Three times BJJ world champion, two times ADCC champion, among several other titles, Kyra Gracie spoke to TATAME.com about his plans for 2009. The only black belt woman Gracie, the athlete revealed that he’s going after the fourth world title, her uncle’s death, Ryan Gracie, and that she wants to remain dominant in the lightweight and is training in Rio de Janeiro for the Pan American championship.
In 2007 you suffered an injury and didn’t fight some competitions. In 2008 got back and won everything. What are your plans for 2009?
This year I’ll fight the Pan American, Brazilian, World Championship and Abu Dhabi, then I’m already full of commitments, I’ll start to train hard.
Who are you training with in Rio de Janeiro?
I’m practicing judo at the Flamengo Club, Jiu-Jitsu at the Gracie Barra and at Gordo’s, so I’m organizing my day, each day I go in a different gym.
How are your commitments, like seminars?
Actually I don’t live in Rio, I live on the airplane, because I’m always traveling. This year I’m full of seminars, I have one in Brazil and in the US, and Asia.
First you will fight the Pan American. What are you expecting from this competition?
Nowadays, as I fight the openweight, I don’t think only in the opponents of my category, I have to think in all the athletes who are competing at the openweight. It has a lot of tough people, I don’t know yet for sure who will participate, but I will be prepared to win.
Do you think this year you can win the ADCC for the third time or will be more difficult than the last two?
I’m training to win the third. I want to win, this time, the weight and the openweight.
What is the importance of the ADCC title and of the World Championship to you?
Both, for me, are the most important. Actually I do all my training to be very well at the World Championship and the Abu Dhabi.
Is inevitable to talk about your uncle’s death, Ryan, in 2008, who you were very close to. What has changed in your personal and professional life after this troubled year?
Changed a lot, I choked my life. I was very close to him, who was a very special person, who taught me a lot, not only inside but outside the matt. He was the person with whom I could always count, for anything in my life. I miss him a lot. I’m sure that today he is by my side at all times, especially when I’m competing, I’m sure I get a good energy from him, which helps me in the championships.
Who is the number one in Jiu-Jitsu for you? Roger Gracie or Xande Ribeiro?
Roger. Because most of his fights always end up with submission and he is on top for years, but I admire Xande a lot, I think he’s one phenomenal athlete, who also is among the best in the world. Let’s say that Xande and Roger are at the top.
And between the women?
Well, I won, last year, all the championships that I fought, right. So… I don’t know… (laughs).
Who do you think will be the future promises of the feminine category?
It has Marina, who is featherweight, Ana Laura, on middleweight, and in my weight I will continue to train, so the lightweight will be mine (laughs).
There do you think you helped the world feminine Jiu-Jitsu, being a Gracie?
I think, being a Gracie, brought a bigger media for the feminine Jiu-Jitsu, because people started to look more to he feminine Jiu-Jitsu. Even the media opened more space. Today, many girls send an email to my site or speak with me that started to fight after seeing me, or reading something about me. I guess I have helped much in feminine Jiu-Jitsu and hope to help even more, this is my main focus.
What is the Jiu-Jitsu in your life?
Is my life. All I do is Jiu-Jitsu. When I’m at home, I’m thinking about Jiu-Jitsu, when I’m with my family, we’re talking about Jiu-Jitsu or training. So is all together, my job, my family, my hobby… is all in my matt.
Who already has trained with you in this matt?
Lots of people. Here I’ve already trained with Ryan, Renzo, Ralph, Reyzon… many people. I’ve already learned a lot here.