O bravo “Lalau” e seu mestre, Givanildo Santana. Foto: Acervo Pessoal

Atual vice-campeão mundial dos plumas, Laércio Fernandes (Lotus Club) é mais um faixa-preta que promete levantar a galera em Lisboa, no Campeonato Europeu que começa nesta semana.

“Cheguei em Portugal ontem. Mas já estou indo encontrar o Rubens Cobrinha em Vigo, na Espanha. Estou me sentindo muito bem, a minha preparação foi de acordo com o planejamento. Treinei muito com o Giva Santana e meus alunos. Agora fico essa semana com o Cobrinha fazendo os últimos ajustes”, contou Laércio ao GRACIEMAG.com.

“Fiz muitos treinos específicos e estou muito empolgado para lutar. Espero acordar bem no dia e fazer meu trabalho, depois voltar para mostrar a medalha para minha família na Califórnia. Quero deixar todo mundo orgulhoso este ano”, completou o exímio guardeiro, que está na mesma categoria que Carlos “Esquisito” (CheckMat) e Francielio da Costa (Alliance), entre outras feras.

O Campeonato Europeu rola entre os dias 24 a 27 de janeiro em Lisboa. Para conferir quem mais vai tentar atrapalhar Laércio e outros nomes, visite o site da IBJJF, aqui.

The brave “Lalau” and his master, Givanildo Santana (personal archive photo)

The current world runner-up in the light featherweight division, Laércio Fernandes of team Lotus Club is yet another black belt spicing up next weekend’s European Open Championship.

“I arrived in Portugal yesterday. But I’m going to hook up with Rubens Cobrinha in Vigo, Spain. I’m feeling really good, and my preparations went according to plan. I put in a lot of training with Giva Santana and my students. Now I’ll spend this week doing some final adjustments with Cobrinha,” Lárcio told GRACIEMAG.com.

“I did a lot of specific training and am really excited about fighting. I hope I wake up feeling good and do a good job and return home to California with a medal to show my family. I want everyone to be proud of me this year,” said the masterful guard player who will be in the same division as CheckMat’s Carlos “Esquisito” and Alliance’s Francielio da Costa, among others.

The European Championship will go down from July 24 to 27 in Lisbon, Portugal. To find out who else will try and rain on Laércio and everyone else’s parade, click here to check out the IBJJF website..

Bruno Bastos é uma das feras no GP dos Pesados da Copa Pódio. Foto: Arquivo Pessoal.

O ano novo começou e com ele a temporada de Jiu-Jitsu 2013. O primeiro grande evento do ano, o GP dos Pesados da Copa Pódio, no Rio, já se avizinha, e as feras têm treinado forte.

Confirmado no GP, dia 13 de janeiro no ginásio do Clube Hebraica, o veterano Bruno Bastos está afiando suas técnicas com uma tropa de elite da escola Nova União, e até um treininho com Fernando Tererê ele deu.

“Meu grupo está bem equilibrado, e todos têm chances de se classificar”, diz Bruno. “Acho que vou surpreender as pessoas”, completa ele, em entrevista ao GRACIEMAG.com.

GRACIEMAG: Você está recuperado da contusão no braço que o impediu de fazer a final da IBJJ Pro League com o Roberto Tussa?

BRUNO BASTOS: Sim, cinco dias após o evento eu já estava treinando. Foi uma contratura no antebraço, muito em função do overtraining por querer estar 100% para todos os eventos. Eu estava treinando mais do que devia. Queria muito ter lutado e ganhado a final por ser o primeiro evento nesses moldes da história da IBJJF. Estarei lutando lá novamente em 2013.

Como está seu camp para a disputa do GP dos Pesados?
Os treinos estão ótimos. Não poderia ter tido um camp melhor. Em minha academia em Midland, no Texas, estou tendo treinos de alto nível, pois meu irmão Ricardo Bastos e uma molecada da Nova União que vem subindo estão me ajudando. Além deles, treinei com Gustavo Dantas, Robson Moura, Vitor Shaolin e Renato Charuto. Minha preparação física está bem, aos cuidados do Giulliano Massaras. Agora estou terminando meus treinamentos com Rodrigo Feijão, Daniel Garcia, André Bastos, Henrique Pelé, André Marola e a galera do meu faixa-preta Fabio Andrade, de Bangu. E fiz um treininho de luxo com a lenda Fernando Tererê. Tá ruim?

Como você avalia o seu grupo na disputa da Copa Pódio?

É um grupo bem difícil na minha opinião, está muito equilibrado. Todos têm chances de passar para a fase seguinte. A minha estratégia é lutar para vencer. É assim que venho para a competição. Acho que vou surpreender as pessoas.

Bruno Bastos is one of the aces on the card for the Copa Pódio Heayvweight GP. (Personal archive photo)

The year is now underway and with it comes the 2013 Jiu-Jitsu season. The first big event of the fledgling gentle-art calendar, the Copa Pódio Heavyweight GP in Rio, is already just around the corner, and the gi-clad aces in it are hard at training.

Confirmed for the card of the January 13 event, the seasoned Bruno Bastos is sharpening up his technique with Nova União’s elite, and even got in a roll with Fernando Tererê.

“My group is really evenly matched, and everyone has a chance of going through,” Bruno says in the following GRACIEMAG.com interview, adding, I think I’m going to surprise a lot of people.

GRACIEMAG: You’ve recovered from the arm injury that kept you from facing Roberto Tussa in the IBJJ Pro League final, right?

BRUNO BASTOS: That’s right. Five days after the event I was already back at training. It was a contracture of the forearm that had a lot to do with my overtraining because I wanted to be 100% for all the events I entered. I was training more than I should have. I really wanted to have competed and won that final, because it was the first of its kind in IBJJF history. I’ll be competing at it again in 2013.

How is your training camp for the Heavyweight GP going?

Training’s going great. I couldn’t have had a better camp. At my academy in Midland, Texas, I had first-rate sparring partners, as my brother Ricardo Bastos and the Nova União up-and-comers were helping me out. Besides them, I got in some training with Gustavo Dantas, Robson Moura, Vitor Shaolin and Renato Charuto. My physical conditioning is going great under the supervision of Giulliano Massaras. Now I’m wrapping up with Rodrigo Feijão, Daniel Garcia, André Bastos, Henrique Pelé, André Marolo and my black belt Fabio Andrade’s gang in Bangu. Plus I had some luxury training with the legend Fernando Tererê. Not bad, huh?

What’s your take on your group at Copa Pódio?

In my opinion it’s a really thorny group, really evenly matched. Everyone has a chance of going through to the next phase. My strategy will be to fight to win. That’s how it is for me every competition. I think I’m going to surprise some people.

Roger Gracie treinando com Antonio Pezão, na Team Nogueira. Foto: Pedro Marques/Team Nogueira

“Hoje no Jiu-Jitsu não dá para viver apenas de premiação e patrocinadores. É preciso ter uma academia ou dar seminários, e por isso fica mais complicado ser um atleta profissional. A premiação da IBJJ Pro League foi uma boa iniciativa, e precisa ser apenas o começo”

Caio Terra

“Só de ter a chance de treinar com o Rodrigo, o Rogério e o Pezão já seria um grande prazer. Mas além deles, ainda há outros caras grandes para treinar, o que está sendo ótimo para mim. Se eu conseguir derrubar o Antonio Pezão no chão, por exemplo, estou bem demais para minha luta no Strikeforce”

Roger Gracie, feliz com os treinos no Team Nogueira, no Rio

“O Jiu-Jitsu para mim é como a vida: nele você aprende com os seus erros, como na vida”

Rousimar Toquinho

“Eu e o André Galvão temos o mesmo estilo de jogo, nós jogamos para frente. Qualquer um podia ter vencido”

Rominho Barral, após vitória contra André Galvão na final até 88kg na IBJJ Pro League

“O Gustafsson fez o jogo certo contra o Shogun, e conseguiu sobressair. Ele está bem perto de uma luta pelo cinturão”

Lyoto Machida, sobre a luta no UFC on Fox 5

Roger Gracie training with Antonio Pezão at Team Nogueira / Photo by Pedro Marques/Team Nogueira

“These days you can’t make a living in Jiu-Jitsu on prize and sponsorship money alone. You have to have an academy or teach seminars, and that’s why it’s so tough being a professional athlete. The IBJJ Pro League prize money is a good initiative, and it has to be just the beginning.”

Caio Terra

“Just having the opportunity to train with Rodrigo, Rogério and Pezão was a major pleasure as it is. But besides them there are other good guys to train with, which has been great for me. If I can take Antonio Pezão down, for example, I’m in good shape for my fight at Strikeforce.”

Roger Gracie, pleased with how training at Team Nogueira in Rio is going

“Jiu-Jitsu to me is like life: you learn from your mistakes, just like in life.”

Rousimar “Toquinho”

“André Galvão and I have the same style; we go on the attack. Either of us could have won it.”

Rômulo Barral, after beating André Galvão in the under-88 kg final at the IBJJ Pro League

“Gustafsson had the right game against Shogun. He’s really close to a title fight.”

Lyoto Machida, on his fight at UFC on Fox 5

Caio Terra directs the room with knowledge from both he and Leandro Lo at SoCal seminar / Photo by Erin Herle

Normally after a big tournament Jiu-Jitsu athletes enjoy a day of rest, especially if the day of competition garnered victory. In the case of Caio Terra and Leandro Lo, they were rebels to this ritual.

A day after the 2012 IBJJ Pro League on December 9, the two winners of their respective divisions were on the mats in a Southern California academy teaching a three-hour seminar. In attendance were not only the 50+ students eager to see the winning moves, but also three other world class black belts: Samir Chantre, Osvaldo Augusto Queixinho and Luiza Monteiro.

In what was a three-hour marathon of positions, sweeps, counters, passes, submissions and back-takes, the teachings of the technical twosome were matched with a degree of care. As the students all practiced the moves with their partners, the group of black belts made sure to scan the room for questions and confused faces, helping every level along the way.

Those that participated spanned from beginner white belts to seasoned black belts, kids to women to seniors. Everyone was able to learn from the large display of knowledge. Due to Leandro’s premature knowledge of English, Caio was the one to direct the room through his own teachings combined with the translation of Leandro’s. The moves were organized in a way that they started from how to maintain spider-guard that evolved into sweeps and passes to x-guard entrances to footlock submissions all the way to back-takes. It was a progression that allowed for an easier understanding and ability to retain the information.

If you missed the seminar, you can catch the photos that capture the essence of the event.

If you’re lucky, your location may be featured in a tour of seminars being planned in 2013 with Caio and Leandro so stay tuned for upcoming dates. For interested enthusiasts, please contact them by email: info@caioterra.com

[flickr set=72157632230166019]

Caio Terra troca pegadas com Laércio Fernandes, na final até 64kg da IBJJ Pro League. Foto: Erin Herle/GRACIEMAG

No último sábado, Caio Terra confirmou seu favoritismo na divisão até 64kg e ficou com os 5 mil dólares de premiação, no inédito torneio profissional organizado pela IBJJF, em Long Beach, na Califa.

Na final, em combate contra o consistente Laércio Fernandes, Caio levou a melhor por três vantagens a uma e conquistou o título.

Em entrevista ao GRACIEMAG.com, Caio listou o que aprendeu na Pirâmide de Long Beach e comentou a frenética troca de chaves de pé, durante a final. Confira!

GRACIEMAG: Como você avalia a sua atuação na IBJJ Pro League?

CAIO TERRA: Talvez essa não tenha sido a minha melhor apresentação no ano. E não só a minha, como da maioria dos faixas-pretas que competiram. Muitos de nós estávamos já pensando no fim do ano, cansados do calendário longo do Jiu-Jitsu. Só eu devo ter competido mais de dez vezes em 2012. Se ainda levarmos em conta todos os seminários, as aulas na minha academia aqui em San José e nas afiliadas, nota-se como é complicado ensinar e levar vida de atleta de verdade. Levando em conta o ano corrido, acho que eu não poderia ter me apresentado melhor.

Você finalizou o Daniel Beleza na semifinal, e venceu Laércio nas vantagens na final. O que achou da luta decisiva?

O Laércio é um cara muito duro, técnico, forte para categoria e bem veloz. Às vezes ele é até desvalorizado pelo público que não o conhece tão bem, mas na certa ele ainda fará o nome dele no Jiu-Jitsu. Acho que nem eu nem ele sofremos perigo algum durante a luta. A chave de pé dele não estava fazendo nem cosquinha. E a minha estava justa, mas não senti o pé dele estalar hora nenhuma. Talvez o único momento de perigo tenha sido quando fui para as costas no começo da luta, mas ele conseguiu sair bem. No fim, eu acabei a luta nas costas dele, mas ele estava perdendo e provavelmente precisou se expor mais do que o normal.

Que lição útil para o leitor você tirou desse campeonato?

Eu queria estar no campeonato para dar um suporte a essa iniciativa da IBJJF, aos meus amigos e companheiros de equipe que estavam treinando para esse evento e aos meus patrocinadores, Gameness e Versa Climber, que me ajudam muito. Porém, a verdade é que eu estava me sentindo saturado, após tantas batalhas pelo Jiu-Jitsu este ano. Eu mesmo não estava querendo estar ali, muito menos lutar. Havia em mim um estranho sentimento de derrota antes de começar o torneio – só queria que o evento passasse para eu pensar nas férias, entende? Com isso, a única grande lição que tirei mais uma vez é sempre acreditar mais em mim.

E o prêmio em dinheiro, fez diferença?

Este ano fiz algumas lutas casadas e sei como é importante para nós atletas sermos remunerados. Hoje não dá para viver apenas de premiação de campeonato e patrocinadores. É preciso ter uma academia ou dar seminários, e por isso fica mais complicado ser um atleta profissional. A premiação foi uma boa iniciativa, mas precisa ser apenas o começo. Com 5 mil dólares, você mal sobrevive dois meses nos EUA, e hoje apenas o campeão leva a grana. Às vezes deixamos de fazer algum seminário para treinar, o que torna mais ainda arriscado, e por isso outros atletas deixam de lutar. Ao longo dos anos, a IBJJF tem mostrado que tudo que eles começam só tende a melhorar. Acredito que em breve teremos mais categorias, premiações ainda melhores e, quem sabe, mais eventos da League durante o ano. Gostaria de agradecer a todos os patrocinadores do evento, a IBJJF e a ao público por terem contribuído com esse passo para um Jiu-Jitsu mais profissional.

Você acha que essa inciativa da IBJJF pode começar a demover os competidores de ir para o MMA?

A maioria dos atletas que migram para o MMA por causa de dinheiro acaba perdendo. Para lutar MMA, você tem de realmente gostar do esporte, e não fazer por dinheiro, porque isso vai acabar com sua carreira. Além de deixar você infeliz.

Quais são seus planos para 2013?

Ainda estou acabando minha última turnê de seminários nos EUA e depois vou ao Brasil passar férias. A seletiva para o ADCC 2013 ainda não está nos meus planos. É aquilo, ganhei os cinco últimos Campeonatos Mundiais Sem Kimono, sou o atual campeão nacional peso e absoluto sem kimono. Se os organizadores não acharem que sou qualificado o suficiente para ser chamado será uma pena… Na última enquete que fizeram no site deles fui o mais votado, mas acabaram chamando outras pessoas e fiquei fora. Tenho planos em 2013 para organizar camps bem profissionais para o Pan e Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu na minha academia. E quero fazer seminários na Ásia, Europa e na costa leste dos EUA. Se alguma academia se interessar, por favor entre em contato: info@caioterra.com ou via Facebook.

Caio Terra swaps grips with Laércio Fernandes in the up-to-64 kg  division at the IBJJ Pro League. Photo by Erin Herle/GRACIEMAG.

Last Saturday, Caio Terra lived up to his billing as favorite to win the up-to 64 kg division and seized the $5,000 prize for first place at an unprecedented IBJJF professional tournament in Long Beach, California.

Facing the consistent Laércio Fernandes in the final, Caio won the decisive match by three advantage points to one.

In the following interview with GRACIEMAG.com, Caio reveals what he learned during his exploits in the Walter Pyarmid this past weekend and commented on the frenetic footlock exchange he endured in the final. Check it out!

GRACIEMAG: What’s your assessment of your performance at the IBJJ Pro League?

CAIO TERRA: This may not have been my best performance of the year. And not just mine, but most of the black belts who competed. A lot of us had our minds on the end of the year, tired after a long Jiu-Jitsu season. I alone must have competed more than ten times in 2012. If we also take into account all the seminars and classes at my academy here in San Jose and at other branches, we can tell how tough it is to truly live the life of an athlete. Considering what a busy year I had, I think I did great.

You tapped out Daniel Beleza in the semifinal and beat Laércio on advantage points in the final. What’s your take on the decisive match?

Laércio is really tough, technical and fast and is strong for the division. Sometimes he is even overlooked by people who aren’t too familiar with him, but for sure he’s going to make a name for himself in Jiu-Jitsu. I don’t think either of us were in any danger during the match. His footlock didn’t even tickle. And mine was in tight but I didn’t feel his foot pop at all. The only time there was any danger may have been when I made it to his back early in the match, but he did a good job of escaping. At the end of the match, I was on his back; but he was losing and probably had to expose himself more than he normally would.

What lesson that could be of use to our readers did you learn at the championship?

I decided to do the championship out of support for the IBJJF’s initiative, for my friends and the teammates who were training for this event and for my sponsors, Gameness and Versa Climber, who helped me a lot. However, the truth is that I felt worn out, after so many Jiu-Jitsu battles this year. I really didn’t want to be there, much less compete. There was a strange feeling of defeat in me before the tournament began—all I wanted was to get the event out of the way so I could think about vacation, you know? So the big lesson I derived from it is to believe in myself more.

What about the prize money, did it make a difference?

This year I had some supermatches and I know how important it is to us athletes to get remunerated. There’s still no way to make a living just off of prize money and sponsorship. You have to have an academy or teach seminars, and that’s why life as a professional athlete is complicated. The cash prize was a good initiative, but it’s only a beginning. With $5,000 you can hardly make it two months in the USA, and so far only the champion gets the money. Sometimes we have to forgo teaching a seminar so that we can train, which makes it even more of a risk, and that’s why other athletes decline to compete. Over the years, the IBJJF has shown that whatever it is they set about doing tends to improve. I believe that soon there will be more divisions, better prize money and, perhaps, more League events during the year. I’d like to thank all the sponsors of the event, the IBJJF and the crowd for having contributed to this new step in Jiu-Jitsu becoming more professional.

Do you feel this IBJJF initiative may help dissuade competitors from migrating to MMA?

Most of the athletes who migrate to MMA because of money end up losing. To fight MMA, you have to really like the sport, and not do it for the money, because that will be the end of your career. Besides the fact you’ll be unhappy.

What are your plans for 2013?

I’m still wrapping up my latest seminar tour in the USA, and after that I’ll go to Brazil on vacation. The 2013 ADCC tryouts don’t figure in my plans yet. Here’s the deal, I won the last five World No-Gi Championships, I’m the current national No-Gi champion at weight and absolute. If the promoters don’t feel that’s enough to qualify me, it’ll be a shame… I got the most votes in the last poll that they held on their website. Still they ended up inviting other people and I got left out. For 2013 I’m planning really professional training camps at my academy for the Pan and Jiu-Jitsu World Championship. Plus I want to do seminars in Asia, Europe and on the East Coast of the USA. If any academy is interested in having me, please contact me via the email info@caioterra.com or Facebook.

One of the many exciting final matches of the IBJJ Pro League that left both sides chanting / Photo by Erin Herle

On Saturday, December 8, the Long Beach Walter Pyramid held the last big Jiu-Jitsu event of the year, ending the season with matches full of wars, close calls and intense engagement. The crowd boomed despite the lesser number of bodies present in comparison to other well-known events held in the same venue. It didn’t matter that the large majority of spectators were viewing through the live stream or that some of the top names were not present. The event was the first of its kind and it delivered far more than we had anticipated!

The free live stream allowed viewers from around the world to be present as the matches unfolded leaving no pause or break in entertainment. Allowing you to choose whether you wanted to hear the commentary from members of the Budovideos team, the stream was easily accessible with no sign-on necessary.

If you weren’t able to log on, here are five things you missed at the 2012 IBJJ Pro League:

1. The rise of the 19-year-old new black belt.

In what was a previously anticipated match that ceased to happen two months prior at the 4th Southwest Classic in Arizona, Tanner Rice got his chance to try out his new black belt against world champion Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes. The 19-year-old was promoted to black belt under his father and Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles Maciel after 12 years of training, and came on the rise after closing out the 2012 World Championship brown belt lightweight division with an Alliance teammate of his. The match remained equal after Tanner pulled guard leaving the action for the last three minutes as Tanner moved for Tanquinho’s back. He was able to enter one hook but could not maintain the back mount. Before he lost the position he received two points as Tanquinho’s knees met the mat. Securing the win with another sweep before the match ended, it was a great match between a legend and a newcomer.

2. The footlock war between Laercio Fernandes and Caio Terra.

In the lightest category of the IBJJ Pro League, Laercio and Caio met in the finals. At the beginning of the match, both began a war that didn’t lose momentum until it ended in a last minute scramble that included an attack on Caio’s foot as well as a sweep attempt against Laercio. Caio came out on top, with one more advantage. Both of their feet went under siege at the climax of their match in an intense footlock war that left both attackers rolling out of bounds starting at 5:00 about halfway into the match. You can watch the match here.

Caio Terra and Laercio Fernandes in a footlock war during the finals of their IBJJ Pro League division final match / Photo by Erin Herle

3. The 4th war between Lucas Lepri and Leandro Lo.

Lucas and Leandro are no strangers as they have met four times in their lightweight division from the mats in Long Beach to the mats in Abu Dhabi; they seem to always find their way back to each other. This was the third win by Leandro in another close match that was once again decided upon by advantages. Both were able to exemplify their flexible guards and dynamic passing styles with Lucas pulling first until a sweep attempt causes both to stand and Leandro pulling shortly thereafter. The mere passes and sweeps of Lo were seen as more close to completion than Lucas, however both gave a match worth studying for years to come. You can watch the match here.

Lucas Lepri keeps track of time as he pushes the pace against Leandro Lo’s guard / Photo by Erin Herle

4. The referee decision that finalized the battle of Romulo Barral and Andre Galvao.

The -88 kg division final allowed two greats to meet once again. Their matches are always entertaining as Galvao’s pressure passing against Romulo’s spider-guard never ceases to raise eyebrows. In a back-and-forth match of sweeps, scrambles and takedowns it was left to the referees to decide upon who was more aggressive. The win went to Romulo after a great showing of technique from two legends with both still able to set their differences aside after the match. You can watch the match here.

Andre Galvao attempts the takedown on Romulo Barral at IBJJ Pro League final / Photo by Erin Herle

5. The clash of two Gracie Barra teammates… twice.

Gracie Barra was the only team who showed that they would rather fight for their wins than let one pass through gentleman’s agreement. On their way to the final, all four teammates fought out their battles on the mats at the Pro League: Romulo Barral submitted Otavio Sousa and Roberto “Tussa” Alencar defeated Gustavo Pires by points. Both semifinal wins gave way to their eventual victories in the final matches of their respective divisions. Even though Tussa was defaulted champion due to Bruno Bastos’ injured arm, he was grateful for his path, giving Gustavo credit for being his toughest opponent that day. He says, “It’s important to get rid of these [close-outs] to help the sport evolve.”

Rominho Barral sweeps André Galvão in a final at the IBJJ Pro League. Photo by Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG.

With its hotly disputed matches and intricate maneuvers, the under-88 kg division is the one that drew the most applause at the inaugural IBJJ Pro League event last Saturday in Long Beach, California. The final, a hard-fought affair, saw Romulo Barral sway the judges in his favor and win the $5,000 prize on offer for winning the professional league. In the following exclusive GRACIEMAG.com interview, Barral says he’ll likely be putting in an appearance at the European Championship, explains how it felt odd to fight his friend Otavio Sousa, and praises André Galvão, his opponent in the final.

GRACIEMAG.com: What’s your take on the final with André Galvão?

RÔMULO BARRAL: It was an awesome match. I think Galvão and I have the same style, we both go on the attack. So every time we face each other I’m certain it will be a great fight. The final was really even, ended in a draw, and I feel the decision could have gone to either of us. But this time the judges gave me the win, so I’m plenty pleased. I’m a fan of André Galvão’s. I really like his Jiu-Jitsu. It was an honor to compete against him.

You ended up having to face your Gracie Barra teammate Otavio Sousa in the semifinals. How did that go?

It’s never nice to have to compete against a friend or teammate. I really like Tavinho, but we’re professionals and sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do, to see our sport grow.

What was the big lesson for you from the IBJJ Pro League?

We have to always try to improve. The championship is over and victory is fleeting. I’m already back at training to fix some mistakes I made.

Jiu-Jitsu has been losing a lot of good fighters to MMA these days. Will the IBJJF paying prize money to competitors help curb the exodus?

Yes, I feel us Jiu-Jitsu athletes lead the lives of professional athletes despite being amateurs. After all, we train the whole day to be champions. So nothing could be fairer than to reward us for it.

What are your plans for 2013?

I’m really stoked about next year. I want to fight in everything, starting with the European Championship, in Lisbon, Portugal. After that I’m going to compete at the Abu Dhabi WPJJC Trials in Miami and the big IBJJF tournaments. Who knows, maybe the 2013 ADCC too?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46OqN_OSzrA

Rominho Barral raspa André Galvão na final da categoria, no IBJJ Pro League. Foto: Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG

Com disputas acirradas e golpes plásticos, a categoria até 88kg foi a mais aplaudida da primeira edição da IBJJ Pro League, no sábado em Long Beach.

Na final, em combate muito duro, Rominho Barral levou a vitória por decisão dos juízes e conquistou a bolada de 5 mil dólares da liga profissional.

Em entrevista exclusiva ao GRACIEMAG.com, Barral disse que deve aparecer no Europeu, explicou o estranho sentimento de finalizar o amigo Otavio Sousa e elogiou André Galvão, seu concorrente na final.

GRACIEMAG: Como você avalia a luta com André Galvão?

RÔMULO BARRAL: Foi um lutão, acho que eu e o Galvão temos o mesmo estilo de jogo, nós jogamos para frente. Então todas as vezes que lutarmos tenho certeza de que será um grande combate. A luta foi muito equilibrada, terminou empatada, e a vitória poderia ter ido para os dois lados ao meu ver. Mas dessa vez os juízes me deram a vitória, e fiquei muito feliz. Sou fã do André Galvão, gosto muito do Jiu-Jitsu dele, foi uma honra competir contra ele.

Você acabou tendo de enfrentar um companheiro de Gracie Barra, o Otavio Sousa, na semifinal. Como foi?

Não é bom competir contra um amigo e parceiro de mesmo time. Gosto muito do Tavinho, mas somos profissionais e às vezes temos de fazer coisas que não gostamos para ver o crescimento do nosso esporte.

Qual foi a lição que você tirou da IBJJ Pro League?

Sempre temos de procurar melhorar. O campeonato já passou e a vitória dura pouco. Hoje já estou de volta aos treinos procurando corrigir alguns erros.

O Jiu-Jitsu perde muito lutador bom para o MMA hoje. A proposta da IBJJF é boa para valorizar mais ainda os competidores?

Sim, acredito que nós atletas do Jiu-Jitsu levamos vida de atleta profissional, mesmo sendo amadores. Afina, nós treinamos o dia inteiro para sermos campeão. Então, nada mais justo e recompensador do que termos uma premiação em dinheiro no final.

Quais são seus planos para 2013?

Estou muito animado para o ano que vem. Quero lutar tudo, começando pelo Europeu de Jiu-Jitsu, em Lisboa. Depois, vou lutar a seletiva de Miami para WPJJC de Abu Dhabi, e os principais campeonatos da IBJJF, e quem sabe o ADCC 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46OqN_OSzrA