It’s not often that you hear of a multiple world Sambo champion that is also an expert in BJJ. We found Vladislavs in Latvia and he talked about his combat sport background, how he discovered BJJ and the BJJ scene in Latvia and the Baltic states:

Hi Vladislavs , can you please introduce yourself to the BJJ Community of Eastern Europe?

My full name is Vladislavs Chernyavskis. I’m 36 years old. I’ve started training since I was 6 years old. Currently my main sports achievements consist of:

• 3 times World Sambo Champion
• 8 times Silver and Bronze winner in World Sambo Championships
• 3 times Silver and Bronze winner in European Sambo Championships
• 6 times Silver and Bronze winner in World and European Combat Sambo Championships
• European Sambo Champion Bronze winner in World TAFISA GAMES (Combat Sambo)
• Judo black belt Brazilian
• Jiu Jitsu black belt under Marcelo Giudici.

I train in Riga, Latvia in my club LEWC (Latvian Extreme Wrestlers Club) Giudici Team Latvia

Vladislavs (blue gi) training with Fedor

Please tell us about your Jiu-Jitsu story

I’ve started practicing BJJ while living in England in BJJschool.co.uk (London) under Felipe de Souza (Jose Henrique Leao Teixeira), who has awarded me brown belt. After that I’ve started actively practicing BJJ: attending all the possible BJJ seminars and traveling to other BJJ schools abroad. And then I’ve met my current BJJ professor – Marcelo Giudici (4th degree black belt under Ryan Gracie), whom I currently represent in Latvia. Marcelo started practicing BJJ under Ryan and Renzo Gracie….

What can you tell us about the BJJ scene in Latvia? How do you see it developing in the future?

I think BJJ in Latvia started on the 17th July 2010 when I’ve arranged first BJJ seminar which was conducted by Luiz Jakcson Fortunato (Rilion Gracie). Luiz was the first who showcased original BJJ techniques in Latvia.

Vladislavs and Marcelo Giudici

How about the BJJ scene in the Baltic countries?

Among the Baltic states, BJJ became popular in Estonia and Lithuania first , then in Latvia.. That’s why there are more BJJ schools than in our country. On the other side that gives us more stimulus to grow and go forward. Lately we have seen more and more competitions and local tournaments organized in Baltic states. I guess, there is one main difference: in Latvia no gi tournamets are more popular than gi, because in our country there’re many other non-BJJ and MMA-related schools that are participating in no gi events.

Please tell us about your master Marcelo Giudici.

Marcelo is:
• Black belt 3 degree in judo
• Black Belt 4 degree in BJJ ( Ryan Gracie )
• Fighter MMA 18 fight 3 loss 1 draw 6 times
• champion State in BJJ Sao Pauli 1 time
• champion Brazilian BJJ Rio de Janeiro
• 3 place Champion world BJJ Rio Janeiri
• 3 place PanAmerica in New Port Beach
• Champion World in Submission in 2001 Jundiai SP 2 times Champion Workd in Sanda Pequim and Taiwan Champion World in Sanda Hong Kong professional Sanda KawLoon.

What is next for you and your team in 2014?

I really hope that BJJ will become more and more popular in Latvia while we are arranging more BJJ tournaments in gi and no gi categories. I look forward to seeing more our local guys competing on international level. At the moment, my students have participated only in international competitions in England, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland. We need more time to grow professional BJJ athletes.

If you want to thank somebody or sponsors, feel free

I would like to thank LNK Group, Global Fitness, Nicole Smile and Latvian Brazilian Federation for support.