One of the best BJJ competitors in Europe, Norway’s Ida “Xuxú” Floisvik will be headed to Rio de Janeiro on January 9, to be part of Copa Podio’s Vikings vs Cabras da Peste.
She will face Kessy ‘Paraíba’ in the 70 kg/ / 154.3 lbs division.
Here match ups for the battle between the Vikings and Cabras da Peste:
Espen Mathiesen (Norway) x Yan Pica-pau (Ceará) – January 9
Tommy Langaker (Norway) x Rafael Vasconcelos (Ceará) – January 9
Ida Floisvik (Norway) x Kessy Pereira (Paraíba) – January 9
Nic Ruben (Norway) x Matheus Floresta (Sergipe) – January 9
Sebastian Brosche (Sweden) x Horlando Monteiro (Natal) – January 9
Alexander Trans (Denmark) x Bráulio Estima (Pernambuco) – January 9
Ida is a student of Felipe ‘Gargamel’ of Roger Gracie Norway.
Ida told Copa Podio‘s Erik Engelhardt about how she started Jiu-JItsu and her training for Copa Podio:
“In the beginning, I only trained three times a week, because I was very heavy, around 85 kg/187.3 lbs. After a few months, I had lost a lot of weight, which made me very happy and began training full-time. I took part in my first competition after on 40 days of training and after than I just couldn’t stop competing. I simply love what I’m doing. I won my first European title as a blue belt”, she said.
Life on the farm
Raised in a farming family, the Norwegian was used to life in the field and always helped her mother care for the sheep, while also developing a passion for horse riding. Ida is so at home on the farm that she has been riding since the age of three, when she got her first pony. Her parents noted her loss of weight and the excellent results in competition and have encouraged Floisvik to focus on the sport, leaving farm work aside.
“I’ve been training really hard lately and haven’t had much time for the farm, as, beside training, I also teach children. But I always help out my family or my mom with the sheep whenever I can”, says Ida.
Where Xuxú comes from
A Felipe ‘Gargamel’ Mota brown belt, Ida Floisvik explained how she got the nickname ‘Xuxú’, as she’s known universally within the gentle art..
“My teacher didn’t speak English very well when he arrived in Norway and couldn’t remember all the names. I think he chose a name that was easy to remember and that reminded him of me in some way. Now everyone in the jiu-jitsu world calls be Xuxú”, says Ida, who was visually moved when talking about her master.
“My instructor is my biggest inspiration, because he changed my life and turned me into a champion not only in jiu-jitsu, but in life, too. He is like a father to me, I get emotional just speaking about him”.
