KUALA LUMPUR: “Malaysia has changed my life. That is why I'm carrying its name when I walk onto the mats in Mexico.”
Bruno Barbosa, 33, is one out of only 16 elite grapplers worldwide invited to compete in the 10th Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI) on Dec 2.
The EBI is a 16-man, submission-only event, founded by one of the world's most recognised Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ) practitioners, Eddie Bravo, who made his mark when he defeated Royler Gracie from the founding family of the art.
Having been living and teaching BJJ in Malaysia for almost two years, the soft-spoken Barbosa is also the only competitor from Asia.
He received an invitation letter just two days after filling in the online form.
"My recent wins in the One FC tournament in Macau and Southeast Asia Grappling Challenge in Singapore must have supported my background but I still could not believe it.
"I didn't tell anyone about it, fearing they may have made a mistake or something but I started training anyway, and that was how my students here got the hint that I was preparing for a competition," Barbosa told NST Online at Monarchy MMA where he teaches.
Even after the organisers booked his flight ticket, only a handful of close friends knew about it.
"I was still trying to wrap my head around it when the organisers released my official video on YouTube. Well, it's real now!" the third degree black belt said.
Although EBI competitors do not officially represent their countries, Barbosa made it a point to carry the Malaysian flag with him.
"People say Brazil is paradise but this is where my dreams came true and changed my family's lives.
"Not only do I get to make a living out of my passion but I am building champions and help others to improve their lives, too," said Barbosa who came from Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro.
Barbosa's young team had recently won the overall best team in the Copa Da Malasia tournament, the biggest BJJ tournament in Malaysia.
Preparing for EBI was a challenge as his days are packed with classes and there are very few high level practitioners in the country.
"Besides training with my own students, there a couple of local high belts from other teams helping me every Saturday. Although they are from different gyms, they are my friends and they push me to do the best."
They helped him drill specific techniques and left no details out as everything is allowed in the EBI, unlike most BJJ tournaments which are time-limited and go by scores.
Seeking help from more experienced competitors, Barbosa traveled to Thailand to train with the Phuket Top Team but he could only spend two days there as he needed to get back to his students.
On top of all that, Barbosa had to cut seven kilogrammes to meet his weight division at 61kg.
"I still have 3kg to lose but that's not a problem. Salad Atelier is one of my sponsors so I got good clean food covered, I just focus on training now," he said.
He added that eating well is not cheap in Malaysia, which is why finding sponsors is very important for athletes. He is also being sponsored by local companies Potosan Corner and Acai Lab.
"When I came to Malaysia, I only had one pair of gi (the BJJ training uniform) but now I am given supplies of training gear."
His students had also forked out their own money to help him with accommodation as he will be arriving in Mexico City a few days earlier.
Understanding that he needed to acclimatise himself in Mexico, his students and employers encouraged him to go earlier so he could get some extra training and also enough rest.
"Everyone's support here makes me want to represent them even more.
"I want the BJJ community worldwide to notice Malaysia and the potential of its people."
If he submits all of his opponents at EBI, Barbosa will not only bring home the championship belt but US$20,000.
"In Brazil, I didn't even have 50 cents for coffee and now I have a chance to win US$20,000.
"Not only do I deserve to win, but I'm confident that I will," Barbosa said, while he kept his eyes on some students who had stayed for extra training after class.
