Photo: Jacare’s younger brother ready to ‘attack’ another opponent.Today it was another summer like day in Rio. It hasn’t rained in over 20 days and the weather was sunny and 32@C with the beaches full of people playing and surfing. It is the end of their winter break and the weather brings everyone to the beach for the last grasp of vacation. Down at the Tijuca Tennis Club however the action was fast and furious as incredibly good Blue BElts were doing their thing. The level of the Blue belts improves everyyear, it is just amazing. Lots of high level sweeps and submissions.Amongst the crowd many notables such as Royler Gracie, Lloyd Irvin, Marcelo Garcia, Roger Gracie, Leo Vieira, Rodrigo Comprido, Vitor ‘Shaolin’, Robert Drysdale, Felipe Costa, Demian Maia, Mike Fowler, Claudio Franca and a host of others including one Ronaldo Jacare enjoyed the action. Jacare told us: ‘IT feels really weird to be here and not fight but my career is now geared towards other things.’ Speaking of Jacare, his younger brother was tearing the mats with the same aggressive, moving style of his older brother. Other notable was a student of Donald Park (sorry didn’t get your name) delivering precise arm-locks to unsuspecting opponents. A conversation with Fowler revealed him very excited about competing in what is arguable the hardest divison in the Black Belts, with Garcia, Galvao, Nino, Fowler, Campos and younger Estima all in teh same division! Mike said’I can’t wait!’Tommorrow the action gets even hotter as Purple and Brown belts hit the mats.More updates tomorrowNow go train Jiu-Jitsu
