Cleber Luciano Interview
2008 No Gi World Champion.

Mighty Mouse with a Stopwatch.

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Recently, I had the pleasure to interview world famous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Cleber Luciano following his no-gi world championship victory in Long Beach, California. Most notably, Cleber defeated UFC veteran Hermes Franca in his final match.

Cleber is a candid man, and an even fiercer competitor. His background in martial arts started at the age of 5 with a very poor upbringing in Brazil when he could not even afford the lessons. Now with a black belt in BJJ, Judo, several world championships and MMA fights, and 30 years of training and experience Cleber runs and operates his own Jiu-Jitsu school in Huntington Beach, Ca.

Cleber?s BJJ fighting style is definitely unique. He is a monster on the ground and puts constant pressure on his opponents. Whether it?s leaping over the spread legs of an opponent trying to replace guard, or smashing his knee into the stomach, his goal to is to put constant pressure on his opponents and dominate them. He is not a passive fighter to say the least, and maybe this is why he is nicknamed ?Mighty Mouse?. Or it could just be that he is only 5?6? and 160 lbs, but feels like a Mack truck when you are underneath him.

There is one thing that separates Cleber from other instructors though: his dedication to his family and his students. Moreover, this dedication is reciprocated back to him through a loyal base of students, and an even more loyal family. His wife Lilly, pregnant with their third child, is probably his biggest fan. Throughout the interview, she interjected praises and accolades towards her husband, expressing just how much of an impact Cleber has on the people around him. These attributes are just some of the reasons that Cleber was named On The Mat?s 2007 instructor of the year.

Teaching every class himself is a staple of Cleber Jiu-Jitsu. Many schools cannot make this same claim. Currently Cleber?s school holds a morning and evening adult class with a kid?s class in between. In addition, Cleber has daily privates scheduled with his students and teaches them all himself. Lilly explained that she doesn?t understand how he does it all. She told me that Cleber will run home for 20 minutes between appointments and take quick power naps to get through the day, but never sets an alarm clock. She claims Cleber was born with a built in stop watch that wakes him up and keeps him going throughout the day.

Who ever knew? Good 'ol Mighty Mouse needs a stop watch.

Socalmartialarts.com: What distinguishes this win from all your other wins.

CL: Ok, First of all, all my victories are really important, you know what I mean? It?s different, it?s the world championship it?s a big name tournament and I fight big names. I fought Hermes Franca in the final. That makes a big difference.

Socalmartialarts.com: Speaking of Hermes Franca, he?s a big name, a UFC veteran. Were you nervous when you learned you were going to fight him?

CL: I saw him fight the first match against Bill Tatch, my student. Bill?s a pretty tough guy and I saw what he did against him. Bill gave him a really, really tough match. After watching this, I said in my mind that I can beat him.

Socalmartialarts.com: At any point in the tournament did you feel like you were losing a match?

CL: No.

Socalmartialarts.com: You were winning the whole time?

CL: Yes. I?m aggressive, I try to take them down, and I knew I would go for my favorite move.

Socalmartialarts.com: What?s your favorite move?

CL: Foot lock from stand up.

Socalmartialarts.com: You?ll have to show me that sometime. What was your preparation for the world?s like?

CL: A lot of training two times a day, running, lifting, and eating right.

Socalmartialarts.com: What was going through your mind when you beat Hermes.

CL: First thing that came to my mind was I just beat a big name. I?m already a big name, and everyone respects me in a tournament. Cleber against Hermes was a big match and everyone was really excited to see it. In my mind, I was the favorite, you know, I?m the favorite, I?m the favorite. After the fight I proved that I was the favorite.

Socalmartialarts.com: What would you say the secret to your success is?

CL: A lot of work. Work and dedication together, work, dedication, and discipline together.

Socalmartialarts.com: What other martial arts have you studied?

CL: I like Judo, remember the fight starts stand up, you know? If you have good stand up, Judo, and wrestling you are very comfortable on your feet and you don?t have to pull guard. You can play stand up. You have options, you don?t have to go to the ground. It gives you a good combination.

Socalmartialarts.com: If you had to name the three most important things that everyone must know to be successful at BJJ what would they be?

CL: I believe you must have stamina, you must train hard, and must be mentally prepared.

Socalmartialarts.com: Mentally prepared? Talk about that more.

CL: It?s something that means you can only help yourself. A lot of good guys have good preparation, they train every day, and when they go to the tournament they zone out. They train hard and they are good, but when they go to the tournament they are a white belt again.

Socalmartialarts.com: You?re saying they freeze up?

CL: Yeah, you never know. Some guys go to the tournaments and they don?t care, it doesn?t bother them. You think they are going to lose and they win the whole thing. Other guys, they have good technique, but when they start the tournament they lose because they are weak in the brain, they get scared, they are nervous, and too much adrenaline. You have to keep doing tournaments and get prepared.

Socalmartialarts.com: So you have the nick name ?Mighty Mouse?, how did you get that?

CL: Because I when I fight I jump all over the place, sweep, pass. You know, so much speed and jumping. Some guy saw me and called me ?Mighty Mouse?.

Socalmartialarts.com: You we?re named OTM instructor of the year in 2007, what?s next for you.

CL: Pretty much I?m going to keep doing the same job. I think I have the best kids program in Southern California. Now I want to start something new, focus more on MMA fights.

Socalmartialarts.com: What?s next for you?

CL: I want to fight some super-fights. Maybe go to Vegas, do some MMA, I don?t know. We?ll see what happens.

Socalmartialarts.com: Anything else you want to add?

CL: Only that I?m going to keep training hard and keep the best school around.

Socalmartialarts.com: Thank you for your time Cleber, best of luck in the future.

CL: Thank you too.

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