Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenomenon in the 90s, the black belt and Jiu-Jitsu world champion, Nino Elvis Schembri spoke to TATAME about his future in MMA and in Jiu-Jitsu. Having recovered from the twisting in his shoulder that made him stay out of the ring for a long time, Nino still spoke about the trainings at Black House, where he has been training for almost a year and about his expectations as for the Super Challenge Grappling. This is the entire interview.

What are our expectations as for the Super Challenge Grappling?
I consider the event Submission to be excellent, mainly the rules that were changed and are prioritizing the submission. In my opinion these rules are wonderful for development of the sport, motivating submission, locks, mounting. I will try my luck among those heavy guys.

Is it possible to get to the final competing with these heavier guys?
I will try to win, if I win one, I will keep on trying. My purpose is passing one fight at a time and achieve submission. André Galvão is also participating in the event.

Are you expecting to revenge him since you have been defeated by him?
Whoever it is. There are many good fighters. He is one of the great names. I am not giving priority to him, but if I get ahead I will try to revenge him.

How is your MMA training in Black House going?
The training in Black House are 100 per cent and it is very cool. It is perfectly structured Muay Thai, Boxe, Wrestling, Submission, Jiu-Jitsu, that is everything possible under the coordination of Carlão, all the professors are very good. It is the perfect place for those who are willing to train. It is 100 per cent in all the aspects. The most important is that I am in Rio. I returned home, Rio de Janeiro is very good.

Do you plan any fight for this year?
I was going to fight at MMAC on December 8. But the event was postponed for the year 2008.

How is your curriculum in MMA at the present moment?
I have four victories and four defeats. I fought the first five fights out of my weight division. It is a hard assignment. It is not like gi. It gets hard even in gi, now try to imagine being defeated. But now I am determined to fight a lot at MMA and it is better in the weight division. These are different time: the time of falling in mounting position, catching the shoulder has already passed.

Nowadays everyone knows everything, there is no art any more. People are fighting all the arts, so my deal is to be in weight division. You are strong at ground fight and if you had to change it for the upper, are you ready?
I am changing as well and it is possible to make knockouts for sure. But I always will want to go back to my plate, where I am feeling well, at more disposition.

But it is such a thing. I cannot always want to go to the ground, it is MMA, it is a mixture of martial arts, so one has to train everything, but for sure my strong point is on the ground. Will we see you competing in cloth again?
I am training with cloth in Black House with Silvio Behring. I always do some cloth training, but I would like there to be much to get for an award. I wouldn’t like to enter without being prepared. In order to enter a world category, Pan-American etc. one needs to train a lot, so now I am in favor of the fights that have financial benefit.
Unfortunately this year I had some twisting, one in the shoulder, I am having it treated. This year I spent more time doing medical treatment than training.

Having made history on the ground , have you been able to help people from Black House in ground training?
I help whenever it is possible. But I am not teaching. Sergio Babu is the one who is teaching being an excellent ground trainer. I always help whoever wants, but I am not teaching.

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