Find Humility in Learning and Never Stop with BJJ World Champion Abraham Marte

In Episode 4, we had a chance to sit down with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Hero and World Champion, Abraham Marte, who also is a husband, dad of two girls, and real life sensei. 

We covered everything including:

• Stoicism as a philosophy
• Jiu-jitsu and online teaching during COVID-19
• Do we really change after global crisis?
• Media, metrics, and focusing on what is important
• Where is Wuhan, China anyway?
• Podcast Recommendation: The London Real
• Becoming Mr. Miyagi and not a Cobra Cai 
• Why teaching self-defense is as important as swimming
• Why COVID-19 is an opportunity and teaching lesson to get away from materialism
• The nostalgia of "old school" teaching through tough love
• Gaining humility through learning and never stopping
• Making a good Moscow Mule
• Applying martial arts  to parenting
• Principle he wants to instill in his girls
• Legacy with his kids
• Book Recommendation - The obstacle is the way - Ryan Holiday

Abraham Marte Jiu-Jitsu  (Source: BJJ Heroes) 

Nickname: He is often called “Loco” which means crazy in Spanish. The name started due to Abraham’s obsession for Jiu-Jitsu.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Marcelo Behring > Fernando Yamasaki > Abraham Tabar > Abraham Marte Messina

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF World Masters Championship (2014**)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan American Championship No-Gi (2015)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2015 / 2013)
• 3rd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2013)

About Abraham:
Abraham Marte was born on June 27, 1980, in San Domingo, DR. Marte’s father was a former sports minister and through his father’s connections with the sporting world, he started practicing Judo as a youngster.

 He had his first class in 2001, when Abraham found out about this academy that was teaching Jiu-Jitsu taught by Abraham Tabar, a Judo black belt who loved newaza (the groundwork aspect of Judo) and would often travel to the United States to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from people such as Romero Cavalcanti (and later Royce Gracie and Fernando Yamasaki).

Though Abraham Marte enjoyed Jiu-Jitsu thoroughly he had to stop training in 2002 due to a serious injury to his back. At the time Abraham was employed as a DJ, working nights and leading a life of excess but with time and dedication, he left his former life behind in order to recover and come back to BJJ, which he did in 2006.

Being a natural athlete at Jiu-Jitsu he decided to start competing for fun. His first big competition was taken when he was a blue belt in Puerto Rico, even though he could only train 4x per week. 

Abraham Marte’s passion for Jiu Jitsu overflowed to his wife who also became a BJJ enthusiast and competitor.