Jose Diaz
Jose, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Could you give the readers a brief bio on yourself?
Well, I’m 28 years old and I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I’m a Black Belt under Master Carlos Gracie Jr. the founder of Gracie Barra. I’ve been training Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Barra since I was 14 years old. I’m also a brown belt at Judo training under the guidance of the Olympic Medalist Flavio Canto.
I’m a Brazilian National Champion and American Nationals champion. I’m also State champion in the art of judo. I stopped training for competitions during my college time while I was getting my Business and Administration degree, but I came to the competition world on 2002.
You have a background in both Judo and BJJ. How do you feel the two arts complement each other?
That’s a good question. A lot of people don’t know that Jiu-Jitsu and Judo were one once. For several reasons they ended up as two different sports. So my point is, sometimes Jiu-Jitsu fighters forget that our matches start on our feet, so the more you know about takedowns the safer you are going to be out there.
The Judo Federation recently put more restrictions on the takedowns they allow. What are your thoughts on this?
All the restrictions in order to preserve the physical integrity of the athletes I’m for it.
The 50/50 position has caused some uproar in the BJJ community because some competitors are using it to sweep and then stall. What do you think the IBJJF can do about this without damaging the integrity of the sport?
All the new positions, polemics or not, are good for the development of the sport. Now we are facing the doubts, but that will bring counters and defenses for that position and that’s when the sport grows again. If the fight stars to get boring the IBJJF will come up with a solution probably punishing thosewho try to stay in that position stalling or who knows maybe prohibiting it. But either way those challenges stimulate the fighters.
Another controversial issue is the “judge’s decision.” Do you think it is fair for the judges to pick a winner or would you rather see overtime?
I think that the way we are now with three referees for a fight is good enough to have a fair decision. Because it’s hard to see three Black Belts making a bad call.
Do you view BJJ more as a sport or as a form of self-defense?
Jiu-Jitsu was developed as a self-defense art and then became a sport. So, I think it’s good for a practitioner of the art to understand our roots. Especially because the self-defense helps to develop a good foundation.
How do you keep a balance between teaching self-defense and competition techniques?
It’s funny, because I think that if you look at my game you can see that I’m a fighter with a very modern Jiu-Jitsu, but also very interested in self-defense, proving that they can get along well. They complement each other. Another thing is that I was raised learning self-defense so for me is natural, I don’t have to waste too much time training it.
Who have been some of the biggest influences on your game?
Professor Marcio Feitosa and Professor Marco Joca.
You have taught and trained in both the U.S. and Brazil. What do you feel are the main differences between the BJJ in the U.S. and Brazil?
Brazil has Jiu-Jitsu as a common sport in some cities; this makes a huge fabric of fighters. But I think that the U.S. is growing fast and soon here is going to be, alongside with Brazil, a country with many World Champions. I can’t wait to see.
What do you think has made Gracie Barra so successful in both competition and as a business?
Gracie Barra was always famous by its competitors, but what people don’t know is that Jiu-Jitsu at that time was being taught only for top competitors, so a normal guy that wanted to learn BJJ wouldn’t feel comfortable in that environment. Now a days we found a balance between teaching a person that wants to be a competitor and a person that wants to learn BJJ as physical exercise or as a hobby.
Do you plan on competing in the future?
Yes. My goal it’s to start on the Pan Ams in April.
Any plans for MMA?
Not yet.
What else can we expect from you in the future?
My plans are to develop Jiu-Jitsu in Cleveland and try to combine this with my competition schedule.
Any last comments?
I would like to say for those who never tried BJJ before that it’s never too late, this art doesn’t see age, it sees the soul, so if you want to challenge yourself and you have the heart, try it.
Quick Hits
Favorite Takedown: Kataguruma, Fireman carry
Favorite Submission: eziekiel from the back
How many days a week do you train? 4 to 5
Favorite music to train to: Hip-Hop
Ratio of Drilling to Sparring you recommend: 2 days hard BJJ, 3 days normal BJJ, 2 days of physical training(weights).
Favorite thing to do outside of grappling: Movies
Favorite jiu-jitsu guys to watch: Marcelo Garcia, Andre Galvao and Leo Vieira.
Biggest mistake that new grapplers make: It’s to forget the basics; they will miss that when they fight someone where they have to defend more than attack.
