Today RGOA starts publishing the interview with Rafael Correa de Lima, known as Rafael "Gordinho", world champion and 5 times Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion, where he was elected the most technical fighter and conquered the fastest submission in history (12 seconds). "Gordinho" has traveled the world as a coach and teacher, opening academies, training champions and being an ambassador for the sport in Asia and the US.
 
 
What are the first memories you have of Renzo? Can you tell us an interesting story involving you and Renzo, throughout your years together?
 
RAFAEL: I've known Renzo for over 30 years, we grew up together. The first memories are at the beach, surfing, and playing at the gym when I was still a kid. His influence is huge in all aspects of my life, but especially in the positive way of living. I remember a good story... Well, Renzo doesn't hide from anyone that as a child he was terrible! And at that time we used to go out a lot, me and my brothers (Gordo and Renato), along with Renzo and two of his brothers (Ralph and Ryan). I was Ryan's age, Gordo was Ralph's age, and my brother Renato was Renzo's age. Renato was a street friend of Renzo, from the area of ​​Barra beach known as Quebra-Mar (in Rio de Janeiro). And after a while, when my brother was 15 years old, my mother forbade him to hang out with Renzo. Renzo had become "persona non grata" in my house, because of the stories of trouble he got into... Renato was forbidden to go out with Renzo and ended up going to another way... And it was at that time that I and my brother Gordo started to get interested in Jiu-Jitsu, and we continued to meet Renzo and the other Gracie's, hidden from my mother. 20 years later I moved to New York to work for Renzo. And then I remember the day my mother came to spend Christmas with us, and we were all gathered at Renzo's house, who had organized a big dinner for us. During this party, at one point Renzo turns to my mother and says: "Remember when you forbade the boys to walk with me? Now Rafael works for me, he's living here in New York, he's a world champion... What would have happened if they had obeyed?" My mother was all embarrassed, and everyone laughed a lot... But Renzo was right: my life has become much better thanks to his and Jiu-Jitsu's influence.
 
 
What do you think are the fundamental principles of Jiu-Jitsu? Do you think these principles can be applied to other areas of people's lives? 
 
RAFAEL: I divide Jiu-Jitsu into 3 fundamental parts: defense, control and attack. Within these 3 principles, I make other subdivisions, I decouple the principles of defense, control and attack, and this facilitates the understanding and mastery of all aspects of the art. I believe that my life is guided by Jiu-Jitsu principles: I use it to raise my children and to relate to people, and also to do business. The element I use the most is perfectionism: Jiu-Jitsu gives me the vision of the most efficient and fastest way to get to the goal in everything I do. The practice of Jiu-Jitsu trains your mind to do a very quick and very accurate analysis of the problem you are facing, and to find the best way to solve it. Also, Jiu-Jitsu gives you a very strong mental toughness, and teaches you to never give up, even when you are under very intense pressure. A fighter takes everything he learns on the mat into his own everyday life, it's a process that happens naturally. 
 
(to be continued)