Please tell me a few of your past accomplishments your particularly proud of?
I am most proud of how I dominate everyone I play in Halo. But seriously! I am proud of my pan am gold medal, the GQ west absolute division where I tapped Chris Brennan, Beat Jeff Monson, and Dean lister in the same day.

Do you prefer gi or no gi when training?
I like both. I think you have to be good at both. The Gi is more fun
To train, because of all the unlimited techniques you can create, But I
feel that the way the sport is going it is definitely headed to be a no gi direction. No gi will be an Olympic sport one day. I don't think the gi will ever make it.

Who are some of the guys you look up to in jiu-jitsu and m.m.a?
Shaolin, Robson Moura, BJ Penn, Terere, Leo Vieria, Dave Camarillo,
Cameron Earle are all top-notch Jiu-jitsu guys that I have studied, and love to watch compete. MMA guys Tito is the hardest worker I have ever seen. He has a great mind For learning, and steps it up when he fights. BJ Penn is great to watch, the most talented man in mixed martial arts! I think Joao Roque is the most underrated BJJ fighter on the planet. He is only 145, so it is tough for him to get fights, but the guy is sick.

What do you feel is an important aspect in successful jiu-jitsu training and why?
Studying Videotapes. No doubt is the best way you can enhance your training. Videotapes allow anyone to study someone's game, and breaking it down. I have been studying tapes for a long time. I love it.

Do you have any advice you'd like to give to people about training, maybe something that someone told you that really made an impact on your game and way of training and (or) competing?
Training should be fun. If it is fun you will be more apt to learn.
Be patient BJJ takes a long time to learn.In competition, you have to have confidence and believe in your training and in yourself, cause nobody else is out there. Just you and the Opponent. Make sure you do your cardio. I have seen some great people lose due to lack of cardio.

Your videos are fantastic! I know watching them has helped my game a lot, the Mundial 2000 remixes are a must have! What got you started? making those and is their anything new coming out?
Like I said earlier. Videotapes are great to learn from,
Unfortunately they are very boring to watch unless you are a hardcore fan. So what I did was to edit the tapes to make learning BJJ easier. I use to make tapes just for myself, and some of the student saw them and wanted copies. So I made the mundial series for gi. Pro am for no gi. I have tournament-tested techniques on DVD, and some other ones should be out near the end of the year.

As far as competition goes do you have any plans for the future?
I have a super fight with Edwin Deweees on DEC 14, And also super fight at the Dale Earnhadt Jr. classic on Jan 25 against Marcelo Clemente a Royler Gracie black belt.

Well thank you again Marc It's been a pleasure to meet you and to have had this opportunity to get some advice. I'd like to wish you the best of luck in the future.
Much respect, Jeremy Wright/fightcontol.com

For more information on Marc Laimon checkout http://www.lewisjiujitsu.com or to check out Marc's videos & dvd's check out http://www.bjjfilms.com a must have for jiu-jitsu students!
You've got to see the Mundial 2000 remixes.

Click here to check out this clip!!
Nova Uniao BJJ Black Belt Marc Laimon in a grappling match with Judo Black Belt and U.F.C. Veteran Christophe Leninger.



interview with Mario Sperry

Please tell me a little bit about yourself.
My name is Mario Sperry I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
I'm a Brazilian top team member and director.

When and why did you start training jiu-jitsu and with who?
I started when I was 13 in Carlson Gracie School. I was a kid with too much energy to spend.

Can you tell me some of your accomplishments that you're particularly proud of?
3 time world jiu-jitsu champion (1998 absolute champion), 1998 Brazilian absolute champion (with a submission over Royler Gracie), 4 time ADCC Champion (1998 - 98 kg and absolute division, 1999 and 2000 - Super fight champion), Pride 17 and 20 champions, UFO Japan champion, Collision Japan champion.

How do you think jiu-jitsu has changed in the past five to ten years?
Today jiu-jitsu it is much more organized and it is in almost everywhere in the world.

Who are some of your favorite new jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts guys?
Guys like Fernando "Margarita" Pontes, Terre, Victor "Shaolin" Rideiro and Pe de pano.

Can you give me some advice for Americans that what to train in Brazil? Maybe like Do's and Don'ts and where and when to go?
Brazil is a cool place, but do not go in dangerous places, be prepared to train (we like to show off to foreigners), and the most important, come single, there a lot of girls around and they like fighters from every where!!!

What do you feel is the key aspect when training jiu-jitsu?
Drills, weights, diet?
The most important thing in my opinion is the drill. Do as much you can.

Will you tell me a little bit about the TOP TEAM?
And also the idea for DAY OF ZEN?
Brazilian Top Team is a group of very close friends that have trained together for over 20 years. Our Principal aspect is friendship, honor, respect and disciple. The Day of the Zen it is what it says it is a day of my training routine.

Will you tell me any future plans you have?
Fights, tournaments, new schools?
For now I want just train hard and win all my fights and train the boys.
Also in the near future open up some schools in the U.S.A.

Where can people go to get more information on you?
(Web sites, schools, books, videos?)
On the computer you can check out the Brazilian Top Team at

www.braziliantopteam.com.br

Well! Thank you so much for giving up your time to answer my questions. It's been a privilege and an honor to have this chance!
Much Respect! Jeremy Wright-Fightcontrol.com

Take care Jeremy. Best regards;
Mario Sperry

For more information on the Brazilian Top TEAM checkout www.braziliantopteam.com.br or to checkout a day of very inspirational training with Mario Sperry and the whole team in action like, U.F.C. champion Murilo Bustamante, Pride fighting champions Ricardo Arona, the Nogueira brothers and many more go to http://www.groundfighter.com/dayofthezen.htm

If you’d like to be considered for an interview and have the experience and something worthwhile to say feel free to contact me anytime.
Jeremy Wright