Marcelo Melgaço vs. Gustavo Dantas. Photo: Ivan Trindade

Over the weekend of Nov. 1 & 2, Professor Gustavo Dantas of GMA GD Jiu-Jitsu was one of many who traveled to the Long Beach Pyramid to compete in the Masters Worlds. An avid competitor, leader of a strong team out of Arizona and promoter of mental training. The BJJ Mental Coach took to his blog to explain the outcome of his run at the Worlds.

While he didn’t get the gold, he has no shame or regrets in the performance he was able to have with the tools he had with him. He explains what is necessary in these tournaments and the correct mindset going into it, during it and after.

Check it out:

“Definition of movement: “An organized effort by supporters of a common goal”

First of all, I would like to congratulate all supporters of The BJJ Mental Coach® movement who competed at the 2014 World Masters Championship in Long Beach. I lost in my fourth and final match by one advantage and ended up with second place at the Black Belt/Feather/Master 2. It was not exactly the outcome that I had planned, but I can walk with my head up high and be in peace with myself, knowing that I did the best I could with the tools that I had during that moment. I made some tactical and strategic mistakes that I will have to review and then start working towards improvement.

But why did I call it The BJJ Mental Coach® movement? Because when you see competitors wearing a The BJJ Mental Coach® patch on their gis during competition, they BELIEVE in an idea:

“Always try to perform to the best of your ability and be your best self on and off the mat with the tools and knowledge that you have right now!”

The most frustrating feeling that a competitor can have (in my opinion) is the feeling that you lost to YOURSELF, when the nerves got the best of you and you didn’t perform to the best of your ability. I believe our losses are usually related to four key elements:

1-Technical mistakes

2-Physical conditioning

3-Tactical or strategic mistakes

4-Lack of mental preparation

The first three are easy to fix. The problem is the fourth one, the mental aspect. It takes a lot more work than people think to overcome it. You could have lost your match due to one key element, two, three, or even a combination of all four elements. The point is that when your nerves get the best of you, you are NOT being your best self on the mat, and it sucks! Trust me, I’ve been there many times. It doesn’t mean that you cannot WIN, though. That is not the point. The point is to perform just like you do in practice so you can truly be at peace with yourself. And the first step that helped me to overcome my mental blocks is actually the number one tip of my program, Inner Discovery for Outer Success:

Tip 1 – BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.

You are who you are, NOT what you do. Winning or losing a tournament will not make you a better or worse worthwhile person. The fear of failure, the fear of disappointing others (your coach, teammates, and/or family members), the fear of being judged if you don’t meet others’ expectations of your performance—these feelings hold SO many competitors back from performing to the best of their ability and being their best self on the mat. (They held me back for a long time.)

Keep one thing in mind: people who really love you and care about you will be there for you no matter what, winning or losing. Don’t let fear control your performance and/or your life, preventing you from pursuing your personal goals, dreams, and aspirations that you might have and performing to the best of your ability ON and OFF the mat. That is right—we need to perform to the best of our abilities every day! We need to be the best parent that we can be, the best husband/wife, business owner and so forth. Become a champion ON and OFF the mat.

This year was a great competition year for me! I have zero complaints, just appreciation. I’ve learned SO much about Jiu-Jitsu and about myself, including an appreciation for being healthy, for all the supportive people in my life, for living my teenage dream of teaching Jiu-Jitsu, for living, and for living my life purpose 100%.”

Follow more valuable lessons from Gustavo Dantas at www.thebjjmentalcoach.com

Gustavo Dantas, the BJJ Mental Coach. Photo: Personal archive

Professor Gustavo Dantas is bringing a wealth of knowledge/experience to the students of Horizons Martial Arts. He is a fourth degree Jiu-Jitsu black belt with nearly twenty years of coaching experience. Gustavo has competed in tournaments in Brazil, United States, Japan and United Arab Emirates, including his most recent accomplishment, the gold medal at the 2014 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the black belt master 2 featherweight division.

A motivational speaker, certified mental & life coach with a bachelor’s degree in physical education from UFRJ (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro), Gustavo left Brazil in 1999 with three thousand dollars, two bags, and one teenage dream: to have his own 100% Jiu-Jitsu academy and make his living through the passion of his life, Jiu-Jitsu. The Gustavo Dantas Jiu-Jitsu Academy was established on March 6th, 2012, re-enforcing the statement, “Believe in your dreams. Hard work pays off”.

Gustavo was the Jiu-Jitsu coach of the Mixed Martial Arts Gym, Arizona Combat Sports for eleven years, where he achieved his 2-0 MMA Record. During that time, Gustavo started the mission of promoting Jiu-Jitsu in the State of Arizona, becoming the vice-president of the Arizona State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation and turning a small, 40 competitor, “in-house” tournament in 2001 to an impressive 705 competitors in 2011, helping Arizona to be recognized as one of the Jiu-Jitsu power houses in the United States, where he produced nearly thirty World Championship medalists.

Well respected in the Jiu-Jitsu community as well as a great competitor, coach, and human being, Gustavo continues to build champions on the mat and in life in Arizona and he hopes to spread out his coaching philosophy to more Jiu-Jitsu practitioners for years to come.

Don’t miss the chance to learn from him at GD Jiu-Jitsu North PHX on the mat Monday through Thursday 7-8:30 p.m. or Tuesday or Thursday 10-11:30 p.m.

Learn more at www.thebjjmentalcoach.com

Here, Bastos and Dantas offer a way to capitalize on that mistake and get the pass for any body type:

Learn more about Bruno Bastos at www.bastosbjjmidland.com and Gustavo Dantas at www.gdjiujitsu.com

Kristina finaliza rumo ao ADCC. Foto: Erin Herle

Haverá um novo rosto na categoria feminina, até 60kg, do ADCC. Kristina Barlaan foi promovida a faixa-marrom em dezembro de 2012 no pódio do Aberto de Outono da IBJJF, após uma bela campanha na roxa. Ela havia ganhado medalhas no Pan e no Mundial, mas outro motivo de orgulho é o seu trabalho de promotora. No estado do Arizona, onde mora com seu noivo Gustavo Dantas, da GD Jiu-Jitsu/Nova União, ela promove torneios chamados de Inspire, que são únicos por admitirem apenas mulheres.

Com apenas seis meses de faixa marrom, seus resultados já impressionam. Kristina ficou em primeiro lugar no Pan-americano e em terceiro no Mundial, entre as pesos-penas, e também participou do Abu Dhabi WPJJC na divisão roxa/marrom/preta, após vencer um qualificatório americano.

Seu convite para o ADCC de Pequim é evidência de sua evolução, já que se trata de um verdadeiro torneio de elite. Sendo ela uma mulher faixa-marrom americana, o convite prova que os organizadores não estão poupando esforços para buscar os mais variados talentos. Confira o que Kristina tem a dizer sobre o convite:

GRACIEMAG: O que esse convite significa para você? Está surpresa?

KRISTINA BARLAAN: Fui contatada pelo faixa-preta Arthur Ruff, que tem muitas escolas aqui pelo Arizona. Foi ele que incluiu o meu nome numa recomendação. Já foi uma honra saber que eu estava sendo considerada. Então o meu nome foi passado para o Carlos Carvalho, que é responsável pelos atletas americanos do ADCC (isso até onde eu sei, ha, ha). Depois de falar com ele ao telefone, eu ainda estava um pouco hesitante em acreditar que eu era mesmo candidata. Permaneci otimista ao longo dos últimos dias, e fui às lágrimas hoje de manhã quando recebi o email oficial. Há tantas atletas de alto nível hoje no esporte, que estou muito honrada de ser considerada digna dessa competição. Só há oito mulheres por categoria, e dezesseis no total. Eles podiam escolher qualquer uma para esses oito lugares. Posso dizer, com confiança e alegria, que estou pronta para este desafio de ser posta entre as melhores do mundo.

Você acha que o seu desempenho no World Pro fez que o seu nome ficasse tatuado na cabeça dos organizadores?

Acho que o conjunto dos meus resultados este ano ajudou a validar a minha presença. Vencer o Pan, competir no Abu Dhabi World Pro e ficar no pódio do Mundial – muita gente mataria por um currículo assim.

Com que frequência você treina e compete sem kimono?

Minha escola é concentrada no kimono, então não treino muito sem ele, mas tenho visto que a transição não é muito problemática. Às vezes esqueço quão rápida e atlética eu sou, porque eu posso desacelerar as coisas ao meu gosto de kimono. Velocidade, agilidade, e a habilidades de sair de posições apertadas são apenas algumas das características que podem me beneficiar.

Que tipo de treinamento você fará agora, e o que vai mudar em termos de preparação?

Vou ganhar peso além dos meus naturais 59 quilos vestindo o kimono, então eu terei o luxo de me focar em ficar forte e acrescentar massa muscular. Além do acréscimo no peso e no condicionamento, também planejo sufocar alguns parceiros (atuais e antigos) e amigos no Arizona e na área da Baía de São Francisco, para dar uns treinos inter-academias. Enquanto a maior parte do meu treino será feita na minha própria academia, eu creio que a melhor maneira possível de me preparar depende de ter corpos diferentes com que rolar, além dum universo amplo de conhecimento.

Você já competiu nos qualificatórios para o ADCC?

Nunca. Sem kimono, o meu currículo não tem muitos resultados; mas, no todo, sei que tenho muito que oferecer como atleta. Com ou sem kimono, tenho confiança no meu desempenho.

O que você pode dizer sobre a presença de americanos e mulheres nesses torneios prestigiosos? Pode ser sinal de evolução?

É muito boa notícia para uma mulher americana. Acho que pode ser bem fácil ignorar os americanos, considerando-se o calibre dos competidores brasileiros, europeus e japoneses. Tem havido tanto crescimento na comunidade de luta feminina nos últimos anos, e sinto orgulho de fazer parte disto. Há mais oportunidades para as mulheres competirem no mesmo palco e na mesma altura dos homens. Estamos crescendo, e é lindo e inspirador ver mulheres como grandes nomes do esporte. A evolução é constante. Mais barreiras vão caindo, e estou ansiosa para ver o que o futuro do esporte guarda para nós.

Kristina submitting on her way to gaining the ticket to Abu Dhabi for the 2013 WPJJC. Photo: Erin Herle

A new face will be in attendance at the ADCC in the female under 60kg division. Kristina Barlaan was awarded her brown belt in December of 2012 on the podium at the IBJJF Fall Open after a great run at her previous rank. As a purple belt she racked up medals at the Pan American Championship and the World Championship but also made strides off the competition mats. At home in Arizona with her fiance Gustavo Dantas of GD Jiu-Jitsu/Nova Uniao and GMA member, she helps promote females in the sport by sponsoring women-only open mats called Inspire.

Within only six months of having her new belt, her results were great and the transition was seamless. She placed first at Pan Ams and third at Worlds as a featherweight and also attended the Abu Dhabi WPJJC in the female purple/brown/black division after winning an American trial.

Today, she can plan another item on her resume as a personal invitation to ADCC in Beijing, China secures her participation in one of the most prestigious BJJ tournaments in the world.

Her invitation can be seen as evidence of evolution as only the top names from all over the world are considered or they must win a trial  to be secured. Being an American female brown belt, an invitation means that promoters are scouring athletes from all over and choosing their competitors with a range of differences. See what Kristina has to say about her invite and what she feels it means for our sport:

GRACIEMAG: What does it mean to you to receive this personal invitation? Was it a surprise? 

KRISTINA BARLAAN: I was first contacted by black belt, Arthur Ruff, who has many affiliates based here in Arizona. He was the one who put my name into recommendation. To have just received the message that I was even considered was such a great honor. My name was then passed to Carlos Carvalho who is responsible for the ADCC American athletes (this is all to my understanding of course haha). After speaking with him on the phone, I was still a little hesitant to believe that they would really take my name into consideration. I remained optimistic throughout the past few days, but receiving the official email this morning made me more than just a little tearful. There are so many high level women in this sport today and I am truly honored to be held with the same regard. There are only 8 women per division, 16 all together. They could have picked anyone to fill those 8 spots. I can happily and confidently say that I am ready to step up to this challenge of being included with the top females in the world.

Do you think your role in the World Pro helped imprint your name in their mind? 

I think my overall results this year really helped to validate my presence. Winning Pans, competing in the Abu Dhabi World Pro, and placing third at Worlds are accomplishments that most athletes would kill to have on their resume.

How often do you train/compete no-gi normally? 

My academy mainly focuses on the gi, so I don’t get to train no-gi very often, but I have found that transitioning to no-gi from doing strictly gi works very well. Sometimes I forget how athletic and fast I am because I can slow down and go the speed I want with the gi. When training no-gi, I suddenly remember that I have many attributes that work for me without the gi. Speed, agility, and being able to wiggle out of tight positions are just some of the things I can really take advantage of.

What type of training will you do now and what will change in terms of preparation? 
I will be going up in weight from my usual 129 lbs. with the gi on, so I have the luxury of really focusing on getting strong and putting on some serious muscle weight. On top of the added strength and conditioning, I also plan on reaching out to team mates (current and former) and friends in Arizona and back home in the Bay Area to get some cross-academy training. While the majority of my training will be in my academy, I find that having different bodies to work with and pulling from an abundant knowledge pool will really help get me prepared the best way possible.

Have you ever competed in the ADCC trials before?

I have never competed in the ADCC trials. No-gi wise, my resume may not have the most results, but overall, I know I have a lot to offer as an athlete. Gi or no-gi, I am confident in my ability to perform.

What can you say about the presence of Americans and females (can be separate ideas) in these prestigious tournaments? Could this prove a sort of evolution?

It’s really empowering as both a woman and an American. I feel like it can be really easy to overlook Americans, especially when you see the caliber of competition coming from Brazil, Japan, and Europe. There has been so much growth in the female fight (BJJ, MMA, etc.) community over the years and I am proud to be part of that. There are more opportunities for women to compete on the same stage and in the same high regard as our male counterparts. We are rising and it’s beautiful and inspiring to see women as powerhouses for the sport. Evolution is constant. More barriers keep being broken and I look forward to see what this sport has to offer in the future.

GD JIU-JITSU NOVA UNIÃO

PROFESSOR:

Gustavo Dantas competing / Photo by John Cooper

ADDRESS: 1848 E. University Dr. 108 Tempe, AZ 85281

WEBSITE: www.gdjiujitsu.com

PHONE: 480-968-6303

ABOUT:

Gustavo Dantas, is a fourth degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Andre Pederneiras. With nearly 20 years of coaching experience and being a World Class competitor, Gustavo is a Public Speakeras well as Certified Mental & Life Coach with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from UFRJ (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro). Gustavo left Brazil in 1999 with a couple thousand dollars, two bags, and one teenage dream: to have his own 100% Jiu-Jitsu Academy and make his living through the passion of his life, Jiu-Jitsu. The Gustavo Dantas Jiu-Jitsu Academy was established in Tempe, Arizona on March 6th, 2012, re-enforcing the statement, “Believe in your dreams. Hard work pays off”.

Gustavo was the Jiu-Jitsu coach of the Mixed Martial Arts Gym, Arizona Combat Sports for eleven years, where he achieved his 2-0 MMA Record.  During that time, Gustavo started the mission of promoting Jiu-Jitsu in the State of Arizona, becoming the vice-president of the Arizona State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation and turning a small, 40 competitor, “in-house” tournament in 2001 to an impressive 700 competitors in 2011, helping Arizona to be recognized as one of the Jiu-Jitsu power houses in the United States.

Well respected in the Jiu-Jitsu community as well as a great competitor, coach, and human being, Gustavo, who is the Co-founder of the Non-profit Organization Live Jiu-Jitsu, continues to build champions on and off the mat in Arizona, and he hopes to spread out his coaching philosophy to more Jiu-Jitsu practitioners around the World for years to come through his program “Inner Discovery for Outer Success”. “I want to help people to perform to the best of their abilities and reach their full potential on and off the mat. I struggled with performance anxiety before, and I was able to overcome it using the techniques that I share at my program. These concepts, fundamentals and techniques helped me, and I believe this program can help others too.” stated The BJJ Mental Coach, Gustavo Dantas. For more info about “Inner Discovery for Outer Success” check out www.thebjjmentalcoach.com”

VIDEO:

Gustavo Dantas competing / Photo by John Cooper

Gustavo Dantas, the leader of GD Jiu-Jitsu – the Arizona branch of team Nova União –, will be teaching a Seminar at his team’s Salt Lake City affiliate, Comprehensive Combat Sports (CCS).

The seminar will take place on Saturday, September 17, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, at a cost of $60 for pre-registration by September 16 or $70 at the door. CCS is located at 34 West 3450, South Salt Lake City, Utah 84115.

For further information, contact 801-712-1036 or ccombatsports@yahoo.com

GMA member Gustavo Dantas is proud to announce his newest location.

GD Jiu-Jitsu Prescott, located at CrossFit Prescott, at 3260 Tower Rd., Prescott, AZ 86305.

The classes are taught by GD’s black belt Steve Judson.

To celebrate the grand opening of  GD Jiu-Jitsu Prescott, Dantas is offering a special rate of $ 99 per month for unlimited training when you sign up with a one-year agreement.

He will also waive the sign-up fee if you take advantage of the Grand Opening Special.

This comes to savings of over $360 per year based on the month-to-month rate!

For more info, go to gdjiujitsu.com.

GMA member Gustavo Dantas is proud to announce his newest location.

GD Jiu-Jitsu Prescott, located at CrossFit Prescott, at 3260 Tower Rd., Prescott, AZ 86305.

The classes are taught by GD’s black belt Steve Judson.

To celebrate the grand opening of  GD Jiu-Jitsu Prescott, Dantas is offering a special rate of $ 99 per month for unlimited training when you sign up with a one-year agreement.

He will also waive the sign-up fee if you take advantage of the Grand Opening Special.

This comes to savings of over $360 per year based on the month-to-month rate!

For more info, go to gdjiujitsu.com.

Do you own a Jiu-Jitsu academy and want to have your school featured  on GRACIEMAG.com? It’s easy, all you need to do is to become a GMA member. Click here and find out how.

Team GD Jiu-Jitsu was able to capture three medals at the 2010 World BJJ Championship in Long Beach, CA.

In a tournament that had 2000 competitors, being in the podium is a huge accomplishment.

Here are the results:

Issa Able – 2nd place – Blue Belt/Feather
David Margraf – 2nd place – Blue Belt/Ultra Heavy
Kristina Barlaan – 3rd place – Female/Blue Belt/Feather

After the competition, Issa Able for received his purple belt!

For more info on Gustavo Dantas Team, go to gdjiujitsu.com

Do you need to put your BJJ skills on the line against other fighters?

Gustavo Dantas, from GD Jiu-Jitsu, in Arizona, has another very good reason for you to put your gi on and go for it. A humanitarian reason.

Since last year, Dantas has a partnership with The United Food Bank, an organization that helps feeding those in need in America.

The three events (1st AZ Kids Cup, 2009 AZ BJJ State Championship,  1st Southwest Classic) organized by Dantas in 2009 raised 523 pounds of food, which equates to 409 meals put onto the tables of people who are struggling in our neighborhoods.

The fight for a better world continues in 2010. Gustavo has already announced that the first event of 2010, the 5th Arizona International Open of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will also be in the campaign.

So, get up, pack and go to Mesa, Arizona. The championship is scheduled March 13-14 and registration is open.

For more info, go to gdjiujitsu.com