Xande Ribeiro em ação contra Rodolfo Viera na final dos pesados. Foto: Dan Rod

Hexacampeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu, Xande Ribeiro é um dos grandes nomes que estão inscritos no Mundial de Masters, que rola no mês de agosto em Las Vegas, Nevada.

Aos 35 anos, Xande ainda compete entre os adultos, mas encara o Mundial de Masters como um desafio a parte. “Muita gente vê o Master como fim de carreira, mas eu vejo como mais um desafio. Afinal, entre os 30 e 40 anos é que atingimos o ápice do vigor físico”, explica o faixa-preta de Royler Gracie.

Em entrevista exclusiva à GRACIEMAG, ele fala sobre a expectativa para competir no torneio, revela o segredo para se manter competindo em alto nível e afirma que está preparado para encarar “qualquer um, a qualquer hora e em qualquer peso”. Confira o bate-papo completo abaixo!

GRACIEMAG: Qual a sua expectativa para este Mundial de Masters? O que te motivou a participar deste campeonato?

Xande Ribeiro: A expectativa está incrível! Eu lutei o primeiro ano na pirâmide e foi muito legal. Muita gente vê o Master como fim de carreira, mas eu vejo como mais um desafio. Afinal, entre os 30 e 40 anos é que atingimos o ápice do vigor físico. Além disso, será uma oportunidade de lutar junto com uma grande parte do meu time.

O Mundial de Masters é um evento que chama a atenção pelo clima de confraternização. Com que espírito você entra neste campeonato? O foco é conquistar o título ou você quer apenas se divertir com amigos do presente e do passado nos tatames?

É uma confraternização, mas todo mundo estará lá para vencer. E, a cada ano que passa, a categoria fica mais difícil. Como todo campeonato, seja mundial adulto, luta casada ou o que for, você tem que se divertir, mas com muito foco e vontade.

Você está com 35 anos e ano passado foi campeão mundial. Qual o segredo para se manter tanto tempo competindo em alto nível?

Acredito muito na eficiência do meu Jiu-Jitsu. Claro que, competindo desde os 10 anos de idade, chega uma hora que pesa. Mas me sinto muito bem, tenho um acompanhamento de fisioterapia, me cerco sempre das pessoas certas e estou sempre treinando. Treino é treino, eu tento coisas diferentes, me puxo, faço força, mas sempre com muito cuidado, porque o que conta mesmo é quando o juiz fala: combate. Estou preparado para encarar qualquer um, a qualquer hora e em qualquer peso.

Ainda está nos seus planos lutar entre os adultos ou agora seu foco será apenas superlutas e eventos de Master?

Eu luto o que for interessante e que valorize o atleta. Competi o Pan-Americano e o World Pro porque voltava de contusão, mas o Mundial já estava fora dos planos. Tive a oportunidade de lutar o GP da IBJJF também. O Mundial de Masters, como eu disse, é uma oportunidade única para a minha equipe e, por isso, não fico de fora. Se me valorizarem e o adversário fizer sentido, estarei sempre preparado para enfrentar o desafio.

Você certamente segue um mantra para conseguir acordar todos os dias motivado a treinar, dar aulas e competir. Qual o conselho você daria para quem quer seguir uma carreira de sucesso como a sua?

Eu me motivo pela vontade de estar vivo, estar junto com minha família, estar positivo e inspirar as pessoas. Isso me motiva todos os dias. Minha filha, meu irmão, meus alunos, estar vivo, saudável e fazendo Jiu-Jitsu já é o suficiente pra mim. E é essencial se cercar de pessoas que estão com você pelo que você é e que tem mesmo objetivo.

The World Master Championship

If you are thinking of competing at the 2015 World Master Jiu-Jitsu championship, know that you have until this wednesday, July 29, to register for the lowest fee.

Hurry up and sign in now to pay $97.

The price will go up to $120 and stay at that until August 19.

The final deadline is September 16, but if you wait for the last moment you will pay $135.

Some important names are already registered to compete at the 2015 World Master, scheduled September 25-26, in Las Vegas.

Saulo Ribeiro, Denilson Pimenta, Marcos Torregorsa, Gustavo Pires, James Foster, among many others will battle for the gold medal.

For more info and to register, go to ibjjf.com.

Can you tell us?

We have selected 10 of the greatest so you can watch them again and make your pick.

Marcus Buchecha vs. Rodolfo Vieira, black belt open class final (2014 WPJJC)

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

Leandro Lo vs. Otavio Sousa, black belt middleweight final (2014 Worlds)

Bruno Malfacine vs. João Miyao, black belt roosterweight final (2014 Worlds)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSPFJQbLvNc

Felipe Preguiça vs. André Galvão, black belt heavyweight final (2014 Worlds)

Marcus Buchecha vs. Keenan Cornelius, black belt open class semifinal (2014 Worlds)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ghbCiFiXcQ

Yuri Simões vs. Keenan Cornelius, black belt open class final (2014 Worlds No-Gi)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRLdASyJTWw

Rodolfo Vieira vs. Bernardo Faria, black belt open class semifinal (2014 Worlds)

Rodolfo Vieira vs. André Galvão, black belt open class semifinal (2014 WPJJC)

Leandro Lo vs. Gilbert Burns (Copa Podio)

Keenan Cornelius vs. Yuri Simões (Metamoris 5)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g3f28D6h_g

Doesn’t matter if you are a 5 years old child or already over 60, the gentle art has a lot to offer you.

A huge part of new practitioners that join everyday at academies all over the globe, do it after hitting the 30-year-old mark.

GRACIEMAG decided to go after our readers that started after the big 3.0 and asked them why they decided to start their BJJ journey at that point in life.

One post on our Instagram account (@graciemagazine), got some massive response with people from all over sharing their stories and also telling in what aspect being on the mat improved their daily lives.

Read below some of the best answers and get inspired to share your own story in the comments.

“I’m 36 and started five months ago to see why my kids were having such a great time. It is now a family affair. Me, my husband (blue belt) and both sons (white belt and yellow and white belt) are part of this amazing sport and we all love it. It gets me into the gym, gives me confidence and helps me relax” – @pizzalvr67

“I started when I was 34 because my life needed a “tap out” so I could keep “rolling”…gotta love Jiu-Jitsu” – @erikapatriciaab

“Started when I was 38 after not being able to find enough motivation in other sports (most are pretty brainless). The beauty of BJJ is that it combines rigorous physical activity with high creativity and intelligence. Three ingredients that were absolutely necessary for me to make BJJ a huge part of my life” – @eugenebnyc

“I was in a full contact event and after a good fight I was caught in a rear naked choke and had to tap out. I thought my stand-up training was enough to keep out of range and defend any grappling setups. I swallowed my pride and started looking for a place to train BJJ. I’m a blue belt now after 5+ years into the journey. Along the way, I shed close to 50lb, changed my diet and sleeping habbits for the better. It strengthened my relationship with my wife and children and found a rythm and peace that only comes from the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle”– @barthubbard

“I was over 330lb and got diagnosed with diabetes. My doctor said that I needed to change my life if I wanted to life to be 50. I hate running but I love BJJ and MMA so I looked for a gym close to where I live. Now I am down to 240lb and managing my diabetes with some medicine and Jiu-Jitsu. I feel like I owe my life, health and happiness to BJJ“- @bjerkander_beserker

“As my master Eduardo Carriello says, besides many physical benefits like lowering the blood pressure, control weight, improve flexibility, Jiu-Jitsu improves and enhances your sexual life. I believe after your 30 years of age, this is a great gift to have“- @enjoyexercise

“I started training almost 8 years ago. One new year’s eve, I met my neighbor and he asked me what my resolutions were and I said ‘none’. He then told me to start training and two days later I was hooked. I stopped smoking that same day and training made me a better father to my children. Now, my son is 8 years old and is becoming my training partner and my motivation to show him this lifestyle and way of life“- @razagoo

“I went through a tough period in my 20’s. Everything from knee to spinal surgery, lost my career, lost family members to cancer and friends to violence. By the end of it i had lost all of my self confidence and was basically angry at myself and everyone else. I used to surf and train to keep my sanity but it just wasn’t helping anymore. When a mate introduced me to Jiu-Jitsu at GB Central Coast I was 32 years old and keen to try it out. At first, it took me a while to to warm up but it didn’t took long to become hooked and train as much as I possibly can. Jiu-Jitsu has transformed my life in ways I didn’t believe possible to regain and surpass what I had lost. I owe a lot to Jiu-Jitsu and will train and study it for the rest of my life“- @_ckr_

“Started at 36 because my youngest brother kept getting mount on me and I couldn’t do shit about it. Stayed because now he can’t do a damn thing! – @lilbigvince

“Started at 32, lost 20lb and totally forgot that ex-girlfriend! Lol!” – @mardumpa

Click here and read all the amazing answers shared by our readers.