A Letter from Bruno Bastos about his Retirement from Adult Competition, and the next step in his Life as a Coach and Practitioner of BJJ

People, my “retirement” was only for the IBJJF Worlds adult category.

Everyone should know their own time and I feel that after years that’s my one.

 I’m at a stage in my life that I still want to be # 1, but to be the # 1 means not necessarily be the World Champion.

 My gym has grown through hard work and effort. With this comes the responsibility to the students, which trust me. I have a duty to be ready to give my best for them, not just making champions on the mat, but champions in life as well.

 I am very honored when a student thanks me for having changed his life and for the better. This signal of job well done with care and love. Yes because when you have love and puts passion in what you do, this is the formula of success.

Besides that I have a wife giving me the greatest title i ever dreamed: Be a Father!I want and I will really enjoy my son.

 So back to the subject of “retirement”, I just feel that now with all that is happening in my life, it is very difficult to me to train at a level that requires to be able to be World champion. Besides the body also feels as adult grief since the 15-year-old black belt since 20 and I’m 33 now, doing Jiu-Jitsu since the age of 10.

The mind follows, but the body tired and do not recover as before … This causes the mental strain too as they start the questioning of if you will get. I’ve never been super technically gifted and always found my strength to believe I could beat anyone, with hard training. Because of that I won a few times from some of the biggest names in Jiu-Jitsu and could compete as equals for years.

 Do not think that this decision has been or is being easy. Hurts a lot to say the truth, but I think to be the best thing to do right now.

 I want to thank all my opponents that I fought until today, especially some that changed my way of seeing the Jiu-Jitsu at different times of my life with victories and defeats. They are: Roger Gracie, Alexandre Ribeiro, Rodolfo Vieira, Marcus Almeida Buchecha, Rafael Lovato Jr., Roberto Alencar “Tussa”, Gustavo Siri Pires and Fernando Paradeda. You guys are awesome!! Some even became my personal friends.

 Thanks Gustavo Dantas, Rodrigo Feijao, Rico Bastos, Bianca Bastos, Deco Bastos, Leo Santos, Claudinho, Pele, Luisinho, Master Wendell and others for always believing in me.

 Thanks to my parents Aladin and Olinda for the unconditional love that has for me, even at that distance the current US-Brazil, always supporting me, making me fell happy for make you proud.

Thank you to all my family: Bastos Side and Cruz Side … I love you all!

 Thanks to my students, friends and sponsors.

 How Ayrton Senna said: “Win a championship and be Champion not mean the same thing.”

 I hope to be the Champion of y’all.

 Kisses and Hugs …

Bruno Bastos

 OSSS