Paulo Brasil is amongst the leading BJJ teachers in Anderlecht, Belgium. Around those parts, the black belt has been improving the quality of life of tens of students at Gracie Barra, the team founded by Carlos Gracie Jr.
A student of BJJ for over 15 years, Paulo in a recent interview discussed the main changes that the art has been making among the Belgian people.
"My most pleasant experience in relation to jiu-jitsu is how I can positively impact the life of people through this sport. Here in Belgium, I receive lots of feedback from the locals about how they changed their quality of life. When you practice jiu-jitsu a lot, you need to give up the bad habits like staying up late and eating poorly. Many students of mine have lost weight, begun sleeping better and reduced their stress during their normal work. It's gratifying when they tell me this; I become fulfilled as a coach. After all, jiu-jitsu gives us many things beyond the medal; we become a better human being. I've been teaching for ten years; these are incredible experiences," he said.
A prolific competitor, with important medals from the ADCC, UAE JJ and IBJJF, Paulo went on to detail the popularity the sport has been gaining in the country: "BJJ is still growing in Belgium, and, unlike in Brazil, I don't see a lot of practitioners looking to make a living just from BJJ. But we're getting to a higher level, and each year more schools are opened around here. We show how jiu-jitsu can be used as a tool of personal development. In five years, I hope to see my athletes with potential to become world champions."
Paulo is currently preparing for the ADCC trials in Europe. He dreams of winning a place in the ADCC Worlds, which will take place this year in Las Vegas.
"I hired a wrestling teacher and I've been doing physical preparation three times a week, focused on strength work. My weight class is a heavy one and it demands a lot of strength. It's lots of BJJ, wrestling and physical preparation. In order to win in the ADCC, you need to have lots of resistance and a very strong mind, but I believe I'm getting ready," he said.
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