Otavio Sousa mounts and sets up arm attack at Chicago Open. Photo: IBJJF publicity.
Otavio Sousa is becoming something of a boogeyman at IBJJF Open tournaments. Keeping an enviable competition pace, last Saturday the Jiu-Jitsu black belt who teaches at Gracie Barra America snapped up his third middleweight and absolute gold medals of the season.
“My performance in Chicago was good; I’m really pleased with my 2012 campaign so far. The Chicago Summer Open was the third IBJJF tournament I won gold at weight and open weight of the season—the other two were at the Spring Open at the Jiu-Jitsu Expo and the New York Open. Not to mention the biggest title of my career, which came at the 2012 Worlds in Long Beach,” he remembered when interviewed by GRACIEMAG.com.
The most impressive thing about Otavio is his consistency, seeing as he made a July trip to Brazil to compete at Copa Pódio. “I feel that keeping this rhythm has been vital to my career. I didn’t let up after the Worlds. I’m keeping up the pace, keeping in good condition both technically and physically. I don’t plan on slowing down any time soon (laughs),” said the native of Pernambuco state, before breaking down how his matches at the tournament went.
“The divisional final at the Chicago Open was against Vitor Henrique, who is a really tough fighter from GFTeam. In the absolute, before making it to the final I had to get past a really tough athlete from Alliance, Gabriel Goulart, who I beat on points,” said the Zé Radiola student.
“I had a total of four matches at the event and won two by submission. The first was by armbar from the mount, where I managed to sit on my opponent’s midsection and cross one of his arms over without giving him chance for escape. The second submission of the day was against a student of Rodrigo Comprido’s, Scott Hudson, who was in the medium heavyweight final against Gabriel Goulart. I managed to pass his guard, take his back and finish him with a choke using both sides of the collar,” he explained.
“I’m really pleased with my results, and thank God doors are opening and opportunities arising for me. My plans now are to head to Japan to teach seminars and take part in Jiu-Jitsu events. I also have some supermatches scheduled for October and the end of the year. I’d like to take the opportunity to post my email for anyone interested in a seminar: otaviosousagb@gmail.com,” he said in closing.
Check out the crossed arms and armbar in the following video of the medium heavyweight semifinal.
