Fabiano Silva is BJJ black belt under Ricardo Liborio from the American Top Team (ATT), who also also competes in MMA. After living in his native Brazil, and also instructing in the States, Fabiano moved to Saudi Arabia where he teaches BJJ/ MMA at the state of the art Arena martial arts center in Jeddah. He spoke to BJJEE about his new life there and the huge potential of BJJ in Saudi Arabia:
1. Fabiano, please tell us about your new life in Saudi Arabia and your new academy there?
I would describe it as not easy, but very rewarding. In my case, God gave me an opportunity to be the pioneer of BJJ/MMA in Saud Arabia and work in an amazing project, represent my Master Ricardo Liborio and help spread not just BJJ, but also American top team curriculum around the world.
But in life is like this, when we decide to go after our dreams it will be at a cost, life will present to all of us resistance, but we have to keep grinding and overcoming every obstacle that rise ahead of us.
Today I am sacrificing time with my kids and many people that I love, to be able to make this happen here.
The academy is amazing, I traveled a lot teaching and competing and I haven’t seen anything like it in my whole life, that is why I considered myself blessed!!!
www.arena.sa is probably the largest MMA gym on the planet right now with top .. top.. top notch equipment, we have the best of what the market has to offer, this place is amazing.
2. Please tell us about the BJJ scene in Saudi Arabia. How do you see BJJ growing there in the next 5-10 years?
Well BJJ was very, very behind here, and because the country is closed to tourism, it made things ever harder, because the only way to get inside the country is if you are Muslim or invited to work here (sponsored ). There are no visiting visas available, so said that, here was an open market for the fakers, so many high belts from nowhere, guys that never entered in 1 single tournament with purple ..brown belts around, and now things started to get back on track, and we started to move in the right direction.
Arena today has more than 600+ members and more than 200+ just training Bjj , and I believe that this is amazing, for a country that the culture doesn’t support the type of sport we do, the lack of knowledge or information in what we do, our work here us not just teach and break barriers but also educate them.
3. How is the quality of life and the local culture there?
Well Saudi Arabia has everything. .. When I say everything is everything you just need to know the right people.
We have all American restaurant. .clothing etc
Very beautiful private beaches, all here but like I said we need to know the right people to have access to all that. It’s a little secret, kind of underground places.
About the future of the sport here, sky is the limit, we will rock the BJJ scenario in 2016 mark my words. When peopole see Saudi guys on the other side of the brackets,they will know that hell will be about to break loose lol.
I am predicting to make world champions next year, that is my expectations.
In 5 to 10 years I want to have my saudi black belts spread around the kingdom teaching and living of bjj.
4. Who are some of your biggest inspirations in your Jiu-Jitsu career.
Hard question I have so many, I had an opportunity to learn from so many great athletes.
Well here is my list:
Ricardo Liborio, José Marcelo, Murilo Rupp, Marcel Ferreira, Marcos Santa Cruz Oliveira, José Mário ,Rodrigo Minotauro, Artur Mariano, Moacir Boca Oliveira, Rhady Furguson, Jeff Monson, Roberto Cyborg sorry I am old school and those guys had directly impact on my life.
5. What is next for you and your team?
Keep grinding everyday and chasing our main goal which is make Saudi world champions and put Saudi fighters inside UFC.
6. If you want to thank somebody or sponsors, feel free
I would like to thank everyone ..Every single coach, teacher, training partner, family, friends, everybody that some how helped me to get here today,this is a long journey not something that started yesterday, so there is many ..Many ..Many people and companies involved, so thank you all!!
God bless you!!!
