INTERVIEWS

This Month The Tinguinha BJJ Academy brings to our Interview link an interview with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Leonardo Seixas. Leonardo is a Black Belt from The Old Days of The Gracie Barra School in Rio and he grew up with and was a training partner of our Professor Mauricio "Tinguinha". While visiting The Tinguinha BJJ Academy he sat down with us to talk a little about how was training on those old days and his training partners back then.

1) How long do you train BJJ and Where did you train?

I started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 1989 when I was 13 years old at the Gracie-Humaita but in 1992 I started training at the Gracie Barra School in Rio de Janeiro. Today I am 32 years old and have almost 20 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

2)Why did you start training BJJ?

I started by influence of my friends from school and my cousins but also to learn how to defend myself.

 3)You come from a school where many BJJ quality athletes are from, Who were your training partners? And in your opinion who was the most special?

It is true. I trained with the Gracies Renzo, Ralph, Ryan, Roger, Rollesinho and Igor among other special  fighters such as Nino Schembri, Roberto “Gordo”Correia, Mauricio “Tinguinha” Mariano, Daniel “Montanha”, Gustavo Machado, Alexandre “Soca”, Roberto “Roleta”, Helio “Soneca”, Ricardo “Cachorrao”Almeida, Marcio “Pe de Pano”, Rafael “Gordinho”Correia, Romel Cardoso, Joao Paulo “Big Head”, Marcio Feitosa besides many others and because of that it is very hard to pick one fighter being that I had the opportunity  to train with so many special ones but back then one fighter that  was outstanding for always finishing everybody was Nino Schembri.

4) What year did you become a BJJ Black Belt and How long do you teach BJJ?

I got the Black Belt in 2002 and started teaching BJJ in 1996, so about 13 years.  

Leonardo Seixas visiting the Tinguinha BJJ Academy

5)What would you say are the necessary qualities to be a good instructor/teacher?

In my opinion besides the technical quality, a good class system and a lot of discipline. The teacher must have specially charisma to be able to cativate the student and maintain his motivation level always up.

6)As a BJJ Instructor what are your goals for your students? Or what do you believe is important to teach your students?

Training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brought me a healthier life style and gave me good morals and character. As a teacher my goal for my students is that they are able to achieve the same.

7)You are a big guy but when you train you are very technical and have a very smooth BJJ style which are the characteristics of a lighter weight fighter, what got you to play this style?

I trained all my life with fighters and BJJ practitioners with many different styles and technical levels and that certainly got me to have this diverse technical style of training and to be able to move like a light weight even though I am a heavy weight.

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TINGUINHA BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU SCHOOL
2970 E. La Palma Ave. Ste B
Anaheim-CA 92806
Ph: 714-630-6218
E-mail: tinguinha@tinguinha.com