Judo Champ Goes for the Jiu-Jitsu Championship Title

With the impressive number of championship matches he have won over the past 2 decades, any Judo fanatic would say that Diego da Costa is among Brazil’s most successful athletes. His extensive lists of victories include many of the country’s most important fights.

Never putting aside his passion for Judo, but wanting to explore a different kind of action, he admits wanting to do other forms of Martial Arts including T’ai chi Ch’uan, boxing and Muay Thai. After trying Jiu Jitsu, he quickly fell in love with the technique, the challenge and the entire discipline. He started training consistently and a natural athlete that he is, he quickly advanced in the sport. He won first place in the Pernambuco Championship in 2009 and continued competing since then. One thing led to another and now, he is on his way to fight in the lightweight category of the American National Jiu-Jitsu Championship on the 8th and 9th of September 2012. The event will take place in Carson, CA.

Da Costa is now training in the US with Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu School. He spends around 6 hours of training daily, beginning each morning with meditation followed by an hour of cardiovascular exercises. After that, everything’s pure Jiu Jitsu. On top of training, a healthy diet which he has kept probably his entire life helps him keep his weight at the ideal.

His remarkable training attitude and how he aspires to be like his idols pushes him to train harder on the mats. Among those he greatly respect is the big UFC champion, Jose Aldo. His admiration for the great Muhammad Ali also has a huge influence in his entire athletic career and now in his efforts to make a name in Jiu Jitsu. He said that his quotes, which he reads daily, motivate him as he intensifies his preparation for this month’s championship.

When asked for advice he could give to aspiring Jiu Jitsu athletes, he believes focus and discipline will help them succeed both on and off the mats. That’s how da Costa himself got to where he is now. But he is stopping nowhere. If you’re wondering about his plans after the American National Jiu-Jitsu Championship, getting in the MMA, winning the Pan American Championship of Jiu Jitsu and the World Championship of Jiu Jitsu are next on his list.