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Roberto Leitao: ‘The Luta Livre – Jiu Jitsu Rivalry Makes No Sense’

Roberto Leitao: ‘The Luta Livre – Jiu Jitsu Rivalry Makes No Sense’

 

 

Roberto Leitão is a Luta Livre Mestre internationally recognized for his technical level and teaching methods. He is also a Judo black belt 4th Dan, he trains Luta Livre for over 60 years. And in 60 years, he never missed a single training day.

Born in Santa Catarina in southern Brazil, Roberto has spent 75 of his 76 years in Rio de Janeiro. This keen interest in engineering and in combat. He studied and became an engineer in mechanical engineering while making the rounds of all the academies of the country where they train grappling or Luta Livre. His experience in both areas lead to him teaching at university but also in the academy.

On October 18, in Rio de Janeiro, there will be a grappling competition called the International Submission Cup, which will put face to face practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Luta Livre and intensify the rivalry between the two arts.

Master Leitão recently addressed the rivalry between Luta Livre and Jiu-Jitsu and said that it is behind us. He said that today, the relationship between the practitioners of the two martial arts is healthy.

He told Brazil’s Tatame Magazine:

“This rivalry is in the past. Today everyone wants to learn something from each other’s martial art. They complement each other. Nowadays, this rivalry does not make sense. I am of Luta Livre, and am also training at Nova Uniao, which is a Jiu-Jitsu academy. We have to defend sport in general, “he concluded.

 

Check out this mini documentary of Roberto Leitao: