Bruno Antunes wrestles a tractor tire during training

Juggernaut is a strength and conditioning facility that Smith says, helps Jiu-Jitsu athletes increase their power, strength, coordination, and speed. “It’s great for their cardio,” he says, “They will have the ‘explosion’ they need, when they need it.”

Smith and his business partner, Nate Winkler, opened Juggernaut in September 2009. Smith is a two-time National Shot Put champion and is currently ranked 3rd in the world in his weight class as a power lifter. “My weight class is the 308’s,” he says, “I’m a very physically dense person.” Smith isn’t kidding. With his 6 feet tall, 300-pound frame, he’s a very solid and imposing individual.

Smith says, he had a tough start in the business. “I got laughed out of one guy’s office,” he says, “It couldn’t have been a worse experience, but then I connected with the Jiu-Jitsu community through Fabio “Gigante” Vellela. He was totally into strength and conditioning for his athletes.” After that, Smith met Mikey Gomez who took him to meet and train with Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Alexandre “Dande” Santos, Philipe Della Monica, and Ulpiano Malachias, to name a few.

“I’ve been working with the Gracie Barra athletes to increase their speed and power, so they feel confident going into their fights. They’ll know that even at the last minute of their matches, they’ll still be feeling ‘fresh-ish’ while the guys they’re fighting are gassing out.”

Smith says strength is the basis of everything. “When Jiu-Jitsu technique is the same, strength will win out,” he says, “Like Jiu-Jitsu itself, I’m helping these guys become more effective with less effort. They are doing more with less effort. They aren’t going to gas out when they need to explode.”

Fabiana Borges is excited about the No-Gi Worlds and feels her extra training is going to help her in her matches. “For the first time, I’m going to fight at the light weight division,” she says, “I’m trying to gain a lot of muscle. Since I’ve been doing more strength and conditioning, my cardio is better. I don’t get tired training anymore.”

Bruno Antunes, who’s consistently been medaling on the tournament circuit lately, hopes his additional training will push him into the gold medal bracket. “I’m very excited to fight at the No-Gi Worlds because I think I’m prepared to fight now,” he says, “I started this physical conditioning and I really feel like it’s helped me become stronger and faster. I feel ready to fight and I hope to have good results.”

Rodrigo Simoes agrees. “I feel really good because of all my extra training,” Rodrigo says, “I’m also ready to fight.” Mikey Gomez, who’s been fighting MMA for the last four years, has been training really hard for the No Gi Worlds. “I’m excited to compete in the toughest division there is – the black belt division – after four years of just fighting MMA.”

Fabricio Pitanguy, who recently came out from Renzo Gracie’s school, says, “I feel great. My training’s been awesome. The conditioning has helped me a lot and my Jiu-Jitsu training is really good too, so I just really just want to play my game and see what happens.”

Jeff Schulz says since training at Juggernaut, “I’m not afraid to get tired when I’m fighting anymore because I know I can recover fast. Going out and fighting at the Worlds will be a lot easier than coming here for the training!”

Smith is pleased with all of their results so far. “I see them improving weekly,” he says, “There’s a marketable difference in their work outs today compared to five weeks ago. It’s not even comparable.”

With the Worlds coming up quickly this weekend, it remains to be seen how Gracie Barra will do, but one thing is certain: they are primed and ready to go.

Group shot of Marines and GB Staff. Photos: Publicity/Camp Pendleton

Recently, GB standouts, Kayron Gracie, Otavio Sousa, Fabiana Borges, Marcelo Lacerda Brandao, Rodrigo Simoes, Lucas Rocha, Ronis Gracie, and the rest of the GBSC/GBDP staff went to the base to present a Jiu-Jitsu class to the Marines. It was the first time these GB professors and coaches had been on a military base and they were excited about the opportunity. The Marines were blown away by the level of skill and precision these Jiu-Jitsu greats brought to their community.

Kayron and Otavio Sousa demonstrating a Jiu-Jitsu move.

Kayron Gracie led the class and had a great time doing it. “We got there in the morning at around 10:00,” he says, “Coach Felipe (Guedes) and Coach Charles (Gomes) put them through an hour of physical drills and conditioning,” he says, “Then Professor Otavio, Professor Marcelo, and I taught them some Jiu-Jitsu techniques that were geared more towards the type of self-defense situations they would normally be presented with during combat.”

At the end of the class, the professors and coaches sparred with the Marines. Then as a special surprise, the Marines taught the GB participants a little bit about their combat training. Ronis Gracie was awed by the Marines’ dedication and commitment to training. “I think the most impressive thing I saw was their focus and seriousness during training,” he says, “I can see why these guys are so important to the country and why the U.S. is the strongest country in the world.”

Kayron and Otavio teaching a technique

Black belt Fabiana Borges said it was amazing to see how hard the Marines trained and how disciplined they were in class, realizing that they do it to get ready for war. “The experience changed my life,” she says, “It made me want to go back to the mats and demand more of myself as a professor and an athlete. They inspired me to train harder and teach better. We were teaching them Jiu-Jitsu techniques so they can protect themselves while they’re protecting our country. That gave more value to my art and made me expect more from myself.”

At the end of the training session, the Marines gave the professors and coaches certificates as a gesture of respect and gratitude. Fabiana said she felt a lot of pride at that moment. “I was proud to see how they respected and admired our martial art. It was a good feeling knowing that they might be able to use a little bit of the Jiu-Jitsu we taught them to protect themselves while they are so fearlessly defending the country.”

Photo: Mike Colón

Ronis is the son of Karla Gracie and Antonio Pereira. His grandfather is the legendary Carlos Gracie, Sr. As is true in any family, there are some personalities that really stand out and Ronis has those traits. Wherever he goes, he manages to make a statement. Although he outwardly appears friendly, laid back, and fun loving, behind the mask is someone who is quietly focused, confident, and intelligent. With this Gracie, what you see is not always what you get.

What is striking about Ronis is that nothing seems to discourage him. There is a light-heartedness about him that others may perceive as agreeableness, but don’t underestimate him. There is an inaudible determination deep within him that cannot be seen to the naked eye, unless you really sit down and talk to him about his goals in his life’s work, which is most definitely Jiu-Jitsu.

You could write comedy movies from all the things that happened in our family, but that’s a good thing” Ronis Gracie

Before the 2010 Worlds Ronis made some strong statements about his upcoming performance and how he didn’t believe anyone could beat him because he had trained so hard and was completely confident in his abilities to win. In the end he came in 2^nd in his division and 3^rd in the absolute. Although he was disappointed, he only showed resolve by saying he would continue to train as much as possible and compete as much as he could to win next time.

Photos: John Cooper

There were no tears of frustration, no tantrums on the mats or off – only a resoluteness to try again until he gets it right. Where does his strength of character and security within himself come from? Why is it that certain people seem to have the knack for handling disappointments and obstacles in life better than others? Maybe some of it has to do with his family and tight-knit upbringing.

Growing up in the Gracie family is much like growing up in other large families except that legendary characters are always involved in the mix. Ronis feels very fortunate to be a Gracie because he has felt their presence around him his entire life. He not only had the support of his mom and dad, but also his uncles and multitude of cousins. His cousinKayron is still his best friend today.

“I was also close to Roger, Rolles and Igor, but they were older, so they would just beat us younger ones up,” Ronis jokes and then laughs, “Although, not Roger, because he was the nice one. Kyvia used to beat me up, too. I still have a lot of hard feelings about that…” The laughter, closeness, and comradary was endemic. “My cousins are like my brothers,” Ronis says, “and I have a lot of respect for my uncles. I’m lucky to have such a big family. They are very loving and they always supported us, no matter what.

Having that kind of family support to fall back on is important in life…and rare. It creates a confidence and self-assuredness seldom seen in someone as young as Ronis. “It was great to have so many people in my family giving me good advice and helping me grow up to have a strong mind,” he says, “Because of that, I was never afraid of the world and I was able to help others and be confident in myself.”

I was lazy. My uncles told me to go back and train but they didn’t push me, so I didn’t” Ronis

Along with the love and support he received, Ronis says there were many humorous family memories. “We have so many funny family stories,” Ronis says, “You could write comedy movies from all the things that happened in our family, but that’s the good thing. We grew up always hearing those stories. It helped us not take things so seriously. We learned to take the good in life.”

Although he and the other Gracie members respected and revered the legend that was Carlos Gracie, Sr to them, he was also just their beloved grandfather and he was not exempt from the fun. “When I was really young, I used to live in a house with 14 rooms,” Ronis says, “I lived with Kayron, Kyron, Kyvia, and Caroline…we all lived together, so we did a lot together. My grandfather was very old at that time, about 90. He used to have a fly-swatter and he would sit in his rocking chair on the porch and kill flies all day long.

“When I was about 6 years old, we used to play with him. I would run naked in front of him and dance and my cousins would “fake fight” to make him mad. He would run after us and try to smack us with the fly swatter,” Ronis laughs, “I was the youngest and the slowest, so I used to get swatted more than anyone else.

“He also used to hold a towel and snap it at us. He was so good at it,” Ronis says laughing, clearly in awe of his legendary grandfather, “He used to tell my uncles’ friends, I’ll give you $200 if you can endure me snapping you three times on your hand. Nobody ever got their money!”

Ronis says when the family wasn’t joking around and having fun together, there was always the Gracie philosophy to draw from. “Since I was a little kid, I always tried to see everyone in my family as an example,” he says, “Everything I learned from my mom and uncles, I took as ‘philosophy.’ I was always involved in Jiu-Jitsu. I always saw them doing it. It was one of the best things I saw in my childhood because I saw how it changed a lot of people’s lives.”

Growing up, Ronis learned that Jiu-Jitsu was more than just a martial art and method of self-defense. He was taught to respect others through the art and was told the more knowledge of Jiu-Jitsu he had, the more responsible to others he became because he was a representative for it. But even with all this encouragement behind him, it took a while for Ronis to truly find his path in life. Even Gracie’s lose their way sometimes!

Ronis started Jiu-Jitsu at about 7 years old and entered his first tournament in 1996 when he was 9. “I used to win all the tournaments as a kid,” Ronis says, “I’d win quickly, like in 30 seconds. I was also playing soccer at the time. I hurt my knee, so I stopped Jiu-Jitsu for six months. When it was time to come back, I was a lazy teenager at 13 and didn’t want to. I was living with my mom and grandma and they didn’t push me. My uncles told me to go back and train, but they didn’t push me either, so I didn’t. When I was 17, I realized I needed to get back on the mats.”

There was a time when Ronis thought about giving Jiu-Jitsu up to become an attorney. He was 19 years old and working in a job that he did not enjoy. He finally got up the nerve to quit and decided to dedicate himself to Jiu-Jitsu full-time.

He came to the United States with his uncle, Master Carlos, and his best friend and cousin, Kayron Gracie, to compete, and decided to stay. “I think I have more people from my family here in America now than in Brazil,” Ronis jokes, “Everywhere I go, I have a place to stay. I think I have family or friends in every state.”

Ronis has been in the U.S. for two years and has made a name for himself at Gracie Barra Garden Grove. He loves to teach and pass along his knowledge of Jiu-Jitsu, along with the philosophy of the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle, which he knows so well from his own upbringing. “It helps my students be better people and grows their confidence outside of the academy, in their jobs and lives.”

At first, he says he was nervous about teaching at GBGG. “I’m a purple belt and the main instructor, but I’ve always been confident in my teaching abilities,” Ronis says, “I may not be the best athlete, but I know I’m a good instructor.” Ronis says teaching at GBGG has made him very happy and that his students are very happy with him in return. “I really like the students,” he says, “I feel like they are a part of my family. I will never stop teaching in my life. It’s my passion.”

One day, Ronis wants to open his own school, but for now he’s focused on training, competing and teaching. He believes all of these things help his technique and improve his overall Jiu-Jitsu game. “I try to compete at all the tournaments,” Ronis says, “I’ve learned to be a patient fighter. I stay very calm. A year ago I wasn’t. One day I realized that I was training a lot, but I was blind. I was just using strength. I was trying to beat people without thinking, but then it suddenly clicked and I understood that my mind should be more tired than my body.”

Ronis says the time is now for him to compete. “Because of my age and the progress of my Jiu-Jitsu, I feel like I need to compete as much as I can,” he says, “I’m very competitive and I like being an athlete. I try to be the best at what I do. If I choose Jiu-Jitsu for my life, I want to be as good as I can possibly be.”

Ronis is on the right path to a successful and fulfilling life in Jiu-Jitsu. With the Gracie family behind him, he cannot go wrong. The future is where he looks to with hope and faith. “Today I’m very happy. I’m confident and young; I can pay all my bills. I can only see myself getting better in every way; economically, mentally, physically, and spiritually.” Throw some of that Gracie philosophy in the mix, and it appears we may have yet another Gracie champion in our midst.

But maybe not if his opponent shows up with a towel or a fly-swatter to intimidate him.

Amara Devericks on the podium after her 3rd place win. Photos: Deb Blyth

It’s always a glorious thing to see children take to the mats and compete. Some kids are so young, they may not even be in school yet or they may attend preschool and are still learning the art of stringing words together to form sentences. They’re presence at tournaments is based on their joy of rolling on the mats with their friends. There are no hard-core competitive urges occurring or thoughts of gold swimming in their heads. Only the joy of participating in an event that makes them feel like they’re at a big birthday party. When it’s their turn to get on the mats, they act like it’s time to eat cake!

This year at the 2010 Gracie Barra Season Opener, there were about 550 competitors signed up for the event, and approximately 40% of those were children. Most all GB schools represented with large numbers of competitors. Some students experienced their first tournament ever, while others were veterans of the game, regardless of their young ages.

Aalijah Pineda waiting for her match

Aalijah Pineda is a five-year-old white belt from GB Garden Grove who’s been training for four months. She wants to be an MMA fighter when she grows up. She sees her dad watching MMA fights, and she likes what her dad likes. Aalijah is a dedicated little girl. This was her 2nd tournament. She has already come in 2nd in a no-gi competition and is very committed to her Jiu-Jitsu training, which she does four times a week.

Aalijah’s parents are very supportive of her. Originally, Aalijah’s father, Jeff, was the one who wanted to sign up to train. When they got to GBGG, Alijah immediately did, too, “We didn’t have enough money for both of us to join,” Jeff says, “So, I let her sign up first.” A selfless act from a loving father, but that’s not all he does for the daughter he so cherishes, “Right now I work in Ontario, which is an hour away from the school, so I had to readjust my schedule at work and leave early to make sure she gets to class on time,” Jeff says.

At the GB Season Opener, Aalijah won her first match, lost her second, and had a great time in the process, “My favorite part of the whole day was winning my medal!” she says. Her coaches, Ronis Gracie and Vito Gambino, were very proud of her performance, “She’s a really sweet little girl,” Gambino says.

Diego Solano is a five-year-old white/yellow belt from GB Santa Barbara who’s been training for five months. This was also his first tournament and like Aalijah, he won his first match and lost his second. Diego trains three times a week under Professor Rodrigo Clark whom the family loves, “He’s a great guy,” Diego’s dad, Edwin, says.

Diego Solano and his professor, Rodrigo Clark

Diego loved all the attention he got at the tournament and was happy to be there. “He had a lot of fun,” Edwin says, “I was more nervous than he was!” Diego’s favorite part of the whole day was competing. “He wanted to fight more,” Edwin says, “Every time the ring coordinator would yell out a competitor’s name, Diego would stand up and say, ‘I want to go again!’”

There were many families who competed at the GB Season Opener. Most schools had siblings or a parent and their children competing. The Castellano family from GB Encinitas was one of them. Tanner Castellanos enjoyed his 5^th birthday at the GB Season Opener. Tanner is a white belt who’s been training for 2 ½ months. It was his first tournament. Tanner’s mom, Gloria, loved watching her son compete. “He was smiling the whole time,” she says, “He had a twinkle in his eye during his matches and after.” Tanner had four matches and won three, giving him a 2^nd place finish. After his last match, the proud little brother ran up to his older brother, A.J., and said, “Hey A.J.! I did it too! Did you see me?”

A.J. Castellanos is a seven-year-old yellow belt who’s been training since he was 2 ½ years old. He’s competed in five tournaments, including all four GBCompNet events. He placed 1^st in three of them, including last year’s GB Season Opener. This year was no exception as A.J. won gold again after having six fights and winning all of them. A.J. loves Jiu-Jitsu and was appreciative for the opportunity to compete, which was his favorite part of the day. Gloria says her son touched her heart when he turned to her, and in true Little Champion form, said, “Thanks, Mom. Thanks for pushing me and for always being there for me.”

A.J. Castellano competing

Amara Devericks is a 9-year-old white/yellow belt from GB San Clemente. This was her first tournament. Amara moved to San Clemente from Seattle, WA a little over a year ago. When she first moved, she didn’t know anyone. Her dad, Eric, says Amara had some self-esteem issues and wasn’t sure of herself, so he wanted her to do something where she could excel, learn some good life lessons, and make friends. He chose Jiu-Jitsu, “In Jiu-Jitsu you don’t win all the time. You learn by losing. I wanted Amara to experience both (winning and losing) on a regular basis. Amara is more self-confident now and handles life situations better, on and off the mats.”

Amara Devericks attempting a takedown.

Eric also put her in Jiu-Jitsu because he thinks fathers and daughters need to find things to do together. “In a few years, she may not want anything to do with me,” Eric laughs, “I wanted to find something we could do together. It makes us closer and our family stronger. It’s just another way for us to spend time together.”

Amara is a hard worker and really good at all that she does, but Eric thinks Jiu-Jitsu is valuable for her development in life. “As Professor Flavio always says, ‘Jiu jitsu is a metaphor for life.’ Amara doesn’t think of it at that level, but she’s using her lessons from Jiu-Jitsu at school and at home. I’m really proud of her.” Amara had two matches at the tournament. She won her first and lost her second. “She did her best and she’s happy,” Eric says.

John Duque is a true testament of how Jitsu-Jitsu can change your life. John is 9 years old and has trained at GB Ventura for over a year. He was having disciplinary problems at school and was coming home with “yellow cards” a couple of times a week, indicating that he was “goofing off” in class. His dad, John, said he was getting worried because his son was not only becoming a disciplinary problem at school, but at home as well. “One day I saw Fabio Leopoldo’s GB Ventura Jiu-Jitsu poster, so we drove to the school and I signed him up immediately.”

John Duque playing guard.

John says the change in his son’s life is amazing, “John was a C+ student. Ever since he started Jiu-Jitsu, he’s become an honor roll student and his attitude has turned around completely. All of his issues at school and at home have stopped. I know this wouldn’t have happened without it. John holds his professors in such high regard. It’s given him a new direction in life.”

GB Ventura gives students black stripes for commitment. John already has two black stripes on his yellow belt. This means that he has not missed one Jiu-Jitsu class or been late in a year! Not only is he completely dedicated to his own personal development in the art, but he is also helping out on the mats in the Little Champions I classes, as well. “We are so proud of him,” John says, “He’s always been shy, but when he’s on the mats, he’s a different kid! Jiu-Jitsu has opened him up. I am so thankful to GB for the change they’ve made in my son. I am also proud of Professor Erik for what he’s done for my family.”

This was John’s first competition. He lost his first match and came back and won the next two. John says, “I can’t wait to do it again!”

We often forget what this innocent glee feels like – to love something so much that the glory is in the act itself, not in any other form of gratification, like winning or losing. This simple passion is apparent in all the Little Champion divisions. There is no anxiety, stress or “competitive fever” with these little guys. They have a pure and simple love of the sport. It’s the opportunity to roll around on the mats with their friends that means the most to them. Our gift is getting to watch them do it, so we can reflect and remember the values that are truly important in life.

Standing room only at the 2010 GB Season Opener.

Macarrão foi um dos melhores competidores do Jiu-Jitsu nos anos 1970 e 1980, famoso por seu  famigerado jogo de pernas, que seus amigos chamam de “guarda guilhotina” – quem caía, estava morto. Era raspado ou batia, conforme lembram até hoje.

O dono da faixa rubro-negra foi o destaque de uma grande festa de graduação, marcada pela alegria e presença de muitas promessas do esporte. A nova faixa-marrom Kay Stephenson, por exemplo, estava emocionada, e agora luta na categoria principal no feminino.

“Fiquei atordoado com o tamanho do evento”, disse o fotógrafo Dan Rod, que mesmo impressionado não perdeu um clique, e nos mandou as melhores imagens da festa agora há pouco.

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Photo: Mike Colón.

Ronis Gracie, a lightweight purple belt from Gracie Barra, came into the Worlds last June with the will to win. He felt his Jiu-Jitsu was the “complete package.” He had trained hard on both his top and bottom games and worked on every flaw he could find. By the time he stepped onto the mats in Long Beach to face his competitors, he was confident he had the “right stuff” to be a champion.

Kayron (left) and Ronis. Photos: Mike Colón.

Gracie fought in his division and the absolute. In his division he picked off each opponent one by one, strategically and systematically working his way to the final. By the time he got there he’d already won six fights. His final match was with Jordon Schultz from Alliance. Schultz, who won the 2010 Pan, was also working his way through the division, showing his technical expertise and proving his worth to the world, yet again.

Gracie had heard about Schultz and was looking forward to having an opportunity to fight him. His wish was granted. As the two faced off in the divisional final, it was apparent that this was not only going to be a battle of skill and expertise, but one of will as well.

The match began with Gracie pulling guard. He was able to sweep Schultz and go to mount. Schultz escaped, but Gracie took his back and got a choke on him. What came next was completely unexpected. “I don’t know how it happened,” Gracie said, “But I lost the grip on his collar. He turned and came into my guard again.”

Dismayed, Gracie said, “I was six points ahead. I had the fight in my hands. I guess I slowed my speed down. He tried to pass, so I turned, but I left my arm out and he got it.” Schultz locked in the arm bar and submitted a surprised and very disappointed Gracie with a little over a minute left in the match. As he walked off the mats with his head down, the only words heard were, “I can’t believe it.”

Although he’d just won silver, it was evident that this hard-core competitor felt like he had just let the gold slip through his fingers and he wasn’t happy about it. In reflection Gracie said, “I know now that even if I’m winning, I can never relax. Not even for a second. I was winning 6-0 with under two minutes left in the match. I thought I was the champion too early. I feel like he (Schultz) didn’t beat me. I feel like I beat myself.”

Ronis consoled by teammates. Photo: Mike Colón.

Ronis didn’t have too much time to ponder the situation before he had to get ready for the absolute. He needed to pull it together and get his head back in the game. His first two matches went as planned, winning one by submission and one by points. In his third match he faced Alec Baulding of Alliance. Gracie knew he was a tough competitor and that he had to play a flawless game.

At the start of the match, Gracie pulled guard, just like he did with Schultz. This time, though, he says he made the mistake of letting Baulding put him in a bad position. Gracie says he couldn’t move much and time was passing. “I had to do something,” he said, “And right then he passed my guard. When he tried to mount, I recovered.” Gracie swept Baulding, but he was still losing on points. He only had 40 seconds left in the match and tried to set up a choke, but the match ended, giving Gracie a bronze medal for his efforts.

Gracie said that Baulding had a very good top game. “He didn’t make any mistakes,” Gracie said, “And I let him have positions I shouldn’t have. I would like to fight him again.” Gracie says he’s going to keep training hard all year, so next year he doesn’t make any mistakes.

Gracie says that his overall experience was very good. “I fought a lot of tough competitors and I fought a lot of fights, so I’m happy.” Gracie has a will of steel and perseverance to match it, so he says his new goal this year is “to fight the guys who are the toughest opponents. In my division, Jordon (Schultz) is that guy. Whenever I see him registered for a tournament, I am going to sign up and go there, no matter where it is, just so I can fight him again.”

Ronis with Jordon Schultz on winners' stand. Photo: Deb Blyth.

Getting over the hump

Felipe Couto was not having a good year. The GB featherweight purple belt had a disappointing showing at the 2010 Pan. His expectations high, he lost in his first match to Eric Sherman of Serra JJ. That was a difficult loss to get over. Now, to make matters worse, he was coming into the Worlds injured.

Couto had a hurt shoulder and rib, and a huge contusion on his knee, so he was unable to train for this world-class event. Surprisingly, he was feeling upbeat and happy. He came to the tournament with no expectations of winning, so he felt no stress or pressure. His frame of mind was very relaxed. “I don’t have to win,” he said, “I’m just here to have some fun.”

Couto won his first match quickly with a submission. A little surprised, he walked off the mats smiling and said, “I may be hurt, but my mind is strong and I feel confident.” His second match he won by points. “I still feel good,” he said, a fleeting look of confusion crossing his face…then he laughed, “I guess I still have four more matches to go (to win gold)!”

As he rested in between matches, Couto said that he felt better at this tournament than any other before. As he tried to piece it all together, he said, “Before, I just focused on training and technique. I always forgot my mind. So, this time that’s what I worked on. I’m thinking now that it’s the best work out you can have!”

Couto then walked onto the mats for his 3^rd match, which ended faster than the two prior. He pulled half-guard and took his opponent’s back. Next thing to happen: submission by Ezekiel (forearm) choke. Couto walked off the mats smiling, obviously in disbelief over his good fortune thus far. “I’m still having fun,” he said, “My mom’s a psychologist and I’ve been talking to her a lot. It’s taken all the pressure away.” Couto joked, “It’s working so well, I think it’s going to be my secret training from now on!”

Couto’s good humor lasted through two more wins. Then, he found himself in a place he never thought he’d be: the Finals, with Adnris Brunovskeis of Lloyd Irvin. As he prepared himself for the match, he began to transform into someone other than the fun-loving guy he’d been all day. The “fun” began to drain from his face, leaving a look of competitiveness, and desire. “I’ve never medaled in the Worlds before,” he said, “Today’s my day.”

As the match began, they both tried to pull guard. It became a grip war and slowly Brunovskeis started racking up the points. Couto’s face displayed a look of panic…he tried to pass Brunovskeis’ guard. At one point he left his arm exposed; Brunovskeis took advantage, locked in the arm bar and submitted Couto, leaving him second in the World.

After losing the match, Couto sat on the mats looking sad and deject, as if he knew he’d almost had it all, but somehow lost it. When he walked off the mats, he said it just dawned on him that this was a tournament he attended, armed with only a strong mind and a desire to have fun. It was his light-heartedness that brought him to this place, and a good place it was.

Otavio at 2010 Pan-Ams. Photo: Ivan Trindade.

Otavio Sousa is really excited for the upcoming 2010 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Long Beach, California. So excited in fact that he and his good friend Ronis Gracie together put together a video highlighting some of Sousa’s most electrifying matches, from brown belt to present day. “I really like the video,” Sousa says, “Every time I watch it I feel inspired. It gives me good energy.”

Sousa and Gracie put the video on YouTube to share with others. “I wanted my students to feel inspired, too,” Sousa says, “I wanted to motivate them to do well in the Worlds or in their training in general.”

Otavio during his win against Rubens Cobrinha at 2009 Pan. Photo by Alicia Anthony.

Sousa says he can’t wait to fight in the Worlds this year. “I feel very prepared,” he says. It’s Sousa’s third year as a black belt. In 2008 and 2009 he took 3^rd place at the Worlds. He says this year he’s going to do his best to bring home the gold medal for the Gracie Barra family.

The medium heavyweight fighter took 1st place in the 2010 Pan and says he’s anxious to step back on the mats to try for a second big win in 2010. “I’m very confident because I didn’t stop training after the Pan,” he says, “Even though I won that tournament, I didn’t slow down in my preparation for the Worlds.”

Sousa says it’s difficult to select just one opponent whom he thinks will be tough this year because he knows he will have to face so many great competitors. “My plan is to not focus on just one guy,” he says, “I’m trying to concentrate on myself and train my own game so that I don’t make any mistakes on the day of the event.”

Sousa’s new nickname around GB is “The Hulk”. He’s also been referred to as “Professor Compressor” and “The Steamroller”.  Whatever his moniker, he will be showing up in Long Beach the first weekend of June to do some major damage at the tournament.