Moleza on Competiting in Sao Paulo

Moleza, Mudinho, and Moicano back at the FT gym

We recently sat down with sponsored athlete Gabriel Barcelar more commonly known as Moleza to ask him some questions about his trip to compete in Brazilian Nationals.

Moleza recently traveled to Sao Paulo for 6 days to compete in IBJJF Brazilian National Championship with two teammates and social project administrator, Nico Ball. Through donations given to Terere Kids Project, we were able to raise over R900 to fund the trip to Sao Paulo! Seeing as this is the only IBJJF competition open to kids their age, Moicanoand Moleza put in some major work to make it down to Sao Paulo and add these medals to their curriculums! We want to give a big shout out to our sponsors who contributed to making this trip happen: Ball All Day LongDeus Fight CoI Aint No Saint Tattoo Studio, and Phoenix MMA

1. Have you ever competed in an ibjjf tournament? Why is this tournament so important to you? 

No, this tournament is different from others that I’ve competed in because all of the top guys go there to compete.

This tournament was important to me because competing for CBJJ/IBJJF Brazilian Nationals was one of my goals for 2015. I was able to realize my dream thanks to sponsorship from Nico Ball and Jimmy Johnston (owner of our FT England affiliate)



 2. Do you always train with the same people? 

 I train during with the adults so that my Jiu jitsu will evolve more.

Moleza with his teacher Fabricio and our host Vanderli Silva
aka Alemao (german)


 3. How long have you been training jiu jitsu?

 I've been training BJJ for 2 years. One of my goals, that I was just able to accomplish, was to compete in Brazilian nationals. Now I want to continue traveling and fighting outside of Rio and to get my Orange belt at the end of the year.

 4. Describe your trip to Sao Paulo. Fala um pouco da sua experienca em Sao Paulo.


Moleza and Moicano hanging out in Sao Paulo


The trip to Sao Paulo was a little exhausting. I took a bus with Jhonathan Marques (Moicano) and Nico Ball. Fabricio Silva (Birrinho) ended up missing the bus due to a denist appointment so we had to wait for him at the bus station in Sao Paulo. Once Birrinho arrived we went to Alemao’s house. Alemao is a friend of ours and a black belt under Terere. He picked us up at the bus station and we spent the week in Sao Paulo with him. He treated us really well!

Training Wednesday night

The next day (Wednesday) we woke up, ate breakfast and went to train in one of the gyms were he teaches BJJ. Then we went back to his house to rest until the PM training in a different gym. After training again at night we went to the store to buy food to take to the tournament.

Thursday we went to the first day of the tournament to watch Nico Ball in action. She started the fight good but ended up giving her back and being submitted. The stadium was really big and gave me a different idea of how fighting can be. Friday we went to train in the morning, rested during the day, and then rested for the competition the next day.

Moleza with one of his idols...
one of the Miyao brothers!


Saturday Birrinho, Moicano, and I all fought. Birrinho was champion and so Moicano. I came in 3rd place I got to see a lot of good fighters like Rodolfo Viera, Jaoa Miyao, Paulo Miyao, Renato Cardoso, Eberto Santos, and a lot more.

This trip was a dream come true and I have to thank God and my sponsors Jimmy Johnstone and Nico Ball for making it a reality!



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