Jiu-Jitsu champion Ary Farias plays with a friend between training sessions. Personal archive photo.
A many-time Brazilian national champion and runner-up at this year’s Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, having closed out with Guilherme Mendes, Ary Farias is one of the most respected little guys in the current gentle art scene.
In the minidocumentary below, Ary talks of his preparation for championships, addresses his start in Jiu-Jitsu after watching Rickson and Royce Gracie fighting, and teaches you how to literally flatten your opponent out on the mat.
“I got into Jiu-Jitsu when a friend of mine showed me Rickson and Royce’s fights. They were a lot smaller than their opponents, and even so they were dominant in their fights. Size isn’t a determining factor. That’s where I got my passion from,” said the Atos Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
MAKE YOUR OPPONENT UNCOMFORTABLE THE WHOLE TIME IN JIU-JITSU
Ary took the opportunity to teach creative finishes from side-control. The key is to keep chest to chest and make them as uncomfortable as possible with your shoulder, to get them to look the other way and be at your mercy.
