Fellows from Macau BJJ are generous and kind to share a great interview of Leo Santos (EX. Famous World Champion)with us. Leo is the team mate of Prof. Daniel Charles from Macau BJJ. We are seeking an opportunity to fly him over to Macau/HK. WHAT DO YOU THINK!!???
Thanks to Macau BJJ for sharing the great interview!!
Original articles and Portuguese version can be viewed from: http://www.macaubjj.com/News/Entries/2008/6/27_Youngest_ever_BJJ_Word_Champion.html
Q: Tell us a little about yourself, Name and age?
A: Leonardo Santos, 27 years old.
A: Leonardo Santos, 27 years old.
Q: How long have you been doing Bjj?
A: I’ve been doing Bjj for 20 years, since I was 7 years old, but I only took it seriously at the age of 13, because before that it was only a way for me to exercise and burn off energy.
Q: Where did you begin to learn Bjj and who was/is your teacher?
A: I began training at “Mello Tenis Clube”, a club in “Vila da Pena” in Rio de Janeiro with Prof. Wendell Alexander, which later turned into Nova União along with Prof. Pederneiras. In my opinion, I’ve trained with the two greatest teachers in the world, André Pederneiras and Wendell Alexander.
A: I began training at “Mello Tenis Clube”, a club in “Vila da Pena” in Rio de Janeiro with Prof. Wendell Alexander, which later turned into Nova União along with Prof. Pederneiras. In my opinion, I’ve trained with the two greatest teachers in the world, André Pederneiras and Wendell Alexander.
Q: Which were the most significant moments in your career?
A: I think it was my first “Mundial”, because I was only 15 and won in the adult category, making me the youngest world champion. Another very important moment for me was when they held an event for the world’s top sixteen black belts in the “leve” category, which I won without losing any points and which would see me ranked as number 1 in the “leve” category. That was something that I had always dreamt of and with hard work I achieved it!
A: I think it was my first “Mundial”, because I was only 15 and won in the adult category, making me the youngest world champion. Another very important moment for me was when they held an event for the world’s top sixteen black belts in the “leve” category, which I won without losing any points and which would see me ranked as number 1 in the “leve” category. That was something that I had always dreamt of and with hard work I achieved it!
Q: For you, what differs Bjj from other martial arts and what made you choose Bjj over other martial arts?
A: I think that the efficiency of jiu-jitsu in hand-to-hand combat makes a huge difference and it gives you tremendous confidence, because, as we all know jiu-jitsu was created for a weaker person to defeat a stronger one and it is possible with jiu-jitsu!
I started training because my brother Wagnney Fabiano was already into BJJ. When I went to see him fight, I found it magnificent, and I began training from that moment on…
A: I think that the efficiency of jiu-jitsu in hand-to-hand combat makes a huge difference and it gives you tremendous confidence, because, as we all know jiu-jitsu was created for a weaker person to defeat a stronger one and it is possible with jiu-jitsu!
I started training because my brother Wagnney Fabiano was already into BJJ. When I went to see him fight, I found it magnificent, and I began training from that moment on…
Q: In you opinion, which technique should a Bjj practitioner develop more (flexibility, strength, pure technique or others)?
A: I think that you have to have all these options if you want to be a professional athlete… But most importantly, having a good team and a good master is the most important!
A: I think that you have to have all these options if you want to be a professional athlete… But most importantly, having a good team and a good master is the most important!
Q: Apart from Jiu-jitsu, do you do other sports (surf, yoga, soccer, etc.)? And which do you think complements Jiu-jitsu the best?
A: I play soccer, and I’ve tried surfing, but if you want to complement your jiu-jitsu, I think Judo and Wrestling helps a jiu-jitsu fighter a lot. I’ve tried it and from my personal experience it made my game a lot better.
A: I play soccer, and I’ve tried surfing, but if you want to complement your jiu-jitsu, I think Judo and Wrestling helps a jiu-jitsu fighter a lot. I’ve tried it and from my personal experience it made my game a lot better.
Q: What is your favourite technique to submit your opponents on the mat?
A: I train not to lose positions, therefore, I believe that my favourite technique will be the one I see at a given moment and one that my opponent gives me.
A: I train not to lose positions, therefore, I believe that my favourite technique will be the one I see at a given moment and one that my opponent gives me.
Q: What are your thoughts on the general association of Bjj with Vale Tudo (MMA)? Positive or negative?
A: On the one hand, it is negative because people think jiu-jitsu means vale tudo, hence, for those who don’t like vale tudo, it gives them a bad impression. Many think jiu-jitsu is violent due to vale tudo.
A: On the one hand, it is negative because people think jiu-jitsu means vale tudo, hence, for those who don’t like vale tudo, it gives them a bad impression. Many think jiu-jitsu is violent due to vale tudo.
Q: Which are, in your opinion, the three countries besides Brazil, with the most developed Bjj?
A: From what I’ve seen through seminars and championships, I think the USA, Japan, Canada or France!
A: From what I’ve seen through seminars and championships, I think the USA, Japan, Canada or France!
Q: Have you got any plans to develop Bjj beyond borders? Nova União schools, etc.?
A: Look, before I had thought not, but now I’m thinking of leaving Brazil to promote jiu-jitsu and create my own team. What is missing at the moment is a good proposition, I have had some invitations to leave Brazil, but nothing has convinced me yet. Besides the invitation, I want to feel that the person inviting me really wants to do a good job and make jiu-jitsu as well as the team grow.
A: Look, before I had thought not, but now I’m thinking of leaving Brazil to promote jiu-jitsu and create my own team. What is missing at the moment is a good proposition, I have had some invitations to leave Brazil, but nothing has convinced me yet. Besides the invitation, I want to feel that the person inviting me really wants to do a good job and make jiu-jitsu as well as the team grow.
Q: How did the idea of founding Nova União start?
A: It started when Wendell’s team trained with another team, because the two were small in numbers, so we decided to group together for a championship, in which we ranked second. Because everything went well, we had to come up with a name and we went with “Nova União” because it was the union of two small teams which would fight against bigger and more experienced teams.
A: It started when Wendell’s team trained with another team, because the two were small in numbers, so we decided to group together for a championship, in which we ranked second. Because everything went well, we had to come up with a name and we went with “Nova União” because it was the union of two small teams which would fight against bigger and more experienced teams.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your friend and a black belt, Daniel Charles, who is currently teaching the gentle art in China (Macau e Hong Kong)?
A: He’s an excellent athlete, and from what I can see, he is really taking the job seriously and making the name of the team grow. I wish him luck and I’m sure that with seriousness and responsibility, soon his work will be well known and recognized by everyone!
A: He’s an excellent athlete, and from what I can see, he is really taking the job seriously and making the name of the team grow. I wish him luck and I’m sure that with seriousness and responsibility, soon his work will be well known and recognized by everyone!
Q: Would you like to come visit us in Macau and Hong Kong one day?
A: For sure, it would be a great pleasure. Well, for me it’s always good to know a new country and its customs, and surely to teach and to pass on a little bit of my experience. Just to be able to give back to the sport that has given so much to me is priceless, so of course, if one day I get an invitation, it will be well received.
A: For sure, it would be a great pleasure. Well, for me it’s always good to know a new country and its customs, and surely to teach and to pass on a little bit of my experience. Just to be able to give back to the sport that has given so much to me is priceless, so of course, if one day I get an invitation, it will be well received.
(Translation by Sara Farr & Nuno Santos) - Special Thanks to our brother, Macau BJJ!!
