Kid Peligro Interviews K1 Heros Grand Prix Champion Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante
KP- You are the 2 times K1 Heros Grand Prix winner, what has been the difference that makes you succeed and what do you believe you are best at?
JZ- The way I naturally go about my business. Not only in a fight but in life itself. I believe that every human being is capable of reaching anything he believes in. But in the fighting department the big difference is being part of American Top Team. ATT is really like a family and has incredible talent which leads to great training sessions.
KP- You appeared in the international scene in 2004 and immediately exploded. Can you tell us your background, how you started in Martial arts?
JZ- I started in Judo when I was a 4-year old kid. I practiced it until I turned 13 but I stopped because I couldn’t compete in the bigger tournaments. I then switched to Luta-livre in the now extinct Equipe Sensei de Luta-livre. The team was headed by Marcus Vinicius Corval and it was located in Campo Grande a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. At that point my career as a fighter began to take shape. I started to compete in Luta-livre and submission tournaments. I was invited by Jefferson Teixeira to compete in wrestling for Unversidade Gama Filho and then my horizons began to expand even further. Then Master Osvaldo “Paqueta”, who nowadays is a great friend, was filming a tournament and watched me compete and invited me to come train at Carlson Gracie Team. I trained at the also extinct Universo Atletico Academy and finally at ATT
KP- Now at ATT you have a great structure for a fighter. What do you like best about them and what was the biggest difference in training with them for you?
JZ- The biggest difference at ATT is the level of professionalism in the team, how they train and the team chemistry and union. Any time you get there you will see the entire professional team together practicing whatever training is scheduled for that day. In reality we spend more time at the Academy than at home and even when we have a day of everyone gets together to do something as a team and that really reinforces the team spirit as a family and strengthens all of us and the team itself.
KP- Your only defeat was to Joachin Hansen in 2004, do you have any plans for a rematch and avenge the loss?
JZ- No, not really. I have no plans for a rematch. I was called to fight him just one week prior to the actual fight and it was in the early stages of my professional career. The fight was against a former Shooto Champion (Hansen) that was ranked 5th in the World at the weight at the time. I fought, did the best I could at the time with the amount of time that I had to prepare and with my lack of experience and I believe I surprised a lot of people with how I fought. Many people that watched the fight believed that I won or at least it was a draw at worst. If we happen to cross paths and meet yet once again it will be a new opportunity to learn and a new fight especially because we have both matured much with all the fights we’ve had since then. The future belongs to God.
KP- What do you think is your best characteristic as a fighter?
JZ- Being calm. It is my best quality not only as a fighter but also as a person. I cannot separate one thing from the other.
KP- What are your plans for 2008?
JZ- My plan is to continue on my path and to evolve as a fighter, as a person, as a friend, as a son, in other words to do everything in my power to have a better day every day.
KP- You have fought in a cage and in a ring, which do you prefer and what is the difference between them?
JZ- I like both, I have no preference; to me is only a matter of adjusting to the battlefield. There are differences but to me they don’t matter. When you fight in the cage it is harder to cut the distance and it Is very different from walking in a ring but there is the advantage that the fight doesn’t stop and restart in the middle because one of the fighters falls through the ropes.
KP- What is the advice you give to anyone starting a professional MMA Career?
JZ- The 3 D’s are a great line to follow: Determination, dedication and discipline are qualities that we have to strive to better in any task that you choose. Oe thing is for sure, to fight at a high level you will need all three of them. Balance that with confidence and the doors to all your dreams will open
KP- Who would you like to fight and why?
JZ- Shynia Aoki! Because I was supposed to fight him in the final event of the year in Yarennoka but because of a knee injury I couldn’t. I was sad because I disappointed the fans that were anxious to se this match, even I was disappointed but I am hoping to fight him this year
KP- What is your dream as a fighter?
JZ- My dream is to be an inspiration for the kids that are coming up and for the future generations. To be able to leave a small seed here and to have it prosper and grow because everything that I do I do with a lot of love and passion and always thinking of doing good deeds
KP- Anyone you want to thank?
JZ- I want to thank all fans of MMA because they are the reason we continue to grow. I want to thank my family American Top Team, they are my brothers and my brothers in the work we do everyday. I also want to thank my family and friends in Brazil, they have always supported my efforts, if it wasn’t for them I couldn’t be giving all the energy I put in the fights as I have been able to do. Thanks everyone, from the bottom of my heart and especially to God.
KP- You are the 2 times K1 Heros Grand Prix winner, what has been the difference that makes you succeed and what do you believe you are best at?
JZ- The way I naturally go about my business. Not only in a fight but in life itself. I believe that every human being is capable of reaching anything he believes in. But in the fighting department the big difference is being part of American Top Team. ATT is really like a family and has incredible talent which leads to great training sessions.
KP- You appeared in the international scene in 2004 and immediately exploded. Can you tell us your background, how you started in Martial arts?
JZ- I started in Judo when I was a 4-year old kid. I practiced it until I turned 13 but I stopped because I couldn’t compete in the bigger tournaments. I then switched to Luta-livre in the now extinct Equipe Sensei de Luta-livre. The team was headed by Marcus Vinicius Corval and it was located in Campo Grande a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. At that point my career as a fighter began to take shape. I started to compete in Luta-livre and submission tournaments. I was invited by Jefferson Teixeira to compete in wrestling for Unversidade Gama Filho and then my horizons began to expand even further. Then Master Osvaldo “Paqueta”, who nowadays is a great friend, was filming a tournament and watched me compete and invited me to come train at Carlson Gracie Team. I trained at the also extinct Universo Atletico Academy and finally at ATT
KP- Now at ATT you have a great structure for a fighter. What do you like best about them and what was the biggest difference in training with them for you?
JZ- The biggest difference at ATT is the level of professionalism in the team, how they train and the team chemistry and union. Any time you get there you will see the entire professional team together practicing whatever training is scheduled for that day. In reality we spend more time at the Academy than at home and even when we have a day of everyone gets together to do something as a team and that really reinforces the team spirit as a family and strengthens all of us and the team itself.
KP- Your only defeat was to Joachin Hansen in 2004, do you have any plans for a rematch and avenge the loss?
JZ- No, not really. I have no plans for a rematch. I was called to fight him just one week prior to the actual fight and it was in the early stages of my professional career. The fight was against a former Shooto Champion (Hansen) that was ranked 5th in the World at the weight at the time. I fought, did the best I could at the time with the amount of time that I had to prepare and with my lack of experience and I believe I surprised a lot of people with how I fought. Many people that watched the fight believed that I won or at least it was a draw at worst. If we happen to cross paths and meet yet once again it will be a new opportunity to learn and a new fight especially because we have both matured much with all the fights we’ve had since then. The future belongs to God.
KP- What do you think is your best characteristic as a fighter?
JZ- Being calm. It is my best quality not only as a fighter but also as a person. I cannot separate one thing from the other.
KP- What are your plans for 2008?
JZ- My plan is to continue on my path and to evolve as a fighter, as a person, as a friend, as a son, in other words to do everything in my power to have a better day every day.
KP- You have fought in a cage and in a ring, which do you prefer and what is the difference between them?
JZ- I like both, I have no preference; to me is only a matter of adjusting to the battlefield. There are differences but to me they don’t matter. When you fight in the cage it is harder to cut the distance and it Is very different from walking in a ring but there is the advantage that the fight doesn’t stop and restart in the middle because one of the fighters falls through the ropes.
KP- What is the advice you give to anyone starting a professional MMA Career?
JZ- The 3 D’s are a great line to follow: Determination, dedication and discipline are qualities that we have to strive to better in any task that you choose. Oe thing is for sure, to fight at a high level you will need all three of them. Balance that with confidence and the doors to all your dreams will open
KP- Who would you like to fight and why?
JZ- Shynia Aoki! Because I was supposed to fight him in the final event of the year in Yarennoka but because of a knee injury I couldn’t. I was sad because I disappointed the fans that were anxious to se this match, even I was disappointed but I am hoping to fight him this year
KP- What is your dream as a fighter?
JZ- My dream is to be an inspiration for the kids that are coming up and for the future generations. To be able to leave a small seed here and to have it prosper and grow because everything that I do I do with a lot of love and passion and always thinking of doing good deeds
KP- Anyone you want to thank?
JZ- I want to thank all fans of MMA because they are the reason we continue to grow. I want to thank my family American Top Team, they are my brothers and my brothers in the work we do everyday. I also want to thank my family and friends in Brazil, they have always supported my efforts, if it wasn’t for them I couldn’t be giving all the energy I put in the fights as I have been able to do. Thanks everyone, from the bottom of my heart and especially to God.
