Monday through Friday this week, from 10:30AM to 12:30PM, nearly 70 Gracie Barra students gather at the team’s headquarters, in Irvine.
There, they meet for their team’s training camp for the first ever Worlds Master & Senior, with four-degree black belt Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhães at the helm.
The leader of Gracie Barra Texas traveled to California specially for this one.
“The turnout was great, and the guys’ skill are evolving on a daily basis. It’s amazing”, says Draculino in celebration.
GRACIEMAG.com paid a visit to the camp last Tuesday, when Draculino dedicated the morning to teaching guard passes.
After showing three movements, the professor supervises his students, giving pointers whenever he sees something wrong.
To one of them, he gives more of a philosophical lesson, but also a very practical one: “In the master & senior divisions, you can’t afford to make a mistake. You have to get ahead on the scoreboard. There isn’t much time to comeback. So, when you get to a position, make sure you get the points before going for the submission,” lectures Draculino, after seeing a student going for the armbar before stabilizing a mount.
It’s two hours of intense training, and those who are competing train harder.
“You have to get ready here! They are getting in shape physically and technically. At the end of the last day, I am going to give them a nice speech so they get in the right mindset to compete”.
Other teams are also holding camps, and GRACIEMAG.com will pay them a visit.
If you’re going to compete, don’t forget to show up early, as the IBJJF warns of traffic issues due to the LB Marathon on the morning of the event. Find out more here and here.
Keep up with all the action here and at GRACIEMAG’S Facebook, Instagram (@graciemagazine) and Twitter pages.
IBJJF just released the event’s schedule.