#DreamsDoComeTrue #SubmissionSunday
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Can’t believe this was 6yrs ago already! I can still feel the wave of emotion that came over me after I secured the submission. Coming up, I never managed to win a major @ibjjf absolute title at any belt. As a Black Belt, I took ?in the absolute at the Euros & Pan a couple of times, & even earned the ?once in Brazil before this. At this Brasileiro I was already in my 9th year as a Black Belt & still hunting that absolute gold that I had never won in my life.
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5 matches & 4 submissions later, in a bracket of over 50 with several former & future Black Belt World Champions, I finally accomplished my dream & became the first non-Brazilian to win a major @ibjjf Black Belt Absolute title. To achieve this dream in Brazil made it extra special for me, because I could remember being just 16yrs old going to Brazil for the first time to compete at the Mundials & being completely mesmerized by the great champions of that era. In the beginning, I knew that I wanted to be like them, but as a kid from Oklahoma struggling to have access to high level Jiu-Jitsu, I wasn’t really sure if it would ever be possible.
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Before this final, I had some deep reflections on my history where I could vividly remember my first trips to Brazil as a kid. I felt how my life had come full circle & was overwhelmed by a feeling of destiny. I knew in my heart that this was going to be my moment & tears started to form while I was just warming up. I still had to win first lol… Well, I was on next level focus in this very tough match & gave my all to not just win, but win decisively. My dream finally came true & it wasn’t because I am so talented or gifted, but because I never stopped trying. I will cherish this moment forever.
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Great fights & best wishes to those fighting for Gold today in Brazil ??
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#RibeiroJiuJitsu #LovatoJiuJitsu #6Blades #Geurreiro6Blades #IMakeHistory #TrueMartialArtist #RafaelLovatoJr #BJJ #JiuJitsu #IBJJF #Brasileiro #BlackBelt #AbsoluteChampion