This past weekend I competed at Pan American Games and I never felt as ready for a match as I felt in the finals. Leading up to Sunday I was asked by a lot of people how my body was, am I injured, am I 100%? My answer was the same I was not 100%, I am still very hurt, and training was hard. I was confident not because my body felt great but because during our Pan’s camp the thing I exercised the most was my brain and I felt it was sharper than ever before. A think a lot of people confuse getting stronger or more flexible with getting better. Strength comes and goes, as does flexibility, technique always remains. If you want to be great, spend more time exercising your brain, it is your strongest weapon, and work on technique. I have proven time and time again Technique above everything conquers all.
In the finals I played Rafael “Barata” Freitas who is definitely someone who has to be followed and admired. Not just because he has an amazing and unique style of Jiu-Jitsu but he’s one of the nicest, happiest and funniest people I have ever met. It makes myself cheer for him even when he is my “opponent” I think losing to “Barata” would actually make me somehow, happy.
If you live any close to Albuquerque, New Mexico, change your life and go train with him!
