Emmanuela Oliveira 
With the end of the IBJJF Brazilian Nationals for adults, the moment when kids athletes will perform in the national tournament in search of gold is eagerly awaited. Gabriel Silva, American orange-belt, is one of the promises among athletes in this age group. With Brazilian blood running through his veins, the boy is Vicente Junior’s son, black-belt and professor, Gabriel is a competitor who faces the demands of high performance with the maturity of an older athlete. “I feel if I didn’t do these things I would be lacking a lot in my jiu-jitsu and my performances.”
Two-time Euros and Pan Kids champion, Gabriel Silva became a name to be surpassed, ending last season in the highest position in the IBJJF rankings. With an armored mind and a strategy that fits the essence of Jiu-Jitsu, always guided by the drive to finish, Gabriel Silva has everything it takes to arrive in Barueri, in São Paulo, in his best version. The Brazilian Nationals for kids will take place on the weekend of June 22nd and 23rd.
Read the full interview below!
VF COMUNICA: Gabriel, your performance over the last year has been impressive, what have you done to stay at the top?
GABRIEL SILVA: I believe one of the main things that has helped keep my performances consistent and great is how I believe. I tell my teammates a lot that you can be great at the sport, but if you don’t go out there and believe you will win, you lost. So many kids go to tournaments and look at their opponent and think they might lose. Boom, that’s what causes the loss. You have to believe in yourself. I do. That’s what keeps me winning along with all the training that I do and the focus I have for the sport.
VF COMUNICA: The Brazilian Nationals is one of the most difficult tournaments in the IBJJF Grand Slam. Do you consider yourself a favorite for the title?
GABRIEL SILVA: I always believe I will win. In my mind I am the one who will win, not the person who is a favorite and who may win it. Whether it’s Brazilian Nationals or a local tournament, I am believing in myself to win. I am not going to underestimate the kids in my division, however, as they are tough. Not as well known, but that isn’t what matters.
VF COMUNICA: In a recent interview with VF, you said that you were working and gaining maturity with this responsibility. How do you manage to ensure this activity doesn’t disrupt your athlete routine?
GABRIEL SILVA: I don’t train as much as other kids do, I never did train so much. Mostly the reason for that is that I believe more in the quality than quantity of training. I don’t need to train 6 times a day, I also don’t have that time. I have great training partners at the gym and I train smartly. I make sure my dad is there to push me and help me. When I don’t train and don’t go to school is when I work. For me, it’s not too hard to balance everything.
VF COMUNICA: Have you been to Brazil before? What do you know about the country’s culture, besides Jiu-Jitsu?
GABRIEL SILVA: I have been to Brazil before, once before. It was for my trip to Brazilian Nationals last year where I went to São Paulo and Rio. I know a lot of their culture based off of Brazil’s food, as both my parents are from Brazil. My mom has made plenty of dishes from their cuisine. I also know about the passion a lot of locals there have for football (soccer as Americans call it). I know lots of people who love different teams and have expressed lots of emotion for them.
VF COMUNICA: In addition to sparring training, do you do physical preparation? How do you evaluate your commitment as a kids athlete?
GABRIEL SILVA: I do work out in addition to my training. It helps to increase my strength and stamina. I also do mobility work outs occasionally when I have extra problems in my hips and/or knees. Lastly, I do have a dieting plan I follow for tournaments to keep me in a good weight and in my division. I see my commitment to be necessary. For what I want to achieve when I grow up, it seems necessary to all of these things added to the sport itself. I feel if I didn’t do these things I would be lacking a lot in my jiu-jitsu and my performances.
VF COMUNICA: Strategically, how do you intend to perform at the Brazilian Nationals?
GABRIEL SILVA: I plan to play my game and be dominant. As I said, my goal is to win. I don’t have any specific way I want to win. Submissions in all of my matches would be nice though.
