Guilherme and Rafael / Photo: personal archive
Team Atos embarks for the European Open Championship in Lisbon with a team promising to make some waves. At featherweight alone there are four first-rate athletes: Rafael Mendes, Bruno Frazatto, Eduardo Ramos, and Guilherme Mendes. Guilherme, incidentally, was one of last year’s champions, but at light featherweight. Recently tipped as a young black belt promising to go far, the fighter has snapped up titles as big as the world title, which makes him – in his own words – a seasoned black belt.
“We saw our division at the European Open and Rafael and I will go straight in against everyone. The one’s he hasn’t faced yet I’ve faced and vice-versa. We’re old (laughs)!”
“We train a lot and are heavier, we worked on moving up in weight and getting in better shape. We started after last year’s Worlds and now we’re feeling great. But what matters is that we train a lot of Jiu-Jitsu. Guto Campos is heading training and things have been great!” says Guilherme.
“We’re feeling really confident, and we’re going in numbers at featherweight to leave no openings! This title will be ours!” he adds.
Atos black belts gathered
“We’ll hold seminars in Paris, Rome and visit Venice as well. We’re going with our family, and we’ll make the most of it to travel Europe. Then, there’ll be a training camp in the USA with all the Atos athletes. There’ll be three weeks of preparations for the Pan and the World Pro, and anyone wishing to participate can just contact us. We’re putting together a seminar too, which I think will be in late February, with all Atos’s black belts in San Diego,” says Guilherme.
“I’d like to thank our tram for the support, they teach us a lot with every day and that is what makes the difference, gives us the confidence to be champions,” he says in closing.
And to keep up with all the goings-on at the competition, stay tuned to the GRACIEMAG at the European Championship Blog.