Emmanuela Oliveira 
Athlete and professor at Gracie Barra Chandler, in the United States, black-belt Lucas Castro knows well how to use the IBJJF Opens as preparation for the Grand Slam tournaments of the international Jiu-Jitsu federation. With his mind already 100% focused on the Pans, which take place this month in Florida, Lucas can now use as motivation the two golds he won at the beginning of the season: at the Sacramento and San Jose Opens. Regarding the camp for the PanAms, Paulo “Piu’s” adult black-belt highlighted the ease of making weight in the division in which he aims to stand out: the roosterweight.
“The preparation for the Pan has been very good. In the two Opens I fought in before the Pan, I managed to beat the roosterweight division very well and also put into practice new positions that I developed in training.”, he tells VF Comunica.
Lucas Castro says that strengthening training with athletes from Brazil was essential
In the strategy for a champion performance at the Pan, always under the command of professor Paulo Eduardo, there is the tactic of strengthening training through more people and the solution for this was to seek athletes from Brazil to enrich the team. A two-way street in terms of benefits, as everyone wins.
Focusing specifically on Lucas Castro’s game for the Pans, he says he trusts the predominance of the game on top as an element of surprise, since lighter athletes, like those in his division, prefer to pull guard and develop from that point.
“I think the main difference is also in the play on top. Roosterweight is a division that not everyone feels comfortable playing on top and I’ve been working hard to feel comfortable with it”, he reveals, without fear of leaving her comfort zone.
Also according to the black-belt, the focus of the GB Arizona team is on the IBJJF gi tournaments. The goal is to reach the Pans, and later the Worlds, with the ability to apply all the techniques improved in constant training. With this done, success is guaranteed.
