Buiú in action at Rio Open / Photo: Gustavo Aragão.
Gracie Barra’s Kleber “Buiú” Paulino divides his time between competitions and teaching at team headquarters in Barra da Tijuca. Even with the taxing schedule, the black belt managed some good results during the 2010 season. He closed out the medium heavyweight division at the Rio International Open with teammate Felipe Cranivata and won the No-Gi Brazilian Nationals. Now, the fighter is heading off to fight at the European Open, to take place January 27 in Lisbon.
“I want to compete in the main competitions. I was going to participate at the World Pro tryouts in Rio, but they take place the very day I embark for Europe. So my first goal is the European, but I hope to work things out so I can try out – who knows? – maybe in Europe,” he tells GRACIEMAG.com.
“This year I want to participate in all the major international tournaments. My visa is about to come out and I want to compete in the United States, I want to compete at the Worlds,” he adds.
Buiú beats Murilo Santana at No-Gi Brazilian Nationals. Photo: Carlos Ozório.
A teacher at Gracie Barra alongside the likes of Jefferson Moura, Buiú says training is going strong and that there will be a top-notch GB team out there in competition.
“We have a good number of teachers, so I can be substituted and focus whenever there are competitions. We have training sessions at a different time just for the folks who want to compete. Jefferson (Moura) works a lot, that’s why he won’t be able to compete at all the events, despite his always being excited about competing. But there’s a good bunch showing up for training. Tussa trains with us and will compete at the Rio tryouts. There’s Paulo “Samoa”, Chiquinho de Cuiabá, Lúcio Lagarto. So we’ve got good guys training with us,” he says in closing.
To participate at the European Open, click here. And to be sharp when you get to Portugal, learn a sweep from the GB teacher in the video below: