2003’s heavyweight champion, Jefferson Moura showed how he continues to keep his technique up to date at the Brazilian Championship, held last Sunday, in Rio de Janeiro. After four matches, one being the final against Alexandre Ceconi, Jefferson yet again stood at the highest spot on the winners’ podium at a big Jiu-Jitsu event.
“Truth is, it’s been a while I haven’t competed in a big championship. I fought at the Brazilian Team Nationals, but that competition doesn’t depend on just your result. Last time I competed individually was a match-up against Robert Drysdale, two years ago. I was working on my career as a Physical Education teacher, but I now I’m back at full force because Carlinhos Gracie called on me to teach class. I’ve been working at Gracie Barra now for six months and I had to show it here, in competition, so everyone can see how it’s been. I came to test myself, because these kids are a force to be reckoned with, they’re really tough, and thank God I left satisfied,” said the black belt, still in the Tijuca Tennis Club.
On the work underway at Gracie Barra headquarters, Jefferson believes soon new talent will appear on the scene.
“We innovated, organized times and a class program, applying to everything from discipline to technical training. Everything is standardized and it’s a process Gracie Barra has applied all over the world. The result has been really great, such that in six months we’ve seen a great increase in the number of students in the academy. I’ve been backed up by Marcio Feitosa, Piu Piu, Flavio Cachorrinho and, of course, Maste Carlos Gracie Jr. We analyzed what works. I entered this championship for everyone to see that we’re on top of everything and to show that, soon, we will be dominating all the categories.
Jefferson doesn’t know to what point he will keep up his competition rhythm, as work for the team has been arduous. But the Worlds, to take place in June, in California, is in his sights.
“The idea is to head to the Worlds, but not continue competing for long. You’re either a competitor or you run Gracie Barra. The team today is really big, there’s a lot of stuff to deal with. I have to deal with several things and the priority is to focus on the administrative part to expand the project more and more,” he said in finishing.
Here is a nice pic from Jefferson Moura ( Right ) after a training session at GB Rio with Georges St-Pierre ( Left ):
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By Carlos Ozorio / Portal das Lutas
Article featured on the Gracie Magazine website.
