What would you do if you were on the brink of waging war with the likes of Rafael Mendes, Rubens “Cobrinha”, Rani Yahya, Bruno Frazatto, Jeff Glover, Ryan Hall, Baret Yoshida and others?
Robson Moura, the character in question, went and bought a couch.
An indication ADCC 2011 approaches, but on of the greatest (and lightest) champions sport Jiu-Jitsu has ever produced isn’t losing any sleep.
“Sorry to be calling you kind of late, I spend the whole day buying furniture for our new gym in West Chase (north of Tampa),” said the light featherweight, our GMA in Florida. On mats alone Robson spent around 50,000 dollars. “It’s a heck of a chore… But I’m excited about it. Because of all that, I’m only starting the physical conditioning and wrestling part of training now, with a tough bunch of guys here at the gym. I’m already training No-GI, putting on the gi once a week to refine my game,” he explained.
The stalwart competition doesn’t shake the nerves of the seasoned Nova União teacher, who to tell the truth is still only 33 years old. “If there’s anyone thinking I’ll entering a championship just to take part, they’re wrong. I’m going to fight to win!” he asserted.
“Of course I know how tough it will be, I’ve fought Rafael in Abu Dhabi before. He, his brother and the rest of the gang are at an excellent level and are at that pace I was at when I was 20 – they just train the whole day and are only concerned with competitions. I have other objectives, obligations, my academy, the new one, more than 22 associate schools, but I’m going to do fine amid all those beasts. I’m certain I still have plenty of fuel in the tank, for Jiu-Jitsu and even MMA, I just have to get organized over here,” he remarked.
Speaking of his other activities, this Thursday Robson will be taking off for England, the ADCC 2011 host nation, to teach a week’s worth of seminars (Check out the program at www.robsonmoura.com).
Robson launches foot assault on Alexandre Soca at ADCC 2001. He only came up short against the winner of the event, Royler Gracie. Photo: Gustavo Aragão.
After that, though, his sights are set on submission grappling. “August 1 I arrive in Brazil, I want to do my preparations with the gang at Nova União too, to show up in tip-top shape. Here in the USA, I do a lot of training with Gustavo Dantas, André Ushirobira, Marcinho, who became purple belt world champion at 16 years of age,” he enumerates, before revealing his strategy for winning the under 66kg division.
“To be able to teach, I can’t let myself get out of touch with Jiu-Jitsu’s evolution, so I’m tuned in to the kids’ techniques. And ever since I started competing all the time I’ve had but one strategy: to get the tapout. I still have the Jiu-Jitsu to fight anybody, and I’m going in with the same old strategy,” he said in closing.
WEIGHT -65.9kg
1. Rafael Mendes. Brazil (ADCC 2009 champion)
2. Greger Forsel. Finland (European champion 2010)
3. Marko Ramos. USA (North American champion 2010)
4. David Marinakis. Australia (South Pacific champion)
5. Tetsu Hadairo. Japan (Asian champion)
6. Jeff Glover. USA (North American champion 2011)
7. Bruno Frazatto. Brazil (South American champion)
8. Timo-Juhani Hirvikangas. Finland (European champion 2011)
9. Ryan Hall. USA
10. Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles. Brazil
11. Tom Barlow. UK
12. Baret Yoshida. USA
13. Rani Yahya. Brazil
14. Robson Moura. Brazil
15. Denny Prokopos. USA
16.
WEIGHT -76.9kg
1. Jorge Britto. Portugal (European champion 2010)
2. Vagner Rocha. USA (North American champion 2010)
3. Davis Hart. Austrália (South Pacific champion)
4. Takanori Gomi. Japão (Asian champion)
5. Enricco Coco. USA (North American champion 2011)
6. Murilo Santana. Brazil (South American champion)
7. Daniel Strauss. UK (European champion 2011)
8. Léo Vieira. Brazil
9. Gunnar ‘Viking’ Nelson. Islândia
10. Marcelo Garcia. Brazil
11. Kron Gracie. Brazil
12. JT Torres. USA
13. Augusto Mendes. Brazil
WEIGHT -87.9kg
1. André Galvão. Brazil (runner-up 2009, Braulio in superfight)
2. Marko Helen. Finland (European champion 2010)
3. Rustam Chsiev. Rússia (North American champion 2010)
4. Cameron Rowe. Austrália (South Pacific champion)
5. Jeon Doo Kwang. Coreia (Asian champion)
6. JJ Holmes. USA ((North American champion 2011)
7. Claudio Calasans. Brazil (South American champion)
8. Zbigniew Tyszka. Poland (European champion 2011)
9. Rafael Lovato. USA
10. Rousimar Palhares. Brazil
11. Romulo Barral. Brazil
12. Sergio Moraes. Brazil
13. Paulo Filho. Brazil
14. Pablo Popovitch, Brazil (ADCC 2009 champion, 77kg)
15.
16.
WEIGHT -98.9kg
1. Xande Ribeiro. Brazil (ADCC 2009 champion)
2. Kari Peltola. Finlândia (European champion)
3. Joseph Lee Baize. USA (North American champion 2010)
4. Igor Praporshchikov. Australia (South Pacific champion)
5. Animal Anzai. Japão (Asian champion)
6. James Poupolo. USA (North American champion 2011)
7. Renato Ferreira. Brazil (South American champion)
8. Kamil Uminski. Polônia (European champion)
9. Roger Gracie. Brazil
10. Rodolfo Viera. Brazil
11. Dean Lister. USA
12. Robert Drysdale. USA
13. João Assis. Brazil
14. Radek Turek. Poland
15. Dan Schon. Mexico
16. Antonio Peinado. Brazil
WEIGHT +99kg
1. Fabricio Werdum. Brazil (ADCC 2009 champion)
2. Janne-Pekka Pietiläinen. Finland (European champion 2010)
3. Mario Rinaldi. USA (North American champion 2010)
4. Mick Wilson. Austrália (South Pacific champion)
5. Sekine Hideki. Japão (Asian champion)
6. Jared Rosholt. USA (North American champion 2011)
7. Gabriel Vella. Brazil (South American champion)
8. Mateusz Juskowiak. Poland (European champion 2011)
9. Jeff Monson. USA
10. Roberto ”Cyborg” Abreu. Brazil
11. Bruno Bastos. Brazil
12. Antonio ”Pezão” Silva. Brazil
13. José Junior. Brazil
14. Gerardi Rinaldi. USA
15. Vinny “Pezão” Magalhaes. Brazil
16. Alexander Trans. Denmark
FEMALE -60kg
1. Luanna Alzuguir. Brazil (ADCC 2009 champion)
2. Lara Jayne Ng. Australia (South Pacific champion)
3. Hashi Takayo. Japan (Asian champion)
4. Cathilee Albert. USA (North American champion 2011)
5. Michelle Nicolini. Brazil (South American champion 2011)
6. Sara Svensson. Sweden (European champion)
7. Kyra Gracie. Brazil
8.
FEMALE +60kg
1. Hannette Staack. Brazil (ADCC 2009 champion)
2. Fiona Muxlow. Australia (South Pacific champion)
3. Penny Thomas. South Africa (North American champion 2011)
4. Talita Nogueira. Brazil (South American champion 2011)
5. Devi Ahuja. Norway (European champion)
6. Gabrielle Garcia. Brazil
7. Cris Cyborg. Brazil
8.