Gui Mendes in Japan / Personal archive photo
After winning the ADCC, Rafael Mendes didn’t slow down one bit. Rafael and his brother, Guilherme, made the most of the trip to England to hold some seminars, before heading off for Japan, where they got the tapout in every match they were in and added some more gold to their coffers. Another who came up big in the Land of the Rising Sun was Bruno Frazatto.
“After the ADCC, we had the privilege of getting to see some incredible places and make new friends. In England, we got to see Sheffield, passed through Birmingham, where me hung out with our friend Bráulio Estima, and then we spent a few days in New Castle. Lastly, before heading home, we took the opportunity to see London,” recounts Rafa.
Rafa having fun in Abu Dhabi / Personal archive photo
“We spent a few days with our family in Brazil and Rafa was invited to train with Sheikh Tahnoon. Meanwhile, I went to Japan, where I conducted two seminars on my own and then another one alongside Rafa, before competing at the Rickson Gracie Cup,” Guilherme adds.
“The event was excellent. It was incredibly well organized and we were treated as best as could be by the organizers and the Japanese public. Every fighters should at least once in life get to compete in Japan and see what we’re talking about. It’s different, the energy’s incredible! Thank God, everything went smoothly, we got the tapout in all our matches, and we achieved our objective. Now we have a few more commitments before the end of the year but we’ll still be training at full steam,” says Guilherme.
Frazatto was victorious at the Rickson Cup. Personal archive photo.
The brothers will then return to Brazil, stay just three days with their family, and then take off for Australia, where they’ll do a tour teaching in different cities. Following another stopover in Brazil, they’ll head for the USA, where they’ll stay until December 20.
“Jiu-Jitsu has opened a lot of doors for us and provided us the privilege of getting to know the world. We’re thank God every day for having illuminated us so. We’ll only get more dedicated every day, since our objective is to evolve, create and innovate, so that we may teach others the art that has changed our lives,” says Rafael in finishing.
