Otavio Sousa | The Jiu Jitsu Mindset Podcast
May 17, 2024Professor Otavio Sousa, introduced by Professor Lucas Rubbo as a six-time world champion, ADCC medalist and the head of a school in Huntington Beach, California, started jiu-jitsu at 13 in Brazil and was hooked on competing after winning his division at the Brazilian Nationals as a yellow belt. With Lucas and Pete, he explains the mindset behind his titles: everyone gets nervous, but the trouble starts when you focus on the outcome instead of testing the work you have put in. He steps on the mat believing he can beat anyone, and only competes when he knows his preparation is complete.
Otavio describes learning to teach while living in Birmingham, England, his old routine of competition training, strength work and open classes, and why training with everyone, from white belts to black belts, makes you better. He admits he once cried in frustration after being smashed as a brown belt by Braulio Estima, who taught him to pace himself and survive. Lucas recalls rolling with Otavio, his childhood idol, as his first reality check. The episode ends with Otavio's most meaningful title: the 2012 black belt world championship, won after two third-place finishes and two disappointing years.
In this episode
- 0:00 Welcome
- 2:15 Meet Professor Otavio Sousa
- 4:20 Hooked on competing as a kid
- 7:33 What competing gave him
- 9:39 Nerves and letting go of the outcome
- 16:03 The will to win
- 19:14 A roller coaster of confidence
- 21:26 Lucas's first roll with his idol
- 24:37 Lessons for students who won't compete
- 27:46 Learning to teach in England
- 32:07 His ideal training week
- 35:23 Learning to survive and pace himself
- 38:39 Tears of frustration as a brown belt
- 46:10 The 2012 world title
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