I found this interview on a Brazilian website,
www.surfreporter.com.br The original interview is in Portuguese but I translated the parts that are most relevant for Surfjitsu.
Q - How are surfing and jiu jitsu related?
RG - The relationship is perfect. I began catching waves at age 12. Surfing has a strong relation to jiu jitsu in that for both sports, when you're actually doing them you forget about everything else. Whenever I'm training or surfing, I don't think about paying the bills or any of life's problems. Surfing relaxes you and allows you to feel a zen like balance related to everything in life.
Q - Do you feel that jiu jitsu can help your surfing?
RG - Definitely, there is no better harmony than surfing and jiu jitsu. There are many people who practice jiu jitsu and are also top surfers, like Renan Rocha, Heraldo Gueiros, Guilherme Gross, or Richard Tatuì, and Rodrigo Resende "the monster" catches enormous waves. There's also the top jiu jitsu guys who surf. Rickson is the best, me I'm always catching waves, my brother Relson in Hawaii, Rodrigo Medeiros in San Diego, Silvio and Mauricio Behring, really there's a ton of people who surf. Marquinhos Nevel who finished 2nd place in the Challenge Surf contest (a contest exclusively for jiu jitsu black belts), also Guerrinha, Murilo, Zè Mario, there's so many. Sorry if I forgot anyone, if I tried to mention everybody I'd never finish.
Q - Would you prefer to battle big surf or fight against a big guy?
RG - I would prefer, without a doubt, to fight against a big opponent. I wouldn't want to be in the situations that these big wave surfers get into because I'm not trained for that, so I'd much rather fight a huge guy. I'd feel much more comfortable because that is like my natural environment. But on that subject, I also like the feeling of adrenaline that comes with surfing big waves. Of course nothing like the 50 - 60 footers that guys are surfing today, I can't even think about that. But I do like the feeling of the adrenaline and you definitely feel that when you're in the ring. I think everyone should try to experience that kind of adrenaline feeling.
Q - Do you have a message for anyone out there who wants to try jiu jitsu?
RG - My message to anyone who wants to learn, train, or improve their jiu jitsu is this: Be certain that you're doing it because you enjoy it, because you want to be there training on your own behalf. Not because it might be cool or something, and definitely not because you want to learn how to fight people. We are all here to help each other, not to bring more violence in this world. Peace and love, and lot's of jiu jitsu!
