At just 20 years old, Márcio André is considered one of the rising stars of the Jiu-Jitsu world. However, nothing came easy for the kid from the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. He is a black belt from Nova Uniao academy in Bangu, a neighborhood in the Northern part of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The Bangu academy has been successful in producing many of today’s younger top Nova Uniao athletes.
He is a multiple world and European champion at purple and brown belt and is set to make waves at black belt.
Marcio has already overcome as many obstacles in life as he has won trophies and medals. Growing up without parents, he flirted with the world of crime before discovering Jiu-Jitsu.

In a highly unequal country like Brazil, there are rare opportunities for a young man from a humble background to go up in society and stand out from the rest.
Born and raised in Bangu, on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, Márcio André, with no father and mother, had all to be part of a sad statistic, but decided to fight the numbers. Marcio spoke to BJJEE.com about his plans:

Marcio, please tell our readers what Jiu-Jitsu has changed in your life

Jiu-Jitsu changed my life at age 10, age when i started practicing the most wonderful sport in the world. I was born and raised in Bangu, in Rio de Janeiro, and i could see the wrong and right things. I thank God that has placed Jiu-Jitsu in my life. I don’t know what i’d do without Jiu-Jitsu. My passport is very stamped, i’ve traveled around the world and i just have to thanks Jiu-Jitsu. I don’t have a father and mother, both are deceased. I lost my father when i was a baby, then my mother Andreia raised me alone and she gave me everything as far as possible and has shaped me into the man i am today. I lost my mother at 17 years old, and that was the biggest defeat i have ever suffered. I almost quit Jiu-Jitsu, but my teacher and father Fabio Andrade, my girlfriend and my friends didn’t allow it. God gave me strength to endure it all and now i’m here.

Since childhood, i always wanted to be very good at Jiu-Jitsu, always wanted to evolve. I was upset because i couldn’t train on a good level with everybody on my academy. I trained a lot, and i wanted to improve at any cost. I asked Fabio to train with adults and he accepted, making me promise i would not cry. He tried to do everything better than the others. A month later, i started training hard with the yellow belts, with the oranges belts and was left against the white belts. Being that, i was white belt and had a month of Jiu-Jitsu. I am warrior, already learned a lot about life. I will conquer all my goals. I will be world champion at black belt, i will write my name in the history of Jiu-Jitsu. After i get this, i will test myself on MMA and make my students champions. I’ll live the life that God prepared for me. Thank you for all my God. Never give up on your dreams, even if all the doors close. Your faith can’t be affected.

Where does your motivation to train so hard and the winning spirit come from? (What drives you)

Jiu-Jitsu is my job, i love to do this. So train hard is good for me. I like to train. If you allow, i will train the entire day. I’ve already got the motivation for all i’ve passed in my life, i got to use it to push me and to motivate me. I want to be champion, i want to be a idol on Jiu-Jitsu. I’ll work hard. Motivation is just an aspect that made champions, but a champion needs more: will, heart, determination, know to hear the teacher and be daring. I have a lot of faith in God to accomplish my objectives. I work a lot for it.

What goes on in your mind before stepping on a competition mat?
All that process made me to be there. I remember because i paid the price to be there. I like when they challenge me. Sometimes somebody will say: “Marcinho won’t defeat this guy. Marcinho don’t pass thru this fight”. They don’t know how this makes me feel good when they say it. This triples my potential when i hear this. That kind of pressure don’t affect me. I’ve already passed thru the biggest pressure of my life. What pass thru my mind is how i worked hard for this. The only voice inside my head is: you can do anything.

Photo: BJJ pix

Is always thinking about submitting your opponent a good or a foolish strategy for competition? What is your strategy?

This is relative for me. I like to be prepared for all of this. I like to finalize, but i like to play on the strategy too, especially when fight in the absolute. When you step in to the mat, you have to put your guns on the table. You have to attack first, and make your opponent feel small. I always fight for this. I always like to play against the best of your opponent. If he moves well standing, i’ll take him down. If he has a good guard, i’ll pass thru the guard. If he passes well, i’ll pull him. Just it.

Who are some of your biggest inspirations in your Jiu-Jitsu career?

I have admiration for the harder work of some fighters, i like people that work hard. Rubens Cobrinha is for sure on of them. I grew up watching Rubens fighting. He is my idol.

Tell us about your time spent recently in the UAE and your impressions of the BJJ scene there.

The Jiu-Jitsu is respected here. I’m loving all. It’s great.

What do you do for strength and conditioning?

A lot of cardio work and a lot of Jiu-Jitsu trainings. I train so much Jiu-Jitsu, i do much specific trainings. I spend all of my hours on the mat.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

I’ll train very hard to be in the Jiu-Jitsu hall of fame. On five years, i really want to have beaten some world championships on the black belt.