Rio Rolling

This Saturday from noon to 3pm at BTT Canada HQ Montreal the seminar with Pedro Duarte 5th degree black belt former world champion and one of the firsts BB under Bustamante !!! Open to all schools.. see you all there. at BTT Canada Headquarters

Not happy with my fight this weekend, but there's nothing a smile from this cutie can't cure!
repost from uaejjf instagram

Many Thursdays ago with good friends

One of the best ways to feel confident to compete is to compete as many times as you can.

photo by Kim Cabral

Who is ready for Abu Dhabi Grand Slam?
3 days to go!

Marco La Gona

If your not up for a good time, don't even step on the mat.

Having a hard time keeping your class focus?
Try it with a class this size!
2 years Today: World Record Largest jiu jitsu lesson, 2.481 students.

Any plans for the winter break?
Remember to include Jiu-Jitsu in your plan!

Feeling lazy today?
Just remember that in some countries Sunday is a work day😉

And now what?

Underwater Kimura

Have you ever heard about that? Check out the chat I had with my good friend and student Felipe Perrone.

Felipe Perrone has been one of the best water polo players in the world in the last two decades. He has competed in three editions of the Olympic Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016) and six editions of the World Championship for both the Spanish and Brazilian Teams. He won bronze and silver medals in the World Championships and was voted MVP in three of the last four Champions League Finals.

But what many people do not know is that Jiu Jitsu has a lot to do with his amazing abilities in the water. The water polo player is a very “casca-grossa” Jiu Jitsu purple belt and will tell us a little about the importance of this martial art in his game:

When did you start practicing Jiu-Jitsu?
I think it was when I was 7 years old, although from a very young age my father and my brother were using me as a “sparring” to test some techniques.

Where and how was it?
I was born in Rio de Janeiro and my father is a Carlson Gracie Team black belt. Therefore, he used to take me to the academy to watch him training and, of course, little by little I became interested in jiu-jitsu. At age 7 I asked him for my first kimono and started training with Master Marcelo Saporito.

Do you think Jiu-Jitsu helps you when playing water polo? How?
Surely yes. Water polo is a very demanding sport, and one of the main phases of the game is "grappling" underwater. In each club that I have played, the coaches have asked me to give the players classes, transmitting some knowledge of jiu-jitsu applied to water polo.

Can you remember one situation at a water polo game when you felt that your years of Jiu-Jitsu practice helped you?
First I'll tell you the funniest one. I was 15 years old and I was playing against some Hungarians who were real monsters. One of them grabbed me by the swimsuit, and to release me I applied a kimura on him, maybe too strongly, almost broke his arm .... I think the Hungarian did not expect a child to do this to him, then he would chase me in the water (laughing) but the truth is that he wouldn’t get very close either.
Concerning the games, I use jiu-jitsu practically in every action because we are always in contact and holding is fundamental to be always in a position of dominance.

Can you give some advice for someone who is starting Jiu-Jitsu and feels he/she doesn’t have time to do it?
Besides being a martial art, Jiu Jitsu is a complete exercise with strength work and physical and mental conditioning. I am convinced that few sports are so complete. Therefore, I recommend that jiu-jitsu becomes one of your priorities. The more you learn it the more you will enjoy and see its benefits in everything you do in your life

She wasn't the only one having fun on the mat. Enjoy your weekend and keep rolling!