Mario Reis
Being part of the Alliance team for two years, three-time world champion (2003/04) Mario Reis will join another big event for the eagle team, the IBJJF Pan. “I’m feeling very well for this Pan. I started my preparation with my students in Porto Alegre, and one month before the competition I came to Los Angeles to prepare myself with my partner, friend and great professor, Rubens Cobrinha.” said Reis in chat with GracieMag.com.
“To get to this Pan well prepared, I think my great quality is an offensive Jiu-Jitsu, always eyeing the submission, but I must also know how to play with the rules. I need to control my emotions, and also the willingness to try to submit all the time, because sometimes the boldness and ambition can do harm within ten minutes of fight. Be more strategic at times is also important,” he added.
As for the featherweight, one of the busiest of the tournament, Reis declared, “I think the featherweight category is always very dangerous, full of great champions and newcomers. It has always been a division in which the athletes are very technical, fast and strong. It’s always very nice to see.”
The athlete praised the novelty of the drug test in the black belt. “It’s a very big step in Jiu-Jitsu, as it will even the fights more and also make the result fairer. And the main thing: it will help to preserve the athletes’ health. Of course the physical fitness and strength are important in competitions today, but Jiu-Jitsu will always be the gentle art,” he concluded.
