Professor Lang with his PanAm’s 2020 medals. Photo: personal archive
In December 2013, Professor Rafael Lang suffered a serious motorcycle accident, fracturing his spine and hips.
He was almost paralyzed. The recovery was slow. One month in the hospital, one month in bed at home, one month in a wheelchair, three months walking with a walker. The doctors told Lang that he could not compete again, nor train hard, a terrible prophecy that the unshakable spirit of Jiu-Jitsu and Rafael’s wit proved to be wrong.
Today a renowned professor in Texas, Lang has returned to good shape. At the IBJJF Pan of Jiu-Jitsu, in October 2020, he entered the heavyweight and absolute division. He returned with two silver medals in master 1 and the sweet taste of his duty – in the absolute, for example, he was second only to the champion, Gregor Gracie.
“I went silver in both the heavyweight and the absolute, in Florida, after eight fights on the same day,” said our GMI. “I overcame a lot to be there fighting. I left everything on the mats at Pan and that’s the best feeling. The tears of defeat are worth more than the shame of not having fought.”
Remember, next, one of the strong positions in the repertoire of this exemplary BJJ warrior, and never forget: Jiu-Jitsu is overcoming. Oss!
The post At the 2020 Pan, Rafael Lang proved that jiu-jitsu is the art of overcoming first appeared on Graciemag.