Interview with Rafael

By Jeff "JD Badger" Duarte

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What is the BJJ Academy that you represent?

I'm from the Ryan Gracie academy. We have a lot of academies in Brazil but we have Ryan Gracie representing Sao Paulo with Renzo {Gracie} but only Ryan teach{es there}.

How did you get started in BJJ?

My cousin Russo invited me to learn Jiu-Jitsu almost 10 years ago. Russo is {a} first degree {black belt} through Ryan. The first time I trained {in} Jiu-Jitsu I {was} 15 years old and continued to train {since} then. My first white belt was 8 years ago. I trained with Russo for 3 years. Russo gave me the blue belt and the other belts Ryan gave me.

How long did it take you to get your black belt?

8 years. 7 or 8 years. You need to go in the {Jiu-Jitsu} class every single day. You train almost 3 or 4 hours a day. We start to train the physical things in {the} dojo {and} later we practice the position{s} and after {training the } positions you train a little bit more and you train more {with the} gi.

What do you think of the people who got their black belts in 3 or 4 years of training?

When a guy {gets} a black belt in 3 or 4 years its because the guy's got a gift. They learn fast. They got {enough} skills to learn and invent new positions {and } escapes. They use their imagination. Just a few guys got their black belt in 3 or 4 years only. All great guys.

Why did you stay with BJJ instead of another martial art?

I guess because of my cousin. {He would say} "Hey Rafael! Come train, come train." {In Jiu-Jitsu} you can train with gi or no-gi. {You can} play. We liked {the} challenge. You see a strong guy but I'm skinny but maybe I can beat a strong guy because I have skills and technique. These things make our martial art Jiu-Jitsu the best. You have to learn all the time. If you {are} scared to tap {then} you {are} never gonna learn. If the guy makes you tap, he {is} teaching me how and why I'm tapping. These things makes this sport beautiful. We deserve to be like {the} Judo sport. We deserve {to have} Jiu-Jitsu become, must become, should become {a} olympic sport.

What do you think is the most important thing a person can learn in BJJ?

First of all, I'm a psychogist. I graduated {in} master psychology. For me the first thing {is} to go to the gym to learn and be touched by the martial art. We need to be like water. You come like rocket, you come like fire our reaction {is} to be like water.

What is the difference of the belt grading system in Brazil compared to here in North America?

In Brazil we don't have levels. To become a purple belt or brown belt you need to go in the contests. To pass you need to win. You can {have} a black belt but maybe you don't have behavior enough, peace enough, love enough to teach or to really deserve the belt. Its just a belt {that} hangs on your pants.

Do you think the sporting aspect of BJJ is hurting the self-defence aspect for the street?

I guess for me {for} self-defence we use some thing{s} but we don't practice Jiu-Jitsu to fight {in}the street but you can defend yourself when {a} guy is fighting with you. You can defend {yourself} perfect{ly}. We don't like blood. If some guy wants to fight me in the street I want to put him to the floor and put {him} to sleep. I don't want to see him bloody. I don't want to see his bones broken. I want to see him sleeping. He can wake up {and say} "What happened to me?"

If you could train with anyone in the world, who would it be?

Rickson {Gracie}

If you could fight anyone in the world, who would you fight?

With myself. With my own fears. With my own skills because when you fight you don't fight the other guy. You fight with you{rself}. You have some skills{and} you have some courage but the guy {you are fighting} has the same courage or more courage so you need {to} all the time train and push your self, learn new choke holds and never stop learning.

What do you think of the Gracie's style of Jiu-Jitsu?

Rickson is the {number} one in the world. No doubt about it. He {has enough} skills to beat any black belt in Brazil. I learn with Ryan. We have different Jiu-Jitsu but we have the same philosiphy. Some guys can be strong, he can play dirt{y} with you but {the} Gracie family always plays clean Jiu-Jitsu.

Do you have any funny or entertaining stories about training with Ryan Gracie?

I got some. The most funny {one is} when Ryan {would say} "Hey, if I pass your back, you gonna sleep." When he pass your back he {instead} kiss{es} your neck (laughs). Its a good feeling {because} you don't sleep. Sometimes he choke{s} you and you sleep.

Is Ryan Gracie as crazy as most people say he is?

No. Ryan is not crazy. He's got a son now. He's a peaceful guy when in the gym but when he goes out {and} because he's Ryan Gracie, he's got the {Gracie last} name, all the guys want to prove something with him. {They say} "Oh, I'm a tough guy. I want to fight him," so sometimes he has to prove his skills {to them} but he's a peaceful guy.

What are your future plans in BJJ?

My future plans is to learn more Jiu-Jitsu because I'm just a beginner. When you {have} a black belt you begin {again}. My area is not to teach Jiu-Jitsu, its just to practice Jiu-Jitsu {to} be a fighter but with my job {in} psychology. I love Jiu-Jitsu. I {will} always train.

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