Photo: Personal Archive

Esdras Jr is in the midst of a great phase on the competitive circuit of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). The black-belt from Ares has been going strong for four consecutive tournaments – he became champion at the IBJJF’s Dallas Open, Houston Open, New Orleans Atlanta Open and, most recently, at the No-Gi Pan, one of the most important competitions on the 2021 calendar.

His latest triumph, along with the points won in previous tourneys, caused Esdras to grab the top spot in the master 1 feather division with 135 points – nine more than the UFC fighter Rani Yahya.

In a recent interview, Esdras Jr spoke of what makes him a champion in 2021. “It’s hard to talk about just on aspect, but I think consistency is the key to reaching any goal. Maybe I’m not even training more in terms of volume, but without a doubt, I’m trying to train in a more intelligent way. Knowing how to understand your body and respect your limits is very important to comprehending when you have to do that training session where you’re fighting for real – most days! – or train by trying to understand and control the situations more. I’ve been going hard in my physical preparation since late last year, focusing a lot on injury prevention work. I’m feeling very well physically and mentally.”

To earn the gold medal at the No-Gi Pan, Esdras Jr had to defeat three tough opponents, including Silvio Duran (Nova União) in the semifinal round and Ermilio Lima (Fight Sports) in the final.

According to Esdras, he felt well and prepared for each match. “I was happy with my performance,” he said. “But I can say the toughest fight this time was cutting weight. The last time I weighed less than 67kg, I was in middle school! This Pan was the first time I hit feather in no-gi, which is well below feather in the gi. On the day of the competition, I woke up weighing 66kg – there I woke up feeling well and ready to fight. It was an incredible journey.”

Photo: Personal Archive

He went on to offer advice on winning any BJJ competition: “First, one should not worry about the result! Perhaps it seems like madness to say that, but when we think about results too much, the tendency is to demand a lot of ourselves, and I believe this demand brings about unnecessary tension. Step on the mat alert, but with tranquility. It’s about doing what you trained to do, match by match, trusting yourself and your jiu-jitsu. That’s all you should think about. Have patience to play – jiu-jitsu is like chess.”

And finally, on the subject of mindset, he said: “When you do what must be done, it works out! It’s a matter of training hard, dieting, physical preparation, technical and tactical training, knowing your strong points and developing a game plan. It’s impossible not to feel well and prepared. Step on the mat and believe that your plan is going to work. Work on your mind to be positive when things don’t come out as planned, because knowing how to control your mind is important. Believe until the end! I couldn’t go without mentioning also Fellipe Barros, my mental coach, who is always there when I need him.”

In the United States, Esdras trains beside Osvaldo Queixinho at Ares BJJ in Phoenix, Arizona.

[We’re updating this with another free video. You can check out individual programs here or get All-Access here.]

In another week packed with learning at the Renzo Gracie Online Academy (RGOA), you will be making your BJJ much more efficient when fighting on top in the ultimate dominant position. Renzo Gracie and Paulo Guillobel show numerous tips to make your mount unstoppable, from both a perspective of stabilization/control (you will stop giving your opponent ways to escape) and from one of attack. These are the same technical minutiae used by great champions like Roger Gracie and the brothers Saulo and Xande Ribeiro, whose way of mounting is terrifying to all types of opponents. In your lifestyle lesson, check out the testimonial by red-and-white-belt Maurição Gomes. Go to gallerr.com/rgoa to get unlimited access to this ongoing course.

This week at Renzo Gracie Online Academy, you will find:

• Five lessons on the mount in BJJ.
• One lifestyle lesson.

Day 1: Monday

Lesson 1: Armbar from the mount

When you reach the mount, one of the most common reactions by an opponent is to extend one arm to push your torso, in order to find space to escape. It’s important to know that and have a riposte ready to go, as Renzo teaches here. Renzo splits the armbar attack into three parts. Repeat each stage many times in a progressive manner and let it flow at training.

Lesson 2: How BJJ can improve your life

If you’re going through a rough patch, practicing BJJ can make a difference. It’s what red-and-white-belt Maurição Gomes teaches here, describing the potential BJJ has to improve people’s lives. He talks about witnessing BJJ perform miracles for army vets and cancer patients. Watch this inspiring lesson and find many ways to evolve through constant training.

Day 2: Tuesday

Lesson 3: From side control to the mount

Paulo Guillobel analyzes the four key points for you to exert control over your opponent’s body. By controlling these points, you become capable of shutting down their movements and reach the mount, foiling their reactions. Guillobel shows this in practice, with an efficient progression from side control to the mount.

Day 3: Wednesday

Lesson 4: Keeping the mount

Before you start attacking from the mount, it’s necessary to learn how to stabilize it, cancelling any escape attempts. Guillobel teaches a very efficient drill for you to develop the ability to frustrate your opponent whenever they try to escape from your mount.

Day 4: Thursday

Lesson 5: Using head control on the mount

Paulo Guillobel teaches a drill to help you perfect your control over an opponent from the mount by controlling their head. Note that it’s an anticipation technique — you can’t afford to mess up the timing here.

Day 5: Friday

Lesson 6: Mount control by holding the collar

What do you do when your opponent starts pushing your hips with both hands to try and escape the mount? Paulo Guillobel shows an effective option wherein he holds his opponent’s cross collar. Note that if Guillobel’s opponent continues moving to escape from the mount, he tends to choke himself. Another great drill to sink your teeth into.

Renzo Gracie Online Academy: Each week a new topic.

Plus: Takedowns, Self-Defense, Lifestyle tips, Documentaries, Interviews, etc.

Get full access to all the knowledge that forged thousands of champions. Enroll now and join the planet’s most complete and modern online BJJ school.

The grandmasters Carlos and Helio Gracie

Helio Gracie always preached about how Jiu-Jitsu did not come to be as a weapon for the strong, but as a means of empowering the weak, the women.

Now, the brothers’ thesis has prevailed, and the fairer sex is as powerful through Jiu-Jitsu as ever, as the following video of our GMA in Texas  João Crus’s (Carlson Gracie) lady students reveals.

JIU-JITSU, SELF-DEFENSE AND CONTROL

In this training session, women of all ages keep in shape, express themselves and have fun doing entertaining self-defense techniques. All to, if need be, be in control of a situation.

If you like watching from afar but haven’t yet gotten a taste of the Jiu-Jitsu you read so much about, give yourself a chance. Find the nearest school, wherever you may be.