91原创 MMA champion attracted some big names in the sport to the Saturday, Oct. 14 opening of his new martial arts academy, billed as a 鈥淢eet The Legends鈥� opportunity bringing together four icons.
Five-time world jiu-jitsu champion Bibiano Fernandes opened his martial arts studio in 91原创 Saturday. The place was packed with more 200 turning out to get training tips from Fernandes and other top MMA fighters.
鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)
Fernandes, a five-time world jiu-jitsu champion and three-time Pan American champion, welcomed , the internationally known jiu-jitsu coach who is credited with coaching some of North America鈥檚 top fighters, , a 15-time world MMA Champion and current flyweight world champion will be on hand, and a 2023 world jiu-jitsu champion, , from Manaus, Brazil, where Fernandes got his start.
In between dispensing fighting tips, Fernandes and his fellow elite fighters were kept busy signing autographs and posing for selfies.
鈥淏elieve in yourself,鈥� is Fernandes鈥� message.
鈥淣ever lose hope,鈥� he told the 91原创 Advance Times. 鈥淵ou always can be better, that鈥檚 what I teach my students. It doesn鈥檛 matter what happens, you always can be better. You have to change the way you see life.鈥�
His own story reflects that attitude.
In a 2015 profile, Fernandes described how he was living in Manaus, the largest city in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, when he was introduced by some friends to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the martial art developed by the and made famous by .
At the time, he was 14, selling ice cream and cleaning houses when the mother of a friend paid for his lessons. When that ran out, he cleaned the gym to pay for them for almost four years until his coach told him to quit cleaning and focus on becoming a world champion.
Fernandes did just that, going on to win world, Brazilian and Pan-Am jiu-jitsu titles before switching his focus to MMA.
鈥淐ome in, enjoy your training, relax, I say to my students,鈥� Fernandes said.
鈥淒on鈥檛 be too much in your cell phone. Come and train, clean your mind, and keep performing for life.鈥�
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Fernandes was at a jiu-jitsu competition in California when he was invited to come train in Canada. He liked what he saw and stayed, marrying and raising a family and going on to become a Canadian citizen living in 91原创鈥檚 Willoughby neighbourhood.
He calls jiu-jitsu a 鈥渓ifestyle鈥� in Brazil, no different from the way hockey is viewed in his adopted home.
For a photo of all the participants at the event, the proud father sat with his son Lucas, who has taken up the sport.
鈥淗e only likes break dance and jiu jitsu,鈥� Fernandes laughed. 鈥淗e does both.鈥�
More than 200 fans packed when it officially opened its doors in the 20700 block of Mufford Crescent in 91原创.
Among them, Murrayville fighter Tamara Wolfe, who was awarded her advanced brown belt at the event by Fernandes.
鈥淚 took a few years off,鈥� Wolfe explained.
鈥淚鈥檝e been back [competing] for two years, before that, I probably spent about five years. It was a goal of mine to be a purple belt (intermediate), actually, and this is just icing on the cake.鈥�
Classes at the academy will begin the first week of November. Its website was set to launch at the end of the week:
Academy contact email is info@flashacademymartialarts.com
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