Marco Joca in the middle (publicity photo)

If you’re looking for a position for practitioners with deft hips and creativity, today’s your lucky day.

To carry out the half-guard sweep known as the “rocambole”, or “jelly roll”, the first step is to keep your opponent at bay with your knee, as Marco “Piu-Piu” Joca, a teacher at Gracie Barra in Irvine, California, teaches.

Marco Joca (centro) ensina a raspar. Foto: Divulgação

Se você está procurando uma posição para quem tem quadril solto e criatividade, hoje é seu dia de sorte.

Para executar esta raspagem da meia-guarda apelidada de “rocambole”, o primeiro passo é mantê-lo afastado usando o joelho, como ensina Marco Joca, o popular “Piu-Piu”, professor da Gracie Barra em Irvine, na Califa.

A 1mim8s, Marco chama atenção para a importância do gancho que está por baixo da perna do oponente. Seu pé vai precisar envolver a coxa do adversário, o que evita que ele consiga forçar o joelho e passar a guarda.

A 1min40s, o faixa-preta da GB mostra como você deve dominar a pegada no braço. Lembre de deixar o joelho colado ao peito do oponente para que ele não jogue o peso e mine você.

Aos 2min07s, Piu-Piu segura na faixa do oponente para dominá-lo totalmente na hora de raspar. Ele então empurra o braço inimigo dominado para baixo, e joga o quadril para o lado, usando a perna como alavanca para completar o giro. Ao cair por cima, ele concretiza a raspagem rocambolesca.

Casou com seu jogo? Acha parecida com alguma que você faz? Comente com a gente.

Marco Joca (centro) ensina a finalizar no triângulo. Foto: Divulgação

Quando o praticante está fazendo guarda, não pode esquecer uma das lições mais valiosas: quebrar a postura do adversário. Assim, você comanda o ritmo da luta e pode começar a trabalhar sua estratégia com mais tranquilidade.

O triângulo é uma finalização muito usada por guardeiros, da faixa-branca até a preta, e até no MMA. Neste vídeo, você aprende com o professor Marco “Piu-Piu” Joca, da Gracie Barra, apenas uma das formas de finalizar no triângulo, segurando a faixa.

“Quando faço guarda, eu seguro nos cotovelos do oponente e puxo para mim, para quebrar a postura dele”, ensina Marco. “Com a mão esquerda, seguro a faixa dele, abro a guarda e saio meu quadril para a esquerda. Faço a pegada no braço esquerdo dele com minha mão direita, subo minha perna e abraço o pescoço dele com o triângulo. Para dar mais pressão, abrace sua perna e puxe para você”.

Curtiu o golpe? Comente com a gente.

Pedrinho (in the middle in grey shorts) and his childhood crew

On the 29^th of May this year, exactly one month ago, Pedro “Pedrinho” Brandão died unexpectedly. Everyone who knew him or had come in contact with him knew of his vitality, attitude, ruggedness, courage… Indeed, one would need an infinite list of adjectives to describe the teammate and friend.

His courage extended well beyond the gentle art, a style in which he won numerous major tournaments like the Brazilian National Championship and Jiu-Jitsu Pan-American, having overcome opponents of the caliber of Fredson Paixão, BJ Penn, Baret Yoshida, Daniel Moraes, Rodrigo Damm and Ramon Lemos, among others.

Pedrinho was a member of the American Army’s elite Rangers. He was the first to introduce Jiu-Jitsu to the troops, teaching the style to more than 150 children and approximately 50 soldiers, who represented the Rangers for the first time in competition, at the Jiu-Jitsu Pan-American.

Pedro with a student from the Rangers at the Pan

For all that – and much more – it was hard to understand how a brain aneurism could end his life so unexpectedly. To speak of this true warrior from Gracie Barra and pay tribute to him, there is nothing more fitting than to leave the final word to those who spent the most time with the fighter.

Master Carlos Gracie Jr

Pedro alongside his master Carlos Gracie Jr

Pedro, despite not living a long life, always lived very intensely. I always admired him for his loyalty, character and principles. He was someone who represented Gracie Barra wherever he went.

There’s no such thing as death. One day we shall meet again” Carlos Gracie Jr.

He embraced our philosophy and carried it with him in life. As a member of the American army, he managed to achieve everything he wanted to, became an Army Ranger, a special operations soldier. In everything he was involved with, he achieved results. That was because of his determination when he wanted something.

It is a tremendous loss, but, as there’s no such thing as death, we shall meet again for sure!

Marco Joca “Piu Piu”

He had Gracie Barra in his heart and the philosophy of a warrior in his mind” Piu Piu

All I can say is that only a select few people in this world can be blessed with having a friend like Pedrinho, with his iron cast personality, his unwavering character and his eternal loyalty.

Pedrinho always was a leader, ever since childhood, and taught his friends a lot through his actions. On the occasions when I’d spend time with him, what always impressed me was his will to face challenges and the surety he would overcome them. He truly had a relentless spirit that could overcome any battle life threw his way!

We lost a brother who had Gracie Barra in his heart and a warrior’s philosophy in his mind. It is with great honor and respect that I now recognize that Pedrinho’s achievements shall remain in the hearts and memories of all of us for eternity.

Pedrinho and I, along with Flavio Almeida, met as children and trained together at GB. We participated in tournaments together ever since 1994; we studied together in school, lived in the same neighborhood, would go to parties and the beach together… We were friends of about 16 years.

Alexandre Soca

Pedro with friend Soca

“Pedro was a great friend who I consider to be a brother. As a fighter, a great competitor, he always fought with disposition and grit. He won numerous important competitions and in nearly all of them I was there in his corner. I encouraged him to train more and more and, over many years, we trained together. Every week, besides training together at Gracie Barra, he would train at my old academy in Rio de Janeiro.

“When he told me he wanted to join the US Army, I tried to dissuade him. But when I saw that was truly what he wanted, I encouraged him, because, knowing him as well as I did, I was sure he would make it.

Alexandre Crispim

The Rangers are known as Superheroes” Crispim

I feel honored to be able to write about Pedrinho, but it is hard to describe what Pedrinho represented to me and all of us who knew him and who didn’t know him.

To me Pedro was a best friend, brother and counselor who was always there for me.

I haven’t lived in Brazil since 2003 and I didn’t just see, but participated in his evolution in becoming the great and fearless man he was. Ever since we left our neighborhood in Barra da Tijuca he inspired me to try and improve my life, as he was always his friends’ greatest motivator; he always made us believe the sky is the limit and we should never let ourselves feel down, because life never stops!

He was a model father, husband, brother and many other things; there aren’t enough words to describe his many qualities! He was very enlightened and is with God, watching over his family, his daughter Yasmim and son Pepe.

For those who knew him, he was a best friend who was always there for you! For those who didn’t know him, he became a superhero! That’s how he was known by a lot of Americans after he enlisted in the Army Rangers, and bravely took part in three wars representing the USA.

It was funny when I’d ask him why he enlisted. He’d say he needed a different kind of adrenaline! Should I continue I think I’d end up writing entire books on Pedrinho with all the words of praise that represent what a great man needs to be like him.

Pedrinho, myself and our Barra Brothers feel honored to be able say we were his friends and we will be forever and continue to teach all the values he taught us! Go with God. We will pray for you and your family every day for the rest of our lives!

Alexander Crispim, Barra Brothers Forever!!!!

One of them is our interviewee of the month, the current absolute and twice heavyweight No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu world champion.

Roberto “Tussa” Alencar was brilliant in becoming open weight champion at a riveting tournament, which further crowned Pablo Teixeira (Brazilian Fight), Caio Terra (Cesar Gracie), Baret Yoshida (Undisputed), Lucas Lepri (Alliance), Lucas Leite (CheckMat), Rômulo Barral (GB), Antonio Braga Neto (Gordo) and Josh Barnett (CSW).

Brimming with tactics and techniques, the article on Tussa pleased the folks in the newsroom. But, in a way, we felt something was missing regarding the behind-the-scenes life of the Gracie Barra teacher living in New Mexico.

Thus GRACIEMAG.com called on teachers Marco Joca and Rafael Freitas, otherwise known as agents Piu-Piu and MC Barata, to send in information on the champion’s celebrations, at Thanksgiving meal with the family of his fiancée.

What follows is the dossier on the champion and exclusive photos taken in Albuquerque.

Ample Thanksgiving Day meal. Photo: Rafael Freitas

“Look, he’s a star in the city. Wherever we go with him, we don’t pay for anything. All the establishment managers say, ‘It’s on the champions tab!’

‘Lunch on Thursday was chill. Ever since the No-Gi Worlds Tussa’s been back on his addiction: chocolate! He’s gained more than ten pounds, or five kilos.

“And now we know why he doesn’t ever tire at tournaments, the altitude is something else. You wear out just going up the stairs. He said, ‘You tired?’ Wait till tomorrow in training!’ Said and done. But it could be that when you get back to California you can work out for hours and not feel anything!

To finish, we send you a photo of him knocked out cold by the effects of the delicious turkey dinner!”