xhale
10-03-2007, 09:55 PM
This is a year old but good none-the-less
I tried to contact Marcelo about donating some techniques to Lockflow, unfortunately he is under contract with a DVD company, but he did agree to a quick interview. I was excited to ask him about fighting MMA, his famous arm drag and X- Guard techniques. Enjoy.
Lockflow: Marcelo, for those readers who are not familiar with you, when did you start you training? and what titles have you won?
Marcelo: I have started training when I was 13 years old, I am 24 now. I am 5 times world champion ( blue, purple , brown and 2 x as a black belt), 2x ADCC champion, Brazilian Champion and multiple times state champion.
Lockflow:What lead you to train in Jiu-Jitsu?
Marcelo: Watching Royce win the UFC, made me wish to fight MMA , and I saw Jiu Jitsu as the most efficient martial art, I wanted to one day make a living out of fighting.
Lockflow:Marcelo, who are your top 3 favorite grapplers and why?
Marcelo: Rickson Gracie, because he is a legend, Renzo Gracie, because he was the first Gracie I met, before I became a black belt ( I went to Gracie Barra when I was a yellow belt , and had a picture taken with him ) and Minotauro for proving that still today, Jiu Jitsu is efficient and he still uses it to win his fights.
Lockflow:Who are you main training partners?
Marcelo: When I was in Brazil, it was Fabio Gurgel, Tarsis Humphreys, and all the students at Alliance SP, now I am starting to get to know my new students, but I have Black Belts Fabio Clemente and Babs and also brown belt Josh to train with at alliance NY, where I am teaching now.
Lockflow:You have achieved more in the last few years than many competitors have achieved in their entire lifetime, what goals do you have left to accomplish in the Submission grappling competition arena?
Marcelo working his game
Marcelo: well, I think that what I have to achieve in Submission, is to one day win the absolute category.
Lockflow:Who has been your toughest opponent since winning your 2003 ADCC Division?
Marcelo: In submission it was Pe de pano, because he is very technical and knows how to use his size and weight.
Lockflow:Is there anyone out there in particular that you want to compete against?
Marcelo: I My big challenge nowadays I guess it's defeating Roger Gracie, i hope one day I can do that, so I hope to keep on fighting him in competitions, so I would have the chance to some day win!
Lockflow:You quite possibly have the best arm drag in the entire submission world, Did it come to you naturally or do you have a special way of applying it?
Marcelo: I believe that when you train hard, you find the positions that are good for your game, and that's what happened with the arm drag, is one of those positions that come easier to me.
Lockflow:In many of your matches, you have been a shinning example of the possibilities of the X-guard, is this a position you created or was it taught to you?
Marcelo: I had the help of all my teachers that have taught me throughout those years, I don't recall one person only teaching me that, but it was a position that I learned and improved to get to my X guard. I didn't invent it, just adapted to my game.
Lockflow:How often do you train during the week, and do you follow a special diet?
The most common place to see Marcelo working
Marcelo: I train 2 times a day, 5 days a week, and I try to keep a good diet, it really depends on how much weight I need to cut.
Lockflow:How important do you feel it is to train with the gi for no gi grapplers?
Marcelo: I think one will always help the other, gi to no gi and no gi to gi, the ideal would be to train both, but with the gi, you will never have the factor of the person getting rid of a position being wet because of the sweat, you really need to know the positions, in order for them to work. So that helps you when you train no gi, it gives you a more precise knowledge.
Lockflow:Will we ever see you fight MMA?
Marcelo: It depends on the promoters, it is up to them to decide whether I can be a good asset to the competition, good entertainment...so I will wait for the invitation
Lockflow:Are you training striking as well?
Marcelo: A little bit...
Lockflow:As far as students that would like to follow in your footsteps, what advise would you give them?
Marcelo: That they spend all the time they have on the mat, if they want to get to where I am right now...Training is everything.
Lockflow:You have a new Gym opening up in New York, why did you choose New York?
Marcelo: It's not a new gym, I will be teaching with Fabio Clemente, at Studio X, he has been in NY for 14 years...I have received other proposals, but I have chosen NY because it's one of my favorite cities in The US,I like that you can find all kinds of people, from all over the world.
Lockflow:How can people get ahold of you for information on your gym or lessons?
Marcelo: They can check my website MarceloGarciajj.com, and if they want to learn Jiu Jitsu, they are always welcome to train with me at Studio X, on 98 third ave, NY. For more info just send an email to info@marcelogarciajj.com
Lockflow:Anything you would like to add?
Marcelo: Thank you for the opportunity to talk a little about myself, and keep on training hard. I'd like to thank all my teachers for supporting me to get here!
Marcelo Garcia
I tried to contact Marcelo about donating some techniques to Lockflow, unfortunately he is under contract with a DVD company, but he did agree to a quick interview. I was excited to ask him about fighting MMA, his famous arm drag and X- Guard techniques. Enjoy.
Lockflow: Marcelo, for those readers who are not familiar with you, when did you start you training? and what titles have you won?
Marcelo: I have started training when I was 13 years old, I am 24 now. I am 5 times world champion ( blue, purple , brown and 2 x as a black belt), 2x ADCC champion, Brazilian Champion and multiple times state champion.
Lockflow:What lead you to train in Jiu-Jitsu?
Marcelo: Watching Royce win the UFC, made me wish to fight MMA , and I saw Jiu Jitsu as the most efficient martial art, I wanted to one day make a living out of fighting.
Lockflow:Marcelo, who are your top 3 favorite grapplers and why?
Marcelo: Rickson Gracie, because he is a legend, Renzo Gracie, because he was the first Gracie I met, before I became a black belt ( I went to Gracie Barra when I was a yellow belt , and had a picture taken with him ) and Minotauro for proving that still today, Jiu Jitsu is efficient and he still uses it to win his fights.
Lockflow:Who are you main training partners?
Marcelo: When I was in Brazil, it was Fabio Gurgel, Tarsis Humphreys, and all the students at Alliance SP, now I am starting to get to know my new students, but I have Black Belts Fabio Clemente and Babs and also brown belt Josh to train with at alliance NY, where I am teaching now.
Lockflow:You have achieved more in the last few years than many competitors have achieved in their entire lifetime, what goals do you have left to accomplish in the Submission grappling competition arena?
Marcelo working his game
Marcelo: well, I think that what I have to achieve in Submission, is to one day win the absolute category.
Lockflow:Who has been your toughest opponent since winning your 2003 ADCC Division?
Marcelo: In submission it was Pe de pano, because he is very technical and knows how to use his size and weight.
Lockflow:Is there anyone out there in particular that you want to compete against?
Marcelo: I My big challenge nowadays I guess it's defeating Roger Gracie, i hope one day I can do that, so I hope to keep on fighting him in competitions, so I would have the chance to some day win!
Lockflow:You quite possibly have the best arm drag in the entire submission world, Did it come to you naturally or do you have a special way of applying it?
Marcelo: I believe that when you train hard, you find the positions that are good for your game, and that's what happened with the arm drag, is one of those positions that come easier to me.
Lockflow:In many of your matches, you have been a shinning example of the possibilities of the X-guard, is this a position you created or was it taught to you?
Marcelo: I had the help of all my teachers that have taught me throughout those years, I don't recall one person only teaching me that, but it was a position that I learned and improved to get to my X guard. I didn't invent it, just adapted to my game.
Lockflow:How often do you train during the week, and do you follow a special diet?
The most common place to see Marcelo working
Marcelo: I train 2 times a day, 5 days a week, and I try to keep a good diet, it really depends on how much weight I need to cut.
Lockflow:How important do you feel it is to train with the gi for no gi grapplers?
Marcelo: I think one will always help the other, gi to no gi and no gi to gi, the ideal would be to train both, but with the gi, you will never have the factor of the person getting rid of a position being wet because of the sweat, you really need to know the positions, in order for them to work. So that helps you when you train no gi, it gives you a more precise knowledge.
Lockflow:Will we ever see you fight MMA?
Marcelo: It depends on the promoters, it is up to them to decide whether I can be a good asset to the competition, good entertainment...so I will wait for the invitation
Lockflow:Are you training striking as well?
Marcelo: A little bit...
Lockflow:As far as students that would like to follow in your footsteps, what advise would you give them?
Marcelo: That they spend all the time they have on the mat, if they want to get to where I am right now...Training is everything.
Lockflow:You have a new Gym opening up in New York, why did you choose New York?
Marcelo: It's not a new gym, I will be teaching with Fabio Clemente, at Studio X, he has been in NY for 14 years...I have received other proposals, but I have chosen NY because it's one of my favorite cities in The US,I like that you can find all kinds of people, from all over the world.
Lockflow:How can people get ahold of you for information on your gym or lessons?
Marcelo: They can check my website MarceloGarciajj.com, and if they want to learn Jiu Jitsu, they are always welcome to train with me at Studio X, on 98 third ave, NY. For more info just send an email to info@marcelogarciajj.com
Lockflow:Anything you would like to add?
Marcelo: Thank you for the opportunity to talk a little about myself, and keep on training hard. I'd like to thank all my teachers for supporting me to get here!
Marcelo Garcia