What’s Abmar Barbosa Been Up to? Flying and Preparing a Jiu-Jitsu Reality Show

Abmar Barbosa  and some of the students who will be staying at the reality show house where no one leaves until after the 2013 World Championship. Publicity photo.

A black belt who has showed his worth at the big IBJJF tournaments, Abmar Barbosa gave his body a rest and healed up some injuries that were haunting him in 2012.

The most important part, however, was to rest up his mind, according to the fighter himself.

“To not get anguished by thinking about the competitions going by that I couldn’t be in, I dedicated my time to flying helicopters. I got bit by the flying bug and am loving it, said the Rio Claro, São Paulo native who now has a number of academies spread around the USA.

Jiu-Jitsu is still his primary passion, though. And for that reason, the Robert Drysdale black belt is already working on some loftier goals for 2013.

“My focus now is a reality show that I’m producing. I’ve got a house all set up here in Northern Virginia, USA. From January 15 to December 15, 2013 I’ll be living there with around 12 Jiu-Jitsu athletes who dream of making it as professionals in the gentle art. There are a lot of people with talent and desire but are just missing opportunity and money,” said the athlete.

“Each resident of the house has his obligations to fulfill, like training Jiu-Jitsu three times a day from Monday to Friday. Physical conditioning will be twice a week on days stipulated by conditioning coach Bill Easlick. Saturday is free for the athlete to do as he pleases—he can participate in an open training session or not, as he sees fit. Sunday is for complete rest. The athletes in the house can only break these rules after the 2013 Worlds, and not even think of breaking them before,” he said.

The participants will be from the USA, Brazil and Australia and will be of all belt colors. So far, the athletes confirmed to be there are Abmar, Garret Beck, Allan Rezende, Leandro Marchesin, Jake Driscoll and Marcos dos Santos.