Archive for the 'Interviews' Category

Sam Sheridan’s first book, A Fighter’s Heart, has become a favorite of MMA enthusiasts since its 2007 release. It chronicled Sheridan’s travels around the world, training and talking with many of the fight games’ biggest names, on a quest for insight on what drives them to win — and to find his own “fighter’s heart.” Along the way were stops with Brazilian Top Team in its heyday, a stint with Fairtex in Thailand, where he fought a Muay Thai bout, and a time in Iowa, including an MMA bout, under the tutelage of Pat Militech.

Last month, Sheridan released his follow-up, A Fighter’s Mind, where he turns his focus on the mental game of the world’s fighters and trainers. He describes it as “a gift back to the fighters who gave me so much in the first book. A book for fighters, and we are all fighting something.”

Sheridan spent a few moments with Total-MMA to talk about the book last week.

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Pictured: Saulo Ribeiro (right) demonstrates an escape during his Fife, WA seminar last month.

As his seminar comes to a close, three time world champion Saulo Ribeiro takes a few minutes to drive home a message.

“Nowadays, everybody tries to own the identity of jiu-jitsu,” he begins. “But it’s bigger than all of us. Nobody can be the face of jiu-jitsu. We’re all the face of jiu-jitsu. You look in the mirror, you see what’s wrong, and you change. You’re using jiu-jitsu. When things get tough, you look inside yourself, and see who you really are. You face the fears.

“Jiu-jitsu is a humbling journey. Every time you think you’re there, you’re not. You open yourself. But you have to make the decisions, and jiu-jitsu helps with this. I’m so blessed this is my work.”

Ribeiro’s own humbling journey includes a visit to Rio to make a pitch to include jiu-jitsu in the 2016 Olympics to the president of Brazil, a cup of tea in Abu Dhabi with a sheik, and a few rounds with a Thai boxing champion off the Las Vegas strip…

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Pictured: Five time World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Saulo Ribeiro enjoys a break during his Fife, WA seminar on 18 October 2009

Part One: Saulo Ribeiro on his love for the art of jiu-jitsu — and preparations for his student Diego Sanchez’s bout against BJ Penn next month

If a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Hall of Fame were to be created, there is no doubt that one of the first honored would be Royler Gracie’s most decorated disciple, Saulo Ribeiro.

The native of Manua, Brazil has recorded a staggering record five first place finishes at the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships, two at the Abu Dhabi World Submission Championships, and a gold medal at the world no-gi jiu-jitsu championships. Having retired after the World Submission Championships in Barcelona last month, Ribeiro continues to attract attention as a top-flight trainer whose MMA standouts include Diego Sanchez — who contends for the UFC lightweight title next month against Ribeiro’s fellow world jiu-jitsu champion BJ Penn. Ribeiro’s instructional book, Jiu-Jitsu University, is also hailed as the best of its genre.

It’s been a diverse career by any measure. But after conducting a seminar in the Seattle area, when Ribeiro is asked about his life — from his early days training in the Amazon, to his stellar competition days, to his current role as trainer — the same words flow over and again, in a strong Brazilian accent:

“For me it’s a blessing.”

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Two weeks ago, Total-MMA had the pleasure of visiting two of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s legends at a seminar at Marcelo Alonso’s Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Seattle. We enjoyed the wisdom of Carlson Gracie Jr. in part one. Today we turn the focus to Ricardo “Rey” Diogo.

You might not expect it from a man who goes by the Portugese word for “King,” but asked about his recent victory at the 2009 BJJ Pan American Championships, Ricardo “Rey” Diogo sounds more humble than boastful. To hear him describe it, the victory sounds like just another day at the office, not unlike appearing at a seminar:

“I felt very good,” he begins in his strong Brazilian accent. “But mentally I prepare myself for all events I go through.. Proper training, proper rest, proper conditioning. You have to do all these things right. It’s what I try to do when I compete, have total confidence in myself. I have a few movements in my game that I have total confidence in, and that’s what I want to show in my seminars.”

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Pictured: Carlson Gracie Jr. (left) and Ricardo “Rey” Diogo at their Seattle seminar last weekend

Part One: Carlson Gracie Jr talks about his life in jiu-jitsu, his thoughts on his most famous black belt Miguel Angel Torres, and how a guy from Rio finds himself in Chicago anyway…

Total-MMA had the honor of meeting two more Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legends last Saturday, as the art’s “Crown Prince,” Carlson Gracie Jr, came to town for a seminar, assisted by Ricardo “Rey” Diogo, the 2005 and 2009 Pan-American BJJ champion. The two were hosted by Gracie’s childhood friend, Marcelo Alonso, at his Seattle academy. All three proudly wear black belts awarded them by Gracie’s father, the late Carlson Gracie Sr.

In a brief interview at the seminar’s conclusion, Gracie offers a few surprises. He has a reserved and even modest manner as he describes the seminar’s success, as well as his own career in “the gentle art,” with a quiet confidence.

“The seminar was great,” he begins, in his characteristically mellow tone. “It was even better than I expected, because lately everybody does seminars everywhere. All great fighters, they travel all over the world and do seminars. I’m not saying I’m not one of those!”

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Pictured: Ivan Salaverry (left) looks on as Eddie Bravo instructs at a seminar at Salaverry’s academy in Seattle.

It’s impossible to miss the passion Eddie Bravo brings to training students in his unique system of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

He exitedly yells to students at today’s seminar at Ivan Salaverry’s academy in Seattle, alternating partners as they try their hands at Bravo’s take on the art. “Over to Mission Control! To New York!” goes one guard sequence which he has adapted. The students each would eventually walk off the mat all smiles at the seminar’s conclusion. Many would return moments later with one of the three jiu-jitsu instructional books that Bravo has authored, looking for an autograph. While always controversial, Bravo’s innovations has clearly won him many fans.

But what lurks beneath the surface is that Bravo’s real passion has nothing to do with his unique setups for triangle chokes and shoulder locks that have earned him his fame.

“My music is what really drives it,” the founder of “10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu” says. “The jiu-jitsu is what took off first. Now I’m trying to get into the music industry through the backdoor.”

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The classy veteran discusses UFC & Pride, jiu-jitsu & catch-as-catch-can wrestling, and MMA & cockfighting (!)

Click here for part one of our interview, where Salaverry describes his roots in MMA, the glory days of Pacific Northwest MMA, and what is still to come.

Pictured: Salaverry instructs a wrestling class at his academy

In addition to losing some of the region’s top names, some believe that the death of the PRIDE organization may have had a particularly negative effect on the Pacific Northwest. A PRIDE amatuer circuit was being established in Washington, with the aid of AMC co-founder Matt Hume, when PRIDE was bought out by the UFC.

“It’s very tragic,” Salaverry laments when asked about PRIDE’s demise. “It has affected the Northwest for sure; there’s plenty of fighters that would have benefited tremendously from having PRIDE continue.”

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The classy veteran recalls the Pacific Northwest’s MMA glory days, and what is still to come

Pictured: Ivan Salaverry, left, guides his students in a boxing class

Ivan Salaverry, Seattle’s own classy veteran of UFC, Shooto, and K-1 competition, is holding court at his South Lake Union academy.

The ex US Marine sounds every bit the part as he barks out instruction, yet he’s still never far from a joke or a smile either. No surprise there; this is the man whose image is mainly etched in MMA fans’ minds for his cart wheeling and blowing kisses to the crowd after recording big wins in UFC, Shooto, and K-1. These were also familiar scenes from the “glory days” of Pacific Northwest MMA from the late 90’s to early 2000’s, when Salaverry and many other fighters based out of the region were at or near the top of the MMA world.

With his competition days over, Salaverry is now preparing his own students for MMA and grappling. His grappling students are in fact days away from submission wrestling competition at Liberty Events’ Revolution tournament in Bonney Lake, WA; where they will compete as a part of a unified team which will include students of Salavarry’s former instructor Marcelo Alonso. While better known for his days at AMC Pankration, Salaverry smiles when he recalls his earlier training:

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Pictured: Attendees of Royler Gracie’s Fife, WA seminar last Saturday

There have been many legendary champions in the world of jiu-jitsu, but it may be difficult to find anyone who can match the achievements of Royler Gracie.

He’s well known as a veteran of Mixed Martial Arts competition, where he & his brothers Royce & Rickson helped make the Gracie name known worldwide; the sport where Royler’s father Helio helped establish his family’s dominance a generation ago. But it’s in pure grappling competition where Royler has really shined: a four time world champion at black belt in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) World Championships, and a three time winner of the Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championships. Last Saturday, the legend enjoyed a huge turnout at a BJJ seminar in Fife, Washington; where he was hosted by Carlson Gracie black belt Marcelo Alonso.

It was a rare treat for all involved, perhaps including the legend himself; as in his thick Brazilian accent, Royler encourages the seminar’s attendees to ask questions near the seminar’s conclusion: “Guys, I learn a lot from my brothers and I learn a lot from my father. But I learn most from my students. When they ask me something, I have to know. If they ask and I don’t know, I know I have to learn. And I learn new jiu-jitsu every day!”

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Exclusive interview with a true gentleman.