interview | Graciemag

Roberto Godoi recalls his mishaps and victories in Jiu-Jitsu

Graciemag Newsroom — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 16:00:36 +0000

Godoi in a striking photo by Luca Atalla for Gallerr.com

A respected teacher and fierce competitor, with countless titles in Brazil and abroad, Roberto Godoi has already accumulated more than three decades of a firm commitment to Jiu-Jitsu. The road was long and full of challenges, but the professor, who always liked to test himself, has endured over the years and built his image in parallel with the G13BJJ, a team which he led in Brazil and now leads in american soil, furthering the reach of the gentle art in the US and spreading the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu among its people.

We’ve talked with Godoi and the chat revisited great moments in the teacher’s trajectory, from the first contact with the sport and his first academy to the analysis of his many years as a black belt, including valuable tips for you to successfully walk the path of constant learning in the gentle art.

Check the interview below and learn with Roberto Godoi!

GRACIEMAG: First and foremost: how did your classic nickname, “Jason” come about?

ROBERTO GODOI: (Laughter). That’s a good one. The nickname was born at Waldomiro “Junior” Perez’s academy. I was one of the toughest workouts in the gym and almost always wore a dirty gi that had a rip or two. Despite being young at the time, I also never had much hair, and this all coincided with the success of the films in the series “Friday The 13th”. When Junior was going to separate the training duos, he would say: “Go, you’ll train with Jason!”. But the one who made the nickname stick and led me to embrace it was a good friend of ours, who developed my first patch for the gi; when I saw it, it was a Jason doll in a mask and gi! The younger kids always thought it was awesome, but I never really cared.

You have more than three decades in Jiu-Jitsu, with more than twenty of those years as a black belt. What has been the most memorable experience in all these years?

That’s right, I was promoted to black belt at the end of 1996, and for many years I’ve proudly carried it around my waist. I fondly remember my first fights as a black belt, at the 1997 IBJJF Hawaii Pan. At the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, I got third place at Tijuca Tênis Clube and it was a unique moment. We used to live real adventures, with car caravans leaving São Paulo, crashes in the Serra das Araras, the suffering of weigh-ins the day before… I remember this one time i ran around the gym for three hours and still had to weigh naked to beat the limit and be allowed to fight. We stayed in small fifth-rate hotels, huddled together, sneaking in the middle of the night so the managers wouldn’t notice. These are stories that people hardly believe nowadays.

It’s been more than thirty years competing nonstop. How do you think this constancy in the championships helps you, as a teacher and as a citizen?

Nowadays, as a 47-year-old athlete, my body now recovers from the various injuries I’ve had during that time, and with that comes some limitations, but that’s not going to stop me, at least not now! I’m passionate about that feeling of stepping on the mat, testing myself, listening to the guys saying that so-and-so is in my division and that he’s trained hard to win. It’s these feelings that keep that child’s flame burning inside me, the desire to train similar to when I started in the sport. Competing also makes me a better professional every day – the objective is not to prove anything to anyone but to pursue the continuous evolution and balance of my Jiu-Jitsu, not to mention the improvement of our group as a whole.

It’s that Rickson Gracie quote, studying and learning never end…

Yes, because Jiu-Jitsu evolves and modernizes every year. I know I have a lot to learn and improve; with that, competing and training with my students daily forces me to keep up to date with the latest in our art. Furthermore, championships are great for seeing friends, sharing laughs, expanding our network of contacts, among many other benefits for a teacher.

How did you start training Jiu-Jitsu?

Jiu-Jitsu came into my life by chance. When I was a kid, the school I went to sometimes had fights, and in my class, there was a kid from Argentina who could hold his own in a brawl. One day, this guy went to Rio de Janeiro for the year’s end and came back shocked. He called me and said: “If you don’t want to be beaten by anyone else in your life, you have to learn what I saw in Rio!”. He had visited a Gracie academy and said that he had been twisted in every way: “Dino (that was my nickname), this is what you need to practice, it’s called Jiu-Jitsu!”.

And was it easy to find a gym in São Paulo?

I learned that Marcelo Behring, who was already a famous champion trained by Rickson, had just arrived in São Paulo in 1988. I went there but the gym was too sought after and the training was expensive, so I couldn’t afford it. I got lucky that my brother came back from the US and gave me a brand new jacket, which I sold for the price of three months of training and got started. It was there that I met Waldomiro, who was Marcelo’s right-hand man and later would be my teacher and great friend.

What was the most memorable fight of your career?

All of them had their valor and brought great learning. But I don’t feel able to summarize in a moment, or personal achievement, my entire trajectory in Jiu-Jitsu. My greatest achievement in the sport was, without a doubt, the number of people and lives I could help improve, not only those who trained with me but their families and friends as well.

Do you still remember your first gym?

I was still a purple belt, in 1992, when, alongside a friend, I decided to set up the first gym I had, in the back of my house. It was small there, with enough room for about 15 students per class, and in the first month we already had 30 students training – and about ten waiting for a vacancy. Today, our G13BJJ school has been structuring itself more and more at the company level and seeking to give full support and feedback to its franchised students and teachers. The structure is unimaginable, comparing it to that gym in the back of the house. Our concern today is to ensure that G13BJJ is seen and recognized as a “martial arts school”, with us fulfiling our role as good educators.

We teach both students who think about competing and those who dream of being an entrepreneur and knowing how to teach and manage their own business one day. Today we have more than 7,000 students in 71 units, 55 of those in Brazil, between São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Tocantins, Bahia, and Santa Catarina. Outside Brazil, there are five in the US and one in Australia.

What tips would you give to succeed in Jiu-Jitsu and reach a black belt?

It is difficult to summarize in a few tips, because there are many variables involved. But I would say number one is discipline, to train constantly and not give up; the second is health – for your machine to work well, take care of it; the third is self-confidence: believe in yourself, and don’t let anyone or anything tell you that you can’t or aren’t capable!

Will effort always beat talent in Jiu-Jitsu?

I’m sure talent without discipline and a lot of effort gets us nowhere. Since I was a kid, I liked to fight, but I’ve always been tougher and more persevering than a talented guy himself. In several of the fights and championships I’ve won, I’ve been successful knowing that to be victorious I would first have to overcome my lack of talent. I’m certainly a tougher guy today because I have that focus and because I know what I’m made of. I always strive to be a better Godoi today than I was yesterday.

One of your strengths is sticking your hand in the collar, standing or on the ground, always triggering a blow… How does this tactic of yours work?

We must first remember that our fight starts standing up before going to the ground, so it is evident that, whether for takedowns, sweeps, or pulling to guard, all positions have their preparations and nuances, especially these details of grips on collars and sleeves to make it happen successfully. Standing, I try to exert my dominant left-hand grip on the opponent’s collar, and when I get it, it opens up a good range of attacks and positions for me, details that I pass on to everyone on our team. But Jiu-Jitsu isn’t always what we want, it’s the opportunities that arise at the time of the fight, so in our routine training at G13, we focus on both our strong game and our weak side, to try to increase the balance and elevate our game.

You’ve done seven MMA fights and started back in 1995. What did you learn about Jiu-Jitsu and about yourself stepping into these rings?

Those were different times, in which it was a natural way to migrate and fall into MMA at some point in their trajectory, even to seek this “validation” of their degree. And with me, it was no different. I learned several lessons in MMA and I am grateful for each experience that today adds to the baggage I have, and so I can contribute to achieving the goals of my athletes, be those professional or not. My dream is to serve as a ramp for all my students to reach much further than me.

You, like many teachers, went through a change of image that is similar to the evolution that took place with Jiu-Jitsu: in the past, it gave a strong image; today, you resemble a father of the students, respectful, cordial to opponents… Is the current Jason a peaceful one?

Yes, it’s a natural maturation of mine as a person, which happened in parallel with the transformation of Jiu-Jitsu’s values as a sport and a lifestyle around the world. I was at the front of a group and was a “master” very early on, and with this immaturity, I had my mistakes, but also my successes. Back then, that was a stereotype stuck in most Jiu-Jitsu fighters, but nowadays I’m better prepared as a person, in every way, to fill my position. I owe much of this to my parents and to what I learned in Jiu-Jitsu, for being this unique tool for emotional balance and rescue of moral values that, practiced daily, shapes us and those around us so that we can have a more harmonious and all-around better society.

In 2001, Godói-Macaco, which had been projected on the São Paulo sports circuit, broke up. What lessons did you learn from the breakup?

Godoi-Macaco in its heyday was unique, and whoever lived that, lived! I won’t take it for granted and am proud of everyone who went there. I don’t mean to besmirch so many others who fought hard for it in SP, but we were one of the main reasons for the rise of Jiu-Jitsu in São Paulo and Brazil at the time. We helped build it in São Paulo and I always believed in myself, I knew my role and value within the team. This was reflected in my self-confidence and total security, which didn’t make me fear the separation or starting from scratch. But that’s the summary of Jiu-Jitsu, the art prepares us to be champions in life. I just focused on work, not listening to the naysayers, because “the dogs bark and the caravan passes by”.

In December, it was ten years since Ryan’s death. What do you think was his importance for Jiu-Jitsu?

Ryan’s loss represented the loss of a great fighter, it was great human material. But Ryan lost to himself. Often the biggest battles we face in our lives are not against face-to-face or physical body opponents that we can physically hit. That’s why the fight is often unequal and why we shouldn’t judge anyone. Controversial or not, he was always an aggregator and was regarded by his students as a natural leader. His coming to SP, regardless of all the “causes”, did contribute to the promotion of Jiu-Jitsu in our state and revealed many athletes and friends which I’ll carry for the rest of my life. Nowadays, they carry his legacy and name around the world.
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Ismael Santos and his dream of spreading Jiu-Jitsu around the world

Graciemag Newsroom — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:00:55 +0000

Ismael and both golds earned at the Chicago International Open 2021. Photo: Reproduction

Currently in first place at the brown belt ranking of the IBJJF, the largest and most respected Jiu-Jitsu organization in the world, Ismael Santos is one of the young prospects in the gentle art’s competitive scene. Under the tutelage of black belt Marcelo Ribeiro, he has joined a select group of athletes in the Xchange project, which supports young talents to participate in championships in the United States, to provide an international level experience for a new generation of competitors.

To tell his story, the 2021 Pan American champion chatted with GRACIEMAG and spoke about his dream of popularizing Jiu-Jitsu in American soil, his experiences on the USA and how these contributed to his maturation inside and outside of the mats. A real gem that, with its knowledge of the sport and the competitive scenario at a professional level, has plenty of baggage to use the sport to further the premises of health and self-confidence to future students. Check the lines below!

GRACIEMAG: How did you get to know Jiu-Jitsu? Already joined thinking about competing?

ISMAEL SANTOS: I was introduced to Jiu-Jitsu through a friend who was already training. I was already aware of the benefits of sport, so I joined him to learn about self-defense and live a healthier life. Also, I could expend excessive energies on the mat and, consequently, become more centered and focused on my studies. I started competing at age 13, still at white belt, and after three months of training, I was champion for the first time. At 15 years old, at blue, I was champion again, this time at the CBJJ Brazilian Team Nationals, by GFTeam. I won state and regional titles until, in 2015, I received the title of best youth blue belt in the state of Ceará.

Ismael, alongside professor Marcelo, boasts gold medal won at the Pan. Photo: Reproduction

At what point did you understand that you would become a professional?

I think the moment Jiu-Jitsu changed for me was at age 14, when I took my first trip to São Paulo. I received a lot of encouragement from my teacher Elinor Batista, who saw my potential early, encouraged me to pursue this future and do my best to be successful. Suddenly, for the first time, I was leaving my state to compete. That was very important for me. From there, I adjusted my mentality and felt in my heart that this would be my mission in life, that my destiny would be on the mats, showing Jiu-Jitsu to the whole world.

How does your family understand your profession in sport? Did you have their support at the beginning?

I am very grateful to my family as I’ve always had their support. In addition to encouraging me to follow my dreams, they always taught me to work hard, never give up and achieve my goals through merit. I learned a lot from seeing my father, who lost one of his legs when I was ten years old and still walks to work every day, and my mother, who never lost her smile despite living a difficult life and without running water in the interior of Ceará. If I got where I am, it’s all thanks to them.

Ismael heads the IBJJF’s brown belt ranking. Photo: Reproduction

And the mission to win the United States? How was the invitation?

I met Professor Marcelo Ribeiro through the project he has in Brazil, to help athletes compete and manage their careers in the United States. I arrived in the US for the first time in 2020, still as a purple belt. Because of the pandemic, I couldn’t compete and went back to Brazil. In 2021 he invited me again to spend a season at his family’s house and visit new places, practice my English and, of course, compete. I came back, worked hard and now I’m number one in the IBJJF brown belt ranking.

What has changed in your Jiu-Jitsu and has it changed in your life by joining the project at RMA?

I feel I evolved in different ways. In my personal life, I have matured because of the experience of getting to know a new culture and being so far away from my family. As a professional, the training routine and traveling to compete helped me to have a more professional point of view towards my career. Above all, I am grateful to Professor Marcelo, who recognized my efforts and allowed me to participate in this project.

With this new experience in the bag, what are your next plans for Jiu-Jitsu?

I intend to keep working hard and giving my best in all training and championships. I want to reach the ranking of the best black belts on the IBJJF and make other people see, as I do, the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu. My goal now is to be very successful and, through my results as an athlete, inspire adults and children to come to the mat and learn that Jiu-Jitsu can change lives.

Along with Marcelo Ribeiro and his RMA training partners, Ismael celebrates yet another victory. Photo: IBJJF/Giselle Villasenor Photography
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Ivan Rocha and his mission to build a better world through Jiu-Jitsu

Graciemag Newsroom — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 14:00:42 +0000

Read the interview below. Photo: Personal archive

“With love, focus and discipline, no goal is impossible and no objective is unattainable” teaches Ivan Rocha, renowned teacher on the Jiu-Jitsu world scenario. Known as “Cabecinha”, Ivan uses his experience, accumulated over 22 years in the gentle art as an athlete and instructor, to guide and encourage students to show their best results on and off the mats.

With 15 years invested in teaching Jiu-Jitsu, Ivan was one of the pioneers of the sport in Italy, where he led and strengthened Gracie Barra Milan, establishing the team’s status as one of the strongest in the region. Despite his success in the competitive sphere, Cabecinha saves his fascination for the transforming power of Jiu-Jitsu and emphasizes how the gentle art has the potential to change everyone’s lives, regardless of individual characteristics and difficulties.

Firm in his mission to build a better world through Jiu-Jitsu, Ivan chatted with GRACIEMAG to explain how the gentle art helps him touch the lives of his students, the importance of dedication and love in the sport, and how the passion for teaching contributed to his evolution on the mats. Check the lines below!

GRACIEMAG: How was your start in the sport?

IVAN ROCHA: My first contact with Jiu-Jitsu was on television, watching the Gracie family fights in Pride. As I already knew the martial art, I didn’t hesitate when a friend invited me to a training session at his house. I was 17 at the time and spent a week at his house, training and falling in love with Jiu-Jitsu. The sport moved me in an unprecedented way, so it didn’t take me long to look for a Jiu-Jitsu team and start training for real. That’s when I met Professor Caveirinha, who at the time led Gracie Barra Caveirinha in Belo Horizonte, and took the first step in my career in Jiu-Jitsu.

Tying his belt after a duel. Photo: Personal archive

As soon as practice started, were you interested in competing?

I’ve always been very competitive and one of the factors that attracted my attention to Jiu-Jitsu was the fact that anyone, regardless of age or fitness, could compete. I fought my first championship when I was still a teenager, with two months of training and weighing 64Kg. It was a unique feeling, a mix of excitement and joy that fueled my growing passion for Jiu-Jitsu. I competed a lot until the purple belt, but I decided to dedicate myself more to classes and ended up slowing down at brown and black. I wanted my students to feel the same joy I felt in Jiu-Jitsu, so I preferred to devote my time to nurture this feeling of achievement in each of them.

In what year did you get your black belt and from whom? What is the best memory of this day?

I earned the black belt in 2010, at the hands of my friend Alexandre Batatinha, in Italy. After ten long years of Jiu-Jitsu, receiving the black belt with a full mat, surrounded by students and friends, was a unique and inexplicable experience. The energy that day was just friendship, joy, and partnership, I could feel that everyone was happy for my achievement. In the face of all that, I couldn’t stand it and cried like a child (laughs). I always say that the emotion of that day is second only to the birth of my son, which was the most emotive day of my life.

“I wanted my students to feel the same joy I felt in Jiu-Jitsu, so I preferred to devote my time to nurture this feeling of achievement in each of them”. Photo: Personal archive

You mentioned earlier that your competitive career ended up taking a back seat, with the occupation of teaching becoming your priority in Jiu-Jitsu. What is this change due to?

It’s difficult to play these two roles with excellence, due to the physical and mental effort that Jiu-Jitsu requires from its practitioners. I had a drop in my performance as an athlete, but in exchange, I received a lot of experience and evolution as a teacher. It is very gratifying to see my students overcome challenges and fight with the passion to win the podium. This emotion is something I was able to feel frequently, given the strong and competitive team I formed in Italy. My students participated in almost all championships and I had the honor of watching their achievements at home and abroad. For a teacher, this is a priceless experience, it is the dream of every professional who is dedicated to teaching. Seeing my students reach victory is something that completes me and makes me happy.

What is the best lesson from your time as an athlete that you always pass on to your students?

I like to emphasize the importance of doing our best in everything we do. With love, focus and discipline, no goal is impossible and no objective is unattainable. I learned this in my competitive phase when I fought avidly and without giving importance to difficulties, always focused on the joy of victory. I teach my students that technique and will go hand in hand, always relying on each other for you to be triumphant. These two factors only depend on dedication, which in turn depends on just how much you want to be victorious.

Ivan and his son on the mat. Photo: Personal archive

What is the key to having a successful Jiu-Jitsu team?

I believe that the success and evolution of a team depend a lot on how much the leader loves his work and is dedicated to it. When the teacher feels love for their craft and propagates positive values, such as discipline and respect, students begin to feel pride and gratitude for being part of the team. These are the feelings that drive these practitioners and increase the performance of each one of them as athletes. All this is part of the teacher’s love, because those who love are dedicated and seek to evolve, to give their best, and instigate their students to do the same.

With your many years of experience in Jiu-Jitsu, how has your view of the gentle art changed since your time as a white belt?

Today I have a deeper understanding of Jiu-Jitsu. It’s more than a sport, it’s a lifestyle aimed at forming good people, with strong minds and healthy bodies. I want everyone to have the opportunity to experience what Jiu-Jitsu provides, as it goes far beyond well-being. I am very grateful for having known this martial art and for knowing that, through it, I am contributing to making my students’ lives better, forming balanced people, and, in this way, doing my part to create a better world.
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From kids to masters, SHBJJ and the mission to change jiu-jitsu in China

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 19:50:08 +0000

Professors Caique and Dangelo with his kids class at SHBJJ.

Continuing with the plan to take Jiu-Jitsu to all parts of the world, our GMI SHBJJ in Hong Kong intends to revolutionize the local scenario of our sport.

For this, the biggest investment was in specializing in basic education, with the essence of Jiu-Jitsu well adjusted to give children and young apprentices the best in leverage, falls, and lifestyle techniques.

Combining Jiu-Jitsu with yoga training, stretching, and creating healthy habits for their students, teachers Dangelo and Caique intend to form an army of great fighters and better people in the region.

To better understand the basis of this mission, our team spoke with Caique Loyolla, a black belt, and professor at SHBJJ, and he explained his plan of action and mission in China with the BJJ.

GRACIEMAG: Comment on the development of BJJ in China today. How is it going, the level, what kind of audience is BJJ looking for?

Caique Loyolla: First of all, it’s important to understand the moment of BJJ in Asia, even tho here is the cradle of martial arts BJJ/Gracie JJ still very young here. Tons of potential students represent a big future.

How does SHBJJ position itself for this demand in China and try to contribute to the development of Jiu-Jitsu?

We here in SHBJJ decided to invest in the future by developing a strong Kids program.”To build tough kids is easier than to fix broken man!” And, obviously, a good program for adult beginners. Kids and white belts are the base of the pyramid, BJJ teaches you that you need a strong base to start anything, we are trying to entrepreneur with BJJ every moment in life.

In these pandemic days, how has the team been working to serve the public? comment on these hard times

Trying to offer good opportunities for people to try a BJJ class and expand the benefits to as many people as possible. Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone, and we’re looking forward to attending those with the curiosity to try our sport. We are sure that they will like and never let it go.

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Countdown to the 2016 Worlds: on fire in 2016, Erberth Santos is hungry for his first gold medal as a black belt in Long Beach

Fri, 27 May 2016 01:38:16 +0000

Erberth Santos at the 2016 European

Erberth Santos is on fire in 2016. In his second year as a black belt, the heavyweight from Ralph Gracie team has had great results in every event he entered.

After a 2015 Worlds that ended without medals, Erberth regrouped and went for it in the new year. He won the heavweight division at the European for the second time in a row and finished third in the open class after an all out war with Felipe Pena in the semifinal.

In Abu Dhabi, Erberth got back at Pena with a 7-2 win in the 94kg final, but could not face his big rival in the open class final after the referee decided to disqualify both fighters in the quarterfinal against Victor Honório. Back in Brazil, Erberth made his way to his second open class title at the Brazilian Nationals in a tough match against Rodrigo Cavaca.

We caught up with Erberth as he puts the final touches in his preparation for the 2016 Worlds and he talked to us about his training ethics, mindset, experience level and the rivalry with Pena.

GRACIEMAG.COM: You are about to compete in your second world championship as a black belt after a debut in 2015 where you could not secure a medal. What lessons did you take from that experience and from the past 12 months competing to have a better performance at the 2016 Worlds?

Erberth Santos: In 2015 I went in with a lot of drive and little experience. I found out the hard way that at the black belt level you cannot make mistakes. Each tournament I compete in is another experience I stack up to be even better as a fighter.

Erberth vs. Pena at the 2016 WPJJC

GRACIEMAG.COM: You have had great results this season, with gold medals at the European, WPJJC and Brazilian Nationals, among other events. Did anything change in your game and your physical and mental training to reach a higher level of performance and results?

Erberth: I analyze each and every fight I have to correct my mistakes and evolve my game. I try to sharpen the techniques and also to get out of my comfort zone to test my self. This way I feel stronger and stronger physically, technically and most importantly mentally.

GRACIEMAG.COM: You and Felipe Pena have been protagonists of one of the most exciting rivalries in Jiu-Jitsu today. The possibility of fighting him once again in Long Beach is an extra motivation? Do opponents shape your way of training and fighting in any way?

Erberth: Actually, the rivalry is left for the fans. On the mat, you have two professional fighters looking to reach for their goals. I never fight or train thinking on my opponents, but rather on overcome my own limits.

The 2016 World Jiu-Jitsu championship is scheduled June 2-5, in Long Beach, California.

Follow the complete coverage at instagram.com/graciemagazine

Coverage brought to you by GAMENESS.

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Countdown to the 2016 Worlds: Rafael Mendes aiming to make history with sixth featherweight title

Tue, 24 May 2016 23:40:07 +0000

Rafael Mendes already made history at the 2015 Worlds, when he won his fifth gold medal in the featherweight division. No other athlete has so many titles in that division, historically one of the toughest weight classes in Jiu-Jitsu.

As he prepares for another run for the top of the podium in Long Beach, Rafa took some time to talk to GRACIEMAG.com about how he maintains his drive. Mendes also talked about his training program leading up to the big moment and the challenges he will have to face on June 4 and 5.

GRACIEMAG.COM: You are after your 6th world title in the featherweight division. This year, possible opponents include Gianni Grippo, Marcio Andre, Samir Chantre, Mario Reis and Cobrinha. Do they influence in any way your training program? How ready are you for the 2016 Worlds compared to previous years?

Rafael Mendes: Opponents never influence my way of training. My preparation is aimed at reaching my highest potential and correct all possible flaws in my game. I believe that each year that passes I am better than the year before and more experienced. Now it’s only a matter of doing everything right on the day of the competition.

Mendes vs. Cobra at the 2015 Worlds

GRACIEMAG.COM: You competed in two small events recently (San Antonio and Vegas). How important it is to do these trial runs before the Worlds?

Rafael Mendes: I got in those competitions to unload the adrenaline of training. I have been training hard since January and it comes to a point where you just want for the championship to come. I competed in San Antonio and Vegas to unload the energy and see how I felt.

GRACIEMAG.COM: After five world titles in the same division, what’s your motivation to keep competing? What are the challenges that keep the flame of going for another gold medal?

Rafael Mendes: When I started in Jiu-Jitsu as a kid, my parents had just split up and we were in a complicated place in my lives. I saw Jiu-Jitsu as a chance to reach my full potential and transform my life and the life of my family. I can say I did just that. I never had my own home or a car in Brazil. I moved to the USA with 22 years old and now I live in Newport Beach and I own my own business. My achievements in Jiu-Jitsu generated a source of income for myself, my family and other people around us. I am only 26 years old and I won a gold medal at the Worlds in all belts, I won the ADCC twice and I am a five-time world champion as a black belt. I no longer fight for results. What motivates me now is the desire to find out what is the highest level I can reach in this sport. I have found the balance between training, work and family, and that makes me happier than I have ever been.

Don’t forget to register for the 2016 World Jiu-Jitsu championship

The final deadline is today, May 24.

Click here to sign up now.

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Countdown to the 2016 Worlds: Felipe Pena is back looking for a double-gold redemption in Long Beach

Wed, 18 May 2016 21:25:57 +0000

Felipe Pena at the 2016 European

Felipe Pena is one of the greatest talents to come out of the Gracie Barra camp in recent years. The 2015 no-gi black belt open class and heavyweight world champion, put on the gi in 2016 and continued on his path of triumphs.

He achieved a double-gold campaign at the 2016 European and then won the $30,000 prize up for grabs at the 2016 WPJJC absolute division. After skipping the 2016 Pan, Pena is now completely focused on the 2016 World championship.

It’s going to be his first appearance after a year off in 2015 and also after having to forfeit his heavyweight gold medal at the 2014 Worlds, when he accepted sanctions by the United States Anti-Doping Association (USADA) for the presence of testosterone above the permitted levels.

With all that behind him now, Pena is looking ahead and aiming to achieve great things. We talked to him during a break in the final stages of his training camp for the 2016 Worlds.

GRACIEMAG.COM: The year of 2016 started really great for you, with the double gold campaign at the European championship and the absolute gold at the WPJJC. The 2016 Worlds could put you face to face with some opponents you still haven’t faced this year, like Bernardo Faria and Marcus Buchecha. How is your training camp? Does potential opponents influence in any way your training routine?

Felipe Pena: I’m training in a really intense level and, most importantly, with a lot of desire to win. There’s nowhere to run or to hide at the Worlds. I know I’ll have very tough opponents both in my weight class and the open class. Even so, I am not shaping my training routine to any opponent in particular. Sure I try to study the main guys’ games, but as there’s nothing but tough guys it’s a bit difficult to focus on someone before the brackets are out.

Felipe Pena vs. Erberth Santos at the 2016 Worlds

GRACIEMAG.COM: You competed in only one world championship as a black belt in 2014. You were out last year and is returning now. Could this hiatus be a problem? How’s your mindset coming in for the 2016 Worlds?

Felipe Pena: I believe I already have good baggage in terms of competing as a black belt. I have fought the best guys out there and each time I feel more mature and experienced. At the Worlds I’ll try to fight like I always do, with a lot of heart, desire and intelligence. I hope it turns out ok!

GRACIEMAG.COM: How hard on yourself are you? What kind of result do you consider a good result at the 2016 Worlds? Are you aiming for a double-gold campaign?

Felipe Pena: I guess high level athletes are always hard on themselves. No one likes to loose. I believe this kind of pressure is there for all of us and I try to focus on the good side of it. As a way to keep focused, I have grown accustomed to this feeling. I will fight both on the weight class and the absolute and I know it’s going to be hard, but I have been feeling great during training and that makes me feel happy for the competition.

Don’t forget to register for the 2016 World Jiu-Jitsu championship.

The final deadline is May 24.

Click here and register now.

Coverage brought to you by Gameness.

The post Countdown to the 2016 Worlds: Felipe Pena is back looking for a double-gold redemption in Long Beach first appeared on Graciemag.

Countdown to the 2016 Worlds: Dominyka feeling more comfortable with her game as she aims for another double gold campaign

Tue, 17 May 2016 22:30:31 +0000

Dominyka Obelenyte at the 2016 Pan

Dominyka Obelenyte first placed at the World championship in 2008, as a juvenile blue belt, at 12 years of age. Back then, she met Mackenzie Dern in the lightweight final and had to settle for the silver medal.

After that, she won at least one gold medal in Long Beach every year with the exception of 2009. Last year, her first as a black belt, was the year she rose to stardom with a spotless campaign for double gold at only 19.

One year later, we caught up with Dominyka as she took a break in her training at Marcelo Garcia’s academy to talk about how she’s coming to defend her titles. Here’s what she had to say.

GRACIEMAG.COM: As you prepare for the 2016 Worlds, do you think about last year’s event. How does the experience of 2015 helps you mentally for another great campaign this year?

Dominyka Obelenyte: I try not to think too much about the past apart from letting it propel my confidence to repeat the results. I did, however, evolve the game from 2015 into something more comfortable for my body and more comfortable for the competition mats.

Dominyka Obelenyte

GRACIEMAG.COM: You hurt your knee during the weight division final of the 2016 Pan and could not compete in the open class final. Are you completely healed? How much the injury got in the way of your training routine for the worlds?

It hasn’t been too much of a hindrance. I could walk on the leg without crutches the very first week I came back from Pan, and I can use it to full capacity to train now.

GRACIEMAG.COM: The female division is more stacked every year. As you get to the academy every day to train, do you think about the possible opponents you might have to face in Long Beach? Do they influence your training routine in any way?

I used to think a lot about the people I had to compete against, watch their highlights and all to prepare for the matches, but now I don’t really care. I know the girls that I go against are top level competitors and I don’t discredit their abilities, but I also feel confident in my own game and my ability to wrap people up in it. The unknown aspect of what’s going to happen on the match when we slap hands is something I look forward to every year I go to Worlds.

Don’t forget to register for the 2016 World Jiu-Jitsu championship before the May 24 deadline.

Click here to sign up now.

Coverage brought to you by Gameness Sports.

The post Countdown to the 2016 Worlds: Dominyka feeling more comfortable with her game as she aims for another double gold campaign first appeared on Graciemag.

Roger Gracie: “This belt means as much to me as the greatest moments of my Jiu-Jitsu career”

Tue, 10 May 2016 17:37:03 +0000

Roger Gracie. Photos: One FC

Roger Gracie won his first MMA belt this past weekend, when he finished Michal Pasternack for the One FC light-heavyweight title, in Singapore.

After returning to London to celebrate with friends and family, Roger took the time to talk exclusively with GRACIEMAG.com.

First he talked about the meaning of having won the belt.

“It’s right up there with my most important titles in Jiu-Jitsu. I was feeling very well prepared for this fight and I am really proud of how dominant I was able to be during the match,” said the Gracie about the katagatami finish that earned him the win.

Roger finishes Pasternack with a katagatami

Roger also spoke about how his skill set has changed since he started out his MMA career.

“At first, I didn’t feel comfortable at all with my striking, so my only option was to take the fight to the ground. Nowadays, specially on my last four fights, I’m much more comfortable with my striking skills, so I don’t feel obligated to take my fights to the ground.”

In closing, Roger told us what he wants for his future.

“The light-heavyweight is not my original division at One FC, but as they offered me a title fight, I accepted. After the fight, I challenged the middleweight champion,Vitaly Bigdash, for the middleweight belt. I believe my next fight will be against him.”

The post Roger Gracie: “This belt means as much to me as the greatest moments of my Jiu-Jitsu career” first appeared on Graciemag.

Roger Gracie: “My next fight will be on MMA, but I want to compete in BJJ again.”

Wed, 04 Nov 2015 21:06:56 +0000

Cesalina Gracie talks with 10X world champion Roger Gracie.

Roger talks about his career in Jiu-Jitsu, MMA and his plans for the future.

The Gracie also talks about his life in England and his family.

Click play and join the conversation.
The post Roger Gracie: “My next fight will be on MMA, but I want to compete in BJJ again.” first appeared on Graciemag.

Gracie Hangout: Cesalina Gracie talks with Gabi Garcia

Tue, 14 Apr 2015 00:19:46 +0000

Cesalina Gracie met up with Gabrielle Garcia for a lively chat.

Take a look at the video.
The post Gracie Hangout: Cesalina Gracie talks with Gabi Garcia first appeared on Graciemag.

Professor Savarese of GMA Savarese BJJ talks heart surgery, old school generation and more

Thu, 12 Feb 2015 14:34:21 +0000

When a surgery for his elbow highlighted blockages in his arteries, Professor Chris Savarese of GMA Savarese BJJ underwent heart surgery. On the mend, he speaks with a series called “Driving it Home,” to discuss his recovery and beyond.

He talks about his journey to the black belt, and the old school generation that garnered a mental toughness that isn’t seen as much now. The older generation is where the knowledge is, Savarese believes, and that if you’re a new practitioner and you’re not looking into this information, you’re missing out.

Check out the full interview below:

Learn more about Chris Savarese and GMA Savarese BJJ at www.njbjj.com
The post Professor Savarese of GMA Savarese BJJ talks heart surgery, old school generation and more first appeared on Graciemag.