Mirza Karač is a Super heavyweight purple belt from Bosnia who is a frequent competitor on the IBJJF circuit. In 2014, he came third at the IBJJF Europeans, and came first at the Munich, Copenhagen and Zurich Opens. In this interview with BJJ Eastern Europe, Mirza talks to us about his humble beginnings in Tuzla, Bosnia where he transitioned from Kickboxing to BJJ, his views on BJJ’s growth in Bosnia and the Balkans and much more.

Mirza, you started BJJ in 2009, and had mixed results as you were also focused on Kickboxing and MMA . You started training BJJ more seriously in 2012. Tell us about his story from there on:

In 2013, I got promotion in blue belt. I was promoted by sensei Arvin Widder, team Carvalho. I fought in 2 small competition in Croatia, just two fights and two times second place.. not even worth the words..Lot of problems in Croatia on tournaments for me. In October I went to the Serbian championship and won gold medal. First gold like blue belt again in Serbia. After that, on call of my friend Semir Pirić, who lives and trained in Munich, Pound for Pound Team, I registered for P4P to take a chance on the IBJJF tournament because my academy Carvalho is not registered on IBJJF. I took second place, with two excellent victory and defeat on points in the final of the more experienced competitor. When I come to Munich, I met prof. Sergio Zimmerman “Canudo”, who is owner of P4P. When I rolled first time with him, It was amazing, I felt the full power of jiu jitsu, as another dimension.. Until I arrived in Munich, I never thought to go to Lisbon but they all talked about it, it was reason enough and I decide to look for sponsors and go to the European Championship in January 2014! In Lisbon, everything was like dream, I went through the first three rounds, two wins by submission and in Semi final against Brazilian guy (first ranked) and it was 0-0, tough fight, I think I could get one advantage but nothing of that story in that time. Brazilian guy was first, his oponent was disqualified in the Final. I was very satisfied, it could have been the finals but for me from Bosnia, this was quite enough! This was big step for me.. After Lisbon, again was Zagreb and again problems but second place and lost in final who saw only a referee (coach from my oponent, that is enough to say). After that, I fighted on Munich Winter open and took first time double gold. Coppenhagen Open and Zurich Open, both 1st place.

That summer I decided to change a team for some good reasons but not about that now. I went to seminar of Rodolfo Vieira in Munich and Sergio surprised me by giving me a purple belt and official transition to Pound for Pound Munich! First rolling like purple belt with Rodolfo Vieira, great moment for me ! I keep train with Mensur Pašić in wrestling club “Grappling Tuzla”, but I fight for P4P. For every competition Mensur is in charge for my preparation, I could never become what I am without him. We only have each other to prepare for competition. On this summer, Mensur is promoted to black belt under Arvin Widder.

2014 Copenhagen Open

You talked about how at the lower belts you were losing a lot and that things started to work for you at blue and purple. Tell us more about your mentality when dealing with the tough losses and what did you change in the way you train?

Actually, i did not compete a lot like white belt, 3 or 4 tournaments..My mistake was that I train a lot everything and I always go from sport to sport because I think that I will need everything one day, I was more focused on MMA but now is changed…I lost competition in Kickboxing, MMA, BJJ and I was just going around and train everything. I didnt been focused on something long period to have succses. Everything where I fight i lost.. that period when you’re not recog fighter is really tough, you think that you are an idiot because you train something for few years and you never won somebody.. Period was really bad in my head but I keep train every day and the desire for success was too strong. In that bad period I also traveled to Serbia in Kula to train with Dejan Tešić (CheckMat Black Belt), in that time purple belt, but he was an excellent teacher and a very good person. He also help me about my jiu jitsu. Key to get success was to put focus on one thing only and be less opsessive in my head about sport. I changed the way of thinking when I step on the mat and that was only thing what I need all the time, problem was not strength or technique. You can have excellent BJJ, extreme strength, extreme conditioning but if something is not good in head…then nothing is not good .

What do you think about the growth of BJJ in Bosnia? What are threats and opportunities for BJJ there?

BJJ in Bosnia is on low level like every sport, Mensur and I changed that a little bit in Tuzla but that is still not enough. You have a few good fighters in Bosnia but head reason is poor country and everybody looks how to survive. When you don’t have to eat every day like good sports person and you don’t have money to visit some local championship in Serbia or Croatia, and to visit one IBJJF tournament is like dream for somebody, what you can expect? The whole country is screwed and so BJJ.. God of martial arts in Tuzla is kickboxing… I did never fight BJJ in Bosnia, all my competitons are international. BJJ comes in Bosnia in 2000-2002 or something like that, I am not sure.. That is long period and we didn’t had any bigger progress, or we had but it is so slow, like we stayed in one place for ten years. If somebody want to get bigger success, then next step for him is to leave Bosnia and don’t back for 20 years.

Double Gold at Munich Winter Open

Which BJJ players do you admire?

About BJJ players…hmm.. I had the opportunity to roll with Rodolfo Vieira, I really like his style and I think that he is the best BJJ player in the world. I don’t like this modern jiu jitsu too much, I like what you can use in MMA or selfdefense… I like Sergio and Rodolfo, very simple jiu jitsu and very effective.

What do you think of the BJJ community of central-Eastern Europe?

BJJ on Balkan is growing, especially in Croatia, they invest a lot and they are the strongest, Slovenia also had a great fighters. In Serbia is also more and more BJJ clubs and fighters. Everybody invest in BJJ now, Bosnia is on the last place, and a long period will not be changed. We have the great potential, but strange stories Balkans…

Tell us more about your instructors (or ex instructors?) Mensur Pasic and Arvin Wider.

Mensur Pašić and Arvin Widder, the persons who taught me the first steps and the solid foundation of BJJ. Mensur is calm person who works and don’t talk too much, that is the reason why I like to train with him.  He is loyal to Arvin from beginning and he is first black belt under Arvin. Arvin was also good competitor in Judo and BJJ, guy who bring BJJ in Bosnia. I learn a lot from both, of course more from Mensur but sometimes we went to Sarajevo and train with guys over there. Mensur is in charge for all my preparation, and he leads my periodization for competition. I am in good relation with Arvin, he is not reason why I left a team.

What were the main differences between BJJ that you experienced while training in Germany at the P4P gym and in Bosnia?

The guys in Germany are doing a lot of technically with less force except if somebody from Balkan train in gym J. Guys work here more aggressive, that is mentality of Balkan. The differences in training are huge, Sergio has a concept of training , probably out of pure BJJ ​​school from Rio. He have black belt  15 years and he had experience of competition with highest level competitors.. 4-5 years ago we still learn from YouTube, that is enough to say.

 What is next for you and your team in 2014-15?

I am taking a break. I competed a year and half on high intensity, traveled a lot, I wanted to charge my battery. I will start next month with preparations for European Championship 2015.

If you want to thank somebody or sponsors, feel free

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors who support me from the beginning and they are: Bosna-Lift, www.vitalissokovi.ba  , Caffe Bar Sloboda, Kuća Zlata Smajkić, Pekara Hukić, ZEP-ING, DVD Cobra, Games Department, Auto Staklo Centar Novus, UG Prijatelji Slobode, Belay Boys Beč, Jazz Club Tuzla, Caffe Bar Linea, www.ampneumatik.com and another good friends who gives from their sellery to my IBJJF competition. I would never have achieved this without your financial support. Thanks also to my girlfriend who follows me and supported from the beginning.

Thanks everyone and follow BJJ Eastern Europe!