at Gracie Barra Cedar Park. Even after invasive surgery and 38 years, I accepted the challenge, gave up a public job and embarked on my dream. Live fully for Jiu Jitsu.

In 3 months I competed in Austin Compnet (gold superfight), Dallas Open (silver Gi, Gold and Bronze category and absolute No Gi – Superheavyweight) and Texas Compnet (gold super heavyweight category). Total of 5 medals!

We remain firm to achieve more victories in the master category 2. Professor Fábio Gigantinho has done specific work to improve my performance in the master category where the fights are shorter and any mistake can cost the victory.

Let’s continue living the dream of becoming an athlete again and living Jiu jitsu. Oss

Alex at the podium. Photo: Reproduction

Based in the US state of Texas, Alex Martins, from AMBJJ, has plenty of reasons to celebrate. After the complicated period of restrictions of the pandemic, the black belt hit the Miami Open mats with all his strength and scored gold in the competition, shining among the middleweights and in the master 3 absolute.

With another event already in sight, Alex chatted with the GRACIEMAG team about the challenges he faced both in the isolation period and in his return to competition. Check the lines below and absorb valuable lessons from those who excelled in fighting. Oss!

GRACIEMAG: How did AMBJJ deal with the pandemic?

ALEX MARTINS: At the beginning, we had a lot of difficulties. Due to the social distance and isolation necessary to contain the virus, our classes were held through videoconferences. Our goal was to keep our students focused and disciplined while they stayed active in their homes. We held meetings, drills, and discussed techniques, all through video.

As the pandemic progressed, flexibility measures were implemented that allowed the reopening of certain establishments. How was this period for your gym?

Here in Texas, we have a very capable governor with immense understanding. After four months in isolation, he managed to open the state and our academy reopened. We had a list of observations and precautions we needed to follow to keep it going, such as social distance and occupancy limits. In this way, we reduced the classes and divided the times, but kept the activities. Due to the distance, we only did stretches, but after about a month, we were able to implement classes in pairs. Two months after the reopening, we went back to doing the regular sparring, but only in groups of two or three, to maintain control in case someone got infected.

How was the competitive training during this period?

At the end of 2020, we were able to return to a good level of training with the division of belts, so we started to give more focus to competitions. The IBJJF had already come back with events a few months before, but we preferred to talk it through, agreed to train in a safe and disciplined way, and come back to tournaments when we were ready.

You were recently champion at the Miami Open 2021. What was it like to return to competitive mats?

It was difficult, but I decided to fight in this event knowing it would be a challenge. The Miami Open welcomes many athletes from Florida, which is a place that has many strong gyms. I was aware of that, so I trained a lot and managed to be champion twice, weight and open class. In all, I fought six times, four of the victories were by submission and two were in points. It was a rewarding experience for me and I am very happy with my result.

Have your eyes on another tournament yet?

I’m going to participate in the American National, which will take place between June 24th and 26th, in Las Vegas. My category will be difficult, with several challenging athletes, but I like it anyway. The more strong opponents, the more I feel motivated to train. In addition to this event, I also want to participate in the Pan in September, but I am keeping my focus on the American National.

Renan VIeira com as premiações do Inter Gracie. Foto: Reprodução

O estádio do Morumbi, em São Paulo, acostumado com decisões no futebol, recebeu no último final de semana grandes duelos de Jiu-Jitsu com a realização do 13° Inter Gracie, evento que reúne as filiais da Ryan Gracie Team e contou com mais de 1.200 atletas inscritos.

Na faixa-preta, o grande destaque ficou para a final entre os cascas-grossas Renan Vieira e Thiago Miranda. Para chegar na final, Renan Vieira fez três lutas. Na primeira bateu Rodrigo Souza, nas quartas finalizou Derley Araujo no ezequiel e na semifinal superou Givanildo Medeiros.

Thiago Miranda também não teve vida fácil até chegar a final, mas conseguiu superar Alex Alves na primeira disputa, e em seguida bateu Rodrigo Fujita nas vantagens. Na grande final com tempo de 20 minutos, em disputa sem contagem de pontos onde somente a finalização daria a vitória e direito a premiação, Renan conseguiu pegar Thiago no triângulo, aos 18min de luta.

Lembrando que o campeão Renan Vieira já garantiu vaga no Gracie Pro 2019 para uma luta casada. Na disputa por filiais o titulo deste ano ficou para ABC/Ipiranga (Daniel Gracie), em segundo lugar o Centro de Lutas e em terceiro lugar a filial Morumbi.

Ana Laura vs Charlene Coats. Photo: Ivan Trindade

Gracie Barra’s Ana Laura Cordeiro is game when it comes to the match up with Gabi Garcia. The medium-heavy champion at the 2015 Pan was pleased to read that Gabi wants to compete against her again.

“I read her interview on GRACIEMAG.com and it made me really happy to know that she considers me such a qualified athlete. I think she’s right and I think a match between me and her would be thrilling. It would be a challenge like no other to fight her. Let’s campaign it and make it happen.”

Asked if she remembers anything of the last time she faced Gabi, at the 2009 Pan, Ana Laura was quick to answer: “Of course! It was my last championship before I injured my back and had to be away from competitions for five long years. Gabi today is very different from that Gabi from 2009. She trained really hard all those years and turned into the great champion she is today. I am trying to catch up with all the time that passed while I was injured.”

At last, Ana Laura tried to predict what would be the biggest challenge if a match like that comes to happen.

“I guess it would be a sight to see. It would make me train with heavier opponents For me, It’s not about the outcome of the match, or the tournament, but the challenge of reaching the end of the training camp healthy and ready. For match like thatm, the challenge would be even greater.”

The fight took place on November 12, 1983, at the Maracanazinho Gymnasium, in Rio de Janeiro.

Rickson weighed in 80kg (176lb) and Zulu weighed in 91kg (200lb).

The comentator in the video is Rorion Gracie.

Enjoy.

Lloyd Irvin’s BJJ Kumite

Little by little, Lloyd Irvin is allowing the world to see what took place at his BJJ Kumite last week.

One of the few things he has released is this video of the one-hour battle between black belts Nyjah Easton and Sofia Amarante.

If you haven’t seen it yet, do so now!

It’s worth the wait.

Jackson Sousa says he is ready to face Cornelius

Soon after the recent Brazilian No-Gi Nationals, a few weeks ago, GRACIEMAG.com published an exclusive interview with the brown belt absolute champion, Jackson Sousa.

Among other things, Sousa said that he was open for a match up with brown belt sensation, Keenan Cornelius, from Team Lloyd Irvin.

Today, after Keenan having once again ruled the division last weekend at the Worlds No-Gi, Master Llyd Irvin himself posted the following message on Facebook, saying that Sousa would be a good opponent for Cornelius:

“I think we have found an opponent for Keenan. This isn’t a tournament, this is one super fight to test out this new format, both of these guys seem to have what it takes for this format. No Time limit Submission only match in the Gi, and then No Time Limit Submission Only match No Gi. Winner gets $2500 for each division. I will fly Jackson and a coach from Brazil to do the match. Does anyone know how to contact Jackson. We love his style and this will be a killer experience. Do you guys like this match up? FYI I’m not getting into the tournament business, I have no interest in doing tournaments, this is just something fun I’m willing to do with my own money to give a great opportunity to two killers like Keenan and Jackson and take it back to the old school rules. Royce Gracie vs Wallid style. What do you think? I’m down to do this befor the year is over if possible.”

Can anyone beat Cornelius at the brown belt?

To illustrate his post, Lloyd shared the link to GRACIEMAG’s interview with Sousa.

Now, we wait for the answer from Jackson.