At BJJ Hacks we like to focus on the athletes who impress us on the tatame, but we’re always interested in the teachers who helped them get there too. One professor who is doing amazing work in producing champions is Cicero Costha, teacher to Leandro Lo, the Miyao brothers, and many more

We went to his academy in Sao Paulo to see exactly how this little-known teacher is producing some of the most competitive grapplers of modern times.

This video was supported by BrazilianBlackBelt.com (use code “BJJHACKS” for a free trial)

Claudio Calasans: Judo & BJJ Black Belt

Claudio Calasans is someone with a strong attachment to both judo and jiu-jitsu. The ATOS representative is a lifelong judo practitioner and is one of the most dynamic and well-rounded competitors in the world of jiu-jitsu.

In the first video of this 3-part episode we get to see him train some of his trademark techniques, learn about his how family are so important to his success, and hear his advice for adapting judo for jiu-jitsu.

This video was supported by BrazilianBlackBelt.com (use code “BJJHACKS” for a free trial)

A Workout for Jiu-Jitsu Athletes & Calasans’s Top Techniques

Claudio Calasans is a four-time World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Champion, in this video we see him go through a tough training session that highlights the intensity of his dedication to his profession.

Also, we see him train and hear him talk about two of the techniques he is best known for, the guillotine choke and the dreaded wristlock, known as ‘mao de vaca’ in Portuguese.

How to Adapt Judo for Jiu-Jitsu

Many jiu-jitsu practitioners would like to integrate judo into their training so as to develop a better stand-up game. As Claudio Calasans says, all fights start on the feet and even if you want to pull guard you better know how before you step on the mat.

As a judo and jiu-jitsu black belt, Calasans is perfectly placed to discuss adapting judo for jiu-jitsu and in this video he offers his advice on shares some of his training and teaching methods.

What happens if you're just no good at the thing you love? Felipe Costa loved jiu-jitsu, but his terrible results in competition would leave him demoralised and depressed. Instead of walking away he refused to quit, went back to the drawing board and became a world champion. 

In this video, Felipe -- a member of the Brasa team and a roosterweight competitor (58kg) -- talks about the obstacles he had to overcome and the methods he used to rise to the top. He describes the sports psychology tricks he applied to win tournaments, and explains how he approaches his training as a smaller jiu-jitsu player. We also see some rolling footage from his 'light guys only' training sessions, get-togethers reserved for jiu-jitsu players under 73kg. 

Film by Hywel Teague for BJJ Hacks 
http://www.bjjhacks.com

Highlights of the interview include: 
00.02: "There is not one fight where it doesn't cross my mind that I already lost" 
01.08: "Before my black belt I never won a gold medal in any major tournament" 
01.48: "I started at 12, until I was 16 I never won a fight" 
02.12: "It was a love-hate relationship with competition" 
02.49: "My second year as a black belt I entered the world championship and won" 
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06.06: "The person who is small and doesn't give up... is going to become maybe the most technical player in the academy" 
07.08: " I don't see many people my size on the street, so if somebody picks a fight with me I have to be ready against a bigger guy" 
07.26: "If I'm not preparing to fight bigger guys... why should I train on a daily basis with bigger guys?" 
07.40: "The safest thing is to fight people my size" 
08.23: "I would fight with a guy with long legs, heavy. Then I would get in a tournament with a guy with short legs, faster and moves much better" 
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11.08: "For me it was about putting small goals to improve little by little" 
11.18: "I was pretty technical in the academy. In the tournament, I sucked" 
11.41: "Nowadays I would look to a professional for help" 
11.59: "I would concentrate and think as if I was in the academy" 
12.30: "If I was starting now and had the chance to look for a professional... I would not hesitate" 
12.45: "These struggles... it's something that happens even today" 
13.00: "I'm more technical today than I was yesterday... so how can my performance be worse?" 
13.24: "Your mind is trying to make you do whatever is easier" 
13.47: "You have to say 'I'm not giving up now'" 
14.23: "When you don't put so much pressure on yourself, the results will come"