This year has once again shown us that there is no limitation as to how far this sport is growing. With many sad, exciting, and shocking moments the year 2010 will be a year that will truly be remembered as the jaw dropping moment of our time. One of the things this year has blessed us with is the opportunity to be introduced to upcoming rising talents that are sure to make a major impact in the following years to come. Amongst this breed of rising talent is an overseas sensation that will only three years of bjj experience has already taken the grappling world by storm with his Double Gold in the purple belt division at this year Mundials and has everyone asking the million dollar question…. “Who is Sebastian Brosche ?”
Hailing from Lapland in North Sweden and training under Eduardo Rios at Frontline BJJ Academy in his short time in bjj Sebastian Brosche has already obtained a lot of success and wonderful experience in his life which consist of major wins at high prestige tournaments and traveling all over the world training with some of the best in the game.
So in this final interview of the year introducing overseas sensation Sebastian Brosche !!!
| 1. OTM: First off before we start i wanna say thanks for the interview ever since mundials this year, you have been the mystery (double gold ) purple belt champion .
Sebastian: Thanks =)
2. OTM: How did you get started in martial arts? Sebastian: When i was seven years old I had energy enough for two kids, so when my mom took me to judo practice I could spend it all there. When I started judo-college I saw what a healthy and challenging lifestyle it was to do martial arts on a combative level, and I was hooked.
3. OTM: Any major judo tournaments you’ve compete in? Sebastian: I did every tournament available, I think I won and lost hundreds of fights in total. The tournaments were important, but the best part was the training camps after the competitions, where you could spar rounds and rounds with the best guys.
4. OTM: So what got you into Brazilian jiu-jitsu ?
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Sebastian: I watched an old friend from judo compete in the Europeans, and it was very cool to watch another type of Gi-grappling! One thing that caught my attention early was that you guys in JJ had names for all the positions, which made it easier to remember and understand them. Half guard in judo is just "squeezing his leg until the referee stops the fight"My judo style was really weird to most people, so I think I was doing BJJ long before I knew it was a sport.
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5. OTM: Coming originally from a judo background myself, I find it really cool you did judo. Tell me how has your experience in judo helped you in your bjj training?
Sebastian: Going from judo to BJJ is like going from 2D to 3D. There is another dimension to the fight in BJJ, and you can develop almost any style of game. The breaking of grips and the balance on top that i acquired in judo has helped me excel i Jiu-Jitsu. And of course the discipline to train every day was and is essential for progress.
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6. OTM: For a grappler overseas such as yourself is it an added pressure due to the distance of travel coming into the states to compete in a tournament or is it more of an another adventure for you ?
Sebastian: The only downside is the cost of the trip. A lot of talented people can not afford to go. I went to Long Beach twice so now it is routine. And of course an adventure, it was the best trip ever. 7. OTM: Here in the states we have a lot of gyms each with their own style of teaching. What is the training like overseas at your academy as oppose to here in the states?
Sebastian: I have never trained in the states, so I have no idea. We train 5-6 sessions a week, and plenty of positional sparring. It would be cool to visit the big gyms over there, Renzo Gracie’s and Marcelo Garcia’s gyms in New York for example. 8. OTM: It’s pretty insane that you received your purple belt 3 weeks before mundials was it any pressure going into mundials as a brand new purple belt?
Sebastian: I dont mind the belts so much, it is colors and not much else. The real challenge was finding the balance between all the small things. Things like physical preparation, work, mindset, game plan, tactics.. To focus on the small things is very similar to worrying, the trick was to spot the difference and just do the things I had within my power. I am grateful that my Sensei could see my potential when i couldn’t.
9. OTM: This year at mundials you in place double gold in the purple belt which is a great achievement. What did it feel like to achieve such an achievement in such a short period of time?
Sebastian: When i won the final in my division, the only thought that ran through my head was: "Hard work pays off".I would have learned much from a loss too, but winning is a result of how you train, and I trained hard and smart for a long time. The open weight was just for fun. I have a serious problem with my lower back so I just went there because the fun of competing. Who knew I would win? Not me. |
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10. OTM: Aside from your academy you have done a lot of training in brazil along side Rio Connection Sensation Mad Jack Magee, overall what was the training and experience like for you in Brazil ?
Sebastian: The Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle in Brazil is awesome! I am lucky to have had the opportunity to train at Gordo’s in Barra with those dedicated people. I was there for two months, and all parts of my game got better. Next year I am going back for more! Connection Rio is a very good base for those dedicated to Jiu-Jitsu, thanks to Dennis Asche. 11. OTM: I personally have read a lot of Mad Jack’s crazy and exciting adventures on some of his blogs here on the website. What is it like hanging out with a guy like Jack Magee?
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Sebastian: That guy is a psychopath and should be put behind bars. No, just kidding. He is a cool guy and has really nasty submissions from every position. He is going to Germany to teach, and i hope he is coming for the Europeans in Lisbon. All the best to mad Jack!
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12. OTM: I always like asking this question to end of my interviews; do you have any advice for people moving up in bjj?
Sebastian: Be honest, which means do not make excuses. Honesty always leads to the truth, and when you are honest you will always find ways to develop your BJJ. You are on the mat who you are outside the mat, so how you eat, what you work with and who you spend time with will affect your training. Magnus Samuelsson, the worlds strongest man, had one tip that i remember clearly: "Be consistent". If you are honest and consistent on and off the mat you have true potential to kick ass. 13. OTM: With so much you have experience and accomplished this year, the New Year is just around the corner. Do you have any goals or plans for the New Year?
Sebastian: I’m doing the European and World championships as usual, and it will be interesting to compete in World Pro in Abu Dhabi. 5000 USD in prize money equals several months in brazil next winter! I will also train a bit more without the gi, and learn leg locks better before I get the brown belt.
14. OTM: Finally would you like to give any special thanks to anyone ?
Sebastian: My mother who is my biggest fan, and my dad, who never gives up.
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15. OTM: Well that raps things up. Thanks so much for the interview and best wish in the upcoming year.
Sebastian: Thank you, Happy New Year !
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