Four times world champion and two times ADCC champion, Rubens Cobrinha is rightly considered one of the best competitors of all times. Here we find him teaching exclusively to GRACIEMAG.com a simple, quick and efficient sweep from the sit up guard. Play and learn.

Ram Ananda of Cobrinha BJJ is proof that age is just a number. At 36 years young, he won the brown belt light-featherweight division at the 2014 World Championship–his second adult world title.

Ram has been training for five and a half years and has been training full-time under Rubens Charles Cobrinha for three and a half years. In that time he won the 2012 Worlds at blue belt, the 2012 Master and Seniors Worlds at purple belt, the 2013 Masters and Seniors Worlds at brown belt and now the 2014 Worlds at brown belt. His ability to toggle back and forth between adult and master and produce the same results shows that the right mentality is what produces results.

I spoke with Ram about his journey in Jiu-Jitsu and the mindset it takes to win as much as he has in such a short amount of time:

GRACIEMAG: How did you get into Jiu-Jitsu?

RAM ANANDA: I got into BJJ cause there was an open mat in San Francisco at a junior college. I rolled with a portly Filipino guy, this turtle of a man about 5’4″ and probably 190 pounds– not strong at all. He was a blue belt. He just laid on me and beat me up in turtle subbing me a bunch. I’m highly competitive, so since then to see a man non-athletic at all kick my ass so badly, I was hooked on BJJ.

I moved to the Philippines for nursing school so I was doing that full time but I still wanted to train BJJ, so I found a club taught by a blue belt. There was one other blue belt there as well. I trained when I could but it wasn’t much. After a year I had a break from school for a month. I went home to LA during that time and I found a place next to my house called Hollywood BJJ. I trained there every day on my vacation. Sean Williams was the black belt there at the time. On my last day there he promoted me! I wasn’t his student but I guess he saw I loved BJJ and worked hard.

What is your approach to training?

Training is effortless, I love it. As long as my diet is right then it’s easy to train. In terms of “success”, I set goals like no one else. I make sure I’m more mentally prepared than anyone else as well. Physically, I played soccer and I’ve always had good cardio.

Are there any differences between adult and master divisions?

I’ve only done the masters division three times. Honestly I’ll only do masters if it has the title “Worlds” in it. It’s a good way to do tournaments. There isn’t a big difference between the two age divisions. I was expecting a dropoff, but the guys at masters are freaking strong. Most guys over 30 have that serious old man strength.

The most common complaint I always hear older guys say is, “I wish I started BJJ when I was younger!” I am proof that it’s just a self imposed limiting belief.

How was your run this year at the 2014 Worlds? Toughest match?

I had five matches with one submission. In my toughest match I was losing 0-6 in my quarterfinal, 36 seconds to go and the guy knew he was winning so he was just running away. Time never runs so fast when you’re losing. He pulled closed guard, somehow I got out, went for a footlock, couple ankle pops with 13 seconds to go and I had won that match.

Outi Jarvilehto with the gold. Photo: Erin Herle

For the first time in the history of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships, the females had a roosterweight category. On the second day of the 2014 World Championship in Long Beach, CA, the blue and purple belt females of the new division entered the mat.

The purple belts had 11 while the blue belts had 20 in the roosterweight category, the fifth and fourth most populated divisions respectively. This proves that there have been many females often too light to be in the light-featherweight division, the lowest division prior to now. Don’t let the baggi gis fool you because many of these women struggled until now, where the two champions of the second day at the Worlds have earned their gold in their own division.

Blue belt

Katie Yamashita with the win. Photo: Erin Herle

Katie Yamashita of Alliance at Cobrinha BJJ was able to earn the gold in the blue belt category after previous attempts to bulk up to a stronger weight as a light-featherweight. Katie had five matches with one submission. Her toughest match came when she was put in closed guard because “I train a lot of open guard but not a lot of closed guard defense”.

She began training in Jiu-Jitsu three years ago in her boyfriend’s garage where she trained for a year before moving to Cobrinha’s where her boyfriend trains. Now she trains five times a week while working full-time and works out three times a week. Last year she lost at the Pans and the Worlds because she her spider guard was “smashed” in the light-featherweight category.

Triangle set-up in the final. Photo: Erin Herle

“I feel like having the roosterweight division is more fair. It’s supposed to be about technique and when I was in light-feather I struggled because I was smaller,: she explains. The difference in opponents came in loud and clear. In the future she plans to continue her strength and conditioning to keep training hard and keep getting stronger.

Purple belt

Outi in the final. Photo: Erin Herle

The purple belt roosterweight gold was claimed by Brasa CTA athlete Outi Järvilehto from Finland. The 27-year-old veterinarian had three matches with two submissions in the form of a choke from the back and an armbar. Her toughest match against Maria Henderson was decided in literally the last two seconds as she secured an armbar submission while down by two points.

As a full-time veterinarian she works both the morning shift and the night shift but still tries to train twice a day with strength and conditioning as well. “I don’t always get to do all the training that I plan” she says, but she makes it in as often as she can.

She has been training a total of seven years in Finland but for the last three years she and her boyfriend, Tuomas Tammelehto, have traveled to the camp under Caio Terra that is held one week prior to the Worlds tournament. Her academy, Oulun Kamppailuklubi is under Brasa and Demian Maia and led by her professor, Tomi Kaaerela and Tuomas.

You can check out the partial results so far of the 2014 World Championship here. And albums of photos on the Graciemag Facebook page here.

Fabio Gurgel with Rubens Cobrinha Charles training in Los Angeles. Photo: @CobrinhaCharles Instagram

Fabio ‘The General’ Gurgel has been training at GMA Cobrinha BJJ in Los Angeles, CA for the last two weeks to prepare for his ADCC superfight in Beijing, China in October. His opponent is Ze Mario Sperry and the match will be no-gi so Rubens Charles Maciel is helping him with no-gi specific tips. Tomorrow Gurgel will return to Brazil but he spoke with GRACIEMAG  a quick minute to give us an update of where he’s headed next:

GMA Cobrinha BJJ will be hosting a seminar for bully prevention on Sunday, July 28. Led by Alliance black belt and kids instructor Fabbio Passos, the event will benefit both kids and parents in a variety of ways.

The best part is the seminar is absolutely free. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. your child and you can learn how to prevent bullying and how to handle the situations should they arrive. Representatives from local police stations in the Mid-Wilshire area will be there to speak about the serious issue.

To learn about bullying and how to prevent it while allowing your child to gain confidence through Jiu-Jitsu techniques, reserve your spot at the seminar today.

The GMA academy is located at 4929 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 104, Los Angeles, CA 90010

You can call 323-931-9953 or send an email to info@cobrinhabjj.com

See these ten names below!

The 2013 World Championship is around the corner and while we wait for the brackets and schedule to be released, we can study the list of registered athletes in the meantime. Scanning the categories of people who will be stepping on the mats of the Long Beach Walter Pyramid May 29 – June 2, there are some who have become promising.

From blue to brown, here are ten people who we feel can put up a good fight in their respective divisions:

Hiago Gama Sousa – Blue Light-Feather

Hiago at European Open taking the back

From Alliance, Hiago was born in Vitoria da Conquista, the same town of Rodrigo Minotauro, and has won the European Championship, Pan American Championship and the Brazilian Nationals this year. The twenty-one year old has 87 other competitors in his division but was able to come out on top in his 72-man division at Pan Ams so we think he has a great chance of hitting the grand slam.

Ram Ananda – Purple Light-Feather

Ram Ananda after winning the 2013 Pan Ams

A member of Alliance under Rubens Cobrinha Charles, Ram Ananda is a dual competitor and champion. Last year he won the gold at the Worlds as an adult blue belt then earned another world title as a purple belt at the Worlds Masters and Seniors. This year he accomplished the gold in the adult category at the Pan Americans as well. Ram’s consistency will help him reach the podium this year at the Worlds.

Ostap Manastryski – Purple Light-Feather

Ostap attacking from the back at the 2013 Pan Ams

Ostap is a Ukrainian-Canadian purple belt from Open Mat MMA in Toronto, Canada. He won his light-feather division this year at the Europeans and placed second at the Pan American Championship. Last year he had a good run at the Worlds winning bronze before being stopped by Joao Miyao. An avid competitor at the largest tournaments, we believe he will be among the top in his division.

Rehan Muttalib – Purple Middle

Rehan taking the back at the 2013 Pan American Championship

In his first year at purple belt, Rehan of Cobrinha BJJ has not only competed a ton but also reached the podium at nearly every championship he has entered. Most notably he won the European Championship with a silver in the open weight division and then placed second at the Pan American Championship. He won double gold at the New York Open, and silver at both the Dallas Open and Las Vegas Open so we think he has created a good momentum for the Worlds.

Rafael Henrique Pereira – Brown Light

Rafael at the 2013 Pan American Championship

At his first year at brown belt, Rafael Henrique Pereira has secured two gold at two solid tournaments, the Pan American Championship and Brazilian Nationals respectively. The Gracie Elite Team member who comes from Gordo Jiu-Jitsu in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil also won the Brazilian Nationals last year as a purple belt and placed second at the Pan ams in 2012 as well. His run so far at brown belt is promising enough for us to bet he will podium at the Worlds this year.

Felipe Cesar Silva – Brown Middle

Felipe with a single leg at the 2013 Pan American Championship

This Barbosa JJ competitor has been a brown belt for less than two months but we already believe he has a chance to get to the Worlds podium. After winning the purple belt middle division and placing second in the open division at Pan Ams in March, Felipe Cesar Silva was promoted to brown belt and went on to win the brown belt middle division at Brazilian Nationals in April. Accustomed well to his new belt already, we see no problem in expecting a good performance from him at the Worlds.

Natasha Quiza – Blue Medium-Heavy

Natasha Quiza passing the guard at the 2013 Pan American Championship

This Fight Sports blue belt under Robert “Cyborg” Abreu just won her Pan Ams division and placed third in the open weight. As a solid blue belt for some time now she has placed at the Worlds and she won Brazilian Nationals last year. She does well in both division and open weight so medaling at the Worlds this year is expected for Natasha.

AaRae Alexander – Purple Light

AaRae Alexander preparing in the bullpen

At her first year at purple belt, AaRae Alexander is off to a great start by winning the Pan Ams. At the 2012 Worlds she secured gold in the blue belt featherweight division and despite priorities like going off to college, she has managed to keep her competitive edge at a high level. The Team Lloyd Irvin young member has been competing since she was a kid earning four golds at Worlds as a juvenile blue belt in 2009 and 2010. Since she knows how to win a world title or two already, we think she can manage another at this new belt.

Nathalia Azoff – Brown Middle

Nathalia Azoff submitting at the 2013 Pan American Championship

Nathalia is a member of Brazilian Top Team Boston and has had a great year so far winning Pan Ams and the Boston Open in the brown belt middleweight division. As an international competitor she has placed at the top tournaments such as Europeans and even Worlds as a purple belt. Last year she took silver but this year we think she can do the same or better.

Dominyka Obelenyte – Brown Medium-Heavy

Dominyka Obelenyte working a triangle at the 2013 Pan American Championship

Dominyka Obelenyte is a Marcelo Garcia brown belt but has only been wearing said belt for about three weeks. At only 17, she is the youngest brown belt in her division but her accomplishments prove her worth. In 2011 at the age of fifteen she won the purple belt adult absolute division at the Worlds and placed second in the middleweight division. She also just won the purple absolute division at Pan Ams winning silver in her weight. Although a fresh brown belt, her talent and resume are enough to prove her capable of winning at this year’s Worlds.

>>To watch the Worlds from your seat at home, go to www.ibjjftv.com!

Check out the video below and also the pictures to see what it’s like to train with some of the best Alliance members in the world.

[flickr set=72157633604580759]

Don’t miss any of the action by watching the livestream fo the event May 30 – June 2 at www.ibjjftv.com

Fabbio Passos, Cobrinha, Fabio Gurgel, Lyoto Machida, Roger Gracie / Photo: Instragram @cobrinhacharles

As of late, Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles Maciel has welcomed many champions into his gym, mostly in the realm of MMA. Fabricio Werdum has trained consistently with the featherweight world champion for months and Urijah Faber also paid a visit in October.

Urijah Faber stopping by Cobrinha BJJ / Photo: Instagram @cobrinhacharles

This week, the General of team Alliance made the trek from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Los Angeles, CA to pay Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles Maciel a visit at his inconspicuous academy on the busy Wilshire/Highland corner.

Fabio Gurgel has been training with at GMA Cobrinha BJJ for the week including working on his grips:

Fabio Gurgel training his grips at GMA Cobrinha BJJ / Photo: Instagram @fabiogurgel

On Jan. 3, Fabio and Cobrinha were greeted by two great champions in many aspects of the martial art: Roger Gracie and Lyoto Machida.

This LA academy is quickly becoming a hub for many MMA fighters to gain more technical experience in and out of the gi. Even though there is a size difference between Cobrinha and many of the guys he is training with, it furthers the notion that technique overcomes strength– an idea that is quickly being identified in the octagon.

Follow Cobrinha and Fabio Gurgel on Instagram for more quick pics: @CobrinhaCharles and @FabioGurgel

And don’t forget to follow your source for reliable Jiu-Jitsu information on Instagram: @GracieMagazine

GMA member Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles is offering a training camp for the 2012 Pan.

The four times world champion will be welcoming athletes from all academies at his school in los Angeles, California.

The cost is $299 for seven days of practice, from March 21st to the 27th.

For more info and to register, call 323-931-9953 or email at info@cobrinhabjj.com

For more info, go to cobrinhabjj.com

GMA member Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” Maciel has lauched a new vehicle of interacting with him.

His academy in Los Angeles, CA, now has a You Tube channel.

Check out the videos featured there and learn with the four times world champion.

The channel’s address is youtube.com/user/Cobrinhabjj

For more info, go to http://www.cobrinhabjj.com/

The four times world champion knows the importance of sharing the gentle art knowledge.

In this video from 2010, Cobrinha teaches triangle choke variations.

And as a piece of info, Cobrinha submitted Shane Rice with an bow and arrow choke in the fight he announces in the video.

To know more, go to cobrinhabjj.com

GMA member Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” is to host a great seminar next November.

On the 3rd, 2011 uber-champion Gabi Garcia will be at Cobrinha BJJ for a special Np-Gi class.

Gabi is the dominant figure in female grappling nowadays, so you don’t want to miss the opportunity to learn from someone who is on top.

The cost is US$ 30 for Alliance members and US$ 50 for non-Alliance members.

And, if you are in LA and live the BJJ life, don’t miss taking part in an open mat at Cobrinha BJJ this Sunday, October 9.

For more info, go to cobrinhabjj.com