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Having been involved in Jiu Jitsu for over 25 years with 20 years of teaching experience 4th Degree Black Belt Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhães is a prime example of a man who has fully dedicated his life to the Jiu Jitsu lifestyle. Not only is he considered one of the greatest feather weight competitors of all time but he is also considered one of the greatest instructors of all time having awarded over one hundred black belts which includes the likes of many top competitors like Romulo Barral and Samuel Braga. Professor Draculino currently spends his time as the head instructor of Gracie Barra Texas as well as running his own online training database DraculinoBJJTraining.com. Even with his busy schedule Professor “Draculino” still had time to give the Gracie Barra family an insight into his life through Jiu Jitsu. His life on and off the mats is an inspiration to all of us and sets a good example of what we should strive for in our life.

Rio and Belo Horizonte are quite different than Texas. What are some of the things you love about your new home?
The people in Texas. They are the best! So nice, helpful, dedicated, and also tough! Everything is organized, clean and beautiful. I love my new home!

What is something interesting that most people do not know about you?
My life is an open book and I have a pretty “normal” life. Maybe a lot of people don’t know that I am a Lawyer that graduated from one of the best Universities in Brazil with really good grades.

Besides Jiu Jitsu, what are some other things that interest you?
Surfing and reading books of all kinds but mostly hanging out with my family and having a good time!

What is your best memory from Jiu Jitsu?
Let’s put it this way: everything that I have in life; material, emotional, and even my loved ones, came to me through Jiu-Jitsu. So Jiu Jitsu is my existence.

What was the highlight of your Jiu Jitsu career?
As a competitor, to be able to compete in the highest level and have always had good results. But my main accomplishment is as a Professor. I taught and teach lots of World Champions and MMA studs but mainly, I helped on the forging of countless characters.

What is it about Jiu Jitsu that made you want to dedicate your life to this art?
Like I said before, everything that I have in my life came from Jiu Jitsu. I fell in love not just with the art, but the way of life preached by the Gracie Family. Having access to that can change ANYONE’S live forever.

Who are some of your favorite competitors to watch in both Jiu Jitsu and MMA?
Jiu-Jitsu in my time I liked Royler Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Roberto Gordo, and Jean Jacques Machado. In the new generation I like Roger Gracie, Romulo Barral, Samuel Braga, and Cobrinha. In MMA I go with Ralph Gracie ( the REAL Pit Bull), Renzo Gracie, Ricardo Ameida, Shinya Aoki, and many more. So many tough guys!

Tell us a memory of of Master Carlos that means a lot to you?
I have had a relationship with Master Carlinhos since 1989. So 23 years. We spent countless hours on the mats and off the mats too. He taught me not just techniques but also the Jiu Jitsu life style. How to eat well, how to behave, how to treat others, and more.

A specific day that I will always remember is when he, out of the blue, called me in a corner and said: ” You should begin to do the Seoi Nage throw . Your body type is ideal for that.” I was a Blue Belt with 118 pounds. You have to understand that there were BEASTS on the mats that day (Maters Renzo, Rillion, Ralph Gacie, and many more). Then he spent, no joke, TWO HOURS with me teaching, correcting the details, and even telling me to practice on him! People left the school, and we stayed there for a long time. With all those great and tough people on that mats, me, a kid and a mere Blue Belt, got all the attention in the world. No need to say that it is my best throw to this day.

How do you want to remembered on and off the mats?
As a guy who changed lots of people’s lives for the best by being a dedicated, loyal, and sincere person. And also that I “walked the talk” my whole life.

If you could have gone back and change one thing in you Jiu Jitsu journey what would it have been?
I would not change anything. Every mistake that I made was key in making me evolve as a fighter, professor, and person.

What do you tell your students who are considering giving up?
That the benefits that they get from learning the art and the life style that surrounds it will make them a better person physically, mentally, and spiritually. Also, that like with every other thing in life, it takes time and decent dedication to get all these benefits. So if they want to stop, they will be interrupting something splendid in their lives. They should relax and enjoy the journey because time on the mats and living the life style will make them understand and never regret the decision of continue their training.

What are your goals/dreams for the future?
Continue the legacy of Gracie Barra and Master Carlinhos all over the world and to keep changing people’s lives for the best through Jiu Jitsu.

Anything else that you would like to add?
I would like to thank you for the opportunity and tell all the readers of this interview that it does not matter who you are: rich , poor, young, old, big, small, tall short, shy, outgoing, strong, weak. Through Jiu Jitsu, you will always find a way to improve your life as a whole.

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Just finished the brand new www.draculinobjjtraining.com TURBO curriculum for 2012. New techniques and also some NOGI stuff were put into the mix. It goes live on the beggining of February. I am positive you guys will love it. Also, we’ve just closed a deal with a camera crew to film brand new techniques. Lots of NoGI, MMA and brand new stuff. Stay tunned!

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POPPA ROTZEE:
Miguel Torres quoted an unclassy line from a Fox television show “Its always sunny in philidelphia” ( a show hosted on Fox, the new home for the UFC ) Dana white fired him on the spot. This comes after a long line of fighters getting in trouble for tweets.

The difference is, Dana forgave the other two fighters (Forrest Griffen for saying “Rape is the new missionary position” and Rashad Evans saying “hes going to put his hands on that guy worse than that coach did them little kids from penn state”. Dana forgave them saying, it happens and he is the first one to forgive for mistakes.

But with Miguel Torres, it looks like there was no forgiveness. What are your thoughts on this? In a poll I conducted, most people agree that there should of been A PUNISHMENT, but that firing him was too harsh.

DRACULINO:
I agree with the pool. You can never have inconsistency….I agree that the fighters have the duty of being role models and give good examples since they are public figures and they are idols for children. So a warning and official apologize is ok, like it was for Rashad and Griffin. but expelling…..I don’t know.

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POPPA ROTZEE:
You’ve been training intensely for awhile now, how do you feel? How about the diet, has it gotten easier or harder with time to stay disciplined (Especially during the holidays) What do you do to combat these temptations.

DRACULINO:
I am not training that hard….it is just maintnence….I never stay inactive, you can never stop completely. I am eating a little better now, incorporating the super foods, foods that have high nutritional value and avoiding fried things and sugar. It makes me feel way better. But on Christmas eve it will be hard to resist…..

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POPPA ROTZEE:
Christmas is around the corner, what are your plans for the holidays? What is a typical trip involve when you go back to Brazil. Do you still train and visit your other Gym..or is it finally a time for you to take of the Gi and kick your feet up?

DRACULINO:
I am going to Brazil as always. First to BH, to make the end of the year graduation of GBBH and see my students and friends. Then I go to Rio, see my family and friends to. If am am healthy, of course I will train! and Surf to. In BH, I train at my school. In Rio, GB or other friends schools.

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POPPA ROTZEE:
What are your thoughts on the new Combat Jiu-Jitsu Competition with Punches that is starting to see light?

Draculino:
That is the first time I hear that. Don’t know nothing about it. It sounds interesting…..but lots of people who does not have what it takes to take a punch will not be competing…. and others will stick to their thing. Hope it does well.

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POPPA ROTZEE:
So TUF is coming to Brazil with to very exciting fighters. Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort. What are your thoughts on this? Is it exciting to see TUF showcase the motherland, and who will you be pulling for?

DRACULINO:
That will be a great way to expose MMA to the masses in Brazil since GLOBO TV is number one in audience in the country. It is open TV watched by hundreds of Millions of people. I am just PRAYING that the fighters will behave in a professional way, showing that we are not thugs or dumb people. Even though it is changing, in Brazil, there is a lot of prejudice about fighters because in the past, some street fights gave us a bad name. A few people killed the work of the majority.
In regards to the coaches, Victor is faster, maybe more technical e precise, but Wand has something that it cannot be teach, HEART and STAR. He pulls things and make it happen. It will be a great fight!

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SAMUEL BRAGA SEMINAR
6x IBJJF World-Champion
and
Draculino Black Belt
When:
12pm Saturday 12/10/2011
Where:
9099 Westheimer Rd. Suite G – Houston, TX 77063
Phone:
713-977-7415
How Much:
GB Students Pre-pay before 12/8 $40
GB Students after 12/8 $45
Non GB: $80

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