Anderson Pereira is an European Jiu-Jitsu Champion and a Submission de Campos medallist (one of Brazil’s most prestigeous No Gi events). Anderson is also a Icon Jiu-Jitsu Team representative in Switzerland.

1. Hi Anderson, can you introduce yourself to the BJJ community of Eastern Europe? 

My name is Anderson Pereira. I’m 35 years old,BJJ black belt, from Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I live in Geneva in Switzerland but I have a lot of clubs in Bienne, Sion, a few in Geneva and in France in Margencel, Lyon, St Genis, Thonon Les Bains, Annecy, Albertville, and Lille. Those are run by my students. My main titles are 2007 European Champion at adult black belt,  World champion masters no gi in 2009, 3rd place at Europeans 2010 Masters black belt, Rio State and Brazilian Champion.

2.How did you start BJJ? Tell us about your background and your career with BTT and now with with Team Icon.

I started with Judo at the age of 5 and at 15 years when you can start to work armlocks and chokes in Judo (you can’t as junior in judo) I started goind to train BJJ at  Oriente academy in Niteroi, which was a very very strong academy. Some  guys that came out of this team: Ramon Lemos, Gilbert Durinho, Cleber Luciano, Thales Leites and after some time I went to train with my teacher Ze Marcello who at the time was still a brown belt, at Rio JJ clube a very strong team that he had great teachers such as Murilo Bustamante and Sergio Souza Bolao. When my master Ze Marcello went to BTT, I went with him and had the chance of training with the top MMA guys like Ricardo Arona, Paulo Filho, Nogueira bros, Margarida. In 2010 my teacher Ze Marcello decided to leave the BTT and me and all pupils (the black belts of Ze in France, Spain, England, Belgium) with Sergio Vita (Portugal) and Berilo (Spain) formed Team Icon www.iconbjj.com one of the best teams in Europe. After that, other black belts joined us like Reinaldo Ribeiro, Marco Carneiro and their students joined us.

3. Tell us about your academy in Switzerland and about your best students

I’m based in Geneva at Shinbudo www.shinbudo.ch, but I try to manage all the clubs in my afiliate network. I came to Switzerland in 2001 for a judo tournaments and after in 2004 and again in 2005. The Shinbudo academy gave me an offer to teach here and so I stayed here and after all these years, I’m very happy with the country, the students, and the Academy. Regarding best students…It’s hard for me to say because for me it does not really mean the best students are those who do results in competitions because all students are important to me, but we do have some good results and we rank very well in Europe, so here is a small list of my competitors that make good results and sorry if I’ve already forgoten some names heheheh: Jordan, Ilke, Danny, Tic Tac, Di liberto, Coringa, vinko Roman madallena, Valetin, Tiko, Alessandro, marcelo e Paulao of bienne, Ayrton Oniis, gilles, Vince and MESCI from Lille. In MMA I also have a very good team in a few amateur and pro.

4. Tell us about the level of BJJ in Switzerland and its developement

When I arrived here, there was a huge difference between the BJJ level in Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries for example, but now I can assure you that we are doing really good on a European and even global level. You just need to look at the recent results of Swiss competitors at recent IBJJF tournaments (Ilke Bulut took Gold at European Brown belt adult this year). Since 2012, myself, Frota (Team Nogueira) and Robinho (Kimura) are re-organizing BJJ in Switzerland with the Swiss International Confederation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu www.bjjsc.ch which was founded by the 3 of us and our goal is to grow the federation. We plan to bring Alvaro Mansur (Head IBJJF referee) for a rules seminar and also eventually we want to organize a IBJJF Swiss open.

5. You have a long history as a competitor.Do you still plan to compete?

Yes if injuries do not prevent me, but more for my pleasure (but competition is competition and when the fight starts it’s a war heheheh ). I want to continue to improve in BJJ, because I think with competition you improve a lot faster. Also I want my students to try at least once tro compete. I compete for my students and my team Icon.

6. How would you describe your style of BJJ?

Given that I have started with Judo I like throws and guard passing then taking the back and finishing, but I don’t really have a preferred style.

7. What is next in 2013 for you and your team?

Continue to grow as a teacher in order to do my job for my team. First we need to continue winning all tournaments in Switzerland (It’s getting harder every year as the level is really growing) and I want to continue to give it my all for my students competitors and non-competitors. The great thing about BJJ is that it can really change lives!

Icon Geneva

8. If you want to thank sponsors and friends, you can

I want to thank God first, my family and my wife Elisa. My parents who have always helped me, and my students for their trust in me. My team Icon JJ , Team Shinbudo, and my teacher Ze Marcello.