Pablo celebrates with Samuel at Worlds. Photo: Regis Chen.
A competition standout all the way up through the intermediate belts, Pablo Silva’s greatest accomplishment came in 2010, when he won the light featherweight division as a black belt at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship. In a chat with GRACIEMAG.com, the Gracie Barra representative comments on his plans for the coming season and the possibility of facing two tough-as-they-come competitors, Bruno Malfacine and Caio Terra, who may move up to light featherweight.
What’s your assessment of this past season?
2010 was a year where I suffered a lot of injuries and in some competitions, even winning, I was really set back by the refereeing. It sucks when an athlete puts in time preparing for a competition and doesn’t lose to his opponent but to the refereeing. But I look to make the most of these things and see what needs to improve in my game in order to not rely on anybody. 2010, for having won the Worlds, is the year that stands out most in my life.
What did it feel like to win the world title?
The world title is the one that every athlete, I believe, dreams of winning. I always try to compete at the tournaments held throughout the year, but to be at the Worlds I stayed out of the Brazilian Nationals, went to the USA, and trained a lot with Samuel Braga at Rômulo Barral’s academy. He passed on a lot of his experience and I owe a big part of this title to him.
And what about for next year, which opponents do you have your eyes on? Do you think Bruno Malfacine and Caio Terra may compete at light featherweight too?
You went on the road teaching seminars outside Brazil. Tell us about this experience…
I was really well received at Gracie Barra Aichi. It was a great experience to convey some of what I do in competition at seminars. I was in Japan, where I competed at the Asian Open, and right after that I taught some seminars in several towns in Nagoya.
What’s your focus for 2011?
In 2011 I intend to stay with Rômulo Barral in the USA and get motivated to win everything I enter. I know there’s a lot I can learn from him. I’m still looking for sponsorship to get to the European Open, but my main objective is to correct some things in my game and show up at the Worlds 100% to close out with Samuel Braga.