Team Agua News

Amir Sheikhosseini a strong grappler with a judo and wrestling background, represented Team agua (BJJ Amsterdam) in the biggest grappling competition in Holland. The gold medal was close, but a small mistake made him end up with the bronze. Amir helps us out with wrestling and judo takedowns during the BJJ and Grappling classes. Congrats!

Check out this cool promo video of our team!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34AVkE-2TT8&feature=em-share_video_user

 We were present at this Grappling tournament with a small group of competitors from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Haarlem and managed to win the ‘Best Team’ title! Next up are the BJJ Dutch Open and the NK Grappling on October 10th.

Interview Augusto Ferrari – 22 May 2015

PERSONAL

Why did you start training BJJ and what’s your training background regarding BJJ, Grappling and other martial arts?
I started training Jiu Jitsu when I was 14 years old because I was a little fat and I had long hair so people sometimes confused me for a girl. I was sad with that so I shaved my hair off and I started training Jiu Jitsu like a mad-man. I was already doing Judo but I fell in love with Jiu Jitsu.

What are your main titles and which are you most proud of?
Brazilian champion and ADCC trials champ.

What kept you motivated during so many years?
My competition is against myself, it is not against any other athlete or person. I want to prove to myself all the time that I can stop or go back to training and competing anytime I wish no matter how hard it is.

What influence did BJJ and your experience on the mat have on your everyday life?
Jiu Jitsu made me more responsible and taught me not to leave everyday problems to be solved later. I do everything right away and I don’t give up on my projects. I go all the way, until I make my dreams come true.

What are your activities besides Jiu Jitsu ?
Cross fit, Fitness and running.

What is your opinion about the different rules and federations?
I only recognize as federation the CBJJ/IBJJF/FPJJ, the rest I don’t know and don’t want to be a part of. Every year they take more rules from Jiu Jitsu, opening more space for power and less space for techniques. Sports Jiu Jitsu is becoming a very robotic Jiu Jitsu.

Do you prefer points or submission only?
I like both, but I seek to make points first, control and then try to submit.

Do you have favorite techniques and positions and why?
I do but I get bored with them easily, I always change. I like to create, sometimes I would like to use the same position all the time maybe that would help me in competition. Use few moves but do them very well.

How did you manage to handle the injuries?
I am religious and I have learned to value the soul than the body. That is why when the body breaks we have to maintain a strong mind, fix the broken body and fight. We cannot let our minds be broken.
JIU JITSU

What is your vision on how jiu jitsu is developing (oldschool vs newschool)?
To me Jiu Jitsu has changed a lot. Like I said before, today we have a robotic Jiu Jitsu or in other words, everybody wants to use the same popular positions. We have a repetitive Jiu Jitsu where everyone practices the same positions. Before it used to be pressure Jiu Jitsu and today we have a jumping around Jiu Jitsu, but I respect the changes and I try to adapt myself and my game to the two styles.

Can you give us your view on fighting with or without the gi. Is one more important or do they simply complement each other?
I like both styles very much and I think they complement each other. But I believe that no gi favors athletes who are less technical and who use more strength.

What were the most important revelations in terms of understanding the game and how did they improve your skills?
I think training without gi helps to gain more reflexes and cardio because there is more movement involved and is more slippery. I like to train without the gi when my fingers hurt. Then I can continue training while resting my grips.

What is their favorite pre-/post training meal?
Since I train in the morning at 11AM I put a lot of carbs into my breakfast;
Whole wheat bread, sweet potato, jelly, bananas, black coffee, BCCA and glutamine.
When need carbs before the training and more protein after training. After training I eat meat, eggs, fish, fruits and fruit juices and less pasta after class. Ahh, and I believe a lot in black coffee before training…pure and strong hehe!

Do you do any other things specifically to improve your performance in Jiu Jitsu, such as Yoga, Cardio training, Rope climbing etc?
I think firstly you should train Jiu Jitsu at least once a day before thinking about any other kind of training. I always advise weightlifting and running. Crossfit is very advanced and a lot of people get injured because they start training crossfit before tey know how to lift properly.

COMPETITION

How is your training preparation for a tournament?
My training is almost always the same. I roll for one hour every day, lift weights and run.

Why do most practitioners choose to not do tournaments after earning their black belt?
Maybe because they lose focus? Or they chill out? They are satisfied being a black belt? I don’t know, but to me you either are a competitor or you aren’t. If you are a competitor you never stop. You can compete less, but you’ll always try because it’s in your blood.

Who are your role models in BJJ and Grappling?
Those have always been my training partners, sometimes there’s no need to be famous. Just be the one putting effort and help every day!

What are the most important things to make you a good fighter?
To be the same person on and off the mat.
Respect the students and teachers. Value your family, dedicate yourself, know how to lose as well and do everything with a lot of love.

James Verschuur has been a black belt for some time now, keeps on evolving and is quite busy teaching in Den Haag.

Check out the interview below for some of his thoughts.

PERSONAL

 Why did you start training BJJ and what’s your training background regarding BJJ, Grappling and other martial arts?

I started BJJ because of my older brother (Aron Verschuur, Gracie Barra black belt) He used to show me armbars and leg locks. My background is Karate (Kyokushin) and I also did cross train with Judo and still whenever I can go to a judo class.

What kept you motivated during so many years?

I think motivation is just a tool to reach whatever goal you want to achieve within BJJ.
My goal was to become better and to help others.

What influence did BJJ and your experience on the mat have on your everyday life?

Well it helped me in many ways but to mention the most important one to me I would have to say the importance of balance/ equilibrium.

What are your activities besides Jiu Jitsu ?

I like playing the drums, and listening to music.

What is your opinion about the different rules and federations? Do you prefer points or submission only?

I think both have their places. You have to train for both so it could keep things fun.
As a competitor, I think the rules should not matter as long as your training.

Do you have favorite techniques and positions and why?

I like passing and chaining positions ( pass, side, back-take). Reason I like passing is because I am stocky and some what heavy so it works good for me and the reason I like chaining positions is because it builds good timing and accuracy.

How did you manage to handle the injuries? This can be very demotivating.

After a lot of trial and error treating my injuries, because I went to train even after I was warned not to do so, I think the best is to sit it out and listen to your doctors/therapists. Listening is a key part of learning!!!!!!

JIU JITSU

What is your vision on how jiu jitsu is developing (oldschool vs newschool)?

BJJ is developing very fast and never gets boring!!!! I don’t have a preference in between oldschool and newschool I like mixing techniques as long as they work.

Any tips for beginners? What should beginners focus on ?

I think as a beginner you should work on balance and movement and what you don’t understand you try to break(grips)

Can you give us your view on fighting with or without the gi. Is one more important or do they simply complement each other?

I love training with the gi but I think training with and without the gi can really help you understand some aspects of jiu jitsu for example training no gi will help you with when to grip and when to just put pressure with your hand

What were the most important revelations in terms of understanding the game and how did they improve your skills?

When I understood the principle of weight distribution.

What is your favorite pre-/post training meal?

Pre training meal always a banana and post training Re-Con by MusclePharm.

Do you do any other things specifically to improve your performance in Jiu Jitsu, such as Yoga, Cardio training, Rope climbing etc?

I do some specific strength and conditioning trainings but mostly a lot of drilling and sparring.

COMPETITION

How is your training preparation for a tournament?

I haven’t been competing but if so, I would drill and roll a lot.

Why do most practitioners choose to not do tournaments after earning their black belt?

I would not know the reasons of others might be but I want to compete for sure in the near future

Who are your role models in BJJ and Grappling?

Ronaldo Jacare Souza, Leo & Ricardinho Vieira,Marcelo Garcia, Augusto Ferrari, Rodolfo Vieira, Leandro Lo and Master Barbosa.

What are the most important things to make you a good fighter?

Be smart and think outside the box.

Here’s an interview with Maurico Cristo an upcoming BJJ champ, who will teach a seminar tonight in Amsterdam!

PERSONAL

Why did you start training BJJ and what’s your training background regarding BJJ, Grappling and other martial arts?

I started because a friend of mine invited me to do 1 class just to try, I liked it right away.  I`m currently training in Abu Dhabi where I live and teach I have many partners who help me a lot to get in shape for the competition and my professor Cicero Costha who motivates me mentally all the time,I training grappling twice a week and thats all.

What are your main titles and which are you most proud of?

I`m World Champion Brown and Black Belt by CBJJE in Sao Paulo Brazil third place at the Europeans Open Weight and Super Heavy champion of the Munich Open IBJJF and European No Gi Champion IBJJF. I`m proud of all my titles. My biggest dream is to become World Champion by IBJJF.

What kept you motivated during so many years?

My motivation is to try to be the best in every training, not better than my partners but better than I was yesterday not only in jiu jitsu but as a person as well

What influence did BJJ and your experience on the mat have on your everyday life?

Jiu Jitsu changed my life completely; the way I treat people, my education and personality how I conduce my life it’s all because of jiujitsu.

What are your activities besides Jiu Jitsu ?

I like to play video game (UFC), and I love to spend time with my dog, wife and my friends.

What is your opinion about the different rules and federations? Do you prefer points or submission only?

The rules change every year which is good because they are trying to make the sport better, but about the federations I think they should think more about the athletes. Which are the guys who give the show. The UAE federation (Abu Dhabi Pro) they give prize money in every competition and this motivate the competitors, I prefer points and submission but when you play against top level guys points makes the difference.

Do you have favorite techniques and positions and why?

I’m a bit flexible so I like to play spider guard and x-guard a lot since I`m purple belt I think because of my partners trainers  like Leandro Lo, Paulo Miyao, Yago,Augusto Ferrari and many other good guys.

How did you manage to handle the injuries? This can be very demotivating.

Injuries happen a lot but I never had a serious one only normal so for me is difficult to talk about that.

JIU JITSU

What is your vision on how jiu jitsu is developing (oldschool vs newschool)?

I`m from the new generation I have only 8 years of jiujitsu so I love the new school but my professor is old school so if you combine both is perfect.

Any tips for beginners? What should beginners focus on ? i think they should focus on basic positions and try to do a lot of competition and keep your ego outside of the mat. Thats my advice.

Can you give us your view on fighting with or without the gi. Is one more important or do they simply complement each other? For me GI is much more technical than NO GI but definitely they complement each other.

What were the most important revelations in terms of understanding the game and how did they improve your skills? I think the first thing that you have to understand is which game you have or which one you like to play from there you start to work on the techniques but basically the most important revelation that I have is try to understand your jiu jitsu try to find the mistakes in every training and then you will improve your skills.

What is their favorite pre-/post training meal?

Pre training I like something light as a fruit or a shake. Post training food that was lots of carbs like pasta or if on the diet rice with salad.

Do you do any other things specifically to improve your performance in Jiu Jitsu, such as Yoga, Cardio training, Rope climbing etc? I do only jiu jitsu. I drill a lot, that’s my cardio and I do a lot of rolls. Specially when I`m tired in the end of the training and to improve even more my cardio I like to drill in the beginning of the class and in the end to get exhausted.

COMPETITION

How is your training preparation for a tournament? I train every day twice a day; one training I do drills and specific sparring and the second training drills and sparring. I train around 4-5 hours per day. 

Why do most practitioners choose to not do tournaments after earning their black belt? I think because of the level is very high and sometimes you get demotivating or some guys are injury it depends on what your goal is. You know, sometimes the guys he just want to be a black belt a good professor, the best professor is not the best competitor and the best competitor is not always the best professor so it depends on your goal.

Who are your role models in BJJ and Grappling?

Leandro Lo, Romulo Barral and Marcelo Garcia these are the guys that inspire me 

What are the most important things to make you a good fighter? Be humble, no ego, keep the focus and train really hard.

Yasmin Sewgobind, who has been training with us in Amsterdam for over 10 years, will head to Abu Dhabi to spread the art of BJJ.
Below you find a pic taken after her last class before travelling. Good vibes!

Kelly Kilarcyan and Chango Eersel flew from Amsterdam to Lisbon to compete at the annual Europeans Open BJJ. This was the biggest BJJ competition ever with almost 3500 competitors! Their preparation paid off they flew back to Amsterdam with 3 medals: gold, silver and bronze.

Kelly fought at blue belt and had three fights winning one by submission,, one by points and one by advantage.
Eventhough Chango came home with two medals, the outcome could ‘ve been even better. In his weight and open he lost on referee’s decision after a tied figth (0-0). Nonetheless, silver in his weight and bronze in the open, being the only lightweight there!

Flavio Silva, originally from Sao Paulo, has been a BJJ brown belt for a very long time and it was about time he got upgraded to black belt. Flavio is an assistant instructor who can be found sharing his knowledge on the mats at our schools in Amsterdam on Tuesday, Rotterdam on Thursday + Saturday and Den Haag on Monday. He is known for his lasso guard and his kimura finishes.

Competitors from our academies of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Den Haag went to the Holland BJJ Open.
They did great winning lots of medals, resulting in the best team title!

Team Agua competitors went to the Holland Grappling Open in Den Haag (Rijswijk). We won several medals. Patrick Asscher who trains with us in Amsterdam, was one of the stand outs winning gold in the Advanced division.

Andy Siebert got third place at the Europeans BJJ. Andy teaches the Saturday BJJ class of our team in Amsterdam.

After the Europeans of BJJ at the end of January, this will be our next goal;   Holland Grappling Open !

2013 is done and it has been a very good year for our team.

2014 is ahead and we invite you to come train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), Grappling or MMA at one of our schools in Amsterdam, Den Haag or Rotterdam.