Gustavo Dantas
Gustavo Dantas is a World Jiu-Jitsu Champion from the famous Nova Uniao BJJ team in Rio de Janeiro – Brazil.
Interview with a BJJ Black Belt Gustavo Dantas
Gustavo, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Could you give the readers a brief bio on yourself?
I started training BJJ in 1989 in Rio de Janeiro, and I received my Black Belt on December 1998 from Andre Pederneiras. Right after receiving my Black Belt, I moved to the US to focus on my career in teaching BJJ. I first lived in Las Vegas for 2 years and then moved to Arizona, where I currently live, teach, train, and promote my tournaments. My two biggest influences in BJJ are Fernando Cruz, a Black Belt under Ricardo de la Riva, and Andre, who is a Black Belt under Carlson Gracie. Some of the most memorable achievements are placing 3rd as a Purple Belt in the Lightweight Division at the 1996 Mundials and winning at the Purple and Brown Belt Featherweight Divisions at the 1997 and 1998 Mundials, where I closed out the Division with my teammate, Leo Santos. My most recent accomplishments include winning the 2008 Brazilian Nationals in the Master, Black Belt, Lightweight Division, the 2009 Rickson Gracie International Jiu-Jitsu Cup at the Adult, Black Belt, Lightweight Division, and being able to produce 7 Mundial medalists (Gi).
Can you tell us a little bit about Andre Pederneiras as a coach and a mentor?
I’ve been around a lot of BJJ instructors in my life, and hands down, Andre is the most knowledgeable instructor I have ever met. It’s amazing how all of Andre’s students look up to him as not only a great instructor, but also as a friend and overall, human being. Andre is always there for all his students and always has great advice to give on BJJ and life, in general.
Nova Uniao has produced some very notable black belts such as BJ Penn, Marc Laimon, Vitor Ribeiro, Robson Moura, and yourself. Can you talk a little bit about the Nova Uniao “style” of jiu-jitsu?
I was very fortunate to have amazing training partners at Andre’s school when I was still living in Brazil. At that time, all the main talent from the school was focused 100% on Jiu-Jitsu. I was also able to learn a lot from Vitor Shaolin and Renato “Charuto” Verissimo, who both are extremely technical, while still having different styles. Being able to be exposed to many different games and styles gives Nova Uniao competitors their edge.
In the past, you produced a DVD set called Gustavo Dantas Advanced BJJ (available from Budovideos.com). Do you have any plans for more instructional in the future?
The DVDs I made were from 2002 and I help Robson Moura with the production of his DVD series. Right now, I have no plans to make more Instructional's.
You are part-owner of Arizona Combat Sports in Tempe, Arizona. How long have you been involved with the school?
I have been with AZ Combat Sports since October 2000. 6 months before I joined, it was a Kickboxing gym headed by Trevor Lally. I met Trevor’s twin brother, Todd, in Las Vegas and he set up a seminar for me at the gym. After that, we decided to join forces to include a BJJ program. AZ Combat Sports has been my home ever since.
What kind of programs do you offer?
We offer BJJ, Submission Wrestling, Muay Thai/Kickboxing, and MMA for men, women, and kids.
What is the main focus of the school?
It depends on the goal of each student, but we are a competitive gym. We prepare students for fights and competition, if that is their goal, but we also push students to be their best, whether it is to get in shape, properly defend themselves, or gain self-confidence.
Arizona Combat Sports has really jumped onto the national MMA scene with fighters such as Jamie Varner, Ryan Bader, C.B. Dolloway, Carlos Condit, and Steve Steinbeiss among others. What have been the keys to your MMA team’s success?
We have a combination of knowledgeable instructors and talented athletes. The Lally Brothers put a lot of their time, effort, and heart into their fighters. They are the engine that keeps the AZ Combat Sports MMA team fighting strong.
You are also the Vice-President of the Arizona Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, how did you and Megaton get hooked up and form the federation?
Megaton opened the Federation in 2002, but I started promoting tournaments in 2001. Megaton had the vision to promote IBJJF quality Jiu-Jitsu in Arizona by recognizing legitimate schools and instructors. After seeing my efforts, he asked me to help make that vision a reality.
What were your main goals when you started the federation?
Besides the things I mentioned, we also wanted to produce some of the best BJJ tournaments in the country, upholding the standards of the IBJJF. We also wanted to get competitors ready for the BIG stage, such as Pan-Ams and the Mundials. So far, our work has been paying off: at the 2009 US Nationals, AZSBJJF schools brought 39 medals home to Arizona.
How do you think the jiu-jitsu in Arizona compares to BJJ “hotbeds” such as Southern California and Las Vegas?
Of course, Arizona doesn’t have as many schools as California, but BJJ is constantly growing in Arizona. At my very first tournament in 2001, I had only about 45 competitors and at my last tournament, the 2009 AZ BJJ State Championship, 430 people came to compete. That just shows how much BJJ has grown in only an 8 year period. I’m proud to say that Arizona is now the home of many National and International competitors and the positive results have been showing in many World Class tournaments such as the Pan-Ams, European, and Mundial Championships.
What kind of rule set do you employ?
We follow everything to IBJJF standards. We use IBJJF certified referees, enforce IBJJF rules and regulations, have mat coordinators, and follow the weigh-in and gi check procedures. This way, AZ competitors are ready and prepared for the large scale tournaments produced by the IBJJF.
Do you also promote no-gi tournaments?
I have in the past, but while traditional BJJ is growing bigger and stronger, the interest in No-Gi has been fading, with turn outs at tournaments not being successful. To be honest, traditional BJJ is my passion and it is what I prefer to focus on. Maybe in the future, I can try again, but for now my tournaments are gi only.
What events do you have planned for the future?
I have 4 tournaments a year, the AZ Open, the AZ Kids Cup, the AZ State Championship, and the Southwest Classic; 1 for each season. The next tournament is the 1st Southwest BJJ Classic on October 10-11, 2009 at the Westwood High School in Mesa, AZ. It is open to all Kids, Juvenile, Adult, Master, and Senior competitors, and they will receive chances to win prizes such as OTM DVDs, a Nintendo DS, an iPod Touch, and an LCD HDTV. Gracie Mag will also be present to cover the tournament.
Where can readers find out more about the AZBJJF?
Readers can go to www.AZSBJJF.com to register for the Southwest Classic or to get the latest updates on BJJ in Arizona. They can look at pictures, watch videos, meet our referees, go over tournament rules, see the Arizona School Rankings, and read the news and results of Arizona competitors.
What else can we expect from you in the future?
As far as me competing, it isn’t my main priority. I may compete every now and then, but my focus is on training and preparing my students for the World Class tournaments the IBJJF offers. You may not see me on those mats, but for sure you’ll see me coaching from behind the fences. As for the AZSBJJF, I’m always working hard to make Jiu-Jitsu in Arizona bigger. With each tournament, the amount of competitors keeps growing, and that’s what I want to see: More people excited to compete.
Any last comments?
I’d like to thank all the schools in Arizona that have been supporting me and the Federation and especially Megaton for being the Pioneer of BJJ in Arizona. With his help, we have been able to make traditional Jiu-Jitsu stronger than ever. I’d like to thank my sponsor, Many Weapons, for supporting me, my students, and my efforts. You can find my info about me and my students at www.GDJiuJitsu.com
Quick Hits
Favorite Takedown: Morote Seoi Nague
Favorite Submission: Triangle choke
How many days a week do you train? 2-3 times since I’m not competing
Favorite music to train to: Reggae
Ratio of drilling to sparring you recommend?Depends on the student, but for me, I would suggest 30% drilling to 70% sparring
Favorite thing to do outside of grappling: Playing the guitar and playing with my dog, Kimura
Favorite jiu-jitsu guys to watch: There are so many people out there that I like, but I’ll just name my favorite Nova Uniao guys: Robson Moura, Vitor Shaolin, Leo Santos, and Marcelino Freitas
Biggest mistake that new grapplers make: Bad posture, lack of leg movement, and improper grips (gi training)
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