Um retorno comovente. Foto: @FloGrappling

O retorno triunfante de Kennedy Maciel, atual campeão europeu pela IBJJF, se torna ainda mais significativo diante de acontecimentos que testaram, com força máxima, a capacidade de resiliência do atleta.

O debate constante sobre a saúde mental entre atletas de alto rendimento é uma prática que deve sempre ser estimulada com o objetivo de lançar luz sobre essa questão importante, mas muitas vezes ainda segue deixada de lado. Um faixa-preta, no auge da carreira, precisa conviver com abdicações diárias para render produtividade nas muitas sessões de treinamento. Não é só o corpo que se submete ao estado de esgotamento. Quando o título de campeão chega, fruto de um trabalho de dedicação extrema, surge a pressão por manter a estabilidade e se firmar no topo.

Afastado dos tatames pelo período de um ano por conta de uma cirurgia nos ligamentos do joelho, Kennedy passou a dar mais atenção a outros aspectos que caminham juntos com o bom desempenho de um campeão. Ao passar por momentos turbulentos, que ele classificou de “obscuros”, o filho de Rubens Cobrinha se viu entregue a um período de depressão durante o hiato.

Com perseverança e calma, o atleta se mostrou um vencedor também fora do ambiente competitivo, investindo aquele gás extra para se reerguer. Em entrevista ao VF Comunica, o campeão revelou os momentos mais íntimos dessa sua fase complicada.

“Eu fiquei mal de cabeça, depressivo, passei por uma depressão do caramba, fiquei muito mal, mas isso fez com que eu conhecesse quem é o Kennedy de verdade, o que o Kennedy queria para a vida dele. Eu fiz amizade comigo mesmo. Eu cheguei no zero, achei que ia acabar com o Jiu-Jitsu, achei que ia embora, voltar para o Brasil e largar tudo. Foi muito difícil para o meu pai também, uma barra muito pesada. Poucas pessoas sabem o que eu passei.”, compartilhou o filho de Rubens Cobrinha, com vontade de fazer da própria história uma inspiração.

Para ficar com o título do Campeonato Europeu, Kennedy precisou vencer duas pedreiras em sequência. Primeiro, eliminou Diego Sodré na semifinal e, na disputa pelo ouro, travou uma guerra com Alex, irmão de Diego. A luta foi decidida nos detalhes, depois de grandes chances para ambos os lados.

Se você também chegou ao fundo do poço ou conhece alguém que esteja num período complicado, não ignore, e informe-se sobre o problema para tentar ajudar. Oss!

Isaac Doederlein se tornou bicampeão brasileiro na faixa-preta. Foto: VF Comunica

O americano Isaac Doederlein sagrou-se bicampeão do Campeonato Brasileiro da CBJJ ao brilhar no Ginásio Poliesportivo José Correa, em Barueri, no domingo, 7 de maio. O faixa-preta de Rubens Cobrinha boletou o ouro no peso-pena após derrotar o rival Alex Sodré por decisão dividida dos árbitros. 

Isaac havia figurado no lugar mais alto do pódio na competição em 2019. Ele se tornou o segundo americano a vencer o Brasileiro em duas oportunidades. Antes, apenas o astro Rafael Lovato Jr alcançara o feito.

Ao longo de sua jornada rumo à medalha dourada, Doederlein usou sua especialidade contra os adversários. Ele finalizou duas das quatro lutas que disputou, via chave de pé reta. Apesar do duelo estudado contra Sodré na final, o atleta da Alliance impôs seu estilo finalizador nos outros combates. 

Na semifinal, o campeão finalizou Matheus Onda após investir num bote letal. Doederlein foi ainda mais implacável nas quartas de final. Ele precisou de apenas 15 segundos para forçar a desistência de Julio Arantes depois de atacar a chave de pé. Doederlein não sofreu pontos no campeonato.

 

Ver essa foto no Instagram

 

Uma publicação compartilhada por IBJJF (@ibjjf)

Isaac Doederlein defenderá agora seu título mundial no peso-pena na tradicional Pirâmide, em Long Beach, Califórnia, na primeira semana de junho. Ano passado, Doederlein entrou para o seleto grupo de americanos a conquistar o ouro no Mundial na faixa-preta. Ele foi apenas o sexto a conquistar essa façanha. Curiosamente, derrotou o mesmo Alex Sodré na final. Agora, além do velho rival, ele terá outros craques pela frente no páreo, como Fabricio Andrey, Marcio André, Samuel Nagai, Jamil Hill-Taylor e Gabriel Sousa. 

E aí, fiel leitor? Acredita que Isaac Doederlein vai ficar com o bi consecutivo?

Rafael Mendes, um dos maiores vencedores do Jiu-Jitsu. Foto: GRACIEMAG

A instantaneidade e a velocidade da informação são características marcantes dos tempos modernos. Pelo telefone, a equipe GRACIEMAG navegou no Twitter e pescou uma série de lições valiosas de personalidades influentes do mundo da luta para você se manter focado em seus objetivos em 2023. Confira as mais marcantes, a seguir.

1. Que tal parar de ter sonhos e abraçar objetivos? Traçar um objetivo não é como idealizar um conto de fadas, algo que jamais vai virar realidade. A meta palpável, na verdade, é um termômetro excelente para você medir seus progressos assim que ela seja alcançada – sem esperar deitado, mas com muita luta, trabalho e esforço. (Rubens Charles Cobrinha)

2. O fracasso quebra as almas pequenas e engrandece as grandes. Como o vento, que apaga a vela e atiça o fogo da floresta. (Irmãos Mendes)

3. Sempre busquei representar o Jiu-Jitsu ao máximo com minhas habilidades, para demonstrar a eficiência da nossa arte. Não lutei no UFC para machucar pessoas. (Demian Maia)

4. Nunca troque o que você mais quer na vida pelo que mais quer no momento. (Luiz Dorea)

5. Jiu-Jitsu não é apenas uma luta, é a maneira como eu vejo o mundo. (BJ Penn)

6. Mil dias de treino fazem um praticante. Dez mil dias de treino fazem um especialista. (Georges St-Pierre)

7. Não pare de se movimentar até que a posição esteja conquistada. Aí sim, saboreie a hora do merecido descanso e respire. (GRACIEMAG)

8. A provocação faz parte do MMA. Um dia o Kevin Randleman falou que viria ao Brasil chutar a bunda de um tal Barreto. Depois de sentir na pele a eficiência do Jiu-Jitsu, ficou mansinho e se tornou meu amigo, me deu uma camiseta e tudo [risos]. (Carlão Barreto)

Marcelinho Garcia in action at 2011 Worlds / Photo by John Lamonica

Every now and then, do you catch yourself thinking about that one technique you seem unable to get right, or that part of your game that looks like a dead end? Relax. Our team put together five submissions beyond all reproach, taught by champions of the highest caliber. Let us know which works best for your game, and enjoy your training!

1. Alexandre Ribeiro teaches a choke

2. Marcelo Garcia teaches to warm up and finish in laid-back spar

(Special attention to the armbar at minute 5)

3. Roger Gracie teaches a sweep from closed guard

4. Rubens Cobrinha teaches how to finish at 2008 Pan

5. Vitor Shaolin teaches a sweep from half-guard and pressure on neck to help

Master Carlos Gracie denounced the “lack of care for the body with which we came to this world.” Marco Imperial

The BJJ student who seeks to train religiously and be blessed by constant progress must avoid the vices that harm their health, whether of body, mind or soul. In an article originally printed on Brazilian Graciemag, our team recruited masters and black-belts of great renown to help readers pursue virtue and become more illuminated fighters.

Read below about the seven deadly sins applied to the life of the BJJ fighter, and fess up: which of them is currently hindering your evolution? Recognizing the problem and fighting it may help you improve your training as early as today. To Fabio Gurgel, for example, nothing is worse than pride or vanity at the gym.

“A fight may be the worst place to commit deadly sins,” he said. “After all, the price, as well as being high, is charged quickly. Sooner or later the fighter shows who they really are — whether in the wrath that impedes their reasoning, in the envy that makes him notice others more than themselves, or in the sloth that doesn’t let them train.”

1. Pride

Also known as vanity. It’s the sin of those who are excessively arrogant. “Pride may be the most common sin,” said Gurgel. “It’s the guy who thinks he’s better than the others, who always needs to be at the top, who needs to be mentioned in every magazine article and who thinks he’s most important than the rest.

“When this guy’s mask falls, however, we see a weak, mediocre individual, who hasn’t learned the basic lessons of BJJ.”

To Gurgel, pride has an effective antidote: humility. “It’s the only remedy. The fighter must worry only about his constant evolution and not about causing the envy of others.” The General added: “Vanity is a trap in which many fall, and it’s hard for them to get back up.”

2. Greed

Exhibited by those who care too much about material possessions. In the dojo, the worst sin is to be cheap with techniques and not sharing knowledge with your training partners. To Xande Ribeiro, there is also the figure of the athlete who won’t display more than one or two of their techniques, just enough to win by advantages. “BJJ is born to be a rich art, to present thousands of options of escape to one problem,” he said. “The cheap fighter insists on just doing the same thing and is happy with this economy of techniques. From being so cheap, they end up being rude, poor of friends, and no one wants to train with them anymore.”

3. Lust

The passionate, selfish desire for all corporal and material pleasures. It can be the ruin of those who let themselves be dominated by passions and addictions. Grandmaster Carlos Gracie used to recommend fighters have sex in moderation. He added, “Whatever philosophical or religious orientation we follow, it must never mean lack of care for the body with which we came to this world.”

4. Envy

The sin of those who ignore the blessings they have and desire the status and skills earned by others. “You must never compare yourself to your training partners, but rather to yourself, to your old version from a long time ago, when you began training,” said Master Carlos Rosado. “It’s the best way to gauge your evolution and not succumb to the pressure of having the same skill as the teammates around you. No one is the same as anyone else.” So don’t envy; train hard instead.

5. Gluttony

Gluttony prevents the fighter from eating adequately, respecting the times for digestion and wise choices for food, such as fruits, salads and light meals before training. “When we eat well, we’re always light enough to train and we have good digestion. When the guy eats big meal, it’ll be a while until he can train again, or he’ll get to the gym feeling slow and heavy,” said Royler Gracie. “Our body works like a machine. If you put in fouled fuel, it will complain; if you put in normal gas, it will run just fine. If you invest in premium gas, it will run much better still. I don’t drink alcohol and I follow the Gracie Diet, and I recommend it.”

Josh Hedges/UFC

6. Wrath

During training, wrath is a highly harmful sin that makes a fighter hurt other students and get a bad reputation. In competitions, it’s a surefire way to get defeated. “BJJ has to be tackled with cold blood, with professionalism and also with a hint of fun,” Rubens Cobrinha taught us. “Wrath is not a useful feeling during a fight, because it makes the athlete more nervous than normal, and stops him from follow his opponent’s reasoning and movement. After the fight, you may even go and be mad at the loss, a train thrice as hard to make up for it, using anger as motivation. But never during a competition or training session.”

7. Sloth

In BJJ, an excessively slow student may piss of their instructors. It’s the capital sin of those who are late for training due to neglect, and of those who don’t care enough to keep their gi clean. To Kyra Gracie, this is the biggest enemy of consistency in your training. “There are always those days where the body doesn’t want to get out of bed, but sloth can never be allowed to take over. Once the training plan put in place, we have to follow it thoroughly. It’s on the rainy and cloudy days that true champions are born, as the saying goes.”

Kyra Gracie vs. Luanna Alzuguir at the 2009 Worlds. Regis Chen

Kennedy Maciel and his dad, Rubens Cobrinha.

While he watches one of his athletes warm up, Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” hears the question asked by a Graciemag reporter: Is he going to fulfill the old dream of fighting in a BJJ Worlds with his son, Kennedy Maciel? Maybe close out the podium with the kid, who’s been riding some momentum?

“Yes, it’s about time to pass the baton, right?” Cobrinha says with a smile. “But the reality is that training for an IBJJF Worlds at my age isn’t getting any easier. Last year, to win the Grand Slam, I had to stop for a whole year and dedicate the totality of my time to physical preparation and training, and I left my gym and students to my instructors. It would be very complicated to stop everything again in 2019, especially the two of us with the same focus.”

Rubens Charles’s idea, however, is to retire in style, next to the son who has already begun scaling the cliff that is the career of a black-belt. Last December 16th, Kennedy was one of the standouts of the 2018 No-Gi Worlds as he swept the featherweight division in California.

“My idea now is for us to pick an IBJJF Open near home, with our supporters present, so we can fight together in the same category. It would be quite a family blowout, especially if we win,” says Cobrinha, an unapologetically proud dad. “Kennedy is very determined, he has a physical preparedness that has been getting more and more developed, and can really have a beautiful journey in BJJ. It will depend on him alone, and we’re here for whatever he may need.”

Kennedy Maciel will have in the European Championship, this weekend in Portugal, his biggest challenge to date in the gi. It will be his debut on that stage as a black-belt, in a light feather division filled with talent like João Miyao, Pablo Mantovani, Cleber Clandestino and Hiago George. Want to know who else is fighting? Then click here.

Cobrinha managed to beat Mendes by judges’ decision after a tense 40-minute match. It was the Alliance black-belt’s first title in the event created by Sheik Tahnoon.

Are you ready for the new instant classics that we’ll get to see at ADCC 2019 in California?

Cobrinha attacks Langhi. 

Today we bring you a position from the Graciemag archives, recorded in 2012. Rubens Cobrinha, well known for his versatile techniques in the gi, was doing a seminar in São Paulo and took a bit of time to show us a surprise attack.

Helped by Michael Langhi, Cobrinha taught how he likes to attack an opponent who’s trying to lock things down en garde while seated. In the attack, Cobrinha wraps his opponent’s neck and adjusts himself to spin, doing a roll that ends with Langhi caught in a choke.

Sound nice? Check out the following video.

Marcelinho vs. Lucas Leite in the 2011 Worlds finals. Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG.com

Here are five unanimously loved moves taught by five of the greats of our sport.

1. Alexandre Ribeiro teaches a choke

2. Marcelo Garcia teaches how to warm up and finish

(Take special note of the armlock around 5 minutes in.)

3. Roger Gracie teaches a closed guard sweep

4. At the 2008 Pan, Rubens Cobrinha teaches how to finish

5. Vitor Shaolin teaches a half-guard sweep and the pressure on the neck to help

Cobrinha right after winning his fifth world title. Beatriz Lina/ Graciemag

With less than a week to go until the end of the 2017 season, it’s time to get to know the best fighters of the year in BJJ.

To decide who deserves the honor, our team of journalists and photographers debated for hours. The list we came up with has ten categories.

For the first time since we started electing the best of the year, over a decade ago, our choice for best male fighter was a tie: Marcus Buchecha, the absolute king of the year’s biggest event, and Rubens Cobrinha, who had a superhuman year and, at 38, ends the season with titles in the Brazilian Nationals, Euros, Pan, Worlds and ADCC. Whew.

The best female fighter was an easier pick: the unstoppable Tayane Porfírio, who won everything in classical BJJ this year.

Below you will find this year’s winners, as chosen by our team and by the readers.

*** BEST OF 2017 ***

1. Best male BJJ fighter:

GRACIEMAG: Marcus Buchecha and Rubens Cobrinha

Popular vote: Marcus Buchecha

2. Best female BJJ fighter:

GRACIEMAG: Tayane Porfírio

Popular vote: Bia Mesquita

3. Submission of the year:

GRACIEMAG: Roger Gracie over Marcus Buchecha at Gracie Pro

Popular vote: Roger Gracie over Marcus Buchecha at Gracie Pro

4. Best male no-gi fighter:

GRACIEMAG: Felipe Preguiça

Popular vote: Felipe Preguiça

5. Best female no-gi fighter:

GRACIEMAG: Bia Mesquita

Popular vote: Bia Mesquita

6. Male MMA fighter:

GRACIEMAG: Georges St-Pierre

Popular vote: Demetrious Johnson

7. Female MMA fighter:

GRACIEMAG: Rose Namajunas

Popular vote: Cris Cyborg

8. Submission in MMA:

GRACIEMAG: Demetrious Johnson over Ray Borg at UFC 216

Popular vote: Demetrious Johnson over Ray Borg at UFC 216

9. Best non-black-belt BJJ fighter:

GRACIEMAG: Rudson Mateus

Popular vote: Kaynan Duarte

10. Best BJJ fighter in the masters:

GRACIEMAG: Rafael Lovato Jr.

Popular vote: Karla Hipólito

Gordon Ryan, a big standout of ADCC 2017, attacks Keenan Cornelius in a no-gi match. Gallerr.com

Adapted from an article by Jiuliano Leon *

During the 2017 ADCC Worlds, held last September in Finland, I noticed that some friends were surprised by the number of wins by black-belts theretofore unknown to fans of competitive BJJ. Me, I chose to smile, applaud and give kudos. Congratulations, BJJ community; welcome to the era of specialization in sport.

Jiu-jitsu is a curious sport, because it is a thousand years old at the same time it’s young — in its roots, it was practiced by samurai in Japan, but the first BJJ world championship took place in 1996. That being the case, it keeps taking long steps toward maturity and evolution — an evolution that may never end.

So was it really surprising to see some established stars of competitive BJJ not display the same level of performance under the rules and peculiarities of the ADCC? Is it that big of an upset for lesser-known athletes in classical BJJ to secure medals?

I beg your pardon, but I’ll attempt to answer with a few questions:

Would you bet your hard-earned money on Usain Bolt in a 5k? Or on Michael Phelps to win a cross-sea swim race?

I wouldn’t. And that doesn’t mean Bolt doesn’t have perfect technique, or that Phelps didn’t train enough. They are different specialties.

One must only look around to better understand these parallel paths taken by BJJ and the ADCC. Let’s consider soccer.

The reader may or may not know how beach soccer rose in Brazil and the world. The first national beach soccer teams were made up of former professional soccer players around the age of 40 who were familiar with the beach, such as Leovegildo Júnior. Then came massification of the sport via Fifa and TV, and young athletes came along who were specialists of the sand game, without ever having stepped on a grass pitch.

A similar example comes from beach volleyball, where retired champions would put on the visor and secure trophies and spots in the Olympics among doubles. I believe even in tennis we can draw this conclusion — there are players who are much stronger on clay than they are on grass. Finally, it’s worth noting the evolution in professional MMA: it’s unimaginable for a purely classical BJJ fighter to take off his gi today and win a UFC belt overnight, but that exact thing happened in the 90s.

The absolute triumph by Felipe Preguiça, the latest win by André Galvão and the third title by Rubens Cobrinha, of course, aren’t surprising either, given how deeply these three study no-gi grappling. Black-belts who put on the gi will have a wider, more complete, more intelligent view of ground techniques. But the 2017 ADCC Worlds gives us an indication that dedication and specialization in a sport will become a progressively more common path for those who want to win in that particular sport. Now we wait to see whether ADCC 2019 establishes a trend.

My bet: in ten years, no-gi champions will be a completely separate group from the stars of competitive BJJ. Farther down the line, these two groups may develop different behaviors, cultures, training philosophies and physical shapes — we will probably be able to tell, from afar, whether that guy approaching is an athlete of BJJ or no-gi.

Welcome to the evolution and professionalization of the sport.

* Jiuliano Leon is a teacher of judo and BJJ trained by Alliance Rio.

Cobrinha after winning his fifth world title. Beatriz Lina/ Graciemag

At 37, Rubens Cobrinha has been collecting big BJJ titles for a while. In the 2016/2017 season he added to that collection not only his fifth world championship, but also gold at the Euros, Pan and Brazilian Nationals, making him the first-ever featherweight Grand Slam winner.

Graciemag had a chat with him following his victory at the Worlds. Read on for the interview.

GRACIEMAG: After dominating the featherweight class between 2006 and 2009, you came back and won a world title again this year. What compels you to remain such a high-performance athlete after having won all there was to win?

Rubens Cobrinha: For this year, I proposed to myself to compete in and win every big championship (Euros, Pan, Brazilian Nationals and Worlds). I’m really satisfied to be the first featherweight athlete to conquer the BJJ Grand Slam. I dominated the featherweight category for four years. My “kingdom” lasted until I decided to open my own gym in Los Angeles and shift my focus. Of course I continued to compete, because I really love what I do, and I could not stay away from the World Championships, but my dedication was no longer exclusive, because I had to manage my gym and, if possible, make it a success.

Your title fight was against Leonardo Cascão, of BTT, and ended in a one-advantage win for you. Can you analyze that one for us?

Everybody enrolled for the Worlds has conditions to win and become a champion. Every day it gets harder for there to be a favorite, whether in the featherweight category or any other. Cascão came in very well prepared, and the fact that the fight was decided by one advantage shows that either of us could have won. The fight was decided in the details. He is an excellent athlete, evolving alongside BJJ. I thank him for the great fight we had, and hope to see him become a world champion.

Before the final, you faced Shane Hill-Taylor in a back-and-forth match decided by the judges. A lot has been said of the result. What is your opinion on it?

The fight ended in a draw, and that confirms what I said before; it is not possible to point to favorites in BJJ’s current stage. The fight was great; however, every fight that ends in a draw ends up generating controversy. I believe the criticism to the judges’ decision comes from the fact that we love BJJ; we have our favorite athletes, our friends, our idols — so it’s very hard to analyze the fight objectively, especially in the heat of battle. I really do believe I deserved at least one more advantage than was given me by the judge panel, but I did not complain. I accept the judges’ decision; that’s what they’re there for — to analyze the fight with no passion. It’s their job. My job is to fight fairly and give it my best. Walking out with my head held high, win or lose, with no drama. But ideally the fight gets resolved in the time allotted, so the decision doesn’t land in the judges’ hands.

Are you coming back next year?

To tell you the truth, I don’t know yet. My next engagement is to defend my ADCC title in Finland. My plans only go that far, for now. My plans for next year will be drawn after that engagement.