Marek Zbrog is one of the most active competitors in the Polish BJJ scene. This brown belt under Braulio Estima and Piotr Kapral has some even bigger competition plans in 2014. In this interview with BJJ Eastern Europe, Marek talks about the fast growing BJJ scene in Poland, Training in UK, his half guard and much more:

1. Hi Marek, can you please introduce yourself to the BJJ Community of Eastern Europe?

Hi everybody! My name is Marek Zbróg. I am from Poland and I am 28 years old. I have a brown belt and train in Copacabana Lodz which is my academy. I am a multiple medalist Championship Of Poland( Gi and No Gi ), Cup of Poland etc.

Marek, Piotr Kapral, Kamil Dąbrówka and Jakub Mroczkowski.

2. How did you start training and where did you train during this time?

I have started training in June 2004. At the beginning I was in Gracie Barra but very quick I decided to change academy. I chose United Gym where my coach was Radosław Olczyk( brown belt under Francis Cadu). It was a really great time. I could train with many Brazilian fighters whose visited the academy. In 2011 I felt that I needed a change in my Jiu Jitsu career. It was very difficult for me but I decided to go to Copacabana Team and now I know that it was the best choice for me!! Now I can develop my skills because profesor Piotr Kapral is a great teacher. This year in June I will have 10 years with Jiu Jitsu.
3. You are a frequent competitor with a great record competing in UK, Poland and Germany. Tellu s more about those comps. What do you like so much about competition and how do you explain your success?

Yes , I can say that I am a Competitor! I have started since 2004. I love this competitions and everything what is a connected with comps. For me Jiu Jitsu is rivalry. Every year I try to start in competitions abroad. In 2012 I had a second place in Big Open weight and bronze in my category in Uk Trials in Birmingham. In 2013 also I won Torino Jiu Jitsu Challenge where I won Brown Open Category. In the final I beat a very strong competitor Boualem Benaisa from France. I know that he has got a many titles. This year I got a second place in Rome Open. This year  I intend take part in more IBJJF Tournaments. I will be in Paris Open also. In Poland also we have many comps. In May we have a Cup of Poland . I train everyday, When I compete 8 times in a year sometimes I don’t have time for preparing. Fortunately profesor Kapral knows what is the best for us and how he should prepare us to competitons.

Marek talking silver at the 2014 Rome Open in brown belt adult

4. How would you describe your BJJ style? We’ve heard about your deep half guard style.

Jiu Jitsu for me is a sport. So I treat it like that. I go to competitions in order to win. I love sweeps in Jiu Jitsu and I like pass the guard. Have you heard about my deep half guard ? Thanks. Its nice. Yeah , I really love this position. Majority fights of competition it is half guard so I am happy that I have made this position my forte.My style is not so attractive but as I said earlier, Jiu Jitsu for me is a sport.
5. How do you explain the popularity of the sport in Poland? How big will BJJ be in Poland 10 years from now?

Jiu Jitsu in Poland is very popular!! We have many academies, a lot of black belts (95) and good fighters. In 2013 in Championship of Poland competed over 1,000 people!!! In Poland people really love Jiu Jitsu. They read articles, watch fights and talk about it. Jiu Jitsu in Poland it is a lifestyle. We have many great Academies like : Berserkers, Copacabana, Zenith etc. So believe me , Jiu Jitsu in Poland is very strong!
6. Tell us about the daily trainings at Copacobana academy in Poland. How is it different from other academies that you’ve trained at? Tell us about your trainings at Braulio Estima’s academy in UK.

In Copacabana we are very technical. Profesor Kapral has a great knowledge so he can explain everything. He trained a few years with Braulio in Birmingham so he must be the Profesor!! I am lucky person that I have in my city such a great coach. We do many drills, fights and many close and spider guards ( De la riva , Lasso ), Professor Kapral cares about everybody in our academy and I think that it’s very important. If you wanna ask him about Jiu Jitsu or life, he never refuses to answer you. For me he is not only black belt on the mat , but also black belt in life. In 2011 in Copacabana visited us profesor Norbert Nowak. Main instructor in Braulio’s academy in Birmingham. Norbert and Peter encouraged me to visit Braulio in Birmingham. I have been two times and It was amazing! I am sure that I visit Birmingham again. What is a different from other academy and Copacabana? I dont know.. We concentrate on our goals.
7. What is next for you and your team in 2014?

For our team I am sure that we must defend first place team of Cup of Poland in May. Also we want to win Championship of Poland Team ( in 2013 we have second place). For me? I must compete very often in different comps in Poland and abroad. I will be in Paris Open and some tournament IBJJF after holiday. I am sure I am comming to start in European 2015. Train a lot and represent my academy and my profesors : Braulio, Piotr and Norbert.

6. If you want to thank somebody or sponsors, feel free

I wanna say Thanks for my family which support me ( my wife Kate), all friends of the mat from Copacabana Lodz and Copacabana Kielce, Konin , Poznań and Warsaw. ( I keep my fingers crossed for Piotr Wojtkowski ” Ashton” of first his start in Abu Dhabi World Championship). Big THANKS for my sponsor NoProblem brand and Manto( kimonos) and travel agency DISCOVER THE WORLD ( pol. Odkrywaj Świat ). Once Again thanks for Braulio, Peter Kapral and Norbert Nowak!!! Be careful on my new fanpage Zbróg Jitsu and read Road Jitsu!!! Ossssssss.