Lucas won another gold medal last Saturday (14) in New York. Photo: personal archive
Two fights, two wins and one more gold medal on his chest. Winning titles is a routine for Lucas Pinheiro. Just in the second half of this year he has won at the American Nationals, the Austin Open and the Las Vegas Open. This time the Atos Jiu-Jitsu black belt won the IBJJF No Gi Pan, held last weekend in New York. It was the second title of the Amazon-born fighter in the competition, but this time fighting as a featherweight.
“The first time I won the title was in 2017 at roosterweight. This time I fought at featherweight and once again managed to be champion. I won two fights on points and in the other I got the finish. I think I had a great performance, but I demand a lot from myself. After the competition passes, I always analyze my fights and see where I can improve. Even leaving with the gold medal, I will go back to the gym and see what I can improve for the next competitions,” said Lucas.
The Amazonian based in Dallas, Texas, does not hide from anyone that his focus is on the gi competitions. But he has been very successful in No Gi tournaments. Despite the positive results, he revealed that he is not in the habit of training without a gi.
“Here in Dallas I have a lot of friends and training partners who like No Gi more and have been training wrestling since childhood. I often train for fun, or to help them, and end up improving no-gi game,” confessed the Atos athlete.
Riding the momentum of the Pan title, he is now gunning for gold at the No Gi Worlds, which takes place in December in Anaheim, California. In 2017, his first black belt tournament, he got silver. Last year he ended up knocked out in the quarterfinals by judges’ decision.
“I am not one of those who believe that by doing well in one competition you will do well in the next. Experience gives me more security, but it does not guarantee that the next result will be positive. It all depends on the process until the next competition, and the day it happens. In the No Gi Worlds I’ll have different opponents. Some of them with more experience and better prepared. But I’ll arrive well trained and focused to win this title I don’t yet have.”
[Source: PR.]
