November 24, 2008

Gracie ends the year having fun in the Dead Sea, but analyzes next season in NY with seriousness

Kyra Gracie Guimaraes, 23, ended 2008 in the mud. But in a good way. 

Gracie ends the year having fun in the Dead Sea, but analyzes next season in NY with seriousness

Kyra, with Carcara, Lagarto and Leo Leite, taking in the good energy of the dead sea / Photo: Personal archive

Kyra Gracie Guimaraes, 23, ended 2008 in the mud. But is a good way. Or better yet, in a great way, after all not just any Jiu-Jitsu black belt, especially female, is invited to compete and stay in a six-star hotel in Amman, the capital of Jordan, with princess-like treatment. Treatment that included, on the eve of the championship organized by Zaid Mirza and Pedro Galiza, an unforgettable trip to the Dead Sea, where the athlete, boyfriend Leo Leite and faithful companions Braulio Estima and Lucio Rodrigues didn't miss the chance to try a bit of medicinal mud found on its banks.

Whether or not it's really good for the skin, one can't be sure, but the stuff provided luck. Put up in the hotel with the country's "royalty's special guest" honors, the 1.69m and 59kg fighter became champion of Capital Challenge. It was no easy task getting there. The dry climate and air of the capital were nearly as tough a rival as Brazilian black belt Carol DeLazzer, runner-up, and Japanese Kanako Inaba, who took third.

After conquering yet another trophy and beautiful country, the four-time Jiu-Jitsu world champion, 2006 Asian champion and two-time ADCC champion, among other titles, laid out her plans for the year and summed up 2008, exclusively for GRACIEMAG.com.

What was you most celebrated title from last year, Kyra? And who was your toughest adversary?
My most celebrated title was the Worlds, for sure, even more so for having been kept out of the one the year before, due to injury. I think my fights in the absolute at the Brazilian Nationals were the hardest - the very hardest was with Tania Andrade, also from Gracie Barra. But there's a new generation coming in, the girls who are already in the category, it's even tough to cite names. Every fight ends up being rough, especially in the Worlds.

And for 2009, what are your plans?
I'm back in Brazil, but I've been living in an airplane. I didn't stop in 2008, I went to the USA, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Mexico. This year I'll spend another season in New York, training for the 2009 ADCC.

Are you confident about defending you two-time title in Manhattan? Will it be like fighting "at home?"
Yes, I'm already in the event, since I'm two-time winner of the category (under 60kg). This year I'll win at weight and the absolute. It's always nice to fight in NY, because all my students there can watch, and that way I get a lot of positive energy. And also Renzo will be in my corner.
He's the best. I see myself becoming more mature each year, but there's no comparison: unfortunately I can't have Renzo around at every event, if I could I'd never lose a fight.

You've won pretty much everything, right? What more do you hope to accomplish in your career? Is the Olympics really in your plans?
I still have a lot to do within Jiu-Jitsu, I'm focused on winning everything again, more and more. Regarding judo, I started practicing it and love it, I'll never stop. Like everything I do, I want to be the best. With judo it's no different, and if I could dedicate myself to judo the Olympics would certainly be a goal.

What did you most like about Capital Challenge, in Jordan?
It was one of the best championships I've ever fought in. The treatment of the athletes was first rate, and there's no need to even mention the production, it was a true Jiu-Jitsu show. The mood behind the scenes was excellent, all the athletes from several teams together, we had dinner, we'd check out points of tourism, like the city of Petra and the Dead Sea, where we picked up some good energy in the sea and the mud. It was good luck for everyone, and out "fantastic four" did awesome (laughs). It was also cool to meet the athletes away from competition, I got to know Sergio Moraes' sense of humor, Cobrinha's. It was really fun.

At the end of 2008, you participated in the Rickson seminar, held at Club Flamengo, in Rio. What did you make of it?
The seminar is really good; it changed my way of thinking about Jiu-Jitsu. I learned several basic positions that work really well, and that I'm trying to incorporate into my game. In 2009, I intend to participate in all nine of the seminars, I'm more sure to be there than Rickson himself (laughs).

 

 

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