joao pedro tinoco mixed martial arts fighter interview

The following interview was conducted with Joao Pedro Tinoco after he conducted his first seminar in the UK back in early June. I spent most of my time with Joao discussing the state of MMA and BJJ in Brazil and getting the low-down on fighters such as Minotauro, Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort and other well known fighters of which Joao knows well.

Oh, and I beat his ass on UFC Xbox, enjoy!

Dave Webb : Joao first of all thanks for conducting a seminar for us today it was absolutely excellent and we can't wait to plan another set in the future. Can you start be telling us a little about how you got into BJJ, who was you first instructor and peers?

Joao Pedro Tinoco : Thank you Dave for having me. I can't wait to come back to the UK. I had a great time with you guys. Well, I got started in BJJ just like any other teenager who lives in Rio. BJJ is very big there; it's part of the culture really. I was 15, most of my friends were already training somewhere, BJJ was more popular than ever, so I decided I also wanted to do it. There were many good schools near the place I lived, Leblon, and I went to some of them to see the training and make my mind. I ended up choosing Rio Jiu-Jitsu Club, which had just been founded by two of the best Carlson Gracie black belts of all time, Sergio "Bolao" Souza and Murilo Bustamante. The funny thing is that I went there mostly because of Murilo, since I didn't know Bolao yet. But we soon became very close and he was literally like a second father to me, and I really give him all the credit for my development, because he was always paying extra attention to my training and pushing me hard. Back then the team was great, and as a teenager I had the chance to witness some of the best guys in the sport on the mat in my own school. After a few years Murilo and Bolao split, and I continued my training with Bolao, who I consider my only master. Last year he moved to Philadelphia to open a school, but we're still always in touch. In fact, right now I'm working to bring him for some seminars in Europe. His name is not very well known to some people in Europe and even in America because he retired just when BJJ was getting popular around the world. But he's fought and beaten some of the top guys like Jean Jacques and Johnny Machado, Fabio Gurgel, Marcelo Behring, Castello Branco and many others.

You have competed in BJJ, extensively as a blue belt. Are there any guys that you competed against then that are still around and competing today?

Joao Pedro Tinoco : I was never a real competitor, and nowadays I regret it. Although Bolao was always pushing me to compete, as soon as I got to university I had to slow down with the training, and then BJJ became more like a hobby to me, even though I still tried to go to the academy as many times as possible. In the 1996 Brazilian Championship I was in the same side of the absolute bracket with Fernando Terere, but he won his fight and I lost mine. And then he proceeded to literally kill the guy who had beaten me. On the other side of the brackets was Fernando Margarida, and the funny thing is that by coincidence he spent some time talking to me and Bolao before one of his fights. He wasn't famous yet, actually it was the 17-year-old division, and guys from Sao Paulo weren't considered that good back then. But sure he was already impressive. Many years after that we became close friends, and we had a good laugh remembering that day.

How did you become involved with the Gracie magazine?

Joao Pedro Tinoco : Lia Caldas is the Art Director and web designer for GRACIE Magazine, and she used to train at Rio Jiu-Jitsu Club with me. Then one day Luca Atalla, the magazine's editor, went out looking for someone to write for the magazine. I was already in college studying Journalism, and Lia told him about me and I got the job. I was only 18 and it was my first job. It was like a dream come true to me. I had every issue of GRACIE Magazine and was simply stoked to be in that environment. With a lot of hard work, we managed to turn GM into the biggest martial arts magazine in the country, and then into the biggest sports magazine in Brazil. Last year we created a new magazine, GRACIE Nocaute (Lit. Knockout), which focuses only in martial arts, while GRACIE Mag is more like a men's/sports publication. Luca, who I like to call my 'older brother', invited me to be the editor of Nocaute, and I was there for the first issues, until I moved to Europe earlier this year. But I'm still always in touch with the guys there and I keep writing from them.

Is this how you have met most of the top BJJ players and vale tudo fighters that you have become friends with?

Joao Pedro Tinoco : Oh yes. Because of the school where I trained, I had always been closer to the Carlson Gracie side. But at GRACIE Mag I had the chance to meet the people from Gracie Barra and almost every major player in the business around the world. Because Carlinhos Gracie is the head of Gracie Barra and the owner of GM, many people in Brazil say that the magazine only talks about the Barra fighters or the Gracies. What they don't know is that most of the people who work there don't even train at Gracie Barra. Besides, we are very professional, GM is a business, and a very successful one, and anyone who likes to talk bullshit about GM is simply a moron who can't read or has never even seen our magazine.

Which guys do you rate as best at BJJ?

Joao Pedro Tinoco : In sports BJJ I like to watch Pe de Pano, Royler, Margarida and Soca. The one I like the most, though, is Nino Schembri. He's a good friend and an amazing guy. I wish I could say I try to copy him, but that's impossible, he's one of a kind. In vale-tudo I love to see Renzo and Minotauro, who are true BJJ guys in the ring. They believe in our system and apply it beautifully in their fights. And of course Ryan, who has a complete different style but always put up a great fight.

What was it like to second Ryan Gracie in Pride?

Joao Pedro Tinoco : Well, I had the chance to be in Japan with Ryan twice, both times covering Pride for GRACIE Magazine. I really like the guy and being able to be there and assist him was an unbelievable experience. Unfortunately he lost when I was there, but I never brought it up because he might think I bring him bad luck (laughs). But I guess that's not the case, since last time I was there with Rodrigo and Daniel Gracie and they both won. Pride is a huge show, and even more amazing when you get to see it from the inside. And when the friend with whom you've spent the last days is fighting, then it's impossible not to really get your nerves going.

Vale Tudo is steadily increasing in popularity here in the UK, but is still an underground culture with this do you really think we can compete with the UFC's and Prides of this world?

Joao Pedro Tinoco : I have to admit that I was very impressed to find out this big underground MMA and Grappling community here in the UK. I of course knew the sport was growing here but I simply had no idea it was already this way. There are many minor shows popping up around the country, and even some big ones, like the UFC and the upcoming Extreme Force. Obviously the British have everything in their hands to become a power in the sport, and I think it could happen in the next five years. In Europe the Dutch are by far the top guys, followed by the Scandinavian countries and now the British. Here you have the proper environment to train, and access to high level instructors, like Mauricio Gomes and the guys he keeps bringing from Brazil, like my friend Sal, Braulio and Felipe. So yes, I definitely think in a few more years the UK will have more and better fighters in MMA and Grappling shows around the world.

As you know we have Pele, Babalu and Jean Silva fighting in England in July. You are pretty good friends with Remco who is also fighting; will you be coming over any have you any predictions?

Joao Pedro Tinoco : I'm still not sure, but it's very likely I'll be in London for Extreme Force. My friend Luca Atalla from GRACIE Magazine will be there to cover the event and we made plans to meet there. Besides, it's a very unique opportunity to see top fighters in action in Europe. I'm very excited about Pele's return, now that he's training at Gracie Barra academy, and because everybody's been telling me about his opponent and how tough he is. So it looks to me like it might be the best fight of the night. And then there's Remco, who I've always enjoyed seeing fighting, and Babalu and many others. If I do go to London, I'll also be doing some more seminars around the UK with some of the guys I met earlier in June. And, oh, those hot Irish girls in mini-skirts are a good enough reason for me to return, or even to move to Ireland for good! (Laughs)

What are your views on the situation that has arose between the Gracie family and Damien Ricco from France?

Joao Pedro Tinoco : Well, I think everybody who's heard the story can clearly understand that what this Damien guy did was not fair at all. The guy shows up with his brother and friends at Robin's seminar full of coke in his blood and challenges him because he knew Robin was there alone, untrained and tired after hours of driving from Barcelona to Perpignon. And the funny thing is that even with all this and almost 10 kilos of weight advantage; he wasn't able to do anything to Robin, which is clear even in his edited version of the fight available on the internet. All right, I'm sure many people will say it's the law of the jungle, 'anytime, anywhere'. Sure, no problem, BJJ people like this. Don't forget that we live by the law of the jungle in Brazil. It's like Rickson says: 'if you want to be Billy the Kid, you really better be the fastest trigger in the west, because there's gonna be someone challenging you everyday'. Well, this Damien guy got what he wanted - and by that I don't mean the cut on his eye during the fight -, he's got some publicity on internet forums. And now it doesn't matter how much he trains with his gun, because he's gonna go down, and it's gonna be ugly. He has to be very stupid to think that it's over. Welcome to the jungle, Damien!

At present you are living in Monaco, what is the state of play in France with MMA?

Joao Pedro Tinoco : Man, France is a joke when it comes to martial arts. They're great at Judo, which I consider a sport, not a martial art, and good at Muay Thai too, but that's all. In MMA there's only one guy I respect in France, Kristof Midoux. He's a real fighter and a real person, not a liar like most of the guys in France. He's been to ADCC in Brazil, has fought in UCC, Hook n Shoot, BJJ tournaments in Brazil. In France everybody's a world champion and/or a black belt, though nobody's ever seen them fight. Like I said, it's a joke. I've met so many guys here who say they've won medals in BJJ tournaments in Brazil - and yes, they have the medals to prove it, but they were champions in a division where there were no other competitors enrolled, or they got a third place in a category with only three fighters. You see, it's ridiculous. And on top of that you have crooks who want to take advantage of this fucked up system and sell belts and give diplomas away. Un-fucking-believable, man! (laughs)

You have told me about your friend who won his weight category at the Euro Abu Dhabi trails and went off to the Sao Paulo event. Can you tell us a little bit more about him and what to expect in the future?

Joao Pedro Tinoco : Kristof is a great fighter and a great guy. He's been around for many years and he truly wants to improve at any cost. In France he simply doesn't have people to train with, not in BJJ, not in wrestling, not in Muay Thai. It sounds crazy, but the fact is that people here don't like hard training, so after one training session with him they politely ask him not to come back. I've seen this happen to him and I could not believe it. And the guys who did it were the so called black belts/world champions. So it's very sad, because in my opinion he has a huge potential both in MMA and Grappling, but he's never really had a good chance, and when something good comes up he lacks the training. Like the ADCC thing. He's 100 kilos and fought the European Trials in the over 99kg division. He was one of the few guys there to submit people, and he lost in the final to this huge Scandinavian monster that slept in a triangle and woke up a few seconds later because the referee 'did not see it happen'. Fortunately he was invited to the main event in Brazil, where he lost to Sean Alvarez in the over time for pulling to the guard. Porra, the guy prepared to ADCC training with me, a sparring partner of 72kg!!! We always train together, because it's either that or spending the day jerking off at the beach (laughs), trying to ignore all the great and famous French warriors in the cover of the martial arts magazines. But I believe in honesty and quality, and I hope that one day people here in France open their eyes to reality.

Joao Thanks for taking time to teach us today and also spending your time to be frank and honest in your interview.

Joao Pedro Tinoco : No worries, I hope I might get the chance to come back real soon and with a bit of luck in time for the extreme-force show in July!

In my opinion Joao is a great BJJ player and a great real� person to boot. He is honest to the fullest, which is frankly missing from a lot of people in what we do nowadays. I will be holding another BJJ/ submission seminar with Joao in early July so keep your eyes peeled on this site for more info as and when it happens.

SFUK is always looking for contributions to the content - it's the only way we can keep you supplied with MMA news and info for free. If you are interested in reporting, writing, reviews etc drop us an email