To be an athlete is to fight against all odds and realize that limit is just a metaphor.

We can always improve; athletes can never be good enough at what they do. And to train in a full-contact sport like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) especially is to out-dare yourself against your health, and to hope for luck every day because injuries can happen at any given moment. And if it’s not injury, then it’s age. That’s why it’s important to make every single day be sunny before the rain comes.

That’s my life: a Judoka since I was a kid. With low self-esteem, weight problems, and constant insecurity. 

Then my first big injury happened. Surgery, overweight, and pain – so much pain. I heard a lot of close people talking that my training was over, that it would be better if I study something else. I already had my black belt, and my love of BJJ had become my lifestyle. I could focus on the life that my university graduation could offer me.

But I didn’t accept it.

And so, after my recovery, I got another new injury, new personal problems, and other financial ones. But, it was game on. So I got another surgery. This one though was easier, faster, and consequently painless.

How I got started

A friend had originally introduced me to BJJ because of my love for ne-waza (ground grappling) and because it posed a smaller risk for my knee. So a new passion, new addiction, new opportunities. I quickly found myself in my first tournament (ultra-heavyweight white belt). And the result—champion in my weight division and a bronze medalist in the open class division where the winners of each weight compete against each other. Then onto my second tournament—double gold and o much happiness. My weight was much better, I was feeling stronger, handsome, and living in a new world without depression.

But as time goes on, I begin overtraining. In pain again, tired. But I had lost 50lbs at this point. And I was competing as a blue belt under my new team (GFTEAM). So many losses and I began to realize how big the world is.

When I got my purple belt, I started off by winning my first fight and got my first international medal (European championship IBJJF). I also got the chance to experience living in California as a BJJ competitor. In that time my knee wasn't bothering me. I felt better and stronger every day.

Unfortunately, though, this kind of injury can take competitors out of the eyes of sponsors. But thankfully my family, friends, and small jobs under the table helped me to afford my dream of competing.

So in 6 months I competed in 13 championships, earned 12 medals, and a SJJIF WORLDS silver medal.

Then back to Brazil with a new pain in my elbow now. But I kept training and planned the surgery for after IBJJF Worlds in Long Beach, CA. 

After the surgery, one month I found myself in a bad spot Terrible pain, fever, emergency hospitalization and a new surgery at 1:00 am now. The doctors found that it was septic arthritis (an infection inside my elbow) causing the complications. So 12 days interned getting antibiotics without knowing if I would lose my arm or not. 

Excellent! Survived so much just to be back here now!

So 3 months later and I'm overweight again (back to 230lbs). But when the doctor allowed me to train again, I picked up my gi and started right back up. Then, the following week I competed in the IBJJF Brasília International Open Championship, earned a silver medal, and cried on the podium as I received my brown belt.

So at brown belt, I first competed in the European, and earned another bronze medal this time. A great brown belt debut after injuries and being full of fear.

Since then, I haven't competed but I’ll keep working, and I'll be ready when the time is right.

How many people give up?

How many people stop because they have some sort of problem—whether physical, financial or for any other reason?

How many never reach black belt? It’s a simple answer and one that is plain to see—

So many more people quit than keep going. And everybody feels pain. But everyone also knows what they want. So, don’t give up because it hurts. Understand that sometimes it's hard, but that's just the price of a dream

I pay my price. And I've spent many times thinking if it is really love or Stockholm Syndrome, but I've realized that I’m not a hostage to my sport. I live for it, I was born to do it.

We all have the right to dream, but not so many persist enough to live it.

So wake up every morning, and believe every time. LIVE everything that happens to you. Learn it and teach it. Athletes are not only the ones who take podium pictures and have the best sponsorships. Athletes are the ones who find a way to move towards their dreams without regrets.