Samurai Marat, an athlete who is part of the powerful AOJ KIDS team, won another important title this weekend. Fighting in the heavyweight division, Marat took first place in the IBJJF event held in Florida, continuing his winning streak fighting Gi and No Gi. Experienced in wrestling, the competitor’s grappling skills are increasingly evident.
The athlete, who was promoted to Jiu-Jitsu gray-belt by Tainan Dalpra, said he is grateful to Jiu-Jitsu because the sport taught him to stay calm in tough situations. Perhaps this is what makes Marat stand out and does so well in a competitive environment that is oppressive for many.
“My advice is to focus on training every day and don’t get discouraged by losses. Jiu-Jitsu takes time, and even if you lose, it’s important to learn from it. Also, having fun is important! If you love what you do, you’ll keep improving.”.
Knowing how to deal with unpredictability in competition is one of Samurai Marat’s strengths
The Jiu-Jitsu competitor has a mature attitude towards defeats and mistakes noticed during competitions. He said that he usually watches the footage of his matches to see where he can improve.
“After the match, I usually talk with my coaches and watch the footage to see where I could have done better. Even if I win, there are always things to fix like timing or positioning. To improve, I drill those specific situations and make sure I don’t repeat the same mistakes in the next competition.”.
Athlete was recognized by the mayor of Costa Mesa
Recently, Samurai Marat announced on IG that he had received a certificate of recognition from the city of Costa Mesa, an act that made the athlete realize that his dedication to the sport is taking on a greater proportion than he could ever imagine.
“It was a really cool experience. The mayor recognized my achievements in Jiu-Jitsu and how I represent our community in competitions. It was special to see how my hard work in the gym is recognized not just by my coaches but by the city too.”.