Dennis Asche - Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle

A little over a week ago I had my first run in with the “public servants” here. After finishing recording in Barra with ITG I headed home by car. Generally my transportation is the bus and or metro but that day happened to be by car. Not far from home driving slowly, looking for a parking spot near Subway the signal closed and I stopped…Right beside me stopped two “public servants” who obviously got a good look at me and had a good idea I am not a Brazilian. So they pulled me over on the next block to ’see what I had in the trunk’. Immediately after asking me to open the trunk, first question was, “You’re not from here are you?”

Obviously nothing exciting in the car. Next it was time to hand over the documents for the car and my driver’s license (US driver’s license, that had been expired for nearly a year). About that time the second of two ’servants’ walked around the car while slinging his assault rifle across his chest, folding down the stock and resting his finger above the trigger. Having some experience here and listening to many, many stories from the Cariocas, I knew what to expect, knew that the two of them where doing their best to ’scare the gringo’ and shake me down.  After handing the first storm trooper my licence he immediately asked for a translation paper, I offered to translate it for him. He denied of course, telling me it was required and that the cars documents where out of order and missing pages. Now talking louder he again told me that my license was not valid without a translation, I again offered to translate it for him. “OK, let’s call in and tow the car…and we’ll have to take you to the station to sort out your license”, said the storm trooper with the assault rifle. I knew what was next but was concerned that the R$34 that was in my wallet was not enough to pay them off. Not for the fact that it wasn’t enough money (I have a friend who got out of a road block using a package of cookies) but that they would expect more from me, being a foreigner.

Picking up on the fact that I managed to stay calm and speak fluent Portuguese they too began to calm down. I stood there for a few seconds and they almost seemed surprised at my reaction (or lack of). “Look, is there another way we can take care of this”, where my next words. “Ah, but I will have to have your word”, the storm trooper without the assault rifle replied several times (therefore a few details such as witch department have been excluded). “So, how is R$200 for you”, I chuckled and replied, “I don’t have anywhere near that much on me, do you mind if I take a look in my wallet?”. “Not here, get back in your car and we will pull you over again”, he replied, then asked if I could make a withdraw at a bank near by. My reply of course was “no”.

Driving slowly knowing that the police here have no problem riddling a car with their assault rifles (many times caught on tape then shown on the 11 0′ clock news, unedited). A few blocks later they sound the siren and I pull over in a poorly lit area. “So how much do you have”, he asks, “Look, all I have is R$34 (roughly $15USD)”, “OK, that’s fine”, he said. I thanked him shaking his hand, knowing that in all reality that wasn’t a bad deal.

Morale = Make sure documents are straight before putting ones self in a situation like that.

Even though it was a good deal, it could have turned out very bad for me and besides that I didn’t get my sandwich!

Gordo Jiu-Jitsu/Gracie Fusion team mate Rafael dos Anjos interview, before his April 1st fight with Tyson Griffin at UFC Fight Night.

David went through a successful surgery this afternoon to reopen his airway. What was origionally planned to be a more complicated surgery was simplified and well performed. He will not be talking for the next four days (by request of the surgeon) but he is expected to leave the hospital tomorrow.

Congratulations Dave!

An apparent “misdiagnosis” from one of the specialists put everyone through another scare as David’s throat has to this point closed 70%, making it extremely difficult for him to breath. This condition is due to the amount of time he spent with the breathing tube in place. An operation is scheduled for tomorrow to clear the airway and a benign tumor in the air passage. This newest situation in an up and down series of events could easily have caused David his life if gone untreated, as the airway was closing more every day.

Keep David in your thoughts, there is still more for him to endure.

The 2nd Copa Minerinha was my return to competition this year. Rogerio Gavazza’s championships are some of my favorites to compete in, and this was no exception. Although I was on the podium in the end but  not on top (vice-champion)…now it’s back to work, next championship in two weeks.

For all the people who want to know more about Gordo and the academy:

I would really like to thank Eddie and Jane, David’s parents. Eddie went to the trouble of bringing me a care package including a KettleBell brought all the way from the US, witch had been a key element missing from my training…Jane a camera that has been put to good use in updating this blog. Thank you both very much for going out of your way with the surprises that have helped me so much.

There has been a lot happening here in Rio. As it is said the year doesn’t begin in Brazil until after Carnival and for many people the saying is true.

During this last week David was once again admitted to the Clinica Bambina because of difficulty breathing, he even spent 24 hours in the ICU. The doctors said that it is possible he has some blood clotting from his healing leg that likely migrated to his lungs (in addition to inflamed bronchial tubes). Thankfully he left the clinic Saturday with his mom and Lane. He seemed in good spirits when I saw him this Saturday afternoon.

Training in the academy is getting into full swing as many of Gordo Jiu-Jitsu athletes prepare for upcoming Jiu-Jitsu championships and Vale Tudo fights. Not only where their the Cariocas but Gordinho brought down a group of New Yorkers, filling up the academy. No shortage of good people to train with.

During the weekend aside from Saturdays training there was a special Mauy Thai promotion for students of Edu Pachu, Deigo Braga, Cadu Andrade, Dudu, and Erinaldo Rodrigues headed by their professor Vander Valverde.

Sunday ITG held a special recording session for the TECH FACTORY and Faixa Preta Digital, with BTT black belt Fabiano Capoani demonstrating technique on Olivar Leite and myself.

Filming Technique at gordo Jiu-Jitsu w/BTT's Fabiano Capoani

Olivar Leite at home on the mat.

Felipe behind the camera

One of my favorite championships here is run by Rogerio Gavazza under FJJ-Rio. 2008 put me in second place for the state rankings as a lightweight…looking to best that this year in competition.

Regardless of what happens in competition I have a lot of good people on the mats and off helping me along the way. Thank you all.

Wednesday David was released from the Clinica Bambina in Botafogo and is now back in Barra. He has been through a lot and is recovering at an amazing rate, likely due to his diet and physical conditioning.  That really took a load off of my mind knowing that he actually made it out of the hospital and is well on his way to a 100% recovery.