Abmar Barbosa em ação durante o Mundial 2010. Foto: John Lamonica/GRACIEMAG.com

Faixa-preta de Robert Drysdale, Abmar Barbosa começou a trilhar um caminho de sucesso no Jiu-Jitsu esportivo a partir de 2010, quando foi finalista do Pan, no peso médio e conquistou outros títulos de expressão.

Porém, uma série de lesões puseram um freio em alguns dos sonhos desse paulista de Rio Claro.

Sem desistir nunca, Abmar prepara seu retorno em grande estilo, e registrou tudo num filme para inspirar e motivar você que se machucou ou largou os treinos de Jiu-Jitsu por algum motivo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmBVHcY4I6A

Abmar Barbosa in action at 2010 Worlds (photo by John Lamonica/GRACIEMAG.com)

Robert Drysdale black belt Abmar Barbosa started blazing a trail of success in sport Jiu-Jitsu starting in 2010, when he was a finalist in the middleweight division at the Pan and won other major titles.

However, a string of injuries put the brakes on some of this Rio Claro, São Paulo native’s dreams.

Without ever giving in, Abmar is preparing to return in grand style, and he recorded it all in a movie to inspire and motivate anyone who’s ever gotten injured or had to put their Jiu-Jitsu on hold for any reason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmBVHcY4I6A

Abmar Barbosa e alguns de seus alunos escalados para a “casa” de seu reality show, onde ninguém sai até o Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu 2013. Foto: Divulgação

Faixa-preta que já mostrou seu valor nos grandes campeonatos da IBJJF, Abmar Barbosa deu um refresco ao corpo para curar as lesões que o assombraram em 2012.

O mais importante, porém, foi o refresco dado para a mente, segundo o lutador.

“Para não ficar com a mente angustiada, pensando nas competições que rolavam e eu não podia participar, me dediquei a pilotar helicópteros. Peguei o brevê e estou amarradão”, contou a fera de Rio Claro, São Paulo, hoje com diversas academias espalhadas pelos EUA.

O Jiu-Jitsu, porém, é mesmo sua paixão principal. Por isso, o faixa-preta de Robert Drysdale já prevê voos mais altos em 2013.

“Meu foco agora é um reality show que estou produzindo. Estou com uma casa preparada e montada, aqui em Northern Virginia, nos EUA. Do dia 15 de janeiro até 15 de dezembro de 2013, vão morar lá cerca de 12 atletas de Jiu-Jitsu que sonham com uma vida profissional na arte suave. Muitos têm talento e vontade, mas falta de oportunidade e dinheiro”, diz o atleta.

“Cada morador terá sua obrigação a cumprir, como treinar Jiu-Jitsu três vezes ao dia, de segunda a sexta. A preparação física será duas vezes na semana, em dia a ser estipulado pelo preparador Bill Easlick. Sábado, fica a critério do atleta, ele pode participar do treino aberto ou não, e domingo é descanso completo. Qualquer atleta na casa só pode quebrar essas regras após o Mundial 2013, antes nem pensar”, diz ele.

A casa deve reunir americanos, brasileiros e australianos de todas as faixas. Por enquanto, devem participar, além de Abmar, as feras Garret Beck, Allan Rezende, Leandro Marchesin, Jake Driscoll e Marcos dos Santos.

Abmar Barbosa  and some of the students who will be staying at the reality show house where no one leaves until after the 2013 World Championship. Publicity photo.

A black belt who has showed his worth at the big IBJJF tournaments, Abmar Barbosa gave his body a rest and healed up some injuries that were haunting him in 2012.

The most important part, however, was to rest up his mind, according to the fighter himself.

“To not get anguished by thinking about the competitions going by that I couldn’t be in, I dedicated my time to flying helicopters. I got bit by the flying bug and am loving it, said the Rio Claro, São Paulo native who now has a number of academies spread around the USA.

Jiu-Jitsu is still his primary passion, though. And for that reason, the Robert Drysdale black belt is already working on some loftier goals for 2013.

“My focus now is a reality show that I’m producing. I’ve got a house all set up here in Northern Virginia, USA. From January 15 to December 15, 2013 I’ll be living there with around 12 Jiu-Jitsu athletes who dream of making it as professionals in the gentle art. There are a lot of people with talent and desire but are just missing opportunity and money,” said the athlete.

“Each resident of the house has his obligations to fulfill, like training Jiu-Jitsu three times a day from Monday to Friday. Physical conditioning will be twice a week on days stipulated by conditioning coach Bill Easlick. Saturday is free for the athlete to do as he pleases—he can participate in an open training session or not, as he sees fit. Sunday is for complete rest. The athletes in the house can only break these rules after the 2013 Worlds, and not even think of breaking them before,” he said.

The participants will be from the USA, Brazil and Australia and will be of all belt colors. So far, the athletes confirmed to be there are Abmar, Garret Beck, Allan Rezende, Leandro Marchesin, Jake Driscoll and Marcos dos Santos.

Cyborg com mais um ouro. Fotos: arquivo pessoal.

Roberto Abreu, o Cyborg, segue avassalador nos eventos da IBJJF. Depois de faturar peso e absoluto no Honolulu Open e no Miami Open, o faixa-preta se prepara para o Mundial Sem Kimono. Confira o bate-papo da fera com o GRACIEMAG.com:  

O que achou da participação no Miami Open?

O Miami Open foi muito bom e organizado como sempre. Graças a Deus, estou muito feliz com o trabalho que a equipe vem fazendo. Eu e o Pablo Popovitch montamos o The Avengers BJJ e só está rendendo bons frutos. Tivemos mais de 50 alunos inscritos, ficamos em 2º lugar entre as academias, a apenas dois pontos da Gracie Elite, e ganhamos quase todos os absolutos. Assim como fechamos todos os absolutos nos últimos eventos da IBJJF (Pan Sem kimono e Honolulu Open), repetimos agora.

Mas como foi a sua participação?

Tive duas lutas no peso e duas no absoluto. Fui campeão no peso tendo finalizado o Stephen Hall na final. No absoluto acabei fechando com meu parceiro de treino Marcus Almeida “Bochecha”, moleque muito bom, aluno do Rodrigo Cavaca que está tirando onda, fechando todos os absolutos com agente.

Cyborg e Bochecha no pódio do absoluto, com Eduardo Milioli e Rafael Formiga.

Como estão os preparativos para o Mundial Sem Kimono?

Os treinos para o Mundial não podiam estar melhores. Essa é a próxima missão dos The Avengers, conquistar o mundo tanto no peso quanto no absoluto! Vamos entrar com uma galera muito boa no evento, eu, Pablão (Popovitch), Jeff Monson, Cavaca, Bochecha, Wagner Rocha, Jake Mackenzie, Thiago Abreu, James Brasco, João Macaio, Marcel Goulart, Rafael Chaves, Guedes… O treino está alucinante, todos estão muito bem treinados e ansiosos para por os pés nas áreas de luta de Long Beach.

Vai buscar peso e absoluto novamente?

Como sempre vou nas duas categorias. Amo lutar no absoluto e este ano, com certeza, temos força pra dominar na Califa!

Alguma novidade pensando na próxima temporada?

Fui muito feliz neste ano com o Jiu-JItsu, com várias grandes conquistas. Mas já sabia que era só um preparatório para o ano que vem. Vou lutar tudo que vier pela frente. Pretendo lutar os dois Mundiais (com e sem kimono), assim como o ADCC e o World Pro pela primeira vez. Que venha 2011!

Faça como Cyborg e garanta logo a sua vaga no Mundial Sem Kimono. As inscrições, que terminam no próximo sábado, podem ser feitas clicando aqui.

Cyborg with another gold medal. Photo: Personal archive.

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu carries on in his rampant run of IBJJF events. Following his conquest of his weight and the open weight groups at the Honolulu and Miami Opens, the black belt now gets ready for the No-Gi Worlds. Check out the chat the submission stalwart had with GRACIEMAG.com:

What’s your assessment of the Miami Open?

The Miami Open was great and well-organized as always. Thank God, I’m really happy with the work the team’s been doing. Pablo Popovitch and I set up Avengers BJJ and now we’re just reaping the rewards. We had more then fifty students signed up and took second in the overall team dispute – just two points behind Gracie Elite –, plus we won nearly all the absolutes. Just as we closed out all the absolutes at the last IBJJF events (No-Gi Pan and Honolulu Open), we’ll do the same again now.

How about your performance?

I had two matches at weight and two in the absolute. I won my weight group beating Stephen Hall in the final. I ended up closing out the absolute with my training partner Marcus “Bochecha” Almeida, an awesome kid, a Rodrigo Cavaca student who’s on a roll, clocking out absolutes with us.

Cyborg and Bochecha on absolute podium with Eduardo Milioli ande Rafael Formiga

How’s your preparation for the No-Gi Worlds going?

Training for the Worlds couldn’t be going better. That’s The Avengers’ next mission, to conquer the world both at weight and open weight! A good group is going into the event: me, Pablo (Popovitch), Jeff Monson, Cavaca, Bochecha, Wagner Rocha, Jake Mackenzie, Thiago Abreu, James Brasco, João Macaio, Marcel Goulart, Rafael Chaves, Guedes… Training is out of the world, everyone in top shape and anxious step step onto the match areas in Long Beach.

Will you compete at both weight and open weight again?

As always, I’1l be in both division. I love competing in the absolute, and this year, for sure we’ve got what it takes to dominate in California!

Any news for next season?

I’m really happy with how things have gone in Jiu-Jitsu this year, with the various big conquests. But I already knew it was just preparation for next year. I’ll compete in everything out there. I intend to compete at both Worlds’ (gi and no-gi), as well as the ADCC and World Pro for the first time. Bring on 2011!

Do as Cyborg does and secure your spot at the No-Gi Worlds. Sign-ups end Saturday, so get in on the action by clicking here.

Tagarela in action. Photo: personal archives

Jonatas “Tagarela” Gurgel was one of the standouts of the Honolulu Open that shook up Hawaii this month. Pleased with his triumph, now the Atos representative is getting ready for new challenges.

“I ended up winning the Honolulu Open. I competed at lightweight and became champion after two matches. The first one I got the finish and I won the final against GFTeam’s Wallace Castro by points (12 to 0),” he explains.

His upcoming matches will be in the United States, in two IBJJF tournaments.

“Now my focus is still on the gi. I’ll be at the American Nationals and the Miami Open,” says the black belt, already with his eye on 2011.

“I’m competing with my focus on the next year’s big tourneys. Next season I’ll do my preparations at Atos headquarters in Rio Claro, and my aim is to get into a strong competition rhythm this year to do awesome in everything in 2011. I want to double up with (Gilbert) Durinho at lightweight!” he forewarns.

Do as Tagarela does and get in on the IBJJF-event action. To find out more about the American Nationals, click here.

Tagarela em ação. Foto: arquivo pessoal

Jonatas Gurgel, o Tagarela, foi um dos destaques do Honolulu Open, evento que agitou o Havaí neste mês. Contente pelo triunfo, agora o representante da Atos se prepara para novos desafios.
“Acabei de ganhar o Honolulu Open. Lutei no peso leve e fui campeão fazendo duas lutas. Finalizei a primeira e ganhei a final do Wallace Castro, da GFTeam, por pontos (12 a 0)”, conta.

Os próximos combates serão nos Estados Unidos, em dois torneios da IBJJF.

“Agora o foco continua no pano. Vou lutar o  American National e o Miami Open”, diz o faixa-preta, já de olho em 2011.

“Luto já com foco nos principais campeonatos do ano que vem. Na próxima temporada irei me preparar no CT da Atos, em Rio Claro, e o objetivo é entrar no ritmo de competição forte este ano para arrebentar tudo em 2011. Quero fazer as dobradinhas junto com o (Gilbert) Durinho no leve!”, adianta.

Faça como Tagarela e lute os eventos da IBJJF. Para saber mais sobre o American National, clique aqui.

Buiú é um dos confirmados na faixa-preta. Foto: Gustavo Aragão

Uma das grandes campeãs da competição, a Gracie Barra não vai ficar de fora do Campeonato Brasileiro de Equipes. O evento acontece no dia 25 de setembro, no Tijuca Tênis Clube, e as inscrições terminam no próximo dia 17 (saiba mais aqui). 

Professor da matriz da GB, na Barra da Tijuca, Jefferson Moura convoca as filiais por todo o Brasil. 

“Peço que os professores entrem em contato para formarmos os times em todas as faixas. Queremos entrar com as equipes completas. Já temos alguns lutadores confirmados, inclusive na faixa-preta, como o Kleber Buiú e o Zaganelli. Queremos ir com os melhores atletas e peço que todos entrem em contato o quanto antes”, diz Jeff. 

O treinador está empolgado com os últimos resultados do time. 

“Ficamos em primeiro no Rio Open. Além disso, o time está arrebentando lá fora. Ganhamos no Houston Open, Las Vegas Open e Honolulu Open, recentemente. Vamos manter a tradição no Brasileiro de Equipes”, aposta. 

O contato pode ser feito através do e-mail jeffmoura@yahoo.com.br e pelo telefone (21) 7824-3295.

Laércio shows off Honolulu Open medals

After sweating up his gi at the Honolulu Open, light featherweight fighter Laércio Fernandes has guaranteed his presence at the event.

“I’m confirming that I’ll be at the American Nationals, an event I won last year. I fought at the Honolulu Open, won my weight division and took third in the absolute, losing in the semifinals to Abmar Barbosa by 2 to 0. Now I’m going to compete at this great event,” says Laércio, who is still making the most of his stay in Hawaii.

“I’m training with the fighter Kala Kolohe, who is going fight at the Heroes Hawaii event this Saturday. During my time here in Hawaii, besides training with Kala, I also trained with Wallace Castro and Nova União Hawaii professors Lorenzo Lima and Leandro Niza. It’s been really cool,” says Láercio, a student of armbar king Givanildo Santana.

Laércio exibe medalhas do Honolulu Open

Depois de suar o kimono no Honolulu Open, o peso pluma Laércio Fernandes é mais um que garante presença. 

“Estou confirmando minha participação do American National, evento que ganhei no ano passado. Lutei o Honolulu Open, ganhei a categoria e fiquei em terceiro no absoluto, perdendo a semifinal por 2 a 0 contra o Abmar Barbosa. Agora vou disputar mais esse grande evento”, conta Laércio, que ainda aproveita a estadia no Havaí. 

“Estou treinando o chão do lutador Kala Kolohe, que vai lutar neste sábado no evento Heroes Hawaii. Nesse tempo que estou aqui no Havaí, além de treinar o Kala, fiquei treinando com o Wallace Castro e com os professores da Nova União Hawaii Lorenzo Lima e Leandro Niza. Está sendo muito legal”, finaliza Laércio, que é pupilo do rei do armlock Givanildo Santana.

Cyborg in paradise

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu, our GMA in Florida, was the main standout at September 4’s Honolulu Open in Hawaii. In those parts, the black belt had some of the greatest experiences of his life, as he himself reports in the text that follows:

“It all started with the dream of an uncle of mine named Lauro Schuback Pastor Almeida, a real character, a surfer in love with Hawaii! My uncle always dreamed of living a surfer’s life, and that he did to a tee, just as my life is Jiu-Jitsu.

At Bruno Longman's academy

“My uncle spent a few days in Hawaii and ended up meeting some beasts from Kauai like Bruno Ewald Longman and his students. Among there were several big names of surfing. Through this contact, I called Bruno, a Gracie Humaitá black belt. I shot the breeze with him and set it up to go to the Honolulu Open.

“Once I go there, what a trip! Bruno is some kind of “mayor” of Kauai. Father to Hunter and Reef, two really tough kids, there’s even a day for him on the island. He has really great energy, as does everybody in his academy. In just one week I made friends for life. It felt like I’d known that crew for years.

Tin Tin, Hawaiian monster!

“From the first day on, I was treated like one of them and became part of the group. Bruno introduced me to Tin Tin, a way tough Hawaiian. The guy weighs 135 kg, burly, but his heart’s big as the whole world, really kind.

“Tin Tin took me to get to know the island. Those were for sure some of the best days of my life. I came from the South Matogrosso wetlands. I lived my entire life in nature, but for sure, I left a piece of me on that island, between the turquoise blue ocean, the mountains, pristine paradisiacal beaches, fish of all sizes and colors. I swam with turtles, sharks; I climbed mountains; I swam under waterfalls… What a fantastic place! Hawaii’s nature is magical and breathtaking!

At Honolulu Open with team

“Besides that, I was surprised by the Jiu-Jitsu there. The guy is first-rate, really sharp on the ground. I was happy with the training, one of the factors that led to my taking the championship without a glitch. Not just Bruno, but all the students have really strong Jiu-Jitsu.

“From white to black belt, the guys hold their own. Bruno has been heading this project for twenty years and has a number of good fighters on the island. We went to the event on Saturday, I sported the Longman BJ gi to compete and it was awesome competing alongside the gang from Kauai.

“The event was great, as were the local fighters, who displayed excellent technique. I had a few tough matches, had one at weight and two in the absolute. And the absolute final was really good against Abmar Barbosa, who’s been on a roll in Jiu-Jitsu. I pulled off a good performance.

“Winning weight and open weight in Hawaii was glorious! I made a number of contacts, everyone has really great energy over there and I intend to visit the gang as often as possible. I want to get to know the other islands on the archipelago, too. I’m already looking into my return to do some seminars.

“After the event, I even went around with Matheus Vulkan and Rodrigo Clark to go around Oahu, the Mecca of surfing, where Waimea Bay, Pipeline and Sunset are, as well as to swim with the sharks in the bluest ocean in the world!

“Surely, God made Hawaii on the seventh day! Pythagoras said: ‘It’s by traveling that we find pieces of ourselves around the world.’ Well, I found a piece of myself in that paradise!

“Best wishes to all and aloha!”

Enjoy that? Then do as Cyborg does. Compete at the next Honolulu Open and other IBJJF events around the planet!