When I started Jiu Jitsu I had no idea that it would be such a big part of my life. When I was younger  I would often dream that one day I would be a champion and this would be my job. Today what used to be my dream is now my reality. When people ask me what has helped me the most or what I attribute success to I say three things, passion, hard work and surrounding yourself with good people. Passion first because you have to be passionate about what you are doing. If you are doing something for the wrong reasons when things get hard (which they will) you will more then likely quit. Hard work next because nothing worthwhile comes easy. Lastly I say team/family and I’m lucky that my team is also my family. Starting with my father and mother who have always supported my dreams. They sacrificed a lot so that me and my brothers had the opportunities to travel, train and compete.  To my first professor Maurício “Behring” Pereira who taught me Jiu Jitsu was more then just submissions and technique, I’ll always be eternally great full. To my CTA family, all of you  mean the world to me.

Follow your heart, live with passion, work hard, surround yourself with good people and maybe your dreams will become your reality!