Can you imagine the exclusive training session that happened at the Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy in California: Rafael and Guilherme Mendes opened the door to Marcus Buchecha and surf world champion and BJJ blue belt Kelly Slater. The three Jiu-Jiteiros, who won gold in the World this year, joined the greatest champion in the history of Surfing for a roll.
Gui Mendes had this to say about Slater:
“He came to the gym and I trained with him. It was very good. He was training, took a few touches on the positions, correcting the guard pass. He was also giving tips on surfing for me and Rafael. But he’s tough, rolls well. Slater is a blue belt, but he was very good. He would do well in competition, “
Mendes bros and Kelly Slater
In this article from jiujitsuportugal.com (translated from Portuguese) Slater talks about his passion for the gentle art:
“Passing through Rio for one of the phases of the world surfing tour, Kelly Slater Kelly Slater spoke of Jiu-Jitsu with Flávio Canto, in the tv show “Corujão do Esporte”on Globo, Kelly wore the kimono and recalled stories.
“When I was 8 or 9 years old, there was guy who lived near my home in California, called Don Dragon Wilson, who was world champion in kickboxing. My brother and I went to the gym and did karate for a while. After we stopped because of surf, but when you are child, you want to learn martial arts. So I always liked it, but just found out about Jiu-Jitsu when I came to Brazil for the first time in 1992, “said Slater, 41.
“Then I met and became friends with many members of the Gracie family. Rickson was surfing in California and I had a deal with him: We exchanged surfboards and he taught me Jiu-Jitsu. I wish that I had grown up training Jiu-Jitsu, but the surf is also spiritual, it’s more than a sport, it is my martial art, “said Kelly Slater, who compared the Jiu-Jitsu and surfing.
Kelly Slater says that martial arts and surfing have many things in common “They both come in stages, how you learn, start with the basics and then everything gets more dynamic. Also the techniques, the way you use your body to be as efficient as possible … I read many things about Bruce Lee throughout my life. And much of his philosophy speaks of the physical, mental and emotional work together. You do not have to do much but what you do need to do has to be done very well. ”
Asked if he wanted to be a black belt, he said that he did not care about the color of the belt. “I want to have that technical level (black belt), but I do not care about the belts. It’s more a matter of discipline, to learn. ”
Kelly Slater spoke with Flavio also about MMA. He praised Ricardo Arona, Lyoto Machida and Jon Jones especially:
“I would love to be the Jon Jones surf (laughs). I think he will not lose to anyone for a long time. I love and am a fan of MMA, “he concluded.
