There was a former New York Times sports writer who was being prevented of traveling to cover the major games because he suddenly developed this type of phobia, in a way he couldn’t stand stepping in a plane any more.

Then he came up with a very creative (and a bit expensive) solution:

He hired a helicopter service and, every week, he would go to the top of a building. The first time he only looked to the helicopter, paid the pilot, and went back home. Next time, he just entered in the helicopter and had to step out, right away. A week later, he was able to fly a few feet and then asked the pilot to land. And then he followed this drill progressively until, in a few weeks, he was flying through Manhattan without any concern. Then, he was back to his routine, reporting for the paper all over the United States.

The Jiu-Jitsu Helicopter Pilot

A very similar approach can be implemented by Jiu-Jitsu teachers, when a student is back to the mats after a long period, specially if the reason he was absent was an injury.

In this case, you need to be very sensitive, and pair this student properly for a roll section. It’s the time the student needs to get confidence and get back in shape, bigger challenges can wait a little. So, don’t match him against someone much heavier than him, or much younger or way more skilled.

Remember, your ultimate mission as an instructor is to improve your student’s life through Jiu-Jitsu. Challenges are of course necessary to fulfill your goal, but you will have much more chance to be successful on your job if your student spends more time in your dojo.

So, before challenge him, heal his fear of flying.

@Luca Atalla – www.lucaatalla.com

Thus, in his opinion, an athlete, when in the Zone, predicts a play, like a great artist is capable to predict the future with a painting or a book.

Let me twist this logic a little bit.

What if, instead of guessing, the genius is in truth bending the reality towards his thinking?

Am I crazy, or drinking too much metaphysics to bring up such an eccentric theory?

Based on what I have seen till now, I really believe that if you concentrate a high amount of energy in a thinking, it can materialize.

What I’m implying is that, the same way you can drive the puck towards where you want (or will be), you can achieve your dreams. In order to do that, however, you need high, high focus.

The exact amount of focus an athlete in the Zone has.

The great Gretzky thinks genius can predict the future. I think they bend it.

@Luca Atalla – www.lucaatalla.com

• You can simply be more technical than your opponent
• You can pencil a plan to play over your opponent weaknesses
• You can be stronger than your opponent (that may work if the technical knowledge is similar)
• You can be quicker than your opponent (after all, no matter how much knowledge you have, in Jiu-Jitsu, if you’re late, you’re done)
• And you may as well tire your opponent out

Let’s elaborate this last option today.

I’ve seen it over and over through the years I’ve been following Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. However, perhaps the best example I can find to illustrate this “way to the victory” is in the very classical challenge between Cassio Cardoso and Marcelo Behring, that happened over 20 years ago.

Cardoso quickly pulled guard and resisted for over 20 minutes Behring attempts to pass his guard.

Jiu-Jitsu was way simpler back then, and, for that reason, you can really appreciate how great these two masters were in the fundamentals by watching this particular match. Marcelo’s passing was nearly perfect, but so was Cassio’s defense.

I need to ask Cassio someday, but I guess Master Carlson Gracie played a strong role on his pupil game plan. But even if it hasn’t a touch of Carlson, it worked. Marcelo wasn’t able to pass, and ended tiring out. Patiently Cassio waited the right moment and scored (you can check the winning move at 1:23 of the video below).

The same Jiu-Jitsu way, applied to business

Gracie Barra leader Marcio Feitosa was a great competitor himself. He’s also a big researcher of Jiu-Jitsu. He probably watched the match I referred to above but, even if he didn’t, he saw many matches in which one of the opponents tired the other out, before taking the lead to win.

Feitosa takes such lessons seriously, and applies it to the actual life. Working hard over 12 hours a day, and even during the weekends, he very often half jokes with me in projects we work together:

“There’s no way, Luca, nobody is working like us at this time. We’re going to tire them out.”

Like I said, Feitosa’s tone when he says it is always of a joke, but there’s a lot of seriousness in it. After all, just like in a Jiu-Jitsu match, there are several ways to be victorious in business. One of them is doing like Cassio: tiring your competition out.

* * *

Have you ever tired someone out in the mats? What about in life? Use the comments section below to tell your story

@Luca Atalla – www.lucaatalla.com

This is very understandable. After all, flying nowadays is a hassle. You need to get there in advance and pass through long security lines. Usually airports are far from your final destination. Plus, you make plans based in a certain schedule, and a delay many times screws it. Not counting the connections, sometimes you miss it because your previous flight got late. And besides all of that, it’s boring to be seated for hours.

A sole Giants supporter at the San Francisco Aiport; he seemed more upset with the delay than happy with his team victory

I travel quite enough and therefore I get strained a lot as well. However, Jiu-Jitsu philosophy (perhaps Master Carlos Gracie’s philosophy) taught me to be positive, and take the best of every situation, no matter how bad it is. That why I come out with some tricks to not let my mood fall while I’m on the road.

Last Sunday I went to attend to a Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Santa Cruz, and my first flight was scheduled to depart very early in the morning from Santa Ana to San Francisco, where I would rent a car to drive South.

We were in the lane, waiting our place in the line to depart, when suddenly the pilot stopped the engine, and broke the news out: the plane was broken. We went back to the terminal and a long line was built around the gate.

I seated, open my notebook, and started to work, as I was in my home office. Called Claudio Franca (the one who was organizing the tournament, and told him that probably I wouldn’t be able to get there).

Most people went to United counter in the Check-in area, and tried to rebook the flight. The thing is, the San Francisco 49ers were hosting the NY Giants for the NFC game, and every flight to SanFra was full. So there was nothing to do.

A 5-hour delay and one keynote presentation later, I landed in San Francisco.

I kept working, and waited for the mechanics.

It was a long delay, but, by the time we left (12 instead of 7h45) I had finished a keynote presentation I was working on.

Then, in the air, approaching to San Francisco airport, the pilot told us that there was a high traffic and thus we would need to circle around for over 4o minutes before we land. Well, I thought to myself, I had half an hour more to read this book in my Kindle.

When I got in Santa Cruz, 3h30 in the afternoon, the competition had less than two hours left. França was surprised to see me: “I thought you wouldn’t come anymore,” he said. “Well, I come at least to give you a hug, and then get back home,” I joked.

Not really. I watched some good matches, got to know some young talents, chatted with some smart people, and had a two legs of one hour driving to finish an audiobook.

The most difficult part was to eat properly. Airports are not best place to buy health food and my two bars finished in the first part of the journey. So I decided to fast a little longer and my first decent meal was 7pm, in a stop midway towards San Francisco, at the Los Gatos Whole Foods market. The long waiting made my plate a little more tasty, as hunger is the best condiment a food can have.

My "break" fast, around 7pm. The only part that sucks is plastic knives and forks, a commonplace when traveling.

The mood in the airport was down, as the local 49ers lost by three in the overtime. But that’s okay, even this ephemeral upsets are interesting, I like to observe how different people handle defeats.

And the fact the flight back got delayed as well didn’t surprise me. But, at midnight, I was in bed here in Dana Point, and I slept with the best sensation of all. I endured this long day, didn’t quit and they couldn’t bend my mood.

My traveling tips:

1. Don’t build expectations–just dance with the flow. If travel goes smoothly, fine. If not, you don’t get disappointed.
2. Always carry e-books (they’re lighter), audiobooks, songs, notebook and internet–In other words, I try to build the same environment I would have if I spend the day in my office.
3. Try not to mobilize people to take you/pick you up at the airport–The best money you can spend is with parking or taxi, otherwise your inconvenience could mean your friends or family inconvenience.
4. Bring your own food–This time I only took two bars, but usually I also take dry fruits, to throw at my salad. The most difficult part in traveling is to eat well.
5. Observe–people are interesting, and airports have lots of people. You always will see something odd. For instance, this time I was happy to see one TSA official cracking jokes and being friendly with travelers. That’s not usually the case, and it proves no matter what job you have, you can be nice.

And mainly: do your best (really!) to not get grumpy. The whole environment will try it over and over. If you beat it, life will be much easier outside the airports.

@Luca Atalla – www.lucaatalla.com

Since 1994 (therefore for the last 18 years), I was lucky enough to be very close to IBJJF, Gracie Barra and GRACIEMAG founder.

Carlos Gracie Jr, 56, trains Jiu-Jitsu almost everyday, setting great examples for his followers. Photo by Luca Atalla

A man of great philosophical knowledge, and who has very simple ways to interpret people’s feelings, behavior and attitudes, attributes that even the wisest people on earth tend to complicate a lot when explaining.

But, most of all, a man who sets great examples.

I can fill several books with good Carlinhos stories. Let me pull up one that enlightens well one of his virtues:

Back in 1994, he lived in an one bedroom house with his former wife and his children then, Caroline and Kayron.

Carlinhos used his living room as the office for the National Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (CBJJ) and for the Jornal Gracie (the father of GRACIEMAG). One day I arrived to work, and saw a giant laid over a mattress in the backyard, sleeping in the middle of Carlinhos lawn.

That was Ricardo Morais, a 6’8” fighter who came from the North of the country, and had no place to stay. Carlinhos, even without knowing him well, allowed him to sleep in the garage (Ricardo though it was too hot so he decided to lay in the lawn), and even got a sponsor to cover his expenses. “Ricardao” (or, “Big Ricardo”) lived there for about six months, and Carlinhos taught Jiu-Jitsu to him even during the weekends.

Eventually, the jealous of some people ended Ricardo’s sponsorship; fellow athletes complained that he was earning too much money since he was only a blue belt back then. Thus Ricardo decided to go back and live with his family. Not happy, a couple of years later, Carlinhos got Ricardo a job in Abu Dhabi, where he lived for a few years, and was able to train and fight in Japan.

Jiu-Jitsu as a profession

That was not the only time he did such a thing for someone. Kleber Buiu, nowadays an adult blackbelt teaching at Gracie Barra headquartes in Brazil, used to wander Barra da Tijuca neighborhood as a homeless, until Carlinhos invited him to live in his house. Over 10 years later, Buiu still lives there, but has a steady life, even having a gig as a model for a famous underwear brand in Brazil.

Countless times he did the same for relatives. The only condition he demanded, always, was for them to train Jiu-Jitsu.

One day I went to work and saw this big guy laid in Carlinhos backyard.

He knew he was shaping great characters, and also giving people not only a ceiling but mainly a profession.

* * *

What about yourself, have any story of Master Carlos Jr. to share? Feel free to use the comments section below

@Luca Atalla – www.lucaatalla.com

Time: once it is spent, you can't earn it back.

Time is the most valuable commodity there is, for the obvious reason that, once time is spent, you can’t have it back.

For the last four days, I have, as a guest here in my Dana Point, CA home, the best time manager I know: my friend Bruno Fernandes.

We train Jiu-Jitsu together since we both were blue belts; he was 18, I was 23.

So I was able to follow closely how well he managed to attend to one of the best medicine universities in Brazil (UFRJ) and kept achieving high level results in Jiu-Jitsu–being three times world champion as a brown belt, for example.

If not enough, in the same period Bruno surfed whenever there were good waves, and partied whenever there were good parties–that is, always.

He didn’t lose such a skill.

Currently, Bruno is an Assistant Professor at respectful McGill University, in Montreal, Canada, where he runs a Gracie Barra school; plus, he is a Gracie Barra Canada Regional Director, and still travels all over the world for surfing, snowboarding and for attending to medicine congresses. He also was the one who awarded UFC champion Georges St-Pierre his Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt, and he often help him preparing for a fight. Besides some other important, time-consuming projects we’re working on together.

How’s that possible?

Swimming is the answer

Myself, Phil, Bruno and Renzo Gracie in a meeting we had in California last week. If time is life's major secret, Bruno has the key.

From 3 to 15, Bruno was a swimmer. He used to swim as much as two hours a day, every day, plus warm-up. Not counting the competitions, almost every weekend. After he stopped as a teen, he couldn’t stand swimming anymore.

I asked him what this long period “counting tiles” has taught him. “I learned swimming is too boring,” he answered, half joking.

I saw it differently: spending so much time doing something he didn’t like as a kid, he learned time can’t be wasted.

If my logic is right, that’s the reason Bruno’s so effective on whatever he does. He focuses in a way he spends the less time possible to accomplish a certain task. This way he’s able of doing several different things in parallel, and have all time he needs to do what he enjoys doing.

Your parents were right, after all: swimming is very good. Even if the best lesson you can take from it is not to waste time.

@Luca Atalla – www.lucaatalla.com

This is a philosophical dilemma perhaps as ancient as Jiu-Jitsu. Our ancestors started having it when we, as human beings, first started to think (I guess we started fighting before ).

But it can be simplified in one sentence:

We are here for the sole purpose of helping others.

Whether it’s true or not, it’s irrelevant, because, if you think like that, for sure you will be able to sleep better.

Gandhi dedicated his life to better lives, and chose a great platform to achieve it. Is there a better example?

Also, once you accept it, the question funnels to: “What’s the best platform I have for helping people the most?”

In order to answer that, you need to make wise choices. Just like in a fight, armlock or triangle, takedown or kneekick?

We Jiu-Jitsu practitioners (and martial artists in general) opt all the time, and the choice we make many times can mean winning or losing. Martial arts are a metaphor for life, and as more as you train yourself to make good choices in your mat time, more are the chances you will do the same in life.

Today I was reading the article my GRACIEMAG coworker Marcelo Dunlop wrote, listing seven lessons Judo Olympic Medalist Flavio Canto had to teach. And this particular excerpt sparkled into my mind:

Flavio always wanted to make a difference and fight against the plight of the underprivileged that was stuck in his face every day, living amid the inequality rife in Rio de Janeiro. He’d hand out meals, collect clothing, trudge up favelas to try and teach the kids to read, and only after years of this did he realize that the martial arts were the greatest weapon he had for his cause.

Realizing that before what he was doing “wasn’t much, it didn’t make major changes in anyone’s life”, Flavio Canto founded the NGO “Instituto Reação”, of teaching Judo and Jiu-Jitsu at Rocinha “favela”, and since then he changed hundreds of lives.

The martial art teacher, in general, is blessed, because he’s able to better people’s lives on daily basis, and it doesn’t necessarily need to be like Canto does, teaching to poor kids. He may cause great impact simply helping a person to be more confident and therefore treating others better, or driving someone to a healthier path.

Recently we clarified GRACIEMAG mantra as “Jiu-Jitsu Lessons to Better Your Life”.

It’s clear not only to myself, but also to all my teammates (many of them working for years alongside each other), that we have chosen GRACIEMAG as the best platform to make meaning.

And you, have you decided yet, what’s the platform you have chosen to spread the good?

Comment below otherwise get back to the basics and make your choice first

@Luca Atalla – www.lucaatalla.com

Odd were two comments in Portuguese complaining I was sharing good knowledge with foreigners (“gringos!”) who were buying “our” Jiu-Jitsu, or, if you prefer, “our” BJJ.

Jiu-Jitsu is just a tool to better people’s lives.

Master Carlos Gracie's classical portrait. How many lives his Jiu-Jitsu changed for the better, despite of their nationality?

As so, we should spread good Jiu-Jitsu knowledge as much as we can, and improve as many lives as it’s possible. We shouldn’t get reined by any type of border, specially an artificial, geographical one. I don’t think any knowledge should be a property of a certain nation anyways, specially one like Jiu-Jitsu, with a huge potential of benefiting multiple human beings.

I love the country where I was born, but my connection with people is through goodwill and good principles, not necessarily nationality or language. Let’s be open minded and realize that we live in a globalized world. That kind of restrictive thinking, if exaggerated, is the cause of wars, after all–okay, I’m being naïve and there’s always the economic reason, so let me put it in different words: stupid nationalism is how the masses are pushed (by people with economical reasons) to fight wars.

And, when in doubt, get back to Master Carlos Gracie, and try to learn with his experience and/or history. That works for almost every subject. In this particular case, did Master Carlos Gracie drop any sign that we should keep Jiu-Jitsu knowledge among Brazilians? No, it’s quite the opposite, his history teaches. If Japanese Mitsuyo Maeda had thought that way, he wouldn’t had taught Jiu-Jitsu to the young Carlos, and the martial art would have died in Japan.

What do you think? Agreeing or not, I would appreciate if you leave your opinion in the comments section.

Açai, fresh apple juice, honey and dates--Look for an organic, whole-food, planted-based diet, dense in antioxidants. And don't get hungry.

1. Plant-oriented, not Protein-oriented

People ask me a lot: “Where do you get protein from?”; I always reply back: “Why do you want protein for?”. Seriously, protein is so overrated. Your body can absorb protein even out of death cells. Besides that, whole grains, nuts, seeds, algae and even fruits have protein. If I have to take only one lesson out of many useful taugh by Great Master Carlos Gracie, would be his fruit-based approach to meals. Protein is very acidic, and what your body doesn’t metabolize, gives it a tremendous effort to expel. My motto is: watermelon over turkey.

2. Wholefoods, not supplements or refined foods

Men often think they can outsmart Nature, discovering what is good in a plant or food, extracting the substance and concentrating it in a capsule. According to Colin Campbell and many other researchers, there’s no evidence that even vitamin-C supplements are effective. What there are proof is that groups that eat vitamin-C-rich foods have better resistance to some diseases. Eat a carrot, not a beta-carotene capsule. That’s the same principle why refined sugar is worse than sugar-cane, and sea salt is much better than refined salt.

3. Superfood

Superfood is just a food really richer in nutrients than its peers, specially in anti-oxidants. Just compare kale with romaine lettuce. According to Whole Foods Market ANDI (Aggregate Nutrient Density Index), kale scores 1000 whilst lettuce scores 389. Which one you should choose, if only one? It’s the same principle of Jiu-Jitsu, you always want to look for the technique that achieve the most effective result with the minimum effort. Other density-rich foods in this category: goji and other berries, açaí, spirulina, broccoli, Brazilian nuts, hemp seeds, maca, pomegranate, mushrooms in general, and many others.

4. Organic

This is very logic: You don’t want to ingest pesticide, do you? I believe that if your body is health it will handle it, but my goal when eating is to give my body the less effort possible and stop him of pulling out fires. That’s the reason I go organic whenever I can. It’s more expensive? Unfortunately it is. But medical bills are way higher, specially against chronic diseases. You don’t want to save money in priorities such as health.

5. Don’t get hungry

This is the most personal advice on this list. My friends often think I have a willpower as dense as iron. My secret to you today is that I don’t. I’m just wise enough to avoid temptation. I realized that as more as I get hungry, more I will crave for something not so healthy and convenient. In other words, three bananas will satisfy me only if I eat them before I get hungry.

Do you have any other principle to suggest? Please use the democratic comment section below. Same if you have a magic bullet to not be swept in Jiu-Jitsu

The inaugural Worlds captured by Ricardo Azoury

In February of 1996, photographer Ricardo Azoury changed my Jiu-Jitsu perspective, when he handed me a few photographs of the inaugural World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

Azoury was the late Rolls Gracie best friend, and was curious about the tournament. So he went to Tijuca Tenis Clube without any assignment and, with his fixed 135mm lenses and a Nikon FM2 body, spent a few rolls of Kodak B&W films during the blackbelt finals.

When I saw the copies, a few weeks later, I got enchanted.

We became close friends and, as the co-founder of one of the first independent photo agencies in Brazil, he mentored me not only in photography but also in journalism. He deserves much of the credit for how the Jornal Gracie became GRACIEMAG–And the rest is history.

Since then, I was lucky enough to get to work alongside several great photojournalists in Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. These are my top 10:

1. Ricardo Azoury

Azoury's Brazilian President Funeral shot became cover of the biggest news magazine in Brazil.

He may be a bit old (sorry, mate, couldn’t resist) and his contact lenses should read a high degree at this point, but Azoury still is the champ. Unfortunately for Jiu-Jitsu fans, he fell in love with underwater photography and is been away from BJJ tournaments. But, if we place him in the line-up to shoot the absolute blackbelt final, I bet he will take the cover shot, the same way he did for ‘Veja’ magazine in the occasion of Brazilian President Tancredo Neves’ death, despite of the presence of hundreds of peers disputing the very same scene, back in 1985.

2. Gustavo Aragão

Jacaré vs Roger: One of the most historical moments of Jiu-Jitsu, by Gustavo Aragão

My fellow GRACIEMAG staff member is also a pupil of Azoury, and it’s not only my loyalty the reason he places second on my list. Aragao will endure for days in a row to capture thousands of photos of hundreds matches in a tiresome tournament. And he’s been doing it since 1996–so he has some mileage to increase his Page Ranking.

3. Mike Colón

The GOAT Roger Gracie, by Mike Colón

A celebrity on wedding photography, and a former professional sport photographer before start shooting weddings, Colón is also capable of winning the race for the cover shot, that’s for sure. He’s actually nailed it a couple of times, to be accurate. And has a great edge on his résumé: he’s now also a great Jiu-Jitsu competitor. So don’t get fulled by his smile–he not only can shoot a great moment but he may as well triangle you. In a blink.

4. Dan Rod

Bernardo Faria, Jiu-Jitsu Pan 2011, by Dan Rod

He’s probably the next big star on this field. Dan pics are sharp, and when the thing gets serious, he put on a bandana a la “Susumu Nagao” around his head and stretches through the ground, looking for the best angles. It’s very easy to recognize him, as he wears a gi pants when shooting.

5. Alicia Anthony

The choke moment, by Alicia Anthony

Alicia is another SoCal gem that erupted after the Jiu-Jitsu tournament axle moved to the region. She is the American “Aragao” as she never misses an important match in a tournament. At this point she probably owns the biggest archive about tournaments held on California and will keep improving, as she loves Jiu-Jitsu.

6. Ray Santana

Rilion Gracie's Jiu-Jitsu guard, profiled by Ray Santana

Just like Mike Colón, Rilion’s student Ray Santana is also professionally known more by his wedding pictures, but he’s very capable of great shots when two guys are wearing a gi on, as well. I particularly like his shot for the cover our issue 143.

7. Regis Chen

Tarsis Humprheys Jiu-Jitsu sweep registered by Regis Chen

San Clemente based Regis Chen is a talent that we are lucky enough to have taking picture on every Worlds, since 2007. Like Dan, he likes the ground level angle, and has an unique style. I also love the way he masters the photo programs.

8. Susumu Nagao

A classic Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu hold applied during the UFC, by Susumu Nagao

Pioneer on fight pictures, Susumu was the only photographer I know who was present at both UFC and Pride and ADCC inaugural events. He’s a master in MMA pics and a legend. Haven’t been too much present on Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, but deserves his place among these aces.

9. Marcelo Alonso

Alonso took a picture of one of my fights in the first World, back in 1996

It would be just unfair not to list Marcelo on this list. He worked (and led) our competitor vehicle “Tatame” in Brazil for years (now he works on PVT magazine) and I needed to publicly recognize his value not only as a photographer but also as a journalist–he was one of the few (myself humbling included) that from the beginning was capable of traveling alone and then report, write, edit and take pictures at the same time. A skill very valuable when resources are limited.

10. Ivan Trindade

The Mendes Brothers on the upcoming GRACIEMAG cover, by Ivan Trindade

One of GRACIEMAG current editors, Ivan was given a camera at some point and learned how to take pictures in action. He’s part of this lineage of versatile professionals who can travel alone to cover an event. Although his journalist blood is still more dense, his pictures are improving over and over and is my bet for becoming a multifunctional professional as good in every field as any specialist.

Well, this field is very strong and I admit there are lots of talent out of my list, honorable mentions to Mike Poesch, Guilherme Rafols, and my big buddy John Lamonica, just to name a few. But I can’t accommodate everyone, otherwise there would not be space for any controversy

By the way, do you have your own favorites? Feel free to craft your own list and post in the comments’ space below.