The Evolution of Metamoris

June 9th

Metamoris II, wrapped up over the weekend and although an amazing and prestigious venue with incredibly talented athletes, many viewers (and certainly many tournament-goers) were left in a state of melancholy.  While I believe most people felt this, I believe that even those people that held the greatest of sadness still feel the same;

The no points, “submission-or-decision” version is a platform to showcase jiu-jitsu skill at the highest level – and we are all glad to have the opportunity to experience it.

Does the ‘Bad’ Overshadow the ‘Good’?

There were some great jiu-jitsu matches: Rafeal Lovato Jr vs. Andre Galvao, Brualio Estima vs. Rodolfo Vieira, and Kron Gracie vs. Shinya Aoki (despite a prolonged “feeling out” process in the beginning).  Things took a turn for the worst in the highly-talked-about match between Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu and Brendan Schaub (video).

Abeu, who did just about everything he could to engage in the fight, was highly disappointed afterwards (despite winning by decision).  Athletes come to an event like this to both test and showcase their skill in grappling.  Abreu wasn’t truly given the opportunity, and Schaub’s “nullification” of Abreu’s jiu-jitsu was borderline disrespectful and his strategy, confusing.

The Will To Survive

Ralek Gracie said, “I founded Metamoris to create a tournament where submissions are the only goal, not points.  With the introduction of judges, we will avoid judges… Someone in a fight is always sharper (link).”

As a student of Gracie Jiujitsu (Joyce) and who has had the opportunity to speak and train with both Ryron & Rener Gracie (Schaub’s jiujitsu trainers), I can say I understand what the Gracie system is all about.  Obviously Gracie Jiujitsu works and is a highly-refined martial art, however when you put a brown belt (Schaub) up against a 12-time Grappler’s quest, 3-time World Nogi Champion (and many more accolades) back belt (Abreu), you can only hope for one thing in my opinion, to survive.

In addition, the thought somewhere in Schaub’s brain, were UFC President Dana White’s one condition for taking this contest, “Don’t get hurt.”  Fortunately or unfortunately for Schaub, it was just his reputation that got hurt.

What Needs To Be Done

The only problem that I see in the Metamoris Tournament is in casting.  I believe that the matches should only be performed by players of black belt level or higher.  Furthermore, the black belt must be in a grappling-based system of martial art.  Metamoris does not need to be in the game to bring in “big names” (such as those in the UFC).  Audiences around the world wish to be riveted by high-level, submission-only grappling and while some competitors can be found in the UFC, Pride, etc, the focus should remain on those whose grappling game holds a high degree of depth and intelligence.

In that light, I am very pleased of the announcement of:

Royler Gracie vs. Eddie Bravo for Metamoris III

Eddie Bravo: “..they want to find out if I got lucky that time.” (Full 1st Fight video)

Royler Gracie: “He got lucky.”

Combative Corner: “We shall see won’t we? Either way, it should be a best outta 3, don’tcha think?”

MICHAEL JOYCE

10 Questions with Roberto Abreu

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu is a Brazilian JiuJitsu martial artist, famed for his “Tornado Guard” (among other things). He’s the owner of Fight Sports in Miami Beach, FL, and has won numerous titles (one of them being the Brazilian National Jiu Jitsu Champion). Learn more about him at his website: http://cyborgbjj.com/… however, since you’re here, you might want to read about him in his exclusive interview with the CombativeCorner.

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How did Roberto come to become a practitioner and teacher of jiujitsu?

First of all I want to thank the Combative Corner for the opportunity! …

I started training back in 1998 in my home town in Brazil called Campo Grande.  I was raised on a farm; a place where I had a great childhood.  I was always a sports practitioner since I was little.  After passing through many sports, like swimming, karate and judo, I did 3 years of capoeira, which helped me out a lot with my mobility in Jiu Jitsu.  In 1998, when I was 17 years old, I started BJJ.  It had just arrived to my state in Brazil, and I loved to fight.  Once playing around with a friend of mine he tapped me many times. At first I didn’t even understand what he was doing, but I was sure that that’s what I had to learn.  I made him take me to his school and I feel in love with the sport.  I won my first tounament within 2 weeks of practice. After that I never stopped.  I got my black belt within 5 years of training.

How do you think your “style” of jiujitsu differs from others that you’ve encountered?

I came from a place that didn’t have this much of Jiu Jitsu.  Also, I opened my school when I had just got my purple belt, and I had only my students to train with.  It made me change my Jiu Jitsu a lot.  I had to move a lot in order to train since most of my students were white belts and all light.  I created everything I know, and it became what you see today.  My Jiu Jitsu is very plastic, and I move a lot like a featherweight, being 220 pounds.  I have a great combination of strengh, flexibility and agility that really few guys in the history of Jiu Jitsu had.

You’re a really strong guy.  Do you think that your bulk helps you considerably in your matches?

Truly, my game is based on my agility and speed.  But since I’m the smaller guy on my division, of course a little bit of strength always helps.

In your life thusfar, what do you consider to be your “crowning achievement”?

I live my dream today.  I live in Miami, have affiliate schools around the world, and live from what I love to do.  I have achived most of the top rankings in the world in BJJ and Grappling, have made many champions, and have the #1 team in the world NOGI for 2010. Ufa…so many good things… Been successful with what you love to do is a gift.  I just live my life one day at a time and work hard to make it better everyday. Everything that  has happened in my life came through the energy I put into it.  So I’m just up to take whatever presents god has to give me.  It being said, my “crowning achievement” is Life!

In your life as a competitor, what has been your hardest match/opponent?

I think this is a hard question for someone who fights all the time.  Every single match is a great challenge!

What do you think is one of the most important thing(s) to know when beginning in the art of jiujitsu?

Respect and humility.

How (in your opinion) does training in the States compare with how training is conducted back home in Brazil?

The mentality and value of the sport here is completely different, which made most of the bigger names in Jiu Jitsu and the most important tournaments come to the U.S.

It’s not a question to me that training here (US) is more professional and better than it is in Brazil.

Are you an admirer of the UFC/CageFigthing/Pride tournaments? And if so, who are some of your favorite athletes to watch?

I like MMA, specially when I see guys like Demian Maia, Jacare, Andre Galvao, Toquinho, Roger, Thiago Silva, and other great black belts putting our art to work on the cage.

What does Roberto Abreu like to do in his spare time (apart from training, teaching, & competing in the martial arts)?

When I’m not working and training I like to enjoy the nature.  Mountains, waterfalls, beach, rivers,  sports, and travel.  I’m always trying to explore new places and cultures.

A few months ago we (the CombativeCorner) had a Roundtable Discussion when we asked our authors “What was your favorite moment of 2010?”… what was yours (professional or personal) and why?

I had two moments, one when I won the worlds nogi weight and Open, which was a dream come true.  And the second, my fight against Braga Neto at the semifinals at the worlds which won as the “Best fight of the Year” by GracieMag.  I had a huge comeback after loosing by 6×0, lasting less then 30 seconds of fight after scaping of many tight chokes, I got out of a back attack and tapped him out in a beautiful triangle. It was a tough fight and an amazing finish.  But when I left the mat I found out that my best friend and student Piter Bivona had died in the hospital in LA.  It was tough.

Bonus Questions:  If Roberto Abreu was a video game character, what would be his power and what weapon (if any) would he carry?

I would like to use my Jiu Jitsu,  the most efficient martial art in earth.  With my tornado guard, revert triangles and knee on the neck I would give a lot of work to anyone!! hahaha…

BONUS #2 – Do you have some words to tell to your fans?

I would like to thank the support I always receive everywhere I go.

Also I’d like to invite everyone to come to Miami and visit my school and check my websites www.miamibjjcenter.com / www.cyborgbjj.com.

Once again thanks so much for the opportunity!

Osss

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Roundtable Discussion 007: Year’s Best

“List one exciting thing that happened to you this year (in your business/ personal life) and explain why it had such a big impact/or why it topped your list.”

We, at the CombativeCorner would love to hear your highlights!  Let us know in the comment section below.

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[Guest – Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu]

I had two moments, one when I won the worlds nogi weight and Open, which was a dream come true.  And the second, my fight against Braga Neto at the semifinals at the worlds which won as the “Best fight of the Year” by GracieMag.  I had a huge comeback after loosing by 6×0, lasting less then 30 seconds of fight after scaping of many tight chokes, I got out of a back attack and tapped him out in a beautiful triangle. It was a tough fight and an amazing finish.

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I think some of the greatest things we know were discovered by accident. This past year, I was teaching a Grade 10 girls class self-defense and I had to end the class early in order to get to another scheduled class on time. I was not sure what elemets of the curriculum to teach or not because I had to cut some stuff out for brevity’s sake.

I anazlyzed the curriculum (on the fly) and chose to teach one technique that I thought could be applied to many situations, and that in this case the girls would still be getting some high value instruction.

And man, let me tell ya…that opened up a whole new world for me. I couldn’t stop thinking about that technique, all its applications, and the greater implications for the Hybrid Fighting Method and self-defense in general. The Hybrid Fighting Method now teaches this as a primary means of defense/offense, and will continue to do so for the forseeable future. I will have video up in 2011 demonstrating these things.  (YouTube Link)

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For me there cannot be one exciting thing, every year and every day since the year of 2002, the time of my awakening I have viewed every day to be special. I have been living within the present moment since then. While living within the present moment, there is no day that is more significant than another. I do not celebrate holidays like the way common people celebrate holidays, I see everyday to be a holiday, everyday is a birthday, everyday with my wife is our wedding day. Of course there are times the mind or ego interferes and tries to bring in the future or past, but I have learned to identify this ego and become a master over it.

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The year two thousand and ten has been an amazing year.  Even though I managed to put this website together and recruit such talented and helpful contributing authors,… even though I was able to create my first audio cd (Fear Shedding) in my audio series on self-protection, my highlight was on July 2nd of this year when I proposed to my fiance, Jenny.

It was a very touching time because we were at Sunset Beach, staying with my best friend’s parent’s home.  July 5th, the year before, my best friend (of over 20 years) passed and our being at Sunset was not only time to be with his mother, but to come together as a family to recognize his life and what he meant to us.  My friend Cyprian (page) would have been enormously proud of Jenny and me, and would have been tremendously honored by my choice of using this time of mourning as a time of celebration.  I know this to be true.  And I’m looking forward to my “highlight” of marriage happening in 2011.

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Unfortunately this year has been one of the toughest we’ve faced so far. Literally from Jan. 1st till now this year been a non stop trial by fire and I honestly can’t wait for it to end. Having said that, my high point would be that I’m still here at the end of it all and looking forward to the new year. Also that I had a long list of friends and family to help distract me and get me through it all. Thanks to all of you, you know who you are!

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The highlight of 2010 is actually something that happened to my wife. She got tenure, which is a huge deal for a professor. Not only am I happy for her, but it also means I don’t have to move again in the foreseeable future. The nomadic life of an academic made finding training partners and getting classes established a little tough. Every time we moved, we’d have to spend another year just learning about the new place and making friends, only to have to move again. I finally feel like I can settle down.

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2010 has been a very hard year for me. Lost a lot of family. Also new Health issues for me have also made this a very hard year.
But we learn from the bad as well as the good.
My Top highlight of the year is that I am Married to my best friend. I am very lucky to be so happy with her. Many other good things as well came to pass this year as well.  I wish you Happy holidays. And I look forward to 2011! Keep training hard everyone!  Yours In Aiki, Robert.

 

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Happy Holidays Everyone!

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