Interview with Alan do Nascimento - BJJ Black Belt - Mundial & World Cup Champion (conducted 18.11.09)

DO: 'Finfou', thank you for taking the time out to conduct an interview with me. Can I begin by going through some background info with you?

F: Sure. My full name is Alan do Nascimento and I was born on 12.3.82. I am currently 27 years old. I was born in Sao Gonsalo, Rio de Janeiro.


DO: Can you tell me about your BJJ history and how long you have been training


F: Yes. I started training BJJ when I was 12 years old. My first teacher was Fernando Augusto aka 'Terere" I started of course as a white belt, and progressed through yellow and orange, gaining my blue belt at the age of 15. I received my purple belt from him when I was 20. Terere then moved to Sao Paulo to teach and then Ricardo Vieira started teaching in the Favela VB project and I have been with him ever since. Ricardo gave me my Brown belt when I was 23 and one year later on 29.7.06 he honoured me with the Black Belt.


DO: Only 2 teachers and they just happen to be 2 of the best in the World


F: Exactly. I have been very fortunate and thank GOD for this.


DO: Can you give a summary of your competition successes in recent years


F: Sure


IBJJF - European Champion - Black Belt

• 2007 - Middle
• 2008 - Middle
• 2009 - Middle Heavy

Brazilian National Champion - Black Belt

• 2008 - Middle Heavy
• 2009 - Middle Heavy

CBJJ - World Champion

• 2005 - Purple Belt at Light weight
• 2006 - Brown Belt at Light weight

CBJJO - World Cup Champion

• 2005 - Purple Belt at Light weight
• 2006 - Brown Belt at Light weight

CBJJE - World Champion - Black Belt

• 2008 - Middle weight

DO: That's an impressive list which shows how successful and active you are as a competitor. So what would you say are your goals in general and so far as BJJ is concerned?

F: Thanks. Well I wish to continue to use BJJ as my way to financially contribute to the Favela and to show the children from the Favela that they can make a good life for themselves and be the best they can be in life. It also gives me the means to support my family.

DO: I obviously know that you are a fantastic competitor but you teach as well don't you?

F: Yes. I actually spend half of my time each year in Brazil and the other half in Sweden. When in Brazil, I teach at the VB project and when in Sweden I teach for Hans Ersson.

DO: How do you manage to survive the weather in Sweden?

F: Warm clothes and good training!! But seriously, I have learned to do whatever it is I need to do because of the goals that I have in life.

DO: If I am correct, this is your third trip to the UK and the last time you were here I managed to train with you then too. Even though you have spent most of your time here teaching and training with the Checkmat team at the London Fight Factory (LFF), my question is what do you think about the standard of BJJ here compared to Brazil?

F: Yes this is my third trip and I hope to have many more. So far as the standard is concerned I think it is steadily growing and there are obviously a lot of good teachers here apart from the obvious names like Roger Gracie and Braulio Estima for example. I hope that in my way I can help to contribute to the growth of BJJ in london.

DO: I think that we are very lucky right now in the UK. We have the best of both Worlds I would say because not only do we have a lot of resident and visiting Brazilian BJJ Black Belts but we also have a growing number of UK born Black Belts leading the way.

Finfou I want to thank you first of all for the time you put aside for me on this trip and secondly for allowing me to conduct this short interview with you whilst you were having some dinner and your first ever sample of apple pie and hot custard!!. Is there anything you would like to add before we finish.

F: Man, it has been my pleasure to train with you, your students and all the guys at LFF. I would like to first of all thank GOD for everything he does for me. I would like to thank Ricardo Vieira for all his teaching and helping me to become the practitioner I am now. I want to thank Hans Ersson and Margarita Myhr who recognised the potential in me and brought me to Sweden when I was a purple belt to start teaching at their academy. I want to thank my partner Ullis Hansson who has given me a lot of support. My students in the Favela and Fightzone Stockholm. My mother and grandparents who looked after since I was 4 and Finally for the blessing of my son Andrews who is the inspiration in my life.