RECENT INTERVIEW AT: http://mixedmartialworld.com/professor-felipe-costa-is-about-to/

In today’s world of technology and social media, martial arts are not spared from the good and bad that comes along with the phenomenon. No one knows this better than Black Belt World Champion and ambassador for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Felipe Costa. He has used the Internet and technology to increase the cohesion among practitioners of the sport as well as his own team. Check out what he has to say about being a Black Belt on the mat and on the keyboard!

MMW: Before technology and Internet became so big how did people training martial arts increase their knowledge when they weren’t at the dojo or gym?

FC: Going to tournaments was the only way to see what techniques the other fighters were doing, it wasn’t a common thing to have people filming the fights, and even when someone did it was not available for everyone to see. Since most of the techniques we would learn was inside the academy, we often would work specific techniques, such as the basics, over and over. I think that solid base helped me to have a better understanding of the game today and makes it easier for me to add something new to it.

MMW: How has the increase in technology impacted the martial arts? What do you think is the biggest pro and what is the biggest negative?

FC:The impact was tremendous, the techniques were kept as secrets among teams, I guess that was the reason why a student who would visit another academy was considered a traitor, because the team would see it as a danger for him to show what details were being used in his academy. Also when someone from outside would visit they would have to face the best guys available at the academy the moment of the visit.

That is also the original reason for team mates not fighting in the final of the tournaments, why would they “show” their secrets to everyone if they could decide this in close doors?

I guess the pro of technology is that this slowly is reducing. People are not afraid to share the knowledge anymore, this information can reach more places and much faster than if this technology wasn’t there.

The negative side is that some people are trying to “run” before they even know how to “walk”. Having access to many fights, techniques and drills is great, but a beginner still needs someone to lead him and decide what is the best time to learn this or that technique.

MMW: Do you think online learning such as, Gracie University, Mendes Bros, or MGInAction, are good ways to learn BJJ?

FC: I believe it is good. Of course nothing is better than having an academy, with a good black belt to lead you on a daily bases and direct your training, but we can not forget, many people in the world don’t have this available.

I also have my online training program at www.BrazilianBlackBelt.com. My initial idea was to have a way to be closer to my associates and help them to improve answering specific questions they have and leading them to learn what they NEED based on the level they are right now, not just to post a million techniques, there is a big difference. They need to know the technique, meaning that they have seen it before and know how to apply the technique.

I’m not interested in having my student learn a million of techniques, but not being able to apply them. I want them to know only what they can use. This is why my online training is working amazingly.

I invite the readers to take a look now, please use the Promo-code:MIXEDMARTIALWORLD to have access to what I’m talking about and see for your self. Feedback is welcomed!

MMW: What is your opinion on the newer generation of martial artists learning a lot on YouTube?

FC: Having YouTube to see the fights, see techniques and everything else that is available there is awesome! The problem I see with YouTube is that there is no direction. YouTube doesn’t tell you what is best for you at the level you are right now.

It’s like you’ve been in the ocean with a little hook trying to catch a shark…you need to listen to your instructor when he tells you “Look, at the moment, with the hook you have you can’t catch a shark, start with a tuna”. Let’s translate that to BJJ: You are a white belt trying to learn Berimbolo. So you need someone to tell you “Berimbolo is not the best for you right now, start with the De La Riva outside hook” Understand what I mean? YouTube is not bad, what is bad is how it’s being used.

MMW: How have you used technology for business? Teaching? Learning?

FC: I travel 6 months out of the year teaching BJJ and that makes it nearly impossible to have my own academy in my home town in Rio. The online ACADEMIA was the solution I found and my students love it. We exchange information daily and the BJJ level is going up much faster http://brazilianblackbelt.com/academia

MMW: How has social media like Facebook, and Twitter and Instagram increased martial arts accessibility in your opinion? Has it primarily been positive or do you think it has impacted the roots of these arts in a negative way?

FC: The social medias makes everyone closer and this is a very good thing, but just as it makes the one’s away from you feel closer it can make the one’s close to you feel distant. It’s something new and we still need to learn the best way to use it. Sometimes people are more worried about how the picture will come out so they can share it, than actually enjoying the moment.

MMW: Do you think if you had access to all the resources online that young athletes have now would your fighting career have gone differently? If so why and how?

FC: Impossible to know for sure, but makes me wonder as well. But I think it would have helped me since I get the impression that many people are being helped with this information.

It was so rare to have access to fighter’s info and opinions, and now we can have all this in the palm of our hands. I enjoy seeing where this is going I hope a good direction, so far I like it.

MMW: Anything else you would like to bring up?

FC: I would like to invite everyone to join our BJJ CAMP that will take place in Cancun next August 31st. I will be teaching along with Black Belt World Champions Comprido and Caio Terra.

This camp is a perfect mix of BJJ and vacation, it’s a very familiar atmosphere and we are already taking reservations, please take a moment to look at more info here:http://brazilianblackbelt.com/bjj-camp