Marcio André. Photo: Erin Herle/GRACIEMAG
As he won the purple belt World Championship, 18-year-old featherweight Marcio André earned his brown belt. But the Nova União standout’s bliss didn’t stop there: after he stepped off the podium, the Fábio Andrade student got an invitation to the 2013 ADCC in Beijing.
The event is scheduled for October 18 and 19, and the youngster will be making the 66kg class even tougher by joining current champion Rafael Mendes, plus the likes of Augusto Tanquinho, Rubens Cobrinha and João Miyao.
Marcio will be flying to Kansas, USA, in late July to intensify his training and teach his technique at seminars. After that, his plans include a trip to teach in Japan. Even with his relative inexperience and the presence of so many giants of the game, Marcinho sees no problem surrounding his ADCC debut.
“I’ll practice to give it my best. I’m happy about this opportunity – all I hope for is to perform well and showcase my Jiu-Jitsu,” said the brown belt from the Bangu neighborhood in Rio.
