Leticia Interview from BJJBabe.com
INTERVIEW WITH LETICIA RIBEIRO
By Lili, Gracie Barra Purple Belt
THE WORLDS ARE APPROACHING AND ONCE AGAIN THE ARENA IS BEING ASSEMBLED IN RIO DE JANEIRO. EVERYTHING IS SET TO RECEIVE JIU-JITSU ATHLETES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE WILL HAVE MANY DAYS WITH A LOT ACTION, WHERE EACH ATHLETE WILL BE PUTTING TO PRACTICE ALL THEIR YEARS OF TRAINING AND CONDITIONING AND WHERE A SLIGHTEST MISTAKE WILL BE CRUCIAL!
IT IS ALL GOING TO HAPPEN VERY FAST AND WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT, IT WILL ALL BE OVER AND WE WILL ALREADY BE THINKING ABOUT THE 2003 MUNDIAL.
MEANWHILE, START TO THINK IF YOU ARE READY. WILL YOU BE ONE OF THIS YEAR'S CHAMPIONS? PLACE YOUR BETS AND CARRY ON WITH YOUR SPARRING... BECAUSE THE GAME IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!
CONSIDERING THAT, I HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE A PROFILE WITH LETICIA RIBEIRO, A BLACK BELT AND WORLD CHAMPION FROM GRACIE HUMAITÁ. SHE IS ONE OF THOSE WHO WILL BE SHOWING HIGH ACTIVITY ON THE MATS DURING THIS COMPETITION AND WILL BE GOING AFTER THE OBJECT OF DESIRE OF EVERY DEDICATED AND AMBITIOUS ATHLETE.... 1ST PLACE!
DURING THIS INTERVIEW YOU WILL GET TO KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT THIS GREAT FIGHTER, FIND OUT ABOUT HER TRAINING, HER PECULIARITIES AND WHAT GOES ON IN HER HEAD WITH SEVERAL ISSUES.
SO, HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AND KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED TO NEVER HAVE TO FACE THIS " CASCA-GROSSA" IN YOUR FIRST MATCH!
INTERVIEW WITH LETICIA RIBEIRO
LILI: NAME, BELT, ACADEMY AND TITLES?
LETICIA: LETICIA RIBEIRO N. DOS SANTOS
BLACK BELT FROM GRACIE HUMAITÁ ACADEMY
NATIONAL CHAMP : 96/97/98/99
RJ STATES CHAMP : 97/98/99
WORLDS '99 - 3rd PLACE
WORLDS '00 - CHAMPION
WORLDS '01 - 2nd PLACE
LILI: OUCH! HOW LONG HAVE YOU TRAINING?
LETICIA: 8 YEARS
LILI: 8 YEARS AND ALL THOSE TITLES? IMPRESSIVE... HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THIS SPORT?
LETICIA: (SMILING) I STARTED TO TRAIN THROUGH A FRIEND JUST AS A HOBBY, BUT SOON I FELL IN LOVE WITH JIU-JITSU AND STARTED TO PRACTICE DAILY, MORE SERIOUSLY, AIMING AT THE COMPETITIONS. I ALSO HAD SUPPORT FROM ALL MY FRIENDS, TEACHERS AND ESPECIALLY THE SPONSORS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO MY GROWTH.
LILI: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE LEVEL JIU-JITSU HAS REACHED THESE DAYS?
LETICIA: JIU JITSU IS A SPORT THAT HAS A BIG INTERNATIONAL EXPRESSION AND HAS BEEN GROWING EVERY YEAR. I BELIEVE THAT IT'S PROFESSIONALIZATION WOULD BRING MORE INTEREST AND CONSEQUENTLY THE INCENTIVE FOR NEW SPONSORS, RAISING THIS WAY ITS POPULARITY AND BENEFITING THE ATHLETES.
LILI: DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPECTATIONS? WHAT COULD WE DO TO CHANGE IT?
LETICIA: I THINK THAT A MORE POSITIVE REVIEW AND COVERAGE FROM THE MEDIA, FROM THE MARTIAL ARTS MAGAZINES AND ESPECIALLY FROM THE JIU-JITSU PRESS. ALSO BETTER MANAGEMENT FROM OUR ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE BELT DIVISIONS AND LEVELS IN IMPORTANT TOURNAMENTS.
LILI: I AGREE... BUT STILL WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE IT A TRY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DECIDED YET EVEN BECAUSE OF HOW THE SPORT IS SEEN IN THE BRAZILIAN SOCIETY...
LETICIA: IN MY OPINION, PEOPLE ARE PREJUDICE DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. I ADVISE THE GIRLS, IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHO WISH TO TRAIN, TO GET IN TOUCH WITH CBJJ AND LOOK FOR A GOOD SCHOOL WITH QUALIFIED TEACHERS, GETTING THIS WAY TO KNOW THE REAL JIU JITSU.
(FOR THE BJJBABE READERS, CBJJ IS THE BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU CONFEDERATION, BUT DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED, YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR A LOCAL JIU JITSU ORGANIZATION IN YOUR COUNTRY AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU.)
LILI: WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP IN SHAPE AND IN GOOD CONDITION?
LETICIA: I LIFT WEIGHTS THREE TIMES A WEEK AND COMPLIMENT MY TRAINING WITH JOGGING AND TREKKING IN THE MOUNTAINS: PEDRA DA GÁVEA AND IN THE TIJUCA FOREST.
LILI: COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR NUTRITION? DO YOU HAVE ANY REGIMEN IN PARTICULAR?
LETICIA: NO, I AIM TO HAVE BALANCED NUTRITION DURING THE ENTIRE YEAR, TRYING TO CONSUME ALL THE NECESSARY NUTRIENTS FOR A HEALTHY LIFE. SOME TIMES I EAT CANDY. (SMILING) I LOVE CHOCOLATES! (LAUGHS)
LILI: (LAUGHING) WE ALL DO...WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOVES IN JIU-JITSU ?
LETICIA: SWEEPS AND ARMLOCKS! I LOVE THE GUARD! I THINK THAT A WELL DONE SWEEP IS THE "MAGIC" MOMENT OF THE FIGHT.
LILI: INDEED, IT IS WHEN THE GAME CHANGES AND YOU HAVE A NEW RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES. NOW WE ARE GOING TO A CURIOUS QUESTION: ARE YOU SUPERSTICIOUS?
LETICIA: A LITTLE.
LILI: DO YOU DO ANYTHING PECULIAR BEFORE YOUR MATCHES?
LETICIA: BEFORE ANY COMPETITION I NORMALLY LIGHT A CANDLE ASKING PROTECTION FROM MY ANGEL. AND OH, I DO NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT EATING A BIG PLATE OF PASTA! (LAUGHS)
LILI: (LAUGHING)...I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE DOES THAT, AT LEAST THE DAY BEFORE OF THEIR MATCHES. AND HOW IS YOUR DAY BEFORE AN IMPORTANT COMPETITION?
LETICIA: I MANAGE TO REST A LOT DURING THE WHOLE DAY, DISTRACTING MYSELF BY WATCHING A GOOD MOVIE OR A VIDEO WITH MY FIGHTS.
LILI: DONT YOU GET NERVOUS ?!! I BARELY GET ANY SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE MY FIGHTS!
LETICIA: ANXIETY IS NORMAL. I TRY TO DEAL WITH IT IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. I TRY TO KEEP MY FOCUS BEFORE THE MATCHES BY DECIDING MY STRATEGIES.
LILI: THE SPORT INVADED OVERSEAS AND IT IS CONQUERING MORE AND MORE FANS, ONLY THIS YEAR AT THE PAN AMS THERE WERE ABOUT 45 WOMEN AND MOST OF THEM WERE FOREIGNERS... BUT IN BRAZIL THE FEELING I HAVE IS THAT THE NUMBER OF GIRLS COMPETING HAS REDUCED. IN YOUR OPINION WHAT WOULD BE THE CAUSE?
LETICIA: I GUESS IT IS THE NON-INTEREST OF THE MEDIA IN GENERAL TO SUPPORT JIU-JITSU. THEIR ONLY CONCERN IS TO FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS, CREATING PREJUDICE, MORE BARRIERS AND DELAYING MORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPORT.
LILI: ABROAD, THE WOMEN ARE STARTING TO COMPETE IN THE SUBMISSION WRESTLING AND VALE TUDO FIGHTS ETC. THE INCENTIVE SEEMS TO BE BIGGER AND THEY EVEN SOUND CLOSER TO BEING FULLY APPRECIATED. SUPRISINGLY, A FEW OF THEM EVEN HAVE FAN CLUBS! DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WILL BE THE FUTURE? THAT IF WOMEN WANT TO SUCCEED IN THIS SPORT AND GAIN RECOGNITION, THEY WILL HAVE TO COMPETE ONLY WITH "NO GI"?!
LETICIA: NO, I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS IS THE FUTURE. BUT I BELIEVE THAT BRAZILIAN ATHLETES WHO ARE INTERESTED TO COMPETE IN THE VALE TUDO OR SUBMISSION WRESTLING CONTESTS, THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD RESULT DUE TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS SPORT.
LILI: IS THERE ANY BRAZILIAN GIRL TRAINING CURRENTLY IN BRAZIL FOR THIS KIND OF COMPETITION?
LETICIA: I BELIEVE THERE IS, ALTHOUGH I DO NOT KNOW ANY. BUT I AM SURE THAT JUST AS THE MEN, THE FEMALE ATHLETES WILL HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN SUBMISSION WRESTLING OR VALE TUDO TOURNAMENTS AND WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE HIGHEST PLACE IN THE PODIUM.
LILI: LETTY, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK! ANYONE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND A HELLO OR GIVE SPECIAL THANKS?
LETICIA: YOU ARE WELCOME. I AM THANKFUL FOR MY FRIENDS, TEACHERS, SPONSORS: MKIMONOS, RAGS E CENTRO UNIVERSITÁRIO DA CIDADE FOR THE TRUST AND COMPLETELY SUPPORT! HUGS, EVERYONE!
AS FOR ME, I WILL BE THERE AT THE WORLDS, CHECKING UP ON THE LEVEL, CHEERING ESPECIALLY FOR THE GIRLS WHO HAVE PUT IN THEIR EFFORTS, DID NOT GIVE UP AND ARE THERE COMPETING.... EVEN IF IT IS JUST FOR FUN WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE RESULTS.
Liliane
By Lili, Gracie Barra Purple Belt
THE WORLDS ARE APPROACHING AND ONCE AGAIN THE ARENA IS BEING ASSEMBLED IN RIO DE JANEIRO. EVERYTHING IS SET TO RECEIVE JIU-JITSU ATHLETES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE WILL HAVE MANY DAYS WITH A LOT ACTION, WHERE EACH ATHLETE WILL BE PUTTING TO PRACTICE ALL THEIR YEARS OF TRAINING AND CONDITIONING AND WHERE A SLIGHTEST MISTAKE WILL BE CRUCIAL!
IT IS ALL GOING TO HAPPEN VERY FAST AND WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT, IT WILL ALL BE OVER AND WE WILL ALREADY BE THINKING ABOUT THE 2003 MUNDIAL.
MEANWHILE, START TO THINK IF YOU ARE READY. WILL YOU BE ONE OF THIS YEAR'S CHAMPIONS? PLACE YOUR BETS AND CARRY ON WITH YOUR SPARRING... BECAUSE THE GAME IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!
CONSIDERING THAT, I HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE A PROFILE WITH LETICIA RIBEIRO, A BLACK BELT AND WORLD CHAMPION FROM GRACIE HUMAITÁ. SHE IS ONE OF THOSE WHO WILL BE SHOWING HIGH ACTIVITY ON THE MATS DURING THIS COMPETITION AND WILL BE GOING AFTER THE OBJECT OF DESIRE OF EVERY DEDICATED AND AMBITIOUS ATHLETE.... 1ST PLACE!
DURING THIS INTERVIEW YOU WILL GET TO KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT THIS GREAT FIGHTER, FIND OUT ABOUT HER TRAINING, HER PECULIARITIES AND WHAT GOES ON IN HER HEAD WITH SEVERAL ISSUES.
SO, HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AND KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED TO NEVER HAVE TO FACE THIS " CASCA-GROSSA" IN YOUR FIRST MATCH!
LILI: NAME, BELT, ACADEMY AND TITLES?
LETICIA: LETICIA RIBEIRO N. DOS SANTOS
BLACK BELT FROM GRACIE HUMAITÁ ACADEMY
NATIONAL CHAMP : 96/97/98/99
RJ STATES CHAMP : 97/98/99
WORLDS '99 - 3rd PLACE
WORLDS '00 - CHAMPION
WORLDS '01 - 2nd PLACE
LILI: OUCH! HOW LONG HAVE YOU TRAINING?
LETICIA: 8 YEARS
LILI: 8 YEARS AND ALL THOSE TITLES? IMPRESSIVE... HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THIS SPORT?
LETICIA: (SMILING) I STARTED TO TRAIN THROUGH A FRIEND JUST AS A HOBBY, BUT SOON I FELL IN LOVE WITH JIU-JITSU AND STARTED TO PRACTICE DAILY, MORE SERIOUSLY, AIMING AT THE COMPETITIONS. I ALSO HAD SUPPORT FROM ALL MY FRIENDS, TEACHERS AND ESPECIALLY THE SPONSORS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO MY GROWTH.
LILI: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE LEVEL JIU-JITSU HAS REACHED THESE DAYS?
LETICIA: JIU JITSU IS A SPORT THAT HAS A BIG INTERNATIONAL EXPRESSION AND HAS BEEN GROWING EVERY YEAR. I BELIEVE THAT IT'S PROFESSIONALIZATION WOULD BRING MORE INTEREST AND CONSEQUENTLY THE INCENTIVE FOR NEW SPONSORS, RAISING THIS WAY ITS POPULARITY AND BENEFITING THE ATHLETES.
LILI: DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPECTATIONS? WHAT COULD WE DO TO CHANGE IT?
LETICIA: I THINK THAT A MORE POSITIVE REVIEW AND COVERAGE FROM THE MEDIA, FROM THE MARTIAL ARTS MAGAZINES AND ESPECIALLY FROM THE JIU-JITSU PRESS. ALSO BETTER MANAGEMENT FROM OUR ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE BELT DIVISIONS AND LEVELS IN IMPORTANT TOURNAMENTS.
LILI: I AGREE... BUT STILL WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE IT A TRY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DECIDED YET EVEN BECAUSE OF HOW THE SPORT IS SEEN IN THE BRAZILIAN SOCIETY...
LETICIA: IN MY OPINION, PEOPLE ARE PREJUDICE DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. I ADVISE THE GIRLS, IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHO WISH TO TRAIN, TO GET IN TOUCH WITH CBJJ AND LOOK FOR A GOOD SCHOOL WITH QUALIFIED TEACHERS, GETTING THIS WAY TO KNOW THE REAL JIU JITSU.
(FOR THE BJJBABE READERS, CBJJ IS THE BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU CONFEDERATION, BUT DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED, YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR A LOCAL JIU JITSU ORGANIZATION IN YOUR COUNTRY AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU.)
LILI: WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP IN SHAPE AND IN GOOD CONDITION?
LETICIA: I LIFT WEIGHTS THREE TIMES A WEEK AND COMPLIMENT MY TRAINING WITH JOGGING AND TREKKING IN THE MOUNTAINS: PEDRA DA GÁVEA AND IN THE TIJUCA FOREST.
LILI: COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR NUTRITION? DO YOU HAVE ANY REGIMEN IN PARTICULAR?
LETICIA: NO, I AIM TO HAVE BALANCED NUTRITION DURING THE ENTIRE YEAR, TRYING TO CONSUME ALL THE NECESSARY NUTRIENTS FOR A HEALTHY LIFE. SOME TIMES I EAT CANDY. (SMILING) I LOVE CHOCOLATES! (LAUGHS)
LILI: (LAUGHING) WE ALL DO...WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOVES IN JIU-JITSU ?
LETICIA: SWEEPS AND ARMLOCKS! I LOVE THE GUARD! I THINK THAT A WELL DONE SWEEP IS THE "MAGIC" MOMENT OF THE FIGHT.
LILI: INDEED, IT IS WHEN THE GAME CHANGES AND YOU HAVE A NEW RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES. NOW WE ARE GOING TO A CURIOUS QUESTION: ARE YOU SUPERSTICIOUS?
LETICIA: A LITTLE.
LILI: DO YOU DO ANYTHING PECULIAR BEFORE YOUR MATCHES?
LETICIA: BEFORE ANY COMPETITION I NORMALLY LIGHT A CANDLE ASKING PROTECTION FROM MY ANGEL. AND OH, I DO NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT EATING A BIG PLATE OF PASTA! (LAUGHS)
LILI: (LAUGHING)...I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE DOES THAT, AT LEAST THE DAY BEFORE OF THEIR MATCHES. AND HOW IS YOUR DAY BEFORE AN IMPORTANT COMPETITION?
LETICIA: I MANAGE TO REST A LOT DURING THE WHOLE DAY, DISTRACTING MYSELF BY WATCHING A GOOD MOVIE OR A VIDEO WITH MY FIGHTS.
LILI: DONT YOU GET NERVOUS ?!! I BARELY GET ANY SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE MY FIGHTS!
LETICIA: ANXIETY IS NORMAL. I TRY TO DEAL WITH IT IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. I TRY TO KEEP MY FOCUS BEFORE THE MATCHES BY DECIDING MY STRATEGIES.
LILI: THE SPORT INVADED OVERSEAS AND IT IS CONQUERING MORE AND MORE FANS, ONLY THIS YEAR AT THE PAN AMS THERE WERE ABOUT 45 WOMEN AND MOST OF THEM WERE FOREIGNERS... BUT IN BRAZIL THE FEELING I HAVE IS THAT THE NUMBER OF GIRLS COMPETING HAS REDUCED. IN YOUR OPINION WHAT WOULD BE THE CAUSE?
LETICIA: I GUESS IT IS THE NON-INTEREST OF THE MEDIA IN GENERAL TO SUPPORT JIU-JITSU. THEIR ONLY CONCERN IS TO FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS, CREATING PREJUDICE, MORE BARRIERS AND DELAYING MORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPORT.
LILI: ABROAD, THE WOMEN ARE STARTING TO COMPETE IN THE SUBMISSION WRESTLING AND VALE TUDO FIGHTS ETC. THE INCENTIVE SEEMS TO BE BIGGER AND THEY EVEN SOUND CLOSER TO BEING FULLY APPRECIATED. SUPRISINGLY, A FEW OF THEM EVEN HAVE FAN CLUBS! DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WILL BE THE FUTURE? THAT IF WOMEN WANT TO SUCCEED IN THIS SPORT AND GAIN RECOGNITION, THEY WILL HAVE TO COMPETE ONLY WITH "NO GI"?!
LETICIA: NO, I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS IS THE FUTURE. BUT I BELIEVE THAT BRAZILIAN ATHLETES WHO ARE INTERESTED TO COMPETE IN THE VALE TUDO OR SUBMISSION WRESTLING CONTESTS, THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD RESULT DUE TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS SPORT.
LILI: IS THERE ANY BRAZILIAN GIRL TRAINING CURRENTLY IN BRAZIL FOR THIS KIND OF COMPETITION?
LETICIA: I BELIEVE THERE IS, ALTHOUGH I DO NOT KNOW ANY. BUT I AM SURE THAT JUST AS THE MEN, THE FEMALE ATHLETES WILL HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN SUBMISSION WRESTLING OR VALE TUDO TOURNAMENTS AND WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE HIGHEST PLACE IN THE PODIUM.
LILI: LETTY, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK! ANYONE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND A HELLO OR GIVE SPECIAL THANKS?
LETICIA: YOU ARE WELCOME. I AM THANKFUL FOR MY FRIENDS, TEACHERS, SPONSORS: MKIMONOS, RAGS E CENTRO UNIVERSITÁRIO DA CIDADE FOR THE TRUST AND COMPLETELY SUPPORT! HUGS, EVERYONE!
AS FOR ME, I WILL BE THERE AT THE WORLDS, CHECKING UP ON THE LEVEL, CHEERING ESPECIALLY FOR THE GIRLS WHO HAVE PUT IN THEIR EFFORTS, DID NOT GIVE UP AND ARE THERE COMPETING.... EVEN IF IT IS JUST FOR FUN WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE RESULTS.
Liliane
