Emmanuela Oliveira 
Bruno Bastos is surrounded by athletes in the process of professional growth, fighters under his guidance on the mat or leading figures in the sport who seek him out for better career management. A Brazilian black-belt who currently lives in Texas, Bruno Bastos is head coach at LEAD BJJ, a Jiu-Jitsu school, and manager at Beyond Jiu-Jitsu Management.
Cássia Moura and Emily Ferreira are two athletes on the competition team who are enjoying an excellent phase in their careers. Cássia debuted as a black-belt in recent competitions and the aura of a phenomenon is already associated with her image. However, the consecutive positive results, in grappling and in Gi Jiu-Jitsu, indicate that Cássia’s latest achievements derive from solid Jiu-Jitsu and not from a streak of luck.
Emily Ferreira has just added another victory to her resume by defeating Ludmila Fiori at ADXC 6, in Abu Dhabi. For her performance, which ended in a submission in a match with Gi, Emily took home the Performance of the Night award.
“Cássia had all this hype from blue to black-belt in one year, but she came here proving that she fights on equal terms in the elite with her victories at Jiu-Jitsu Con and at the UFC Fight Pass Invitational. Emily had an inconsistent first half of the year, but we adjusted technical and emotional issues that led her to win Jiu-Jitsu Con, finishing both of her fights, in addition to the victory by submission at ADXC. All of the fights were against very tough athletes. Technically, they complement each other in training. They still have a lot to grow and are not even close to reaching their full potential. I see both of them winning the Worlds.”.
Ana Carolina Vieira, world champion, joined Bruno Bastos’ team for better career management
Bruno Bastos’ experience in career guidance has attracted two currently outstanding athletes. Carol Brunacio, an undefeated black-belt, is one of the athletes managed by Bruno. Like Emily, she is coming off a victory at ADXC 6. Ana Carolina Vieira, a five-time IBJJF world champion, with a very consolidated career, has also joined the team. In August, Ana Vieira returned to the elite by winning the gold medal at ADCC, a very important world title that she had not yet won.
“Carol Brunacio is just starting her career, while Ana Vieira is consolidated as one of the best of all time. With Carol, we are working on placing her brand in the market. We are working on growth and brand recognition. The fact that she does a great job with social media helps a lot. With Ana, who has an established career and is in another phase of her life, we are working on maximizing opportunities with financial and image returns. Not only for her, but also for her academy with her wife, Luanna Alzuguir, and the camps they run. Ana is in a phase of receiving all the good things she has done in these years of her career, which will certainly enter the Hall of Fame. So, I believe that seeing the moment in a career, knowing the level where the athlete is, helps in planning to take that career to the next stage, within the athlete’s own goals.”.
LEAD BJJ leader strongly recommends the support of a team with reliable and capable members
Bruno’s statements make it clear that his work routine requires great responsibility and countless tasks. In the interview with VF Comunica, he emphasized the importance of having a trustworthy team, with qualified professionals and well-delegated functions. In this way, each small part ensures the perfect functioning of a complex system.
“It’s impossible to do everything alone. Everyone on the STAFF has goals. My wife Petya is the general manager. On the competition team, I have Itallo Vilardo in charge of the mat training schedule and one of my black-belts, Jarret Jones, takes care of the physical preparation of the athletes, from kids to masters. I only worry about the technical, strategic and emotional aspects.”.
Even though he occupies a privileged position in terms of business, Bruno Bastos does not settle when it comes to knowledge. Jiu-Jitsu has changed and black-belts who want to follow this trend cannot be stuck with unprofessional limitations from the past.
“As an athlete, I have experienced several phases of Jiu-Jitsu, but I believe that experience alone is not enough. I studied Physical Education, but I didn’t finish it, missing three semesters because of the trips that made me move to Texas, and also Sports Management. At the time, I already saw the need for something more to become a professional. Here in the United States, I took several online certification courses in the areas of performance, life coaching, child development and learning, sports management, among others. My advice to everyone is to always seek knowledge.”.
