Brandon D. Tucker  (Right on the picture) is this year’s Pan ultra heavyweight purple belt adult champion. At 5’9, 280 lbs, he is a very imposing BJJ player but is actually the nicest and most gentle guy you’d meet. Brandon trains Art of Jiu Jitsu Academy under the Mendes brothers and has competed all over the world. BJJEE met Brandon at the Europeans and he told us more about his life story, how Jiu-Jitsu made a big impact in his life, big man Jiu-Jitsu and much more:

I started Bjj in December of 2010 Initially trained for around 3 months then stopped training for 6 months due to work schedule.

I began my BJJ journey at a small Checkmat school called “Fight Zone USA” under Leandro Vieira the brother of Leo Vieira and current head bjj coach at AKA. During that time I didn’t compete much. After the first year or so our Gym became a Atos affiliate and thats when my life as a competitor began. Working 40 hours a week then doing big competitions on weekends.

My goal in jiu Jitsu is to win day and a black belt world championship…and one day bring my city Long Beach a legitimate Bjj school that represents the beauty and greatness of the city where I was raise.

Brandon, please tell our readers what Jiu-Jitsu has changed in your life.

Before Jiu Jitsu I was a former college football player working as a manager in a super market…It was a soul crushing job to say the least. Once I discovered BJJ I quickly realized I didn’t want to be that guy doing something he hates full time while placing something I was passionate about on the back burner. It felt like I was putting some CEO’s dreams before mine. So basically I feel like Jiu Jitsu change me from a person sitting around waiting for life to reward me…into a person who gets up everyday and chases the best things life has to offer.

Brandon Tucker at AOJ (purple belt in the middle)

Where does your motivation to train so hard and the winning spirit come from?

I have played sport all my life so that explains my competitive spirit. The motivation in bjj to do all things related to it comes from my belief that a man can find unparalleled fulfillment in the pursuit of working to perfect one thing day after day for the rest of his life. I feel the world is to distracted by the hunt for the next “big thing” …bjj is a little thing in my eyes…But it’s the perfect little thing.

What goes on in your mind before stepping on a competition mat?

Before I step into the mat I just keep telling myself. “You’re the best in the world…you know it now it’s time to prove it”

Is always thinking about submitting your opponent a good or a foolish strategy for competition? What is your strategy?

There is no such thing as foolish strategy… There is only what works for a certain person and what doesn’t. If I decide to do nothing but berimbolo and lost that wouldn’t make that strategy stupid, that would just mean it’s a strategy that simply doesn’t work for me. Because there are tons of guys using the berimbolo to win big tournaments. Submissions are important but they aren’t the end all be all I’m a fan of dominate positions sometimes subs can be risky so you must use positional control to minimize the risk of going for a submission. But once you’ve done that go for it!

Who are some of your biggest inspirations in your Jiu-Jitsu career?

In Jiu Jitsu I am inspired by every Man Woman and child who puts on a Gi and ernestly strives to be their best with no jealousy or envy just pure burning desire for the sport.

Tell us about your time spent recently competing in both the Europeans and Pan and your impressions of both tournaments. How do their level compare?

Europeans was kind of rough for me but it was overall a great experience. I had never traveled to Europe to compete before So I wasn’t aware of how much the Jet Lag would affect me. But I’m not into excuses I fought Yakuza and it’s was a great fight and I emerged the winner, I can’t say enough about how good Yakuza is at bjj and what a genuinely nice person he is. Then I fought a Brazilian from Nova Unaio and was burned out he ended up passing my guard and beat me on point. I loved the experience especially because Andre Galvao won the open weight and I believ Atos our team won the Tournament . Pan Ams was epic I avenged two losses felt really great didn’t feel tired at all and managed to bring home the Gold for my team!

What do you do for strength and conditioning

All I do is train and swim…the swimming gets my cardio to another level.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

In five years I see myself as a Black Belt world champion and hopefully teaching somewhere part time maybe a basics class. I also would like to be doing some seminars.

When facing other ultra heavyweights, is it better to use more small man Jiu-Jitsu (for ex what Alex Trans or Cyborg do) over a more pressure big man style?

When facing Ultra Heavyweights it’s all about taking them out of their comfort zone. Now if a guy spends all day passing and smashing guards at his home gym would it be wise during a tournament to put him in a familiar postion before wearing him down? I say “no”. Now 4 or five minutes into the match it’s safe to play small man jiu jitsu because that’s about how long it take for a small guy to wear a good big guy down.

If you want to thank somebody or sponsors, feel free

I’d like to give a special thanks yo all my Atos teammates who helped me prepare for Pan Ams. I’d like to thank mybcoached Rafael & Guillermo Mendes for believing in me and supporting me Being there together to coach me for every match . I’d like to especially thank Atos Professor Tim Sleds for coaching me during training as well as at pan ams I just cant say enough about Professor sledd down at Small Axe Jiu Jitsu Oceanside he definitely down there putting it together. I can’t forget Professor Andre Galvao a guy who helped me so much I mean he’s always there for me encouraging me motivating me and strengthening me mentally and physically he’s like the glue that binds our team together. I’d thank sponsors but I don’t really have any lol Osssss