Let me share the real experience of competing in tournaments here in Brazil. The good parts? The bad parts? Mostly bad. LOL. But let’s be honest — this applies to tournaments everywhere. First: “Punctuality” (LOL) Your bracket is scheduled for 9 AM. You will never fight at 9 AM. There’s always a delay. Always. Could … Read more
Let me give you a tip if you’re competing in Brazil. Actually, scratch that — this applies anywhere. The Golden Rule There’s one thing you should never forget to bring to any tournament. Never fail on this. Always bring toilet paper. Yes, I’m serious. Why This Matters Look, competitions make you anxious. The nerves. The … Read more
Another story. Another championship. But this one wasn’t about winning. The Setup I don’t remember exactly, but I think I was a blue belt at the time. We had a road trip ahead of us — 6 or 7 hours to another city for a tournament. Several athletes from our gym were going. But a … Read more
After everything I’ve written about how I started BJJ, let me tell you about my first experience winning at a championship. It was a local tournament in a very small town — almost a village, really. Two hours from home. I was a white belt.Heavyweight division. The Setup There were only four people in my … Read more
Today I pay because I’m a black belt. It means I’ve learned something and I’m good somehow, right? But why the hell did I start this back then? It All Started With Arnold, Van Damme, and Stallone Truth is, I grew up watching those guys in action movies. It wasn’t about showing jiu-jitsu — it … Read more