The black belt is already doing physical therapy and hopes to return to training at the end of the month

World champion Bernardo Faria had a tough end of year. He had arthroscopic knee surgery after suffering an injury to the meniscus. Since the operation, he has started physical therapy and hopes to be back to training at the end of the month. In an interview with tatame, he explained the reason that led him to the operating table.

“In late August, I suffered an injury to the medial meniscus. I did the MRI in the United States but, as I had broken only a small portion of the meniscus, after a month of physical therapy I went back to training. But at the end of December, I got hurt again on the old injury and there was no way: I had to have a knee arthroscopy. My brother is a doctor, orthopedic surgeon specializing in knee and got a very quick surgery for me in Rio de Janeiro with a doctor on his team. So I went back to Brazil and got operated on soon after. I was operated on the 27th of December, and my goal is already to be back in training around the 27th of January. After a month of recovery. “

Bernardo operated his knee on Dec. 27 and had the support of the family

Bernardo is confident for a quick turn. The injury, however, will take him out of the European Jiu-Jitsu, which is held on late January in Lisbon, Portugal.

“I started physical therapy five days after surgery and, thankfully, it is going very well. I think in two or three weeks I will be almost 100%. I was ‘happy’ that this injury came ‘on time’, at the end of year because I can recover and still have enough time to train for the Worlds. I believe that I will only stay out of the Europeans. I plan to compete at the Pan, World Pro, NY Open and Worlds. And sure I’ll be 100% for the World, as I will have four months to prepare. I’m sure this will be enough, because I actually haven’t stopped: I’m working out and doing everything I can without using the leg. Injuries are part of our career, and try to think that the injury comes even to force us to rest a little, to get back even stronger and more motivated. “

We wish Bernardo a speedy recovery and a successful 2014.