CheckMat had a great showing and took the team title for the adult category at the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Among the team’s standouts, Rodrigo Cavaca took the black belt ultra heavyweight title and third in the absolute. Now at brown belt, the duo Antonio Barbosa and Marcus Bochecha closed out the absolute and won the heavyweight and super heavyweight divisions, respectively. They had reason enough to celebrate and, why not?, provoke their greatest rival.
“There were falks talking about winning a grand slam, that tennis and golf-type talk. They’d say they were going to win all the big events this year. But the dream of a grand slam is over! The Brazilian Nationals is ours. We came in quiet, not saying anything, and we won,” prods Chico Mendes, a teacher at CheckMat, responding to statements made by Fabio Gurgel and Romero Jacaré, the leaders of team Alliance.
Cavaca (right) is one of those carrying CheckMat's hopes in the Worlds. Photo: Gustavo Aragão.
And the battle continues at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in California.
“We’re going to set up shop at the academies of Lucas Leite and Leandro Vieira in California. We’re taking a really big team and we’re going to have a solid 20-day training camp. There will be one session for the lower weight belts and one for everyone together,” says Chico in finishing.
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Bochecha is one of CheckMat's standouts. Photo: Carlos Ozorio