Emmanuela Oliveira 
An example of Jiu-Jitsu teaching in Texas, Piano Malachias has acquired enough knowledge over the years to analyze today’s Jiu-Jitsu, a sport with real possibilities for athletes who want to be professionals. In the rise of the sport, something that can be seen very clearly is the best opportunities for athletes who have already passed through the adult stage. In an interview with VF Comunica directly from Texas, Piano recognized the advantage that “the old guys” have in terms of advertising and ticket sales power. For him, despite there being unanimous interest in adult fights in the lineup of main events, the masters will always have their spot due to the history they carry.
“I believe this happened because Jiu-Jitsu has evolved, there are several big championships now, like Who’s Number One, BJJ Stars, then they call the old guys because they sell tickets. People want to see older people fight, but it’s more for the show, like an exhibition.”, he said.
Still regarding the growth of Jiu-Jitsu, the most transformative changes have been observed in the last 10 years, with the expansion of the modality, now taught in different languages, on a global scale. There are many more technically well-developed athletes and many more people interested in Jiu-Jitsu as fans. Piano Malachias connects this reality with facilitating access to sports information.
“I think that with the internet everyone has accessibility. It is possible today to follow the European Championship, for example, over the phone. Companies like FloGrappling, among others, are investing heavily and these people are seeing financial returns with the growth of Jiu-Jitsu. I think this growth over the last 10 years is related to these transmissions. The media has also had a very large participation in recent years, expanding everyone’s access to sport.”, he commented.
Pedro Marinho, an athlete trained by Malachias at Gracie Barra, is a success story created in modern Jiu-Jitsu. Well-oriented and trained, current WNO champion and qualified for the ADCC main event of the season, Pedro is defined by the professor as someone more mature and aware of the transformative potential of Jiu-Jitsu.
“Pedro is getting older, more mature and is no longer in that crazy mood. He trains, he knows what to do. He has evolved a lot as an athlete. As a businessman, he knows that Jiu-Jitsu is an open door to changing your life. He has already changed for the better, financially. He managed to understand that living only as an athlete is possible. I’m not going to say it’s a short life, because (Roberto) ‘Cyborg’ is proving that he can have a long life in the profession. But the life of an athlete is full of ups and downs. When a guy has a successful academy, full of students who trust his work, then there are only positive points.”, assessed the Gracie Barra professor.
Piano predicts possible open class champions at the ADCC, but recognizes equivalent technique among elite athletes
Mentioning names like Craig Jones, Nicholas Meregali and Kaynan Duarte as hot bets for absolute gold at the ADCC in August, Piano also commented on the technical level of the sport’s elite today. According to him, the top fighters are equally technical and very well trained. It’s always the detail that will make the difference in determining the champion.
“As nowadays it is easy to have access to everything, it is necessary to watch a lot of videos, study each person’s game. It’s not like it used to be, where it was decided by bravery, going there to beat the guy and that’s it. Nowadays it’s not like that anymore, everyone is super athletes, very well trained, the level is practically the same. There is no technically superior athlete, with the exception of Gordon, everyone can beat everyone. It’s difficult to guarantee that Meregali will beat Kaynan easily. That Kaynan will beat Victor Hugo easily, that Victor will win Meregali easily, you know? Everyone is at the same level.”, he commented, in an assessment full of experience.
