Considering that you will be competing in two of the largest grappling tournaments, how are you preparing for both the gi tournament as well as the submission wrestling?

Flavio: Hard training. Technically, physically and mentally I am doing my best. At Gracie Barra America I have great resources: The teachings of Master Carlos Gracie, the orientation of Marcio Feitosa, and great training partners. I am also training wrestling with the kids of Santa Ana high-school.

KH: How do you prepare mentally?

Flavio: Everything is created twice my friend, first in an imaginary world and second in the real world. Through jiu-jitsu I have found that controlling your thoughts is indispensable for a peak performance. I never allow negative images come in my mind and always picture my self in optimum performance.

KH: Your brother and Martin Rooney are known for their physical preparation and cardio fitness, do you take a lot from their ways of preparation?

Flavio: Yes. Martin and my brother taught me the principles of a good physical preparation that they developed together. Since I moved to the US I gained 10 pounds of lean weight and I feel in great shape. I owe this to the lessons they taught me.

KH: Are you being coached in any sports outside of BJJ, such as wrestling, judo, weight training, or sambo?

Flavio: Not really. My wife, who is a Physical Trainer, is always supervising my routine and nutrition.

KH: Is there anyone that you are looking forward to competing against in either event?

Flavio: I have great respect and admiration for the champions of today: Marcelo Garcia, Xande, Jacare, Andre Galvao, Demian Maia, Rafael Lovato Jr., and many others are the best. Competing against them will be awesome.

KH: One last note regarding competition, do you believe it is necessary to compete to become a good black belt? What of those that do not have the competitive drive or find it unnecessary?

Flavio: That depends on how you define a "good black belt". If you define it as a person who is able to perform a set of BJJ techniques and overcome his/her training partners or opponents reaching the level of a world champion, the answer is yes. Go there and compete as much as you can. However, if you adopt a more precise definition of a black belt as a person who masters not only BJJ techniques and skills, but develops a unique set of physical, social and mental skills - like discipline, respect, courage, reciprocity, determination, and humility - through the practice of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, competition is not important at all and sometimes it could be counterproductive. Have you ever been to a fight club where people are not concerned with helping each other to get better, but are focusing only on defeating their training partners no matter what? The competitor’s mindset and attitude might do more harm than good if not under proper orientation and leadership.

I personally believe that we should not train to compete, we should train to get better not only as BJJ practitioners but as human beings. In other words, competition is not an end in itself it can be a mean to personal development.

Future Plans and Projects

KH: Has your brother’s success in MMA fueled the fire for you to fight as well?

Flavio: There are two things I need to do before I die: Surf in Jaws and fight a MMA Event. That's how I see it. I will do it one day, just for the fun and the experience of it. I have no desire to become an MMA fighter. It would take so much from something that I just love to do and that I will do for the rest of my life: to teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

KH: Can you tell us anything about your recent DVD project?

Flavio: Yes! Recently I did a seminar on Gracie Barra America and Marcio came up with the idea of doing a DVD based on it. It was the first time I got involved in a DVD project and it was very interesting. For a BJJ professor, to be able to reach maybe thousands of students that would be impossible to have physical contact is really great. Thanks to Marcio and the guys from Budovideos.

KH: Thank you for your time, good luck in your events!

Flavio: Thank You.