Thyago Ribeiro teaches Jiu Jitsu at Gracie Sports USA where he introduced me to ginastica natural and got me ready for my upcoming immersion camp. He reminds me of the quote from Roadhouse,
I want you to be nice until it’s time to not be nice.
He is always nice until it’s time to not be nice. Here is his origin story followed by his thoughts on fitness. Over to a fighter, teacher, and friend, Professor Thyago:
I’m a Brazilian, living here in Fairfield close to Black Rock. My story started in a dangerous neighborhood in Brazil where I constantly needed to run from many problems. My father was in law enforcement, but in Brazil that just mean more problems. For years I tried to find my way, including getting involved in some pretty dangerous situations and nearly losing my life in one. I felt so lost until I found a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym and started to train with them. There I saw my life change. Over years of training, I eventually reached the level of black belt, the highest level you can achieve in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I had found what God put me here to do and it was during this time that I also made the decision to help other people change their lives too. The only problem is that I didn’t have many opportunities to do that.
I started praying every day to God and asked Him to give me the chance to spread his Word and teach people martial arts like he did with me. There was no answer to my prayers for a long time. Finally, after 10 years, without any networking or money or anything I contributed… God remembered me. Marcio Stambowsky, owner of Gracie Sports USA, heard about me in Brazil and the hard work I was doing there, so he invited me to come and see how life was in US. When I got here, I fell in love. Fairfield and Black Rock was like the dream place I had always been looking for and immediately decided to move here. With God as my guide I started to build my life and within two years, I found a house to live in and I bought myself a car. I came to this country with $200 in my pocket. I cannot believe the life I have now. Truly I can say God will give me everything I need always! I am so happy to have found this community and look forward to continuing to improve peoples’ lives through marital arts at Gracie Sports USA Fairfield!
Reflecting
It’s not only about looking beautiful and getting in shape; it’s feeling good and bringing the mind, body, and spirit together.
Training
My favorite exercise is the squat and I hate leg curls. The full squat works all your body and helps you to feel strong. I’m preparing for BJJ competitions in August in New York and New Haven.
Fueling
The best recipe I have is whey protein, fruits and Greek yogurt. Shake everything and it’s the perfect desert. My favorite protein always is any steak. The weirdest thing I eat is chicken feet.
Supplementing
Creatine and whey are the game changers, but I skip BCAA.
Measuring
I measure my progress just looking about who I was a few years ago. I don’t care too much about measuring everything; I just keep clean and healthy with good food.
Recovering
I just like to listen the bible before sleep and pray to God give me a good night.
Mentoring
My mentors have been Fabrício Bicudo and Wladimir Cardos; they got me back to Jiu Jitsu.
Connecting
Follow Thyago on Insta.
Closing
Two truths and a lie (in randomized order):
I won the nationals.
I travel around the world with BJJ.
I got my black belt in BJJ before finishing college.
Comment if you can spot the lie!
Retracting
Contrary to one of his three closing statements in a recent post, I’m disappointed to report that Gilbert Schuerch is not in fact pursuing a 405 lb. bench. Catching up with Gilbert, he admitted that,
While I'd love to say I'm in pursuit of a 405 bench, that would be a half truth. These days I'm not in pursuit of any single big reps. Just want to slowly pack on as much muscle as I can. If that happens to correlate with a bigger bench (which doesn't always happen) then hooray! And if not, also fine.
He looks like a baaaaaad man