A student on Bruno Frazatto’s kids team at Atos Atlanta, Raphael Pesce is a tireless athlete when it comes to competitions. Next weekend, Pesce will compete in another major IBJJF competition, Pan Kids No Gi, in Florida. He will compete in the Teen 1, light-featherweight.
Having won important titles throughout the season, the young yellow-belt participated in the New Breed competition, Gi and No Gi, and once again took the top spot. In total, he fought four times and got four submissions.
“These fights were a lot of fun and can give you different challenges. This tournament I went up in weight. I enjoy new breeds. It gives me a chance to take on different challenges. I like to test my game and see if it stands up to higher belts and or bigger comp.”.
With the move to Atlanta, Raphael has more time to dedicate to Jiu-Jitsu
After moving to Atlanta with his family to be closer to the academy, a sign that Raphael has a very solid support base, the athlete said that he naturally began to dedicate more time to Jiu-Jitsu training. Now, it is possible to train a lot, both Gi and No Gi. Preference for the modality does not matter as long as good work is being done on the mat.
“Here’s the thing we’ve been training both a lot. Since the last time we connected, my family moved to ATL to be closer to our academy. We’ve been able to put in a ton of time on the mats for both Gi & no Gi. To be fair I really don’t know which I like better.”.
“Those are tough tournaments with great competitors. I’m happy to have come away with the dubs and grateful to contribute to Atos ATL team standings. When you train with the best you just hope to do your part for the team.”.
According to the yellow-belt, the confidence that the professors give is essential to staying calm in competitions
Facing the pressure of a championship is not for everyone, and a healthy mind has a huge contribution to a champion’s performance. Some people deal with this feeling better, and Raphael fits into this type of competitor. According to him, the confidence transmitted by the masters is essential to keep calm before taking action.
“There’s always pressure. It takes a lot for anyone to get out there and fight but training under Professor Frazatto and Master Traven with our team makes me feel like I am really prepared to face difficult challenges.”.
When you participate in competitions regularly, and you also place first, exposure is natural. Therefore, always surprising is a must for those who want to keep their place at the top. For Raphael, the versatility of Jiu-Jitsu, always encouraged at Atos, is what matters.
“I really do love it all! It seems most jiu jitsu competitors have techniques we tend to use more than others. However our Atos professors help us step up to develop new parts of the game. My training partners force me to step it up and use the techniques we learn in challenging situations. So I don’t mean to be vague but I really do love it all!”.
