Some students from the East West MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) know this soft-spoken heavyweight athlete mostly from his show-no-mercy conditioning approach, but Carlos Farias also is a multiple Jiu-Jistu champion.
Carlos just returned victorious from the 2011 Pan American with a first place trophy in ultra heavy black belt class. East West MMA owner Kelly Fiori is mighty proud of Carlos. The champion’s trophies densely populate a table in one corner of the studio.
Carlos started training for Jiu-Jitsu in his hometown, Fortaleza (Ceará state), the fifth largest city in Brazil. He has beaten a lot of the competition, with some 70 championships under his black belt. Each one propelled him higher to his current mastery and rank.
Last year, at the Jiu-Jitsu Pan American Championships in Irvine, Calif., Carlos faced fierce contenders in the ultra heavy black belt master division. Carlos took third place in his division and first in the open category.
Carlos had eight fights in one day, three in his weight class and five in the open. He won them all. How did he feel after such an intense competition? “Oh, I felt great,” he said with a smile. Winning so many fights pumped him up. He will never forget that day.
Carlos came to Atlanta, Ga., five years ago seeking a better life. He has worked a range of jobs to support himself, from serving at Brazilian restaurants to installing granite. Eventually, he also found a suitable Jiu-Jitsu place in Georgia.
There, Carlos started training with two-time Jiu-Jitsu world champion (1998, 1999) Roberto Traven. Roberto, a sixth-degree black belt, also was the 1999 Abu Dhabi open class world champion.
After three years in Georgia, Carlos moved to Scottsdale to help Ultimate Fighting Championships fighters in their training at the Lion’s Den Mixed Martial Arts. In February, Master Fiori hired Carlos to teach a Jiu-Jitsu program at East West MMA, for adults and children. Coach Carlos also teaches the Adult MMA class, which provides excellent conditioning training for adults.
“I never liked team sports,” Carlos stated. “My dad liked football, but that did not work for me. If I lose in Jiu-Jitsu, I know exactly the reason, because I am the only one responsible.” That satisfaction of complete control does not exist in teams, said Carlos.
Obviously, Carlos is as solid as a rock. What made him so strong? “I trained at Ikei Performance with Director Chad Ikei in Scottsdale,” Carlos replied. That stint put him on track for a grueling exercise routine.
Carlos trains five hours every day, doing weightlifting, conditioning and competitive sparring. “If you are not trained enough,” he concluded, “you have nothing to complain about when you fail.”
“He is an animal, and he works you to death,” joked Master Fiori, who has Carlos coach him in private conditioning training. “I hate him. I don’t talk to him until I get my heart rate back and can breath normally.”
Such is the light mood at East West MMA, where everybody is seriously into martial arts. All Jiu-Jitsu students like the soft-spoken giant, too. As an athletic instructor, Carlos is very convincing because he lives by his own toughest medicine. And he gives his juniors a lot of honed advice.
“Conditioning is the key to all fights,” he advised. “If you can escape and keep it going, you are bound to win.” Maximum endurance pairs well with showmanship. “Don’t show your weakness to anybody.”
“Train hard, fight easy,” Carlos said. At this time, he was facing another competition. Carlos and junior fighter Chanson Eguchi Kahawaii, also from East West MMA, were preparing for the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in Long Beach, Calif.
“And always keep smiling,” Carlos recommended, “even in the worst situations. You can learn something from that, too.”
If you are interested in finding out more about Jiu-Jitsu, meet Carlos at East West MMA on the northwest corner of Power and McDowell roads (two doors down from Basha’s). Call East West MMA for an appointment or for more information at (480) 218-7777.