Caio Almeida on Cobrinha: “He changed my life”
The Almeida JJ leader tells VF Comunica he learned how to train with his former coach and now sees Cleber Clandestino, his student from white to black belt, training with the same master in Los Angeles
Caio Almeida has produced world champions at Almeida JJ, but he makes a point of remembering who produced him. Speaking to VF Comunica, the coach talked about Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, who taught him for many years, and said that time shaped the way he trains and teaches to this day.
“Cobrinha was a guy who changed my life. I was his student for many years. We used to train six hours a day, and it was with him that I really learned how to train. To this day I carry that way of training with me and with my students,” he said.
From coach to student
The story gained a new chapter with Cleber “Clandestino” Sousa. Raised in the Almeida JJ social project in Itaquera, on the east side of São Paulo, he received his black belt from Almeida in December 2016, the same year he won the World Championship at brown belt. Today, Clandestino trains with Cobrinha in Los Angeles and represents Alliance.
“Clandestino was my student from white belt to black belt. Today he is there with Cobrinha, in Los Angeles, representing Alliance. I sent him. He is my friend, my student and, to me, it is like he is an extension of me,” Almeida said.
“Something better of me”
Almeida says his student’s move to his former coach’s academy means something personal to him. “Being able to hand one of my best students to Cobrinha is like handing over something better of me. Seeing him as a world champion and learning from a person who changed my life is something very special,” he said.
Who Cobrinha and Clandestino are
Cobrinha is one of the greatest featherweights in jiu-jitsu history, with IBJJF and ADCC world titles, and he runs Alliance in Los Angeles. Clandestino, 30, won the Pan and the Brazilian Nationals as a black belt in 2019 and has also competed in ONE Championship, where he faced Mikey Musumeci.
In another part of the conversation with VF Comunica, Almeida talked about what he sees as the greatest quality of a champion.
Which coach changed your path in jiu-jitsu? Tell us in the comments.
