Durinho in photo by Carlos Ozório

An Atos black belt who’s been on a rampage in Jiu-Jitsu’s main competitions, Gilbert “Durinho” Burns is on a seminar tour through the United States.

“I’m here in North Carolina training and teaching at the academy of a friend. Every time I make it out here I spend some time here and they help me a lot. I’m really happy, thank God I had excellent results throughout the year, and I’m going to continue training for that. I want to evolve more with every day and correct the mistakes I make so as not to repeat them. I haven’t stopped training since the Worlds, I just can’t stop! I’ve been training with the guys here and I’m holding some seminars in the United States,” he tells GRACIEMAG.com.

Foot attack on Jonathan Torres on his way to Brazilian title. Photo: Carlos Ozório

Missing his family and girlfriend, Durinho returns to Brazil in early August. In Rio Claro, the Atos HQ, he will start getting ready for his upcoming challenges.

“I’m heading to Japan in October, where I’ll compete at the Deep X grappling challenge and conduct some seminars. I don’t know who my opponent will be yet, but when I get back to Brazil I’ll focus all my training on this match. Our team will get together in Rio Claro and I’ll surely train hard to show up there in tip-top shape! I really want to do the No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu World Championship too. We’ll see, if all goes well I should compete there,” he says.

“I’d like to thank God, my family, my girlfriend, my sponsors and the whole team, as well as everyone who roots for me because they believe in me and support my every decision. They all provide me motivation to get better with every day. And thanks GRACIEMAG.com too!”

Any academies interested in holding a Durinho seminar can contact him by email at gilbertdurinho@hotmail.com or on Facebook at Gilbert “Durinho” Burns.

Black belt Gilberto Durinho has already promised he’ll be in top shape for the Worlds. His teammate Rafael Mendes has said he will show up with “10 lungs’ worth of gas.”

Atos Jiu-Jitsu leader Ramon Lemos confirmed his black belts are riding some serious momentum.

“The team is doing great, everyone is training hard for the 2010 season, and to kick off the year showing Atos JJ’s strength. We’re taking a full team,” stated Ramon Lemos.

The master gave a preview of his front line for The 2010 European. “Wekcilei Cruz, at roosterweight; Guilherme Mendes and Eduardo Ramos, at light featherweight; Rafael Mendes and Bruno Frazatto, at featherweight; Rodrigo Caporal and Gilberto Durinho at lightweight;  Guto Campos and Orlando Zanetti at middleweight, and Vitor Toledo at medium heavyweight. Beyond them there’s another weight-carrying black belt: Andre Galvão, at medium heavyweight, who is always aching to be in competitions, despite his focus being MMA. I always try to get him to compete,” he said in amusement.

Rafael Mendes's black belt debut at the end of 2008 against Cobrinha, in Jordan. Photo: Marcelo Dunlop

And what would the importance of competing at at the European be, in the opinion of Atos’s leader? “The European is very important to Jiu-Jitsu. It’s a way of publicizing the athletes and the gentle art in yet another continent. Beyond that, it’s preparation for the Worlds; it’s a competition that shows Jiu-Jitsu’s face all over Europe, which causes more work to arise for all the teams and athletes.

Ramon Lemos leads Atos JJ. Photo: Personal archives

“I hope all the professional athletes enter the European so the crowd can witness some great matches,” said Lemos in finishing.