Saulo, And Xande Ribeiro Discuss Upcoming Grapplers Escape Cruise

Ahead of the upcoming Grapplers Escape Cruise, we were given the honor of talking to two BJJ champions that will be on the cruise to discuss their background in Jiu-Jitsu, the cruise, and what they want their students to take away from it. 4th degree BJJ black belt, and BJJ legend Saulo Ribeiro, as well as his brother the equally famed Xande Ribeiro, were 2 of the first World Champions to jump on board as instructors.

The cool thing about the cruise is, well, you can be apart of the experience right along side these world-renowned Jiu-Jitsu practitioners teaching on Grappler’s Escape 2015. If you are not familiar with Grappler’s Escape, here’s the rundown:

• 1 luxurious Cruise Ship
• 5 Days/6 Nights of top-level BJJ Training and Learning Experiences
• 6 BJJ instructors from 3 of the best Academies

With an all-star cast of instructors along with Saulo and Xande Ribiero, you’ll find Andre and Angelica Galvao, Felicia Oh, and JT Torres. This isn’t an opportunity that comes up very often and there are a limited number of spots available, with tickets going fast.

The cruise sets sail on August 23, 2015 from the Port of Miami and will make its way to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Along with over 30 hours of high-level BJJ instructional courses, training, and plenty of open rolling, the cruise will feature all of the activities and experiences of a regular cruise vacation, including: touring islands, beach time, diving and snorkeling etc.

First we spoke with Saulo Ribeiro, who shared with us his start in BJJ as a Judoka looking to improve his skills on the ground.

“I got involved because I was looking [to] improve my skills on the ground and my sister’s boyfriend was in Jiu-Jitsu, so it was natural progression to try the Jiu-Jitsu in my home town. It was love at the first triangle. I just fell in love with how easily I was dominate[d]. For judo I had good grappling, a good ground game, but when I went there [BJJ], I felt just that I could do nothing. So I just fell in love. That’s when I start[ed] my journey.”

Ribeiro enjoys that in Jiu-Jitsu you have the chance to meet a vast array of people from different backgrounds and places and that is why he is excited for the opportunity to be a part of the cruise.

“Like on the cruise, you never know who’s going to be there. It could be a guy who works in real estate, a bartender, it could be moms, it could be a kid.”

No matter your skill level, Grappler’s Escape will feature learning opportunities for you to advance your BJJ knowledge and learn from the best. How many times in your life will you be able to train Jiu-Jitsu with some of the best while still having the vacation of a lifetime?

“If you love Jiu-Jitsu, you have no excuse, you have to go.” Saulo noted.

Along with Saulo and Xande from Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu, you will also have the chance to work with Andre Galvao, Angelica Galvao and JT Torres from Atos Jiu-Jitsu and Felicia Oh from Jean Jacque Machado Academy. While you’re training you might happen to see Saulo and some of the other instructors rolling right along with you on the mats.

Saulo’s brother, Xande Ribeiro, is just as accomplished as his older brother, and even ranks as the “pound for pound” greatest Jiu-Jitsu grappler ever defined by medals won.

Xande started Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 10, and recalled the story that ultimately led to him picking up Jiu-Jitsu.

“My brother started Jiu-Jitsu, around 6 months before me, and then one day I was just grappling my friend on the grass and he was mauling me. I got pissed off because he cranked my neck, and then my brother said ‘hey let’s try Jiu-Jitsu,’ and I’m like ‘alright let’s do it!’ So I got myself a Gi without even trying a class and I jumped in and loved it. When I hit the first armbar [?] I’m like ‘yeah man’ and I liked it.”

With hard work, and tremendous amounts of dedication, Xande received his Jiu-Jitsu black belt in 10 years. Xande kept his passion for Jiu-Jitsu at the forefront of his life while attending school as a child.

“I would go to school and finish my school day, and go home, have lunch, homework, and then 4:30 I was in the academy—from 4:30 to 8 o’clock Monday through Friday, and from 10 o’clock in the morning to 12 on Saturday. For the first 7 years of my life, that’s what I did—school, homework, and Jiu-Jitsu.”

With an event as unique as the Grapplers Escape Cruise, Xande explained that after learning about the cruise, and being asked to instruct on it, along with his brother Saulo, he jumped right in to the experience.

“They showed all the ideas, and how it’s going to be, and I’m like ‘man this is amazing!’ and we jumped right in!”

“For the Jiu-Jitsu people, that really say they love Jiu-Jitsu, and appreciate [the] lifestyle, it’s something you shouldn’t miss.”

Xande went on to explain to readers who are unfamiliar with the cruise, why this event is so historic and groundbreaking, especially for students who are attending.

“We had a meeting, me, Saulo, Galvao, and everybody, an in-house meeting, and we said ‘man let’s do the best of it, be available to people like never before. You’re going to have the opportunity to see the same instructor multiple times, and you’re going to have a chance to book a private, to have open mats. It’s going to be amazing.”

He went on to say, “They’re going to really understand the meaning of our Jiu-Jitsu, and I think that’s the difference.”

If you really want to train with these champions, then don’t hesitate to jump on this opportunity. You’ll find all the information you need below in order to book your trip.

Don’t miss what Ribeiro is calling, “A special moment in Jiu-Jitsu history.”

Grab your tickets before they’re gone and live life to the fullest while training in the sport you love.

You can get all of your information for the historic Grapplers Escape Cruise at GrapplersEscape.com.

By Ryan Miller | Twitter and Evan Stoumbelis