Leonardo Leite is what you might call a grappling phenomenon. in Jiu Jitsu he is a 2x IBJJF black belt world champion and was the first person to defeat José Mário Sperry at black belt back in 1999. in Judo, he was part of the Brazilian national team in the Olympic games in Beijing in 2008 and was silver medalist at World Cup Judo . And in little more than a year fighting MMA professionally, “Leo” accumulated 5 wins and no losses and became light heavyweight champion Legacy Fighting Championship.
Brazilian website BJJ Forum interviewed the beast and asked about the differences between the level of competition in Judo and Jiu Jitsu, his favorite throws applied to Jiu Jitsu and more:
BJJ Forum – Leo, first thanks for the interview. You were an elite competitor in Judo and Jiu Jitsu. In your opinion, what are the main differences between competing in Judo and Jiu Jitsu? Being an Olympic sport, is the level of competition in Judo level far above the Jiu Jitsu?
Leo Leite – I think in Judo level is higher, due to the fact that there are more countries and athletes competing in Judo. You have big competitions every weekend. In Jiu Jitsu, level is also high but we don’t have many foreign (non Brazilian) athletes in the elite black belt level. In judo you have important competitions all year round in all parts of the world. The organization, in my view, in Judo is far above and as I said before by having more countries competing, the level will also be much higher.
Do you think there is something in the Judo Newaza (groundwork) that can be beneficial to Jiu Jitsu practitioners? What are the main difference in the groundwork between the two sports?
The main difference between the two is that in Judo you have little time to work on the ground therefore you have to be very fast and aggressive, the transition from standing to ground work has to be very fast. Flavio Canto did it like no one else, opponents were afraid to go to the ground with him.
What is the most memorable fight in your career, in Judo and Jiu Jitsu?
In 1999, at the worlds, I had never fought in any other world championship and was ready to fight in brown belt, when my teacher Alexandre Paiva “Gigi” promoted me a few weeks before to black belt! When I saw my bracket, I thought “it is not going to be easy”, but I was prepared. The Tijuca gym was crowded and people were screaming, for and against me, and I at 20 years old going to fight with one of the guys I most enjoyed watching. During the fight I could catch his half guard game and in the end I won my first world title in black belt.
In Judo, I think it was the absolute final at the Panamerican Championship in Cordoba in Argentina. I had won my weightclass. In the openweight, I made the final against Argentine heavyweight, Orlando Baccino, with a crowded gym, but this time the crowd was against me (laughs).
What are the judo throws you like to use in Jiu Jitsu? And which ones you think are not as effective in the rules of Jiu-Jitsu?
I loved the leg techniques, like ossotogari, Ouchigari, kouchigari that are footsweeps that leave you less exposed. I think the throws were you need to give your back can be more dangerous.
In Jiu Jitsu, the vast majority of your opponents do not risk standing with you. Who are some BJJ opponents that have stood to you?
Grabriel Gonzaga and Big Mac because they are also judokas that like to fight standing.
Who in your opinion have the best throws in BJJ? Among judokas, who has the best ground game?
In Jiu Jitsu Saulo and Xande Ribeiro have good throws, Jacare and Rodolfo also. Without doubt the best I’ve ever seen was Flavio Canto, but today there is the American who also fights in BJJ or at least fought before the IJF ban, Travis Stevens.
What do you think of Judo International Federation decision to ban judokas to fight in other sport competitions? Flavio Canto already commented that it was forbidden even to train Jiu Jitsu by the president of the CBJ. Did you ever experience anything similar situation?
I think this ban is unnecessary. The only athletes who are banned are athletes who are ranked for the Olympics, so this was a way to protect the athletes that they don’t get injured. I’ve never been banned from competing in Jiu Jitsu.
