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 Long, Deus Fight Co, I 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!

Get Sponsored in BJJ

Get Sponsored in BJJ is an Ebook recently released by HT, founder of BJJ Hacks. Its a step by step guide that can show even lowly white belts how to approach companies and get sponsorships.

Check out the website to buy your copy!

What’s Inside The Book?

You’ll find a ton of great info including how to use your existing social media to convince sponsors to back you, the surefire method of persuading people to give you money for training and competing, and much more.

ALSO you’ll hear directly from brands such as Shoyoroll, Q5 supplements and Meerkatsu about what they look for in a sponsored athletes. And we’ve included interviews with NINE sponsored grapplers from blue to black belt where they share their stories of success and advice for getting sponsored.

Who wrote the book?

Author Hywel Teague (HT), the driving force behind jiu-jitsu video makers BJJ Hacks, knows a thing or two about getting sponsorship. He’s not even a competitor, yet he counts three top brands as his own personal sponsors with even more helping him out along the way with everything from free gear to supplements and even travel expenses.

HT spent a fair amount of time hanging around the Cantagalo Favela and Terere Kids Project when he filmed his mini-series on Terere. Since he's a resident of Ipanema, and only lives a few blocks from the social project, he often stops by the academy to roll or donate kimonos to the cause.

Check out some of the videos he did on Mestre Terere.