Werdum at pre-UFC 147 open training session in Belo Horizonte, Brazil: the MMA star has made his mark at Jiu-Jitsu World Championships. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images/Publicity

Paraphrasing a famous poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902-1987), the Brazilian writer paid tribute this week at the Paraty Literary Festival, Jiu-Jitsu is a great sport because Fabricio faced Tererê who faced Marcelo Garcia who faced Roger who faced Demian who faced Napão who faced Pé de Pano who faced Werdum.

The proving ground that is Jiu-Jitsu, where to be a monster you have to unseat a whole slew of monsters, is something that motivates athletes to be successful in MMA as well—as is the case with Fabrício.

Take a look back at this ultraheavyweight match from the 2004 World Championship between Werdum and a daring (and feisty) Fernando Tererê. It too was pure poetry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9yrBAVCQ74

Photo: Agência Brasil

The first female president of Brazil, Dilma Vana Roussef, 63, took office at 4:48 pm on January 1.

At the ceremony – an historic one for the nation – Dilma fit a quote from one of the country’s greatest writers, João Guimarães Rosa, into her acceptance speech. Words that inspire her and that may perhaps motivate our dear readers.

“The flow of life envelopes everything. Life is like this: it heats up and cools down, it squeezes and then loosens, it becomes calm and then restless. What it wants from us is courage,” said President Dilma, quoting the author of “Grande Sertão: Veredas” (“Great Hinterlands: Swampy Valleys”).

What about you, noble Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, what phrase serves as inspiration to you? Put your favorite motivational quote in the commentary field below, and share it with other readers.