Photo: Carlos Ozório
After having nine matches to become champion in São Paulo this Friday, Mario Reis didn’t return home to Porto Alegre. The Southern Brazilian will charge into the Rio Open tournament to kick off this July 22.
“The CBJJ is the model for all other competitions, it’s impeccably organized. I’m heading for the Rio Open,” he tells GRACIEMAG.com.
Mario has been occupying the top spots on the podium as a black belt for a good while now. The fighter comments on what stimulates him to keep competing after having won so many titles.
“I’m an adventure hunter. I’m always pursuing an objective so my knowledge will evolve more and more to have long-lived and vanguard Jiu-Jitsu. That’s what is cool, to evolve and be a good role model as a champion.”
Mario is already old enough to compete in the masters division, but he would rather compete as an adult, despite the International Masters and Seniors taking place at the same time as the Rio Open.
“I’m 30 years old and I’m not thinking about competing as a master yet. I’ve led my life in such a way so as to preserve myself, I always kept from eating certain things that aren’t healthy and kept up a physical conditioning routine. I also avoided a lot of training injuries, which is fundamental,” he explains, promising to give his opponents hard times for a long time to come.
“I’m going to keep fighting in the adult division until the results prove I’m unable to anymore. My aim is to compete against the best and become a better and better Mario Reis. I guarantee everyone who believes in my Jiu-Jitsu that I’ll always give it my best. That’s my philosophy, to always seek to be my best,” he says in finishing.