grappling in venezuela??

[tommy the kid]

hey guys, though unlikely i may find myself in puerto la cruz, venezuela in a few months. anyone know of any grappling i could get up to there? or in venezuela in general?

judo, wrestling, or bjj i would be interested in. hell, even a generic "mma" class if that's what's going on.

thanks in advance!

 

[kintana]

hey guys, though unlikely i may find myself in puerto la cruz, venezuela in a few months. anyone know of any grappling i could get up to there? or in venezuela in general?

judo, wrestling, or bjj i would be interested in. hell, even a generic "mma" class if that's what's going on.

thanks in advance!

Hey man I train in caracas, Venezuela. I know some good gyms all over the country. And helped set the BJJ national games in 2011. Send me a private msg with when you will be going and I will give the names and details of gyms in puerto la cruz.

 

[selfcritical]

I'm pretty sure the Sambo presence in that town is pretty decent as well, as it looks like they've held a few tournaments there.

 

[Bme26]

I certainly give you credit to possibly relocating to Venezuela and continuing to pursue your training. My gf is from Caracas and she just got back a couple weeks ago from visiting her family. She made it seem like it was a jungle out there.

 

[kintana]

I certainly give you credit to relocating Venezuela and perusing training. My gf is from Caracas and she just got back a couple weeks ago from visiting her family. She made it seem like it was a jungle out there.

BJJ in Venezuela has an okay history. Demian Maia had one of his first fights here. Rolker Gracie has done seminars here before. And though I am not 100% sure Rickson Gracie has competed in a sambo/grappling tournament here.

Though depending on which side of the political scale you are on Venezuela is safe or extremely dangerous.

Though I am not a fan of the current government and I suggest there is a huge insecurity problem really you can train at a normal rate without any issues. Also the I live in Caracas. And I can say Caracas is really the most dangerous place of Venezuela but were most tourist and middle class upper class venezuelan go you have nothing to worry. Just dont be stupid walking around with a Iphone hanging out Versace shirts and expensive watch.

Puerto La Cruz is pretty save city in Venezuela.

 

[Bme26]

That's basically what I've been hearing Kintana. I've been wanting to visit Venezuela for the last couple years, but the family of my gf, though supportive, just didn't feel it would be safe. I've lived in Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica, speak decent spanish, but unless I'm in Argentina, I'd stick out like a sore thumb.

It's good to hear that there are some good facilities to train at

 

[SuperSuperRambo]

I'm pretty sure the Sambo presence in that town is pretty decent as well, as it looks like they've held a few tournaments there.

I think that's true. There was a guy at a NAGA tournament who sandbagged into the Intermediate division, wearing a jacket with the Olympic logo, from a Venezuela BJJ school. Turned out he was "Master" so and so in Sambo, and had an extensive Judo background. Needless to say he threw those blue belts through the air like crazy.

So yes, there is a Sambo scene in Venezuela.

 

[ElKarlo]

I think that's true. There was a guy at a NAGA tournament who sandbagged into the Intermediate division, wearing a jacket with the Olympic logo, from a Venezuela BJJ school. Turned out he was "Master" so and so in Sambo, and had an extensive Judo background. Needless to say he threw those blue belts through the air like crazy.

So yes, there is a Sambo scene in Venezuela.

it's weird how sports or activities can wind up and even be pretty prevalent in areas you would have never thought of.

 

[Gabicho]

I think that's true. There was a guy at a NAGA tournament who sandbagged into the Intermediate division, wearing a jacket with the Olympic logo, from a Venezuela BJJ school. Turned out he was "Master" so and so in Sambo, and had an extensive Judo background. Needless to say he threw those blue belts through the air like crazy.

So yes, there is a Sambo scene in Venezuela.

It was payback for Rickson fighting USA recreationist sambist back in the day.
I know the guy who did this. He's a nice dude. He competed where the organizers told him to.
TS, i know quite a few people from Venezuela that do sambo. They're part or have been part of the national team. If you're interested, send me a PM, i can hook you up.

And Venezuela is, i dare say, the best country in sambo in America.

I'd take the oportunity to train sambo over BJJ. You can find quality BJJ instruction pretty much anywhere else. Sambo, not so much.

 

[kintana]

That's basically what I've been hearing Kintana. I've been wanting to visit Venezuela for the last couple years, but the family of my gf, though supportive, just didn't feel it would be safe. I've lived in Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica, speak decent spanish, but unless I'm in Argentina, I'd stick out like a sore thumb.

It's good to hear that there are some good facilities to train at

There are some good ones here. You need to be careful with who is a legitimate instructor though. Many people here upgrade themselves a belt after buying a book or attending a seminar in the US or Brazil.

I won't bad mouth any academies but if you ever come down to train I can give you a breakdown of the whole area. Caracas has the most academies that either offer MMA/BJJ and grappling. But Merida, Puerto La Cruz, Maracaibo, Maturin, Margarita and Valencia have some places to train.

I won't worry about sticking out to much in Venezuela most don't care especially if your a tourist as the tourism industry needs help badly. Yet there are just some tips and obvious tourist advice you need to follow. And it doesn't hurt if you know someone because often places overcharge.

I was going to go to Argentina to train before World Pro Cup trials there a few months ago but work got in the way.

 

[kintana]

Sambo in Venezuela is very popular. Not as popular as football or baseball but it has a rich history.

Venezuelan sambo team receives good support from the martial art community and hosts several tournaments a year. Often they will get some either train in Russia or have russian instructors come here. I don't know his name but one of the main trainers of the Venezuelan national sambo team is very will respected in the martial arts community here.

Sandbagging in Venezuela is common. In the BJJ tournaments we arrange we often have Judo blackbelts, Sambo guys and national team wrestlers join compete as whitebelts.

Also there is a issue with Japanese Jujutsu academies wanting to compete and then breaking down which level belt they will compete. Often they put some of their more experienced students in lower belt categories.

Though to be fair Venezuela doesn't have that many brown and blackbelts. I can only name 8.

 

[SuperSuperRambo]

I know the guy who did this. He's a nice dude. He competed where the organizers told him to.

I'm sure he's a nice dude, but he actually didn't compete where the organizers told him to. Once they said he had to go in the advanced division, he refused to compete. He also refused to provide his training background or say how long he had been training. Although somehow they let him compete in the blue belt division in the gi afterwards (masters, not adult), which of course he won. No subs, but lots of throw points. I was pissed because my teammate was in his division, although they didn't face each other, but man those throws were beautiful to watch.

 

[tommy the kid]

thanks for all the information guys, i had no idea itd be so easy to find places to train!

if this opportunity becomes a reality, then will be sending some PMs to you guys.

thanks again!

 

[Gabicho]

I'm sure he's a nice dude, but he actually didn't compete where the organizers told him to. Once they said he had to go in the advanced division, he refused to compete. He also refused to provide his training background or say how long he had been training. Although somehow they let him compete in the blue belt division in the gi afterwards (masters, not adult), which of course he won. No subs, but lots of throw points. I was pissed because my teammate was in his division, although they didn't face each other, but man those throws were beautiful to watch.

I see.
I did not know about that part.
Too bad the organizers let him compete at bluebelt after having him smash the intermediate division. He just should not have been allowed to compete if he did not agree with the organizers proposal.

 

[SuperSuperRambo]

I see.
I did not know about that part.
Too bad the organizers let him compete at bluebelt after having him smash the intermediate division. He just should not have been allowed to compete if he did not agree with the organizers proposal.

Either way, his throws were amazing, gi and no gi. If I were in the area, I'd train with him.