By Erik Engelhart

Photos Erik Engelhart

In Rio de Janeiro to dispute the Grand Slam of Judo, which will happen in Maracanãzinho, on July 4 and 5, the Russian Judo team was looking for some academy that give them notions of the world known Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Physical coach of the Brazilian team, Marcus Albuquerque, who has an agreement with the Russian team and is very well connected with the coach Vitali Makarov, solved the problem and invited the Russians to train at “Toca dos Cachorros”, the academy of the Brazilian light heavyweight champion Raphael Abi Rihani, who felt very honored.

"I didn’t imagine, in a Thursday (25), receive a Russian team of Judo, with Olympic medalists, world champions. It was very good! We made a training that we’re accustomed to, with the best of ground. They were a little confused with the rules at the beginning, but, in the end, they were already doing guard. They incorporated a Jiu-Jitsu fighter, it is amazing how these athletes have an open mind, and I believe that they’ve enjoyed the training", said the black belt.

To Marcus, it was a unique opportunity, as for the Russian fighters, because everything occurred within a friendly atmosphere, where the only intention was the exchange of information between specialists of the two methods. "They wanted to learn a bit of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, so I made that link, so that they could do a training at Raphael’s academy, and I thought it was very productive, because the Judo is like a grandson of the Jiu-Jitsu. What differentiate the focus are the rules of each sport. They loved it and it was very good to get this style of Jiu-Jitsu, make this exchange... Makarov is the man", said Albuquerque.

World champion of Judo in 2001 and medalist in 2004’s Olympics, Vitali Makarov was very pleased with the experience and wants to repeat the training soon. "I would like to thank the reception we had, it was a great exchange, and we pretend to return soon, perhaps next week, with our other athletes that are arriving. It was a very good chance of having another vision. Everything went perfect, as we expected", concluded the coach of the Russian team.