Kaynan Duarte is preparing for a match-up with Alliance Team Gacho’s Roberto Jimenez in the second round of the JiuJitsu.net Challenge on February 18.
Kaynan Duarte is a purple belt from Team Atos who has notably taken double gold in the Purple Belt No Gi Worlds. The Jiu-Jitsu Times caught up with Kaynan and asked him a few questions as he prepared for his upcoming match.
Jiu-Jitsu Times: Kaynan, can you tell us when you started training and a little about your athletic background?
Kaynan Duarte: I started training judo from a very young age, and at the age of 12, I moved to jiu-jitsu at the invitation of a cousin. I am from Pederneiras / SP, a city of 50,000 inhabitants, very small in the interior of Sao Paulo. My first teachers are Ze Luis and Paulo Ledesma, and now I’m with Andre Galvao in San Diego acts.
Posted by José Luís X Altaiza on Saturday, October 29, 2016
Jiu-Jitsu Times: Kaynan, what you have been up to competitively in the last year? Which tournaments have you competed in? Any titles?
Kaynan Duarte: I did World Pro, World IBJJF, Brazil National, No-Gi Worlds, and ADCC Trials.
In the youth category, blue belt, I gained weight and absolute bread, Brazilian, and worldwide, and last year, in my first year of adulthood and already in the new purple belt, I got a bronze medal in the World Pro, silver Brazil National and double gold in No-Gi World and the latest gold in ADCC trials Rio de Janeiro.
Jiu-Jitsu Times: You are set to match another tough competitor in Roberto Jimenez from Alliance Team Gacho. How do you see your game matching up against the skills of Jimenez? What is your game? What areas of the fight do you feel you might have an advantage?
Kaynan Duarte: He is a good athlete. He is doing a good campaign, but I think of the championship in general and not only him.
I cannot answer this because I always try to train in all aspects to be comfortable in any position, from the standing part to my guard. And to know which is the best game or who will win, we will know tomorrow!
Jiu-Jitsu Times: You took home double gold in the Purple Belt No-Gi Worlds. What was your key to victory in that event?
Kaynan Duarte: World No-Gi was my first no-gi IBJJF championship; but before that, I prepared myself a lot with all the team acts with Professor Andre Galvao. Besides I won double gold, we were team champion, and it was worth all the sacrifice in training.
NOGI TUESDAYS || #atosjiujitsu
Posted by Atos Jiujitsu HQ – San Diego, Ca on Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Jiu-Jitsu Times: Can you describe what a typical training week is like to prepare for a competition? Does your training differ much depending if the event is Submission only, no-gi or IBJJF rules? What training methods do you use to make you ready for a match like this?
Kaynan Duarte: I train all year long, but before all big competition, we do a focused job for that. If I go to fight no-gi, I forget the kimono, and the same is when I will fight for gi. This year is just beginning, and I believe it will be the best year for me and the whole team. I am very excited to start the camp for the big competitions with all-time acts led by multi-champion Galvao.
Jiu-Jitsu Times: Lastly, would you like to shout out to any sponsors, training partners, or coaches?
Kaynan Duarte: I want to thank my sponsors, Stormstrong, Commercial Ferraz, and Pharmacy Multidrogas Pederneiras, Professors Ze Luis, Paulo Ledesma, and Andre Galvao for the opportunity.
The post Atos’ Worlds No-Gi Double Gold, Kaynan Duarte Ready For War Today! appeared first on Jiu-Jitsu Times.