There are moments in life that are so remarkable they surpass the grandeur of an event. One such moment, in my eyes, happened in the Worlds 2014 when Luciano Mariano stepped on the mat to face his opponent. You see Mariano, a native of Japerica, Para in Brazil trains and competes in BJJ despite that fact that he had both arms amputated as a child. Luciano has a tremendous spirit and his presence on the mats at Long Beach makes us and our sport appreciate the triumph of the spirit!
Luciano Mariano you are a Champion in my eyes!
You can find out more about Luciano at his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/lucianomariano.obl
People never cease to amaze me and neither does Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and this is a powerful combination of the two!
Huge thanks to Lance Emery Photography for capturing this inspiring moment