Tammi earns her first black belt world title with a kimura submission at the 2013 No-Gi World Championship. Photo: Erin Herle

At nineteen years old, black belt Tammi Musumeci has made us all look incompetent. Not that she means to, but she definitely stands out as one of the most tenacious people I have ever met. We all know the studious ones in school who take the toughest classes, join all the right clubs and read books instead of gossip magazines. She is one of them. But more than just the academic achievements is the rare title of Jiu-Jitsu black belt world champion she can proudly write on her resume.

She continues to push the pace in her Jiu-Jitsu training and competition because she loves Jiu-Jitsu. She continues to push the pace in her academics because she wants to secure a future for herself that she’s imagined. It doesn’t involve a Jiu-Jitsu academy or the Olympics but rather a life of numbers and six-figures, perhaps, too.

I spoke with Tammi about her time on the mats and whether or not it ever became a job for her like it has for some. I wanted to know whether she pictured herself the world champion before the straight-A student. But I guess it didn’t matter because she found herself as both.

GRACIEMAG: I want to hear about your training with Jiu-Jitsu and if it has always coincided with school and any other priorities.

TAMMI MUSUMECI: I started training Jiu-Jitsu when I was six years old in the first grade.  Jiu-Jitsu has been a large part of my life, throughout my whole school career, and continues to be today. Balancing Jiu-Jitsu and school proves to be a challenge. In high school I had even more priorities besides studying and training. To get into a good college, I not only needed good grades, but an involvement in the community and school activities.

So throughout high school, I was involved in the various clubs and societies, which were extremely time consuming. Because community service hours were so important, I volunteered at various places such as libraries and hospitals. I completed a total of 475 community service hours.

In addition, throughout high school I took intensive SAT classes and spent my weekends, that were already spent working on various honors and AP class work, taking at least four hour long SATS. Good grades never came easy to me; I had to work very hard to achieve the grades I got.

With much of my day occupied with stressful obligations, I still made sure to find the time to train and workout hard, and to go on and win world titles at blue, purple, and brown belt, along with three pan titles, two at purple, one at brown all in the adult division.

[While in college she has earned a black belt world title from the 2013 No-Gi World Championship and a black belt pan title from the 2014 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship.]

Tammi wins the 2014 Pan black belt title. Photo: Erin Herle

How much is Jiu-Jitsu a priority?

Because of my busy schedule, prioritization is extremely important if I want to achieve all of my goals. Because school and school-related activities consequently have a huge impact on my future occupation those of course would be my number one priority.

Whatever time that was left would be spent between Jiu-Jitsu training, conditioning, eating and sleeping.

But I have also found an interesting relationship between jiu-jitsu and school: Jiu-jitsu helped me unwind from the ever present pressures of school. Even during my most stressful times, I always made sure to workout really hard, eat healthy, and get in some training sessions.

What are your studies like?

I guess I was, am, and will continue to be a big nerd. Throughout my life in school, I would spend literally hours studying when the other kids partied or went out. Socializing was not a priority for me.  As frustrating and grueling as studying was at times, I always hoped that it would pay off one day. This was and is the motivator that keeps me going.

My hard work landed me full scholarships to some of the best schools such as University of Miami, New York University, The College of New Jersey, Rutgers University, and Drexel University.

I chose to go the Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida because I received a full scholarship to their six year Accelerated Law Program BS/JD – 3 years undergraduate in accounting, 3 years law school.

All that studying and sacrifice paid off. Those tedious hours of studying sometimes till the wee hours of the morning were well worth it. Today, I continue to study really hard to get good grades and hope one day get a good job that will allow me to secure my future.

Incidentally, I never told anyone in school about Jiu-Jitsu. So when I went to school with the occasional facial scratch, bruise, or black eye, I would get the most interesting looks from my teachers and classmates.

I’d really love for you to spell out what your busiest day of the week from last semester.

In the final against Mackenzie Dern at the 2014 Pan. Photo: Erin Herle

My busiest day of the week last semester had to be Wednesday because I had to attend classes in the morning, be at a drilling session with my brother, Mikey, and Manny Soares at Jaco Hybrid Training Center at 1:30 p.m. After that, my brother and I would go straight to strength and conditioning with our trainer Cody Schovitz at Speed Evolution in Boca Raton, FL. From there at 5:30 p.m., I would rush back to Jaco Hybrid training center to teach my women’s class. Then on most nights my brother and I would attend an intense competition training session with Emyr “Shark” Bussade at ATT Wellington. The rest of the night would be spent studying, which sometimes would consist of an, “all nighter.”

What is your philosophy on competition?

I don’t believe that competition is necessary for all, but it is a great way to test yourself against other fighters besides the ones you train with. I love to compete, but most of all I love training for competing. It allows me to push myself to the limit and beyond that. I believe that real growth can only come from being uncomfortable. So I am very familiar with being uncomfortable.

How much do you love it versus how much is it about the end result?

The end result is very important to me as a fighter because it validates all the training and conditioning. I personally enjoy competing. I have been doing it for many years and it has become intricate part of my life.

How hard are you on yourself?

I am extremely hard on myself to the point where it is a flaw. This flaw is not only limited to Jiu-Jitsu, but also school. Somewhere along the line I came to believe that if you work real hard you will get the desired result you are looking for. But if you don’t get the desired result, you didn’t work hard enough. At this level however, I am working on changing my thinking because I am competing against the best athletes in Jiu-Jitsu and understand that I will lose not because I am not good but because they are just as technical and prepared as I am. I have a great deal of respect for my opponents and feel honored to even be competing against them.

What do the titles mean to you?

The titles I have won mean a lot to me. They tell me that my Jiu-Jitsu training, diet and conditioning were right on point. Again, I am extremely humbled by the thought of even competing at this level with such amazing fighters. So winning means that much more to me.

Will you ever open an academy?

I am not planning on opening an academy. I teach the women’s class at Jaco because I like to help the women achieve their goals and gain confidence, but I will not make a career of this.

What are your career goals?

My career goal is to become an accountant and lawyer and pursue a job in some aspect of business law or forensics accounting.

What parts do you not enjoy about Jiu-Jitsu if any?

The part of Jiu-Jitsu that I do not enjoy is the drama sometimes associated with it. There are times when beginners think they know all there is to know about Jiu-Jitsu when in reality, Jiu-Jitsu is a lifelong learning experience. I do not like when people are disrespectful to the instructor or to each other. A huge part of Jiu-Jitsu has to do with respect. Without respect, there is anarchy–not a Jiu-Jitsu class I would like to be at. I do not like when people refuse to tap. This is one aspect that I will never understand. Refusing to tap could result in serious injury that could side-line an athlete for months, or even years. Whether it be ego, or pride, this is a serious problem.

Finally, the last thing I do not enjoy about Jiu-Jitsu is when people react negatively when they lose. I believe that losing is an essential component in the making of an athlete.  No one is infallible.  I know I’m not.

It’s not how we win, it’s how we lose.

Tim working the pass in his semi-final match in the brown belt adult open weight division. Photo: Erin Herle

One of the stand-outs set to make a statement even before the 2014 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship was Tim Spriggs of Crazy 88/Team Lloyd Irvin. The 23-year-old Baltimore, MD resident proved his abilities by winning the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo Brown Belt Grand Prix last November.

Tim Spriggs (right) and Erberth Santon (left) after closing out the brown belt adult open weight division. Photo: Erin Herle

Tim competed in the brown belt adult heavyweight division as well as the brown belt open weight division and won all of his matches — three were submissions, one was a stoppage due to injury. In the final of the open weight, he closed out with a fellow TLI member, Erberth Santos from Brazil who had been training with him for the past month at Crazy 88. The weekend left him with a winning streak that proved his capabilities since his promotion to brown belt last June.

Above all of his studies on the mat, Tim also proved his capabilities in academia having earned a college degree back in 2012 at St John’s University in New York City. Even though he was states away from the Crazy 88 team, he still made it work, training full time in the summers and remaining loyal to his team. At 16 Tim started training with them and has never strayed.

Representing his TLI team after winning the brown belt adult heavyweight division. Photo: Erin Herle

We asked Tim questions about his time at the Pans on the weekend of Mar 12-16 and what it takes to be successful. His often short declarative sentences tell of a person who is direct, focused and doesn’t play around. But don’t be fooled by his ferocious tendencies on the mat because he is every bit a gentleman.

Tim Spriggs wins big at the Pan. Photo: Erin Herle

GRACIEMAG: What was your toughest match at the Pan?

Tim Spriggs: My toughest match at the Pan was the first one in my weight division. Mostly because I hadnt competed since the Copa Podio. Match speed and intensity is very different from the training room and usually I compete much more frequently, so that I am used to that difference. Also, I was not able to finish the guy, that’s another reason.

What is one characteristic a person must have to be successful?

A burning desire to win. And not just at the competition. You have to be willing to put everything you have into each training session, your diet, and even your rest. The person with the most drive to do everything necessary to win will be the most successful.

A lot of your matches start with judo and end with you on your opponent’s back. Do you drill specific transitions or series of techniques?

I drill the techniques that give me the most success. So a lot of judo, guard passing, and submissions from the back. However, I am always expanding my arsenal, so I study all aspects of the art; takedowns, guard, and guard passing.

What are your long-term goals in Jiu-Jitsu?

Black belt world champion in my weight and the absolute. ADCC champion in weight and absolute.

You went to St John’s University and finished in 2012. What is your degree and does it/will it help you in achieving your goals?

I got my degree in sociology. Although it doesn’t really help me with fighting it does give me a better understanding of why people act the way the way they do, so it helps with interacting with people at the academy.

What is a typical training routine for you?

Depending on what day it is, I have early morning strength and conditioning, then morning training session. I teach in the afternoon, then another session in the evening. My training usually lasts around three hours or more during the grand slam season. [From the Europeans in January to the Worlds in early June]

Working the pass in the brown belt adult heavyweight division. Photo: Erin Herle

We’ll see Tim next at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Championship on April 15-19 and the World Championship in Long Beach on May 28-June 1.

Ronaldo Aoqui: Jiu-Jitsu with the Gracie stamp of approval at Facex school in Natal, Brazil / Publicity photo

Ronaldo Aoqui, a Jiu-Jitsu black belt who teaches at Gracie Humaitá academy in the Northeastern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte, wrote in to GRACIEMAG.com to share the news from his neck of the woods.

Good news, at that. Now, one of the most respected schools in the state capital, Natal, is offering Jiu-Jitsu class to its students. To start there will be two groups, one for the youngest students and another for the elder kids. According to the teacher, it’s a milestone for Jiu-Jitsu in the state and a “hurdle leapt” for the sport in the rest of the country.

Aoqui explains in the following GRACIEMAG.com interview:

GRACIEMAG.com: What will Jiu-Jitsu class be like at Facex, the school with which you have joined forces?

RONALDO AOQUI: Class will be held on the Facex-RN facilities. It won’t be taught off in the corner of some classroom (laughs). It will be a part of regular school activities, integrated into the rest of the curriculum. It will be overseen exclusively by Gracie Humaitá RN and will focus on our “Antibullying” program. In class we’ll be dealing with bullying specifically.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-njJyj8SIeU

What are the advantages and disadvantages of teaching to youths studying at the same school, with similar backgrounds?

By teaching to students from the same school we get to be around and close to everyone involved. Our aim is to make it so the program becomes a real solution to bullying situations. Imagine if we get to see the verbally or physically bullied kid and the aggressor training together in the same group—it would be fantastic. Through our program, with specific training for each situation, they will become friends. This type of approach may only be possible within a school.

What were the talks with the school board like?

They went great. Attending the meetings, besides the school board, there were pedagogical coordinators, sports coordinators and psychologists. All of them were impressed by Jiu-Jitsu, by the quality of our program and how it can handle several of the situations they’re constantly dealing with. We weren’t met with any negativity whatsoever. They even said they’d received other proposals to install Jiu-Jitsu classes there, but none with the approach to teaching that we have. Other schools are interested in implementing the class too. That makes us really happy, since we managed to leap a major hurdle. I’ll take this opportunity to thank the Facex-RN school board for their sensational support and compliment them on the commitment and affection they have shown for their students.

What do you recommend for Jiu-Jitsu professors who would like to strike up a partnership with a school?

First off they have to put together an effective class program. Then they’ll need to implement the program in their own academy to make sure it works. Once they’ve come up with results then they can present them to the school. They’ll need to have arguments for everything, since they’re proposing to teach children, and their parents will want to know the who, why and how of what’s to be done. Take good care of the kids and treat them as if they were your own; after all, they’re our most precious asset. That’s the gist of what I recommend.