In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Joao Cizeski, a seasoned competitor and instructor whose career embodies the essence of the ‘Gentle Art.’ With a decorated competitive background including national titles in both Brazil and the United States, as well as podium finishes at the IBJJF Pan-American and European Championships, Cizeski has established himself as a prominent figure in the international Jiu-Jitsu scene. Beyond the medals, his work as a leader and mentor highlights the profound social impact of the sport, proving that technical excellence and community development go hand in hand.

Throughout our conversation, Cizeski shares his philosophy on transforming average competitors into champions, the strategic adjustments necessary for Master-level athletes to thrive, and his unwavering belief that Jiu-Jitsu is a tool for life-long transformation. From his disciplined approach to training to his vision for the future of the sport, he offers invaluable insights for practitioners of all levels. Join us as we explore the journey and the mindset of an instructor dedicated to leaving a lasting legacy on and off the mats.

GRACIEMAG: What benefits does a Jiu-Jitsu instructor bring to the community where they teach?
JOAO CIZESKI: I believe Jiu-Jitsu goes far beyond being just a sport. It contributes directly to the physical, mental, and social development of the community. Jiu-Jitsu promotes discipline, self-control, respect, health, and inclusion, benefiting children, adults, and seniors alike. Beyond that, the academy becomes a safe space for social interaction, character building, and social prevention, helping young people find purpose, stay away from risky environments, and develop healthy habits. In the communities where I teach, this impact is visible both in athletic performance and in the overall quality of life of students and their families.

You have had a successful competitive career. What were your main achievements, and what did you learn from them?
Throughout my competitive career, I have won important titles, including national championships in both the United States and Brazil, as well as international results such as third place at the Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championship and runner-up at the European Championship, among other high-level tournaments recognized by the sport’s leading federations. These achievements taught me that excellence is not only about talent, but mostly about consistency, deep study of the sport, daily discipline, and continuous growth. I also learned how to handle pressure, adversity, and responsibility, lessons I now apply directly to the development of my students.

In your opinion as an athlete, what is the secret to turning an average competitor into a top champion?
In my view, the key is seeing each athlete as an individual and understanding their strengths, limitations, and specific needs. Great champions are not built solely through hard training, but through proper methodology, constant guidance, precise corrections, and mental resilience. It is also essential to create an environment where athletes are continuously challenged yet fully supported. The combination of technical training, practical experience, and leadership is what truly makes the difference.

You consistently perform well even against younger athletes on your team. What tips do Master division athletes need to excel against adult competitors?
For Master division athletes, strategic intelligence is crucial. The focus should be on technical efficiency, pace control, proper positioning, and smart decision-making. Training with quality, respecting recovery, and preventing injuries are more important than sheer volume. Experience allows athletes to anticipate movements, conserve energy, and capitalize on opponents’ mistakes. When applied correctly, age stops being a limitation and becomes a competitive advantage.

What motivational phrase do you like to repeat to yourself during challenging moments in your career?
Discipline beats motivation. In difficult times, I remind myself that great results are built on the days when no one is watching. Staying focused on the process and working consistently has always helped me overcome challenges and reach new levels.

How do you define yourself as a Jiu-Jitsu instructor? What is the philosophy behind your academy? And what advice would you give to someone aspiring to become a respected instructor?
I believe Jiu-Jitsu can positively transform people’s lives, just as it has transformed mine. Even when someone is going through a difficult personal phase, Jiu-Jitsu can be a powerful tool to help them overcome challenges. A good instructor must understand each student’s needs, whether competitive goals or simply the desire to improve quality of life, and provide the appropriate support. I define myself as an instructor committed to technical excellence, personal development, and long-term impact. The philosophy of my academy is based on respect, discipline, high technical standards, and continuous growth, both on and off the mat. For anyone aspiring to become a respected instructor, my main advice is to never stop studying, learning, competing, and serving. A great teacher leads by example and understands that teaching is a responsibility that requires preparation, ethics, and full dedication.

When someone hesitates to start training Jiu-Jitsu, what do you say to convince them to put on the gi and begin their journey in the gentle art?
I believe in the Gracie Barra philosophy that Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone and that no one needs to be “ready” to start. Jiu-Jitsu is what prepares you. Beyond the physical benefits, it builds confidence, resilience, and mental clarity. It is a journey of self-discovery that positively impacts every area of life. The hardest part is taking the first step. After that, the results speak for themselves.

What is your biggest goal for the future of your career?
My main goal is to continue expanding my impact in Jiu-Jitsu internationally by developing high-performance athletes, qualified instructors, and strong communities. I want to contribute to the growth of the sport, raise technical and educational standards, and leave a legacy that goes beyond titles.

Photo: Personal Archive

At 23 years of age, Jeferson Guaresi is one of the strongest athletes from the new generation of Jiu-Jitsu. The black-belt from Unity Jiu-Jitsu proved he deserves this distinction as he won the IBJJF’s World Championship and No-Gi Pan in the last two months. These are medals at the highest level of the sport, especially in the black belt division.

With just two years of experience as a black-belt — a promotion given to him by Murilo Santana — Jeferson has accumulated 29 wins, nine of which were by submission. At the No-Gi Worlds, for example, he won four matches and scored two submissions against Rodrigo Lopes and Joseph Watson. In the medium heavy final, Jeferson played the strategist to beat Pedro Rocha, a fighter known for his guillotines. Jeferson spoke about his performance in a recent interview.

“The final was an interesting fight, because my opponent only had one move about which I had to worry,” he said. “It was a fight where I had to be very focused on not losing my concentration, but I knew my jiu-jitsu is up to date. It just came down to not messing up, and I’d walk away with the win. That was when I scored two points right away and then managed my advantage.”

Jeferson is an avid competitor who has won more than 100 medals in national and international tournaments — including gold at the IBJJF’s No-Gi Pan, No-Gi Worlds and European Championship — in the past eleven years, the time he has been practicing jiu-jitsu. He shared some thoughts on this journey:

“My goal in jiu-jitsu has never been just to be world champion; that’s a consequence of my training. In the course of this time, my goal is to help all who are parts of the sport. I want to make the sport grow more and more, and I want to help people achieve their goals. I want the practitioners of jiu-jitsu to be good people to society too. I’m greatly inspired by my master, Murilo Santana, who is a big influence on what I’ve become today. Rafael Godoi, my first teacher, is also an important part in my education as an athlete.”

Jeferson is considered by many to be the originator of the “thrown by” guard pass — a move that has earned him multiple gold medals in different competitions, including at the No-Gi Pan. Here’s a pioneer’s perspective on how the guard pass works:

“It’s important that you know how to create space to position yourself when it’s time to move. The guard pass I do is intricate and requires perfect timing and form; the secret is in the positioning of the hip and knee, responsible for preventing the guard player’s returning with the leg to defend. Then, I use one of my hands to control my opponent’s hip and advance my entire body to win the three points.”

To see how it works, check out Jeferson’s step-by-step tutorial in the following images.

Master Carlos Gracie Jr. with Marco Réss. Photo: Reproduction

Text: Marco Réss

I started training Jiu-Jitsu in 1991, in São Paulo, with the late Marcelo Behring. What piqued my interest was an MMA event in São Paulo, in which Jiu-Jitsu athletes faced Full Contact and Kung Fu fighters. I remember how easily Jiu-Jitsu dominated all the matches and that impressed me.

Right at the beginning of my career, I was met with a challenge: the address of Behring Jiu-Jitsu changed as soon as master Flávio Behring, who graduated me to blue belt, took over the team, a fact that made it impossible for me to continue training there. I started training at Companhia Paulista with Professor Rich Kowarick and stayed there until I reached brown belt.

Before Jiu-Jitsu, I practiced karate for 10 years and judo for 4 years. I practiced judo as a complement to Jiu-Jitsu. Competitions have always been very present in my life, but even brown belts were fewer, the main ones only happened in Rio de Janeiro and, at the time, Jiu-Jitsu was still very amateur. From purple belt onwards, more competitions started to appear and everything became more professional.

In 1998 I moved to the interior of São Paulo and, as Jiu-Jitsu was not widespread, I had to look a lot until I found somewhere to train. I trained for a while with master Orlando Saraiva, who is responsible for my brief stint at MMA, but distance, a constant hindrance in my athlete life, led me to change course yet again.

In 2001, I started training in Poços de Caldas, in the state of Minas Gerais, and I received my black belt the following year at the hands of Professor Paulo Resende. The good memories of that period may not seem like it, but they are directly linked to Jiu-Jitsu. That’s when I got married and the kids came. My wife has always been my haven and she is directly responsible for our professional success, for helping and encouraging the family to stay in the gentle art. With this essential support, my life as an athlete became easier and it was during this period that I won my most important competitions. There were several Brazilian Championships, International Masters, and a valuable silver in the Pan of the IBJJF, as well as classic State Championships of the FPJJ, victories in the NABJJ, and other federations.

 

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Uma publicação compartilhada por Marco Réss (@marcoressbjj)

A very common fact at that time for many fighters is that we had to be athletes and teachers at the same time. This worked well for me as I always used my experiences as a fighter to improve my repertoire as a teacher. A point I learned as an athlete, and that I always tell my students, is that whatever is your goal in life, dedication, selflessness, and commitment are essential factors for success. This allowed me to win in Jiu-Jitsu and still train a lot of good athletes.

In 2021, I completed 16 years at Gracie Barra. Being received in GB was a turning point for me, as master Carlinhos’ vision of bringing Jiu-Jitsu to everyone greatly expanded my perception of teaching the gentle art. I started to contemplate a more complete Jiu-Jitsu that considers self-defense as an important part as any other, attracting more people to the practice. Today, we work together with all GB schools around the world. All in the same harmony and taking us, through Jiu-Jitsu, to a better world. The training of athletes is the result of this work, always looking for excellence.

Director Dan Lewis just released the feature film Jiu-Jitsu vs. the World on youtube.

In 95 minutes, the documentary aims to explain the Jiu-Jitsu phenomenon as it continues to sweep the planet.

Lewis and his crew interviewed people like Renzo Gracie, Eddie Bravo, Roberto Cyborg, Kurt Osiander, Fabio Santos, the Valente Brothers, among many others, and they were able to paint a very clear picture of what the gentle art is all about.

Based on their comments, we listed 10 lessons people will learn about BJJ.

See if you agree with it and, of course, watch the film.

1. Jiu-Jitsu is for everybody and everyone should try it

2. Jiu-Jitsu will change your life (and sometimes save it too)

3. Jiu-Jitsu is tough and you’ll never stop learning

4. Jiu-Jitsu will put you in the best shape of your life

5. Jiu-Jitsu will help you deal with life’s frustrations and also help you tame your inner demons

6. Jiu-Jitsu will give you the best friends you’ll have in life.

7. Jiu-Jitsu will empower the weak and straighten the wicked

8. Jiu-Jitsu will give you the tools and the confidence to defend yourself if you ever need to

9. Jiu-Jitsu will show you everyday that you are as good as how much work you put in it

10. Jiu-Jitsu is the best thing ever and you’ll fall in love it (if you manage to endure the first year).

Chris Haueter

Dirty Dozen black belt Chris Haueter and Global Influence Tactician Robert Abeyta Jr. have banded together to put together the Tactics & Techniques MMXVI art exhibition in Singapore.

The event is scheduled February 20, at the Gentle Art Academy.

The exhibition aims to highlight the latent creativity within the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community and bring the world’s fastest growing sport to mainstream consciousness.

“Just Coffee Please” – Chris Haueter

Chris Haueter, one of the 12 first American black belts, is also a highly praised graphic artist.

On October 23, 1951, Helio Gracie fought Masahiko Kimura at the Maracanã Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Helio eventually lost to the Japanese champion, finished with a shoulder lock that later would be named after Kimura.

Despite the adverse result, the match was a huge factor in the building of the legend around Jiu-Jitsu and its effectiveness as a self-defense tool.

Helio was many pounds lighter than Kimura and much older.

The Japanese said before the match that Helio would not last three minutes against him and if he did he could be considered victorious.

Well, Helio survived the ten minutes of round one and also a big chunk of round 2 before the submission came to be.

Jiu-Jitsu is called the Gentle Art and on April 25 that term was more fitting then ever.

Into the Void is an art exhibit of works inspired by grappling and the launch event gathered much of the community.

Here’s a video highlights of the events.

The exhibit is open until May 9, at the Seventh Letter Art Gallery, in Los Angeles.

For more info, go to  theseventhletter.com.

Scheduled May 27-31, the most important gentle art competition of the calendar should be the stage for some dramatic action in the black belt division and beyond.

We have listed a few questions regarding some important people that will be main characters in Long Beach.

Rodolfo Vieira, GFTeam black-belt. Photo:Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG

1. Will Rodolfo Vieira be healthy enough to compete in Long Beach?

The superstar scared the world of grappling when he decided to pull out of the 2015 WPJJC this past weekend after the weigh-ins. Apparently, the lower back injury he has is more serious than it appears. He wrote on his Instagram page that “he spent the whole night before the first day of competition in Abu Dhabi thinking whether he would compete or not”. Rodolfo said he lacked confidence and that he was far away from the 100% and that those who know him know he will not get into a competition in such a state. He ended the message saying that all he wants now is to heal fast to be ready again. The question is: will Rodolfo have time to heal his back and be at 100% in Long Beach?

Marcus Buchecha

2. If Rodolfo can’t compete, can anyone else threat Buchecha’s run at the unprecedented 4th black belt open class gold medal?

Marcus Buchecha already reached an unprecedented feat this year with the third open class title in Abu Dhabi, but the big one is still to come. If he wins again in Long Beach, he will have done something no one has achieved in history, the fourth black belt open class world title. If Rodolfo can’t compete, who else could possibly have the tools to stop Buchecha? Alex Trans put up two great efforts in Abu Dhabi and Buchecha himself said that “the Dane gets better every time they fight”. Still, the Buchecha-Trans score is 7-0 in favor of the Brazilian. Bernardo Faria, Leo Nogueira, André Galvão, Keenan Cornelius and Felipe Pena are other black belts with potential to give Buchecha a run for his dream of becoming the first four-time black belt open class champion.

Gabi vs. Mackenzie

3. Can the lightning strike twice in the same spot?

Mackenzie Dern made history in Abu Dhabi when she defeated Gabi Garcia in the open class semifinal. Can the 118lb-dynamo repeat the feat in Long Beach? A few aspects will make the task more difficult for Mackenzie. At the Worlds, the match will be 10 minutes long, which makes things much more complicated. Gabi will be specially motivated to defeat Mackenzie after the setback at the WPJJC. With three referees (if it’s a semifinal or a final), points and advantages have more chances of being scored (for both sides) than with the single referee system in Abu Dhabi. Anyway, the reencounter of Gabi and Mackenzie will be a sight to see.

4. Can the new generation of American black belts finally make a dent in the Brazilian domination?

Keenan Cornelius is the senior member of this very tough group of black belts. JT Torres, AJ Agazarm, Michael Liera, Tim Spriggs, Tammi Musumeci, Gianni Grippo, Dillon Danis, Mansher Khera and a few others have all the tools they need to write their names in history. The sheer number of high level black belts make it more probable than ever to have a non-Brazilian at the top of one of the black belt divisions.

Caio Terra vs. Bruno Malfacine at the 2015 Pan

5. Can Caio Terra overcome the impact of being submitted by Bruno Malfacine at the 2015 Pan?

Caio Terra and Bruno Malfacine have one of the longest and most fierce rivalries in Jiu-Jitsu today. At the 2015 Pan, Malfacine was able to hit a home run against his rival and won the roosterweight division with a choke from the back, imposing on Caio his first ever defeat by submission in the weight division. It’s well known that Caio has been dealing with health issued in the past year and that may or may not have influenced the outcome of the match in Irvine. Anyhow, it’s very probable that the two will be in the final in Long Beach. Let’s see what happens.

João Miyao vs. Paulo Miyao

6. Will 2015 be the year of the Miyao?

They almost made it to the top in 2014, with two silver medals in the roosterweight and lightfeather. They have been competing almost non-stop since then and seem to be better than ever. Even so, it’s going to be a hard task to win in such competitive dvisions. Bruno Malfacine, Caio Terra, Gui Mendes, Gianni Grippo, Rafael Mendes, Cobrinha (if they go up to featherweight) and others are just some of the obstacles in the way of João and Paulo.

Rafael Mendes and Guilherme Mendes

7. Will the Mendes be the first brothers to reach the mark of five black belt world titles together?

Both Rafael and Guilherme compete in the Worlds as black belts since 2009. Guilherme debuted with a gold medal, but Rafael had to wait until 2010 to win his first. In 2011, they won together for the first time and repeated the double feature in 2012. In 2013, neither one made it to the top of the podium, but last year they were back at it with another double gold. In 2015, they can reach the impressive mark of five gold medals a piece. Can they do it?

This are just seven of the infinite number of questions we can ask about the Worlds. One of then is: Have you registered yet?

Click here to register and then have a good read about the action in Long Beach.

Photo: IBJJF

The 2015 London Winter Open took place this Saturday, Feb 21.

Checkmat’s Jackson Sousa claimed the adult male open class gold medal to become the event’s biggest name.

He defeated Charles Negromonte in the final.

In the teams competition, the results were:

1 – Gracie Barra – 308

2 – CheckMat – 237

3 – Roger Gracie – 221

4 – Carlson Gracie Team – 140

5 – Nova Uniao NYC – 40

6 – BJJ School UK – 39

7 – Nova União International – 37

8 – Oxford Shootfighter – 37

9 – CFS BJJ – 37

10 – 99 Nine Nine JJ – International – 32

For the complete results, go to ibjjf.com.

Hannette Staack turned 36 years old this Saturday, Feb. 7.

Here’s a video for you to know a little more about the eight-time world champion and leader of Brazil 021, in Chicago.

For more info, go to brazil021chicago.com.

Gabi Garcia vs. Mackenzie Dern in the European 2015 final. Photo by Ivan Trindade

Gabrielle Garcia, black belt 29, had a 2015 European Championship of her dreams in Lisbon, last January 24-25^th. The athlete who once cried for being booed in the competitions showed a complete Jiu-Jitsu, much faster and offensive, and was hailed with applause by the crowd at Casal Vistoso, before and during the fight – which led her to tears again, but now from joy.

Alliance’s biggest star chatted with GRACIEMAG about what she has learned from the absolute and super heavyweight gold at the IBJJF competition, in one of her best performances until this date: five fights, five wins and five submissions.

Check it out and learn from the champion, Gabi Garcia:

GRACIEMAG: What was more exhausting until now in your career: keeping an undefeated streak since 2009 or burning 40kg and managing to stay in shape?

GABI GARCIA: I believe that maintaining an undefeated record in Jiu-Jitsu is now a more exhausting mission, physically and mentally. You need a lot of training and dedication in training, so diet and weight loss are just one component of it all. Thus, when I’m fighting I do not think about keeping an undefeated record; in fact I do not even remember that. I just think about making no mistakes – so much so that when I loose a position I do not forgive it, and then I train it with an increasingly drive. Now, losing weight and dieting will be present for the rest of my life, I come from an obese family and it makes me live on a diet!

Have you analyzed your performance in the European yet? Do you think you missed something?

In my opinion I had a magnificent championship; I’ve waited years for the moment to step on the mat and be applauded standing up by the whole crowd in the gymnasium, and at the European 2015 this day has come true! I swear I felt like crying when I stepped in to fight, it was an inexplicable emotion. I believe I made a mistake in the absolute final against Mackenzie. I missed a position that cost me an advantage: I was focused in submitting quickly and then let my hip high. After that, I had to stay calm and quietly got out of the position to finish the fight. I really enjoyed my performance because I was fearless, pulled guard, swept, got the back, and did the things I wanted to do, but now without fear of making mistakes!

What did you learn out of this mistake?

I missed a position, but I am human and can make mistakes. It was nice to see that I’m not invincible, no one is, and must train even more. I have always respected Mackenzie and now I will get even closer to her game! Mackenzie is very tough; she has experience as a competitor and her father (Megaton) is in her corner. She is a complete fighter, and was the full merit for getting the position. I’ll try to fix this loophole soon to avoid this kind of advantages.

You have demonstrated a beginner’s joy in the social networks when doing a basic technique. What do you recommend to our readers and fans that would like to work on their weaknesses?

I suggest to all Jiu-Jitsu practitioners to devote 90% of the training to their weaknesses. Today, I hardly play on top at the gym, I just do guard because I know that if I need it will have to be up to date! People said I would not take the back, did not call for the guard, and these really were my weaknesses. Now, I train so much those aspects that I trust anything can go wrong!

What valuable tips you’ve received from Fabio Gurgel for attacking the arm and submitting all the girls?

I’ve trained the armbar thousands of times, which came out twice in the European, and almost all of them came out wrong. But I fell in love with the position and tried it in every practice, from any position. Fabio even lost his patience when teaching me repeatedly where to spin and the right position of the head and body. I did it the wrong way over and over again, but it came out correctly at the right time. That means it was worth it to train a lot!

What Fabio says?

I cannot speak here exactly what happens in training to maintain secrecy and gym etiquette, but he says some things that sticks in our minds and reappears at the time of competition. For example: “Invite your opponent to live what you suffer in the gym every day.” I went out there to kill or be killed, as he always asked. I hope to have Gurgel around until I retire. He gets angry, and we argue just like every family does, but I love him like a father.

Another day in Barueri you heard jokes from an abusive supporter, such as: “Before I did not want to, but now that you’re good-looking I want a picture with you!” Did you suffer any Harassment in the 2015 European?

(Laughter!) Gabriel Medina said the other day, as I read on Graciemag_br’s Instagram, that “the more you win championships, the more beautiful you look.” There’s nothing more certain than that. Harassment increased, and it raised very much my self-esteem, so much that I realized how diet is really worth. I’ve never received so much love, so many photo requests, and I still came back from Portugal with a suitcase full of gifts from the fans! Nothing can pay for it, I’m too happy – eager to fight everything and deliver my game, even if the result isn’t victory. As another fan told me: from “Fiona” to muse! It was funny. I loved this European, I could not walk in the gymnasium because of so many people wanting to hug me and congratulate me. For anyone who has always been booed, this is the biggest slap in the face of people who always doubted that one day I would get there.

Can you tell us?

We have selected 10 of the greatest so you can watch them again and make your pick.

Marcus Buchecha vs. Rodolfo Vieira, black belt open class final (2014 WPJJC)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsHHOOUDEkg

Leandro Lo vs. Otavio Sousa, black belt middleweight final (2014 Worlds)

Bruno Malfacine vs. João Miyao, black belt roosterweight final (2014 Worlds)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSPFJQbLvNc

Felipe Preguiça vs. André Galvão, black belt heavyweight final (2014 Worlds)

Marcus Buchecha vs. Keenan Cornelius, black belt open class semifinal (2014 Worlds)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ghbCiFiXcQ

Yuri Simões vs. Keenan Cornelius, black belt open class final (2014 Worlds No-Gi)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRLdASyJTWw

Rodolfo Vieira vs. Bernardo Faria, black belt open class semifinal (2014 Worlds)

Rodolfo Vieira vs. André Galvão, black belt open class semifinal (2014 WPJJC)

Leandro Lo vs. Gilbert Burns (Copa Podio)

Keenan Cornelius vs. Yuri Simões (Metamoris 5)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g3f28D6h_g