Top Ten Things to do Before Arriving in Brazil.

This is a version of an article I wrote for another MMA online site. Enjoy. (It refers to my course, which was a ebook course I wrote and sold in 2006).

Part two of the series on training in Brazil.

1. Gain weight and focus on strength training. Especially if you are a bigger guy. If you are around 200...go ahead and beef up. Most bjj guys in Brazil are years behind in strength training and aint too many over 200 pounds. This weight and strength will get you through some tough matches. It did me. Don’t start with the size don’t matter its technique argument either. Tell that to Mark Colemam & Bob Sapp. Neither has any good submission skills and have given some Brazilians hell in a fight.


2. Learn as much Portuguese as you can. It will not only help you at jiu jitsu, but also make you more comfortable with just living there. Also, you are a true international player when you can spit game to chickies in 2 languages. It just makes Brazil that much funner. (there is a CD in my course on slang and jiu jitsu terms in Portuguese you wont find in any Port./English Dictionary..shameless plug)


3. Get a TESL/ESL teaching certificate before going.


4. Work on grappling skills outside of jiu jitsu. Wrestling, submission, catch, judo. A lot of these moves frustrated my Brazilian amigos when we rolled. Straight bjj was predictable to them, some of these moves weren’t. Get an Erik Paulson vid or Tony C. catch wrestling vid. You’ll pick up a few non-traditional bjj moves that will be effective.


5. Use the Internet to network. Find Brazilians who share your interest, speak English and live in the town you want to go to. Find Americans who have lived there or are living there. Make friends with them online. The can share a lot with you. Plus then can show you around or introduce you to people later.


6. Save money. The more you go with, the less you have to worry about finding work and can focus on training and fun.


7. Pay off or open up a good high limit credit card for emergencies.


8. Get a debit card that works on the plus or cirrus network.


9. Start researching visas in advance. Not the credit card dude...Travel visa. You’ll probably only qualify to stay 6 months out of the year on a tourist visa. …unless you’re pretty resourceful.


10. Buy my course that teaches you how to do all the above and so much more in greater detail! -)
Claudio Godoi from Brazilian Top Team and I after a hard training session in Brasil at his academy.