Bruno Bastos bets on new breakout athlete, ponders over life challenges

Bruno Bastos has been dedicating more time to his pupils who are kicking ass in traditional competitions across Texas. Known for his mastery in revealing talents, the Lead BJJ boss is polishing yet another talent: the prodigy Emily Fernandez, a purple belt just 18 years old. The girl was a world champion in an out of the gi at blue belt in 2019.

In a recent interview, Bruno detailed the student’s achievements and revealed why she is so successful, despite her young age, where several young people are still unable to focus so well on their goals.

“Emily has been standing out for some time,” he said. “She started training with me in 2013 and the following year, in 2014, she already won the Pan Kids, a feat that was repeated in 2016. Soon after, she went to Brazil, where she won the gold medal in the Brazilian Championship. In 2018, in her first year as a juvenile, she was again a gold medalist at the IBJJF World Championship with and without the gi. Last year, for example, she won gold in the World Championship with and without the gi, repeating her 2018 feat. Her result earned her her new purple belt, won on the podium of the no-gi world championship. This is just to mention what her results are as a competitor, but it is necessary to explain how she makes this happen.”

Bruno continued: “She is a good listener — this is an important characteristic. She is also very mature. I always tell her that it doesn’t matter the result, because her family and I, as a coach, will always be giving the support she needs. The secret to this success is that she is disciplined and consistent. For example, she does not prepare for championships, because she is always training and taking care of the physical side. She likes to train. Her normal is being at the gym; she already works as an assistant for the children here, with us. All of this flows from the simple fact that she loves Jiu-Jitsu. She has just turned 18 and, despite her young age, her potential is enormous. I believe her name will be strong in the Jiu-Jitsu scene.” Emily also has titles at the Pan Kids (2014, 2016 & 2017), Brazilian (2017), Mundial (2018 & 2019), No-Gi Worlds (2018 weight & absolute) & (2019), F2W NO-GI Youth Belt, Pan NO-GI (2019) weight & absolute.

A high-level teacher and competitor, Bruno is also a successful entrepreneur in the sport. He runs his own school in Midland, Texas and figures in the IBJJF’s top 10, a list that reflects teams’ performance in competitions. To achieve emotional maturity, business success and live a life in abundance, he had to learn some lessons about losing and winning.

“For everything in life there is a battle,” he said. “Remember: you are competing. You battle to get into a university, battle for the job you want or for your promotion. I usually say that life is a competition, and there will be victories and defeats. In terms of competition, it doesn’t matter what happens on the Saturday and Sunday of a competition. If you won, celebrate, of course, but Monday is Monday for everyone. It’s the same for a defeat: Monday is Monday; it’s over; move on. I talked a lot with Gustavo Dantas about this; he’d say he was impressed in relation to my mindset, because, regardless of the result, on Monday I was ready for another one.

“Life doesn’t stop for anyone; we have to have the ability to reinvent ourselves after each objective, achieved or not. This is my biggest lesson for constant growth, which is enhanced when you challenge yourself all the time. When you challenge yourself on or off the mats, you have to do your best; there is no time to relax: you always have to grow and evolve. This is the biggest lesson I pass on to my students in relation to winning and losing, as it is not only for the mat; it is for life. Everything I have today is a reflection of my consistency.”

If you’re interested in visiting Bruno’s gym to train, just send him a message via Facebook or Instagram.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxliDAXpQNABruno Bastos has been dedicating more time to his pupils who are kicking ass in traditional competitions across Texas. Known for his mastery in revealing talents, the Lead BJJ boss is polishing yet another talent: the prodigy Emily Fernandez, a purple belt just 18 years old. The girl was a world champion in an out of the gi at blue belt in 2019.

In a recent interview, Bruno detailed the student’s achievements and revealed why she is so successful, despite her young age, where several young people are still unable to focus so well on their goals.

“Emily has been standing out for some time,” he said. “She started training with me in 2013 and the following year, in 2014, she already won the Pan Kids, a feat that was repeated in 2016. Soon after, she went to Brazil, where she won the gold medal in the Brazilian Championship. In 2018, in her first year as a juvenile, she was again a gold medalist at the IBJJF World Championship with and without the gi. Last year, for example, she won gold in the World Championship with and without the gi, repeating her 2018 feat. Her result earned her her new purple belt, won on the podium of the no-gi world championship. This is just to mention what her results are as a competitor, but it is necessary to explain how she makes this happen.”

Bruno continued: “She is a good listener — this is an important characteristic. She is also very mature. I always tell her that it doesn’t matter the result, because her family and I, as a coach, will always be giving the support she needs. The secret to this success is that she is disciplined and consistent. For example, she does not prepare for championships, because she is always training and taking care of the physical side. She likes to train. Her normal is being at the gym; she already works as an assistant for the children here, with us. All of this flows from the simple fact that she loves Jiu-Jitsu. She has just turned 18 and, despite her young age, her potential is enormous. I believe her name will be strong in the Jiu-Jitsu scene.” Emily also has titles at the Pan Kids (2014, 2016 & 2017), Brazilian (2017), Mundial (2018 & 2019), No-Gi Worlds (2018 weight & absolute) & (2019), F2W NO-GI Youth Belt, Pan NO-GI (2019) weight & absolute.

A high-level teacher and competitor, Bruno is also a successful entrepreneur in the sport. He runs his own school in Midland, Texas and figures in the IBJJF’s top 10, a list that reflects teams’ performance in competitions. To achieve emotional maturity, business success and live a life in abundance, he had to learn some lessons about losing and winning.

“For everything in life there is a battle,” he said. “Remember: you are competing. You battle to get into a university, battle for the job you want or for your promotion. I usually say that life is a competition, and there will be victories and defeats. In terms of competition, it doesn’t matter what happens on the Saturday and Sunday of a competition. If you won, celebrate, of course, but Monday is Monday for everyone. It’s the same for a defeat: Monday is Monday; it’s over; move on. I talked a lot with Gustavo Dantas about this; he’d say he was impressed in relation to my mindset, because, regardless of the result, on Monday I was ready for another one.

“Life doesn’t stop for anyone; we have to have the ability to reinvent ourselves after each objective, achieved or not. This is my biggest lesson for constant growth, which is enhanced when you challenge yourself all the time. When you challenge yourself on or off the mats, you have to do your best; there is no time to relax: you always have to grow and evolve. This is the biggest lesson I pass on to my students in relation to winning and losing, as it is not only for the mat; it is for life. Everything I have today is a reflection of my consistency.”

If you’re interested in visiting Bruno’s gym to train, just send him a message via Facebook or Instagram.