Marcio Silva of Marion still cannot believe it. For him, being regarded as the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter in his division in the world still feels like a dream. How was it possible that he could go from an overweight worker stuck in an unfulfilling job to first place winner in the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation World Championship and living his dream of owning his own martial arts school?
“Because anybody can achieve what they put their mind to, pretty much,” said Silva. “Jiu-Jitsu changed my life and way of thinking for the better.”
When Silvia, 41, was five years old he began to learn Judo until he was 15. By the time he reached adulthood, he had stopped practicing Judo, got married, had two children, and worked at his family’s local rental company.
“I just didn’t have time to do anything,” said Silva, although the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) had piqued his interest and he heard about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which appealed to him. “I was 240 pounds overweight, so I said, ‘I have to do something about this.’”
He took a class in 2008 and immediately found his calling.
For those who are unfamiliar with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it is more than a martial art. BJJ is also considered a sport and a self-defense system with a focus on grappling and floor fighting. But for those who practice BJJ, it enhances physical fitness and builds character. It is a lifestyle, a way of existence.
“I tried a free class, and I never stopped doing it,” said Silva. “I just grabbed onto it and fell in love with it.”
Silva trained hard, with unwavering effort, and quickly progressed from white belt to blue belt to purple and to brown – a process that takes, on average, eight to ten years with hard work and consistent training. But Silva did it in about half the time, starting his first class in 2008 and then winning the world championship just six years later in 2014.
He trained with some of the best BJJ instructors in the world, traveling to Brazil and across the globe to work with other World Champions like Caio Terra, Marcelo Garcia, Ruben “Cobrinha” Charles, and Andre “Dedeco” Almeida.
He competed in several competitions every year and eventually began coaching children aged five to ten, as well as adults, and opened his own training center in New Bedford called Xcel Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
It was not an easy road for Silva, though. He said his regular daytime job was really getting in the way of his training and competitions, which was discouraging for him. He experienced a few injuries along the way, too. Nothing terribly serious, said Silva, but there was pain that came with the gain.
“If you’re not getting injured, you’re not working hard enough,” said Silva.
Silva entered competitions and, win after win, started to make a name for himself. He even won first place in the absolute blue belt division of one competition. Silva, at 160 pounds, beat a fellow blue belt weighing 270 pounds.
In 2013, Silva joined the IBJJF World Championship in Long Beach California and lost during his first round of fighting. He had no idea that next year in 2014, he would be walking away as the World Champion.
He flew out unaccompanied to Long Beach this year, alone, wondering to himself, “How am I going to do this?” Other fighters arrived with their entourages, friends, and families. Silva, although on his own, knew his wife Carla and children Marciano, 18, and Cayla, 16, were cheering him on, waiting for updates online from the IBJJF website, which lost its live feed during the fight.
Round after round, match after match, Silva fought his way to the top to that incredible moment on November 2 when he was announced IBJJF World Champion.
“Wow!” said Silva. “It was a shock!” He said he just kept questioning reality. Is it real? Am I dreaming? Could this be real?
It is still just starting to set in for Silva. He said Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has humbled him, given him confidence – changed his life.
“Now all of a sudden I have a school, I’m a fighter,” said Silva. “I’m blessed, pretty much. I’m really blessed.”
Silva said, modestly, he expects his BJJ Master Dedeco will award Silva with a black belt in the next couple of weeks. He is anticipating competing in the IBJJF World Championship in 2015 as a black belt. Until then, Silva will continue on with his mission of competing and teaching BJJ at Xcel.
“I am going to keep coaching people. What it (BJJ) does for peoples’ lives is just amazing. It just changes you,” said Silva. “I want them to experience what I experienced, and achieve what I achieved … that’s what I’m after.”
By Jean Perry
