I don’t think my style of playing is different from the classic Brazilian style.
The World Cup needs a brilliant Brazilian team.
It’s interesting because my Mixed Martial Arts upbringing is less Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is the traditional thing that people study.
That was always the top martial artist – the Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt. Once I started beating them, I knew I had what it takes to form a new martial art. That’s when I came up with Joe Jitsu, my namesake, so my legacy lives forever through the martial arts.
When I was a young teenager, it was all about The Clash for me and that sort of English punk stuff. Then the Clash led me to all these other kinds of music: classic rock, Stevie Wonder, world music, and Brazilian music. I got serious about jazz when I was probably about 14 or 15.
I consider myself a Londoner first, and then I consider myself Brazilian before I consider myself English.
My family is Brazilian and I feel Brazilian, even though I have never lived there. I was born and raised in Belgium so I also feel Belgian. I feel the blood of a Brazilian, but I understand both ways.
I’ve been touching instruments since the day I was born. My mother is Brazilian, and she listens to Brazilian music. My father was a musician, and I’ve seen pictures of him when he was in a band playing guitar and piano. He loved country music, Frank Sinatra, and stuff like that.
I am a Brazilian, I represent Brazil, I train there and I’m going to be a champion for Brazil.
Brazilian music has been a part of almost every record I’ve done, and I’d eventually like to record an entire album of Brazilian music.
Barcelona has always had issues with Brazilian players: Neymar, Romario, Ronaldinho, and me. We were all treated badly by the club in the end, despite all our contributions and dedication.
Manchester is a sensational venue for football but an awful place to live… the winter, the cold and the dark nights. It’s very hard for a young Brazilian.
Brazilian people and South African people are very similar in all respects. They are very warm and friendly.
My greatest moment in my whole career is when I became the first non-Brazilian to win the Brazilian jiu-jitsu world championship. That was my greatest moment.
I play with players in the Brazilian national team who are similar to those at Chelsea – Kaka, Neymar.
Brazilian fans are awesome. They create such an awesome atmosphere.
When I was young, living in Belgium, my parents spoke Portuguese, we have the Brazilian passion at home, I played with PSV in Holland, you experience all these different cultures and you get used to living with that. I think it has made me a better player and a better person to get out of my comfort zone.
Most of my family doesn’t speak English. It’s so important for the baby. He’s going to know all his American roots, but he also needs to know about his Brazilian side.
I loved the Brazilian music I played. But this is finally me. For the first time I think it’s really me.
From my personal observations, the Spanish style of play, with a large number of passes, is somewhat similar to the Brazilian one.
Brazilian music has many of the ingredients that I strive for in my own music: Strong melodies and a disciplined but intense rhythmic concept, and interesting harmonies.
I have been fortunate to work with many great coaches and also in different countries, and I have taken a bit from all of them – Dutch, Spanish, Italian, and Brazilian football.
People come to me to say I don’t sell; Brazilian media say I don’t give interviews. Nobody is obligated to do anything.
The Brazilian team is made up of great players who are also great friends.
I am very proud to be Brazilian and more motivated than ever to demonstrate what I can do.
The lullabies I grew up with were usually Brazilian religious ones, and they still soothe me into sleep.
I want to regain the trust of the Brazilian people and all the sectors of society.
Thank God Brazilian goalkeepers are now learning to play with their feet, because that was the big problem.
For me Brazilian music is the perfect mix of melody and rhythm. It just bubbles rhythmically. If I had to pick just one music style to play if would be Brazilian.
My father offered me a Super8 camera that he bought in some Brazilian airport. I was 16, and shot a reel with my best friend Juan Solanas jumping from the Pont Neuf bridge. It was my first psychological drama.
My connection with Brazil is so abstract. My blood and my way of thinking is Brazilian, but that’s it. I don’t tend to go back to the past, and although I have an apartment there, I rarely visit. When I move, I really move.
There aren’t a lot of Portuguese models, so everyone always expects me to be Brazilian because of my features, sometimes even American, as I have a slight American accent when I speak English.
The English season will be over; I’m a Brazilian who loves my country, so of course I will be following and supporting the side as much as any fan.
I think I’ve already won the most important titles in Brazilian jujitsu and grappling.
I work free-weights and do circuit training with my trainer 4-5 times a week. I also train in Brazilian Ju Jitsu several times a week.
The pressure to win is always there, especially with the Brazilian team.
It’s hard to be as good as Ronaldinho and Ronaldo were, but we’re going to do our best, both myself and Philippe Coutinho, to get close to them and be the best players we can be for the Brazilian national team.
I became the first Brazilian women to win a UFC title. That is huge.
I was a beach boy, and I believe I learned my songs from the birds of the Brazilian forest.
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