Xande Ribeiro has legendary stature – he’s been an active competitor at the black belt level since the early 00s. His 7 World titles are accompanied by many other different ones including his recent gold medal (and 2000$) won at Grand Slam La.
He was recently interviewed by jiu-jitsu mag and here’s what he said in regards to how he keeps going against opponents who are 10 years younger, game plans, how his brother Saulo helped him throughout his competitive career and more.
On the recipe to keep on going at it at the highest level:
The secret is to keep evolving and trying to understand the modern tendencies in Jiu-Jitsu. In the end, fighting is always the same. You have to keep the focus, pay attention to what you eat and what you do to keep in shape. It’s also important to surround yourself with the right persons who have the same goal as you do. Overall, I believe that my Jiu-Jitsu is perfect for every age of my life.
On strategy:
Yes, we usually have a game plan ready… In general, the strategy is to score first and reach good positions.
On how Saulo has helped him during both training and competition:
Having Saulo on my side is a great asset. He helps me a great deal with my technique, my physical training and also with my mindset. He helps me to face the challenges head and to understand the nuances of a fight. It’s been a great dialogue and we both gain a lot with it.
