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Rising Star Edwin Najmi On His Training Under Romulo Barral & His Armenian Roots

Rising Star Edwin Najmi On His Training Under Romulo Barral & His Armenian Roots

 

Photo: IBJJF

Photo: IBJJF

Edwin Najmi is a world class purple belt active competitor who trains under BJJ legend Romilo Barral. He also runs agreat FB page and website Best Of BJJ. Check out what this rising star has to say regarding his training regiment, training under Romulo, his strength program and his Armenian roots.

1. Hi Edwin, can you please introduce yourself to the BJJ Community of Eastern Europe? 

My name is Edwin Najmi. I am 20 years old. I’m a purple belt under Romulo Barral. I am from an Armenian descent but I was born and raised in America. I train at Gracie Barra Northridge in Los Angeles, California. I am a 4 time IBJJF Pan American Champion. Jiu Jitsu Battle 3 Winner. Multiple time worlds Medalist..I’m still hunting for that World Championship Gold Medal.

Edwin with Romulo Barral and Draculino

Edwin with Romulo Barral and Draculino

2. Please guide us through your Jiu-Jitsu journey.

Basically, my older cousin used to always beat me up on his living room floor, so I decided to go find a gym to train grappling of some sort to beat him. I started training Judo/Nogi Grappling with some of Gokor’s guys for a year and eventually decided that Jiu Jitsu was what I really wanted to do. I walked into the local BJJ gym one day and I got lucky that the head instructor was BJJ World Champion, Romulo Barral. I’ve been training with him ever since.

3. You have the chance of training under Romulo Barral. Please tell us more about Romulo as a teacher and what he represents to you.

Romulo is the man. He always has the best advice and always tries to help me improve not just my jiu jitsu but my life. He has a lot of knowledge because he’s literally been through it all. To winning all the tournaments, to getting injured and not winning and then coming back to win more tournaments than ever. He’s been at the highs and the lows..so he has experienced it all. Besides the world class BJJ that he teaches us everyday. He teaches us what it takes to be a champion with hard work and mental strength. I follow every advice he gives me, because he is literally always right.

4. How would you describe your game? I have seen some matches of you and you have a dangerous triangle. Do you also like to use the spider guard like Romulo?

My game is all about being on the attack the whole time, constantly looking for submissions. I’m always looking to finish my opponent from every position. I never go into the match with a game plan to win by points or advantages. If I don’t win by submission, I’m dissapointed and it doesn’t really feel like a win to me. I like to play a lot of spider guard like Romulo. I also like to do a lot of footlocks, de la riva and berimbolo.

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5. Please tell us about your Armenian roots (since we have many Armenian readers.) Do you follow the growth of BJJ there?

My parents both have full armenian blood. They were born and raised in Iran because my grandparents left Armenia during the Genocide where 1.5 million Armenians were massacred. I was born and raised in Los Angeles. But I can speak Armenian fluently as well as read and write because I went to an Armenian Private school from 3-16 years old. I have seen some pictures of the growth of BJJ there. I would love to help out the growth of BJJ in Armenia one day soon and maybe teach a seminar or training camp there. That would be a dream come true, to help my own people.

6. Please tell us about your strength training program (I follow your progress at the deadlift) and the benefits for your BJJ.

I have two coaches for my strength training. 2x a week I do a workout designed by my Coach Bruno Victor Formiga specifically for Jiu Jitsu. 1x a week, usually at the end of the week I do a heavy power lifting session with my friend and Coach Eric Asatryan. I have been deadlifting every 15 days really heavy for past couple months and I can really see a huge difference in my strength when I’m breaking grips and my base on top.

7. What is next for you and your team in 2013/2014? If you want to thank somebody or sponsors, feel free

For the rest of 2013, I’ll be competing in a couple tournaments and the FIVE grappling 8 man invitational tournament, which should be awesome.
I have really big goals for the 2014 gi season and I can’t wait for the gi tournaments to start. 2014 grand slam and 2014 Purple Belt World Champion. Thank you Romulo Barral, GB Northridge for all the great training. Thank you to my sponsors STORM Kimonos, Bull Terrier and JREAM for all the support. Thank you BJJEE for the opportunity to do this awesome interview!