On 20th June 2010 we were present at the Bournemouth Bjj Open and right there we had the pleasure to meet with the Brazilian Luiz Finocchio who currently holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Bjj). Right there on the spot, we decided to ask him a few questions about his journey into the Bjj world and his plans etc.

Malvado - Tell me about your introduction into BJJ, and how you actually started and first got into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Luiz - "I started when I was 15, just because a friend told me I was very fast and agile, and he thought I would be very good at BJJ. So I found a local class and there is where I met Alex De Souza, and I have been training and fighting ever since.

Malvado - So been Brazilian yourself, you never got involved with the sport back home, your first introduction to BJJ was here in the uk?

Luiz - No, I never did any Bjj back home, in fact back home I never did any form of martial arts at all. My mother moved here when I was 11 or 12, and then 3 years later once she was settled I came and joined her, I was introduced to Alex de Souza and have trained with him since, everything I know about BJJ I have learnt from Alex since been in the UK.

Malvado -So tell me then about your BJJ journey from knowing nothing to becoming a purple belt.

Luiz - "In the beginning, it was very hard, as I was the smallest guy in the gym. So the other guys would how do you say, "mop the floor with me all the time ". It took me a year to earn the confidence for my first competition. I won this, and also took first place in my second competition, and then I was awarded my blue belt. From there it just snowballed, competition win after completion win, confidence and skill building all the time.

Malvado - With five fights in one day, it must have been a very tiresome day for. How did tiredness affect your performance?

Luiz - I Think on my last fight I could have done better, I managed to take the guy down. But he was much bigger than me, I managed to pass his guard as well, but fighting in a weight division above, after already having fought and won my category, I did not have the strength to hold him down. I was very tired by then, but I still feel I could have done better if I had of been fresh.

Malvado - So you're saying that you have the confidence to beat that guy and take gold in his division, if you had been fresh?

Luiz - I am saying I would have given him a better fight, he was too easy.

Malvado - Good, good confidence. Now tell me what plans you have now for the development of your career.

Luiz - I have had one fight already in MMA, but I believe you need to be exceptionally good in one area, before you try to learn something new. But I want to move into the MMA Scene, and have another fight lined up for September.

Malvado - So today you won two categories today, and then lost out your fifth fight in the weight above you, the spectators, were all astonished with your performance. Is there any message you would like to pass on to your fans?

Luiz - Train hard and always try to do your best, I was lucky that it worked for me today.

Malvado - So luiz, final question for you, how Malvado are you?

Luiz - ha ha ha, I am very Malvado, I am super Malvado.

Malvado - Well you have done amazingly well today, we are very proud of you, good luck for the future.

Luiz - Thank you, thank you for all your help.

Sponsorship

We were blown away by Luiz his performance and also by how he presents himself to others and his great character. This has resulted in him been given full Malvado sponsorship deal.