BJJ Fanatics 673: Alberto Crane

Speaker 1: Welcome back to the BJJ Fanatics podcast. I'm your host Ryan Ford. My guest today is a 6th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He's also a world Nogi champion. He's the first American to become a black belt under the Gracie Baja banner. He's a world's bronze medalist and a brown belt Pan Am silver and bronze medalist. He was also a brown belt and purple belt Brazilian national bronze medalist. He's one of the very first Americans to move to Brazil and earn his black belt there. He's also a former professional MMA fighter and a veteran of the UFC, and he was also a King of the Cage lightweight champion. He now owns his own academy, Legacy Jiu-Jitsu, which has four locations in Southern California. He also hosts his own successful podcast, the Alberto Crane Show. Ladies and gentlemen, it's my pleasure to be joined today for the second time on the show by Alberto Crane. How are you today, Alberto? Speaker 2: Doing great. Thank you, Ryan. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. Speaker 1: Of course, it's great to have you back. You know, Alberto, I just mentioned this is your second time, but it's been a long time since you've been on the show, man. You were episode 238 back when it was called the Grappling Central podcast. And uh, and now we're on episode 673. So I appreciate you. Sorry we waited so long to have you on for a second time, but it is an honor to always always an honor to have you back and talk with you. So thanks for taking the time. Speaker 2: Thank you, brother. Yeah, glad to be here. Speaker 1: So, Alberto, because it's been so long, uh, I figure I'm just going to ask you the same uh, the same introduction question I ask all my guests, which is basically tell us about where you're from originally and what life was like before you found Jiu-Jitsu. Speaker 2: Uh, originally from New Mexico, but when I was a kid, I lived I grew up in Germany. So I lived there about seven years. I went to high school in New York City. And uh, and then after high school, I went to Brazil. I got into Jiu-Jitsu. So, I mean, before that I was a kid and uh, you know, when I came turned 18, uh, that's pretty much the life I've known since then. So it's, you know, before life before I was I was still in high school, right? Uh, so it's my my pretty much my entire adult life of doing doing this thing. Speaker 1: That's great, man. Did you do other martial arts before Jiu-Jitsu? Were you on the wrestling team, anything like that? Speaker 2: You know, I wrestled when I was a little kid, when I was uh, maybe third grade, but that's about it. And then I I messed around with like some kickboxing when I was in high school. I had some friends that did that, but uh, it wasn't until I got into Jiu-Jitsu that I really I went like all in, basically, you know? No pun intended on my uh, on my uh, on my book, all in. Speaker 1: Tell me about how you started Jiu-Jitsu. What what what was the introduction? Where did you first see it? How how was you do you remember your first class? Tell us about, yeah. Speaker 2: Right, right. So I uh, so I was working at this restaurant right after high school and Amal Easton, who's a Hanza Gracie black belt. He has a bunch of locations in Colorado. He's kind of like a big brother to me. So we had a few people that were doing Jiu-Jitsu from that restaurant and they convinced me to do a class after about six months. And so I did my first class. My friend who was much smaller than me arm barred me like 10 times. I couldn't believe it. And I was like, wow, this is amazing. And it was before the I saw anything UFC or anything like that on TV. Uh, so I started training and I just remember how it made me feel. It made me feel like amazing, right? Like it made me give me peace of mind. Just I loved it. I loved it. I I I loved the techniques. I loved the training. And it was something I I just rearranged my whole schedule around so I could do it, you know, right in that at the beginning it was only once a week and then it was twice a week. Speaker 1: Now, as we mentioned, you you were one of the early Americans that uh, made their way to Brazil, uh, to to train and learn. You ended up earning earning your black belt in Brazil. How did that all come together and what do you remember most about those early days of uh, training and living in Brazil? Speaker 2: Yeah, so Amal Easton, right? He was like a like a big brother to me. He went down to Brazil first. He's like like six, seven years older than me. And I was 18 and uh, he came back from Brazil. He started training in his garage and he showed me all these pictures and teach me all these techniques. And I was like, wow, I want to I want to go there too. And he was living in in Baja and Rio de Janeiro and and I made my way down. I uh, saved up some money and went down there and you know, went to the Baja the Gracie Baja there. Saw all these like amazing black belts. It was the who's who in black belts at that time, right? In the 90s was the golden era, right? Of uh, of uh, kinda Jiu-Jitsu in in Brazil, right? With all these guys, these legends. Got, you know, the the the juice shops, the BB Sukos, the the guys playing playing on the beach, you know, going on the beach, Prepper's Beach. And just all these these these like mind-blowing experiences, right? It was like the beginning of uh, crazy adventure of of this Jiu-Jitsu journey. Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. Well, it's interesting. You're talking about a time of Gracie Baja when a lot of the people that modern practitioners would recognize as very separated teams at one point were all together under kind of one roof. There was there was a lot of people there that uh, that uh, went on to create their own affiliations and build their own teams and just expanded from there. But yeah, during the 90s in Baja in Baja de Juca, that was a very special place to be because it's kind of where it's kind of where everyone a lot of the faces that we know today started. In fact, that's how you met Draculino, who eventually would go on to give you your black belt. Tell me about that. Tell me how did you how did you initially click with Draculino and Speaker 2: So I went I went to yeah, I went to Rio, went to train at Gracie Baja and he I think he came to visit one time and I I talked to him. And then one of his students, Kaseka Muniz at the time, uh, came and moved to Rio and he lived on the same island that I lived in. Lived on this uh, one of the islands in the lagoon that's inside of Baja de Juca. And so we became friends and then he took me to Belo Horizonte when Draculino was just starting his school. And I met Draculino, all his students were just whites and a couple of blue belts. And uh, I was like, and I really enjoyed how how he taught, how he was. And I really loved the community, the people that were in the class. I just loved the, you know, the the the Mineros, right? The the Mineros, right? They they're very like hospitable. And they made me feel a part of their team. Like I felt like a home, right? Uh, in Rio was like the who's who. I was just another gringo going to to train and learn the techniques, right? But uh, but uh, I felt like a part of the team. Like really part of the team. Uh, part of the family, you know? Speaker 1: That's cool. Another thing about Minas is they might have some of the best food in Brazil. They may they may hold the title, man. That's Minero food is really something else. It's like a country kind of um, like farm food. It's like a big farming farming states. It's just very country kind of soul food, you know, it's really, really good. Yeah. Speaker 2: Casual Minas, right? The the Minas Minas Minas cheese, right? So Speaker 1: The cheese, exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So so tell me about what what did it feel like being an American early in those days? Like nowadays I think a lot of it's very common to see Americans and people from Europe and other places around the world coming to Brazil to train and take vacations and stuff. But in the 90s it seemed like that was uh, a little more rare. Like it was a little a little more of a special thing. What um, what do you remember about those days uh, early on training in Brazil as as a foreigner? Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I think from the, you know, a lot of people they'd say how like if you're a foreigner, like, you know, they would treat you bad, but I always got treated really well and I felt definitely like uh, you know, I I got treated but in Rio de Janeiro I felt like I was I was definitely a foreigner, you know, like I was going there to learn and get techniques, you know, from the guys, but I definitely felt like part of the part of the team. Like I was never tried to like treated bad. Um, but then but then going to Belo Horizonte and just connecting with the guys there, like I really felt part of the team. I was, you know, and I ended up being, you know, being one of their their Draculino's first black belts in Belo Horizonte and or part of his first group of black belts. Um, and uh, and uh, I'm very proud, you know, and they ended up being like one of the top teams in the world, right? For just one gym compared to like, you know, of course Alliance and, you know, Gracie Baja and, you know, all those they have a lot of like affiliates, a lot of schools and they join up a team to, you know, compete at the worlds and all these different things. But Draculino just in one school had like all these world champions. So it was ended up being a really great choice. Speaker 1: You know, something interesting about Draculino and and all his students. He has a lot of students that have a very diverse game. Uh, he's not someone that seems to have produced a bunch of mini-mes that have his exact game. Would you say that your game reflects closer to Draculino's or is it something that's more uniquely your own? Speaker 2: You know, the thing with Draculino is he even though maybe he didn't do those those that that was his game, he taught everything, right? And then uh, I think that's the beginning of when I started to do like cross guard, Omoplata and really specialized in that. And uh, and so I think I have I have of course I've I've I've picked up some things from him, but like I definitely developed my own style. I did I started to do like deep half and like nobody ever taught me deep half. It was just something I picked up, but I think it was just because he was so uh, diverse in all the way he taught. He taught like everything even though he didn't do it. But I was, you know, the did the cross guard. He remember him showing it, teaching it and then I really developed it. Then I saw like Leo Vieira and I started to uh, well, who else was it that I saw? Leo Vieira was the first guy to for that I saw. It was like at a Brazil against uh, what's his name? Paulo Guillobel, right? And he was in a he was in closed guard and he developed he had this cross guard position and he did it differently. Holeta also did cross guard, but he did it like a different style because he was so long and lanky. So it really kind of clicked for me uh, seeing Leo Vieira and then but I I picked it up because Draculino taught it in a class. So anyway, like to go on a tangent on that, but yeah, I think uh, I think uh, definitely have some things from Draculino, but I definitely have developed my own style as well. Speaker 1: That's great, man. As I said in your intro, you've had a ton of experience competing. You've competed both in the US and in Brazil. Um, tell me about what what do you think has been some of the biggest changes you've seen in the competition days of of of your competition days compared to the tournaments and things that you see your students doing in modern times. What do you what do you think has been the biggest change in the sport that you've seen over those years? Speaker 2: The biggest change, right? The beginning, right? Like uh, you know, the beginning, beginning of like the worlds and stuff, like the weigh-ins were at uh, Carlos Gracie Jr.'s house, garage. Master Carlos Gracie Jr.'s garage. And so you would go there, you'd weigh in in his garage and then you would look at the bracket that was posted on his wall of his house. And so it's come from that, then they we ended up having the weigh-ins, you know, uh, you know, of course, you know, the it was the day before weigh-ins, right? As well. So that was that's one of the the changes. And it's just gotten better and better. And even the tournaments, like the Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, I mean, you show up in the morning, you didn't know when you were going to go. You'd be waiting around all day long. Now, you pretty much know what time you're going to go, you know, everything's like just super polished, right? And I think because my my daughter wrestles and stuff too. So, uh, it's a little more it's a little more not as organized. I say organized, but it's just so polished, right? You know exactly what time. You can tell your friends, you can tell family to go at that time. And it's nice for the lifestyle, right? Because, you know, you can't you're not waiting around all day long. Um, but uh, I I do like I think it makes you a little bit tougher, right? It makes you uh, makes you like, you know, more resilient to have like these like tougher experiences of waiting around all day because you're you're your anxiety, you have day day before weigh-ins, right? That that's at least one thing you don't have to think about, but then you just wait around all day long. I remember there was uh, in Florida, uh, they started to move the Pan Ams to Florida. And the first one was in Miami. And I don't know what happened. I think it was in 1999. They had usually back in the day it was like two days, right? And then now how many Pan Ams is like five or I don't even know how many days it is now. But uh, something happened where they ended up doing it in one day. And uh, I think something they they lost, I don't know what would have happened, but they had to do it in one day. So we ended up competing like three, I think it ended at like five 5:00 in the morning. So we got there in the morning. I remember Horley Gracie was competing in the morning. And then we waited around all day long. We didn't know when we were going to go. And uh, then 12 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00. And I think it was the breakout year for for Fernando Fernando Margarita, you know? So, uh, uh, maybe he was all those all those parting days paid off, you know, like staying up all night, you know? Speaker 1: Got you. It was it was it was preparing you it was preparing you for late night competition. You just didn't know it. Yeah. Speaker 2: Yeah, of course. Technique and his, you know, his his athleticism, right? Was was big part of that, but it was it was it was uh, it was a different time. So I think it's just more polished, more say civilized, but more more organized now. So that that that's really good for sure. For more people to practice, right? Speaker 1: Sure. Yeah, yeah. And we hear people complain there's a lot of complaints that people have about really any any any rule set or any tournament that exists in Jiu-Jitsu. People will have a complaint about it. I think there's there's sometimes IBJJF catches flack from from certain uh, from certain parts of the community. But one thing you can't take away from them. They have they have absolutely nailed down the scheduling and the organization. I mean, it is just it's like a clock. It's unbelievable. So, and I I I remember I remember too even like when I started, I started training in 2006 or late 2005. And even back then it was like, man, it's it's exactly what you said. You'd say say, okay, tournament starts at, you know, 9:00 a.m. Show up weigh in. It's it might not be till like 7:00 p.m. You're just sitting around and it's just people running around with brackets and arguing and like it's just complete pandemonium. Uh, so yeah, you really do have to give credit to to the incredible organization that uh, that IBJJF brings to the table. Um, what would you say is was your most proud competition moment? Did you have a particular uh, event or or championship or just experience that means the most to you? Speaker 2: Man, to be honest, it was the losses. I lost for about three years the beginning of my like career when I started competing. And uh, and I kept going and, you know, when you put everything into something, like when you lose, it was it was devastating, right? I'd have to yeah, sleeping in airports. I didn't have a lot of money, but I kept showing up. I kept, you know, trying and traveling in the US and then also even in Brazil. And so after about two and a half years, I think it was like 13 tournaments. I finally won one. And when I finally won one, you know, I ended up medaling at the at the blue belt, you know, and I was, you know, Teday was still like they were he was Teday and like this guy's Gilberto, they were I was I remember watching the year before. And so, man, I wouldn't I wouldn't have known I was like one of the the the top guys, you know. Um, and I stayed there all the way till the till the black belt, right? Um, so just that that that piece of not giving up when I, you know, I was like, man, like should I keep going, right? And I wouldn't have known that I, you know, I was I was the top, you know, uh, of of the division if I would have stopped. So anyway, just just that I'm very proud of that moment because it's really served me well in life. Uh, in in business and just just everything, in family, everything. To not give up, you know, to just follow through, keep showing up no matter what, even when it, you know, you're down and, you know, you don't feel good and just showing up no matter what and it's really it's really helped me in my life. It's give me a lot of confidence and everything that I've done. Speaker 1: That's great. Well, you know, that kind of leads us to to something else which has been uh, uh, probably the biggest struggle, the biggest battle you've faced in your life. And I'd love to talk about this with you if you don't mind. I think it was in 2012. You were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Uh, obviously life-changing uh, situation. Uh, talk to us about that. Tell us tell us about what was you know, what was going through your mind when you found out that you were that you had that and uh, what's it been like adapting to it since then? Speaker 2: Yeah, so 2012, then 2007 I made my UFC debut and uh, they every California and Nevada they make you do a brain MRI to to fight to get your fight to get your uh, fight license, right? Um, and then 2012 it was it was time to do it again. And uh, they found these lesions. They found something in 2007, but they let me fight. And then 2012, uh, they found more lesions and they're like, hey, we need to do some more testing. And then they did more testing. They they what they didn't let me fight one and then they're like, we need to do more testing and then they and they ended up diagnosing me with uh, multiple sclerosis. And uh, you know, you don't you kind of don't know what to expect and uh, you know, it was it was definitely like a shock. I'm like, what, you know, what does that even mean? And then you start to do research and you start to see like, you know, people in wheelchairs and losing the ability for all kinds of things. And I remember them treating me like my life was over a bit, you know? And um, yeah, it was definitely, you know, surreal. Uh, and they gave me basically a stack of drug catalogs and asked me which ones I wanted to take. And uh, I was like, okay. And that was pretty much like the solution really like, you know, I didn't know what to expect, you know, so I started to do some research research and, you know, like the drugs, like the the the catalogs it says it may or may not help, right? But there's definitely going to be side effects, right? And so I started to kind of just find try to look for solutions, right? And one of them was this lady named uh, Dr. Walls. She uh, she has the Walls protocol. It's kind of like paleo style of eating. And the good with good thing with with with uh, with these things that you do for like to treat or to to, you know, to do be okay with the the the the MS is like anybody can do it and feel better and do better, you know? I think it's uh, definitely like a lifestyle change. Like we don't move enough. We don't eat processed foods, right? So eating natural whole foods, uh, definitely like a paleo style diet. And so I just started to shift my my my lifestyle instead of being, you know, things stress me out. I didn't get so stressed. Uh, even though I I did a world tour of Jiu-Jitsu after that. Uh, but it was home for me like competing because that that's what it's something I've done my whole life. But uh, yeah, it was surreal, but I asked the doctor at the time, can I still do Jiu-Jitsu? I compete in Jiu-Jitsu and he's like, yes. And so I was okay with I was okay with that, you know, because I could still have uh, an outlet. I could still do what I love to do. I couldn't fight MMA, but I could still do Jiu-Jitsu and compete in Jiu-Jitsu. And so that's what I did. I signed up for a tournament like the next month. Went on a world tour. And uh, fast forward, maybe a few two, three years later, like I went all over the world. They really like went to the Amazon, Manaus. I went to Abu Dhabi. I went all over Europe, Asia. And uh, I don't know what I was searching for, but that's what I knew. And I was like, if I'm going to not be able to do this in six months, I'm going to go out on my shield. And so that's what I did. And my last stop was actually in Spain. Uh, that Nogi Worlds, uh, you know, uh, a couple weeks later, I went to Europe. My one of my friends lived in uh, the south of Spain, Marbella. And he invited me to go. He was doing a seminar. So I ended up going out there, but there was a couple tournaments. So I was like, I hit them up one in uh, like Northern Europe and then in Spain, Madrid at the end. And uh, I was with him and I got I started to feel sick and I I didn't feel good and I got food poisoning. Uh, I didn't realize it at the time, but I just, you know, just okay, maybe I'm just too many weeks of being stressed out week after week and doing all these tournaments. And so I did my first match at the tournament in Madrid, Madrid Open. It was like a IBJJF like Madrid Open. And then for my first opponent, like I did my sweep and then he I don't know what happened, but he dropped his weight on my stomach. And I was like, oh man, I'm going to throw up. I survived. I got through to the end of the match, you know, without throwing up. And as soon as I got off the mat, I threw up. And then I realized, okay, that's why I was feeling like nauseous and not good because I had food poisoning. And uh, just feeling terrible. It just feels like you have the flu, right? And he asked me what, you know, are you going to do the open weight? And I'm like, uh, man, I don't know. Like I want to go home and, you know, go go to the hotel, right? And I was like, well, should I I can go home where I can feel I can feel sorry for myself there or or or here. I might as well just see if I feel better in a few hours. And uh, so I stayed. I decided to stay. I signed up for the open weight because I qualified because it was like the, you know, the two couple guys was like a master division, right? And uh, and I started to say to myself because I couldn't drink, I couldn't eat. I felt like crap. I felt weak, right? And uh, I started to say to myself, I believe in my technique. And I started to make me feel good. So I kept saying it like a little mantra. And that that was my fuel, you know? And uh, I went out, won my first match, second match, third match, and then even later in the day I did Nogi and still no food or or or or water, right? But uh, I had this my thoughts as fuel. And after that day, I was like, wow, like the power of the mind, right? And uh, after that, I was like, man, I can win. I can beat this like whole MS thing. I I can win. I just need to know how, you know, how how how that would happen. But I I believe that I could I could win. So, you know, the whole mind over matter being a martial artist, right? I think it's definitely helped me kind of have that winning mindset, right? Not not accepting defeat and finding a way, finding a solution. And uh, out of all the things, right? Competing kind of helped me believe, right? That I can win. Speaker 1: That's outstanding. Yeah, that that was actually going to be my follow-up question. It was like, what lessons from the mat do you think have most been most applicable to to to to fighting MS? But you answered it perfectly. It seems like having I mean, Jiu-Jitsu in general teaches you so many great um, great uh, uh, skills in in problem-solving and overcoming hardships and things like that. Competition takes that to another level. So, I imagine you years of competing. Speaker 2: Yeah, I wanted to I wanted to just to kind of because you you introduced me, right? And the bronze medalist at black belt. You know, I actually closed the bracket at black belt. You know, um, when I when I got my got the bronze, right? I got that unofficially on the scoreboard, but with Marcio Feitosa, um, and I actually beat the Danny Morais who ended up winning like the next two years, the follow-up years, you know? So I don't know. Back in those days, like, you know, guys, they closed the brackets, right? Um, and and I don't know. It is what it is, you know, it's like I got that that placing, you know, but uh, I just want to for the for the for the record. I guess I did my part. I represented the team, you know? And uh, you know, uh, I don't know why I'm telling you that, but uh, just want to make sure make sure make sure I guess you know. Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, no, for sure, for sure. No, I appreciate you sharing that. Um, let me ask you this, what what do you think in what ways does MS present itself the most in your day-to-day life? Like because like you said, when you look at the spectrum of what can happen with MS, you see people in wheelchairs, you see people that, you know, may need assistance walking uh, on their feet. How does it present itself in your day-to-day life if you don't mind me asking? Speaker 2: It's different, right? It's different. Sometimes I had difficulty like speaking, formulating my words, articulating my words. Uh, some walking things too. Um, um, just yeah, like I I never went blind, but uh, there's like some weird stuff that happens. Um, but like, again, it goes back to like the martial art like mindset, right? Finding find a solution, find a way. Like I don't really accept it ever that I'm even if I'm not good, even if I'm not I have difficulty walking, like I'm good. I'll just figure it out. Like, you know, holding my breath, connecting my breath with my steps, little things to get around, right? To navigate, you know? Because if you panic, right? If you're the guy's on top of you in side control and holding you down and you panic, that's it, right? You're going to you're going to give up, right? You're going to tap out. So you stay calm, find a solution. And so I guess that's that's that's the mindset I have with it. But those are the things that happen like, you know, walking, talking, articulating. Um, I think like back in the day because I do Tacfit, it's helped me a lot. You know, I remember like I had a lot of pain. I had a lot of uh, just kind of disconnection. I'd have a lot of fatigue. I'd want to be in bed, you know? Um, and so those are the things I used to have, but I I'm I'm doing great because of like the Tacfit, the training. Applied neuroscience, right? Connecting my breath with the movement, understanding the instruction of the body kind of helps you get reconnected. Lays down the myelin, the gets your body really, really connected internally. Speaker 1: That's outstanding. I'm I'm really happy to hear that. So it sounds like it sounds like there hasn't had to be any real like altering of your Jiu-Jitsu in order to continue training and teaching. It sounds like it sounds like you've been able to it sounds like you haven't lost very much, which is great. Speaker 2: I mean, I've been able to manage and I guess one of the things is is is it's been a been a blessing in disguise because I used to get, you know, maybe more stressed about things and now I just I can't I can't be stressed, you know, because stress really like messes me up, right? It really messes me up. And so I just let it go. Whatever it is, I just let it go. And it's allowed me to I think live a better life. And, you know, of course, I still do a lot of things. I'm very busy, but everything I do, I'm very I love a lot and it's not really work, you know, even though I I like for Jiu-Jitsu, like I I can do all this like I can, you know, I can talk to you about Jiu-Jitsu. I can talk about, you know, I love I love what I do. And uh, and uh, because of that, I'm able to to do it. And if something stresses me out, I just I just it's all good, you know, it's like I just cut it out. I don't I don't, you know, uh, hold it in, right? I I just move on. Speaker 1: That's good. Speaker 2: Like we had a little uh, thing with the not that it was stressful for for for more stressful for you, like the our audio issue at the beginning of this podcast, you know? Speaker 1: Oh, man. Yeah, yeah. Honestly, Alberto needs some kind of award for his patience. We were we were trying to get the our audio synced up on this uh, on this platform we're using here and it was a nightmare. And I appreciate your patience. But yeah, yeah, exactly. Staying calm under pressure. It's something that we both uh, we got two two two black belt podcasters here and both of us are struggling our ass off to get this thing to work. Speaker 2: We're we're pumping each other up there, right? We're like, ah, it's fine. We both didn't give up. Speaker 1: Um, Alberto, man, what what would you say like outside of outside of uh, Jiu-Jitsu lessons? What do you think is the biggest life lesson you have gotten from your diagnosis with MS that that's kind of applied to the rest of your life, would you say? Speaker 2: That's a good question. I guess one quote would be like less is more. Less is more. Uh, I was chasing something and and it's not so much like, you know, because I remember in my book, right? There's like a my wife, you know, there's I was always chasing something, trying to be trying to win this, trying to win that. And I was like, oh, you're going to be happy then when you win this, when you do that, right? You know, and so, uh, you know, one of the things that that, you know, I realized, right? Is is happiness is a choice. And so I can be happy. I can be content. I can be chasing things, right? But uh, but it it's a choice. And so I think through all this stuff is uh, just just choices, making positive choices. Uh, there's uh, there's a you know, you heard that the word amen, right? And it means like let it be, right? Just letting things be. Um, you know, our podcast audio thing. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. If it's not, you know, it's it's all good, right? Um, but just staying positive, choosing to stay positive. Uh, there's uh, Albert Einstein quote that I really like a lot. And the universe, like the biggest choice that you're going to make in life is whether the universe is with you or against you. And I definitely choose that it's with with me. That it's with us, you know, with with humanity. And so I definitely think the positive way. No matter what, no matter what happens and I think that's a big lesson to to to take. Speaker 1: Alberto, you've referenced your book a couple times. Very exciting. It's actually dropping today. Uh, it's called All In. Uh, what what inspired you? Obviously you have a tremendous life story, but what made you want to finally sit down and and put it on to uh, put it into a book form? Speaker 2: You know, my uh, one of my black belts, his mother did a blog on me. And uh, you a couple years went past after that. She's like, I I can't stop thinking about writing a book on your story. She was really inspired by it. And I was like, okay, cool. I guess, you know, it's not about me, right? Like, oh, how great I am. Like my wife, right? She says like, you know, you're I'm already too full of myself, right? So, so, you know, it's it's not about how great I am, right? But it's about if there's some lessons to be learned from it, like, man, okay, let's let's go, let's do it, you know? And I think definitely there's some story, there's some there's some lessons that are that are good that are take with take, you know, you can take away and then and use it, you know, I think I've done a lot of stuff. Gone around the world, it's Jiu-Jitsu and other things and, you know, made made uh, done some good things and definitely made some mistakes. And so there's a lot of ups and downs and I think there's a lot of lessons to be learned, you know, I think we have one of the biggest schools here now in in in SoCal and, you know, we've been able to help a lot of people over the years, like probably over 10,000 people, you know, with directly, you know, that uh, over the years. It's been 25 years of our gym, Legacy from the New Mexico days. So I'm very proud of that, you know, if that's one thing like, okay, winning medals, this and that, of course, like it's part of it, but but like I guess the legacy, right? The name of my gym is uh, is just the work, the the way we've been able to help and impact uh, people's lives from our little kids programs to like our older students, you know? Speaker 1: Alberto, where can people get the book if they want to if they want to purchase it today? Speaker 2: Pretty much all of the the book outlets, right? Uh, online. Speaker 1: Amazon. Speaker 2: Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, you know, uh, you know, bookstores. So, yeah, they'll be out there. Speaker 1: Outstanding. Well, you you sent me a preview of it and I really do appreciate it. It looks to be I mean, obviously your life story. I'm already aware of your life story to to a certain extent, but I can't wait to actually sit and read the book because uh, uh, what I what I know about your life already is very impressive. So I'm really looking forward to it. So guys, out if you're out there, go head over to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, wherever books are sold and uh, support Alberto. This is a really cool. It's going to be a really cool life story of someone that's really dedicated their life to Jiu-Jitsu. Speaker 2: Thank you. Speaker 1: Um, of course, man. Alberto, there's something new I do on the show that we weren't doing the last time you were on. This is actually a game I play with every guest. Uh, it's a it's a game called the Pumble. Uh, the Pumble is a series of random questions. Some of these are about Jiu-Jitsu, some of them have nothing to do with Jiu-Jitsu. But if you're down to play the Pumble, I'd love to play this with you. Speaker 2: Let's go. Let's do it. Speaker 1: All right, man. By the way, guys, this week the Pumble game is brought to you by BJJFanaticsgear.com, the best resource for BJJ gear online. The internet's full of cheaply made rash guards and tacky designs. BJJFanaticsgear.com offers the best materials available and refined designs for everybody. They've also got gis and shorts and shirts and anything else you may need. So check them out at BJJFanaticsgear.com. All right, man. Question one. What's the largest animal you think you could beat in hand-to-hand combat? Speaker 2: Ooh. That's that's that's tough, right? Speaker 1: Just just you and your Jiu-Jitsu. Just you and Jiu-Jitsu. No weapons, just yeah. Speaker 2: Largest animal, right? I'm definitely not doing a bear. I'm not doing no baby bear. Well, it's a baby bear, maybe, right? Um, um, I guess I just can't help because the dog a dog, right? You can outsmart a dog, right? But if they're half there, like I'm not doing I'm not doing a cat, like a any kind of a big cat. I'm definitely not doing like these predator animals, right? So, uh, so just on size, maybe like a dog, right? Because you can kind of outsmart them a little bit, right? Speaker 1: Yeah. Dog I think I think I think dog is realistic. Dogs are susceptible to guillotines and rear naked chokes. So I think that's uh, I think that I think that's reasonable. Yeah, I think that's reasonable. Um, what do you if you if you found a genie lamp, uh, and the normal genie rules apply. So no killing people, no wishing for more wishes. What three wishes would you choose? Speaker 2: So, three wishes. What would the say because you repeat that again? Speaker 1: Yeah, sorry, the normal normal genie rules apply. So you can't kill people and you can't wish for more wishes. But anything else is fair game. What three things would you ask for? Speaker 2: Drop me off, man. That's good. Um, I uh, I guess uh, I love what I do, right? I love what I do. Uh, um, I guess I would just amplify that and what would what would that mean? I guess uh, you know, I guess I would provide maybe schools or opportunities for people to do Jiu-Jitsu. Um, my my my daughter wrestles a lot and I see a lot of wrestling schools and people, coaches, amazing coaches like struggling. So I guess I would definitely fund I would definitely fund wrestling programs too. Speaker 1: That's great. That's awesome. Speaker 2: Uh, um, and uh, just I guess combat things. I really believe in it, you know, for for people to live their best life. And so I would I guess I would just keep doing what I'm doing, but I would just amplify it by being able to help more people like underprivileged kids. I would definitely set up nonprofits and fund those things, right? For kids to be able to train. I guess like Craig Jones is uh, kind of I guess kind of doing that, right? With some of those things like the guardian stuff. So I guess I would do that. I would definitely do do that and support uh, support uh, people training Jiu-Jitsu and and other combat things, you know? Speaker 1: That's actually I love that, man. Excellent. Uh, have you have you ever had a supernatural experience? Like if you've ever seen a ghost or an alien or a UFO or anything like that? Speaker 2: No, I've uh, I guess I've had some interesting dreams, right? That that have come come true later on. Um, just random random things, you know, I had a vision and it ended up coming coming true later on. Um, yeah. Um, I think for Jiu-Jitsu and and even with like the Tacfit things that I ended up doing with the club bells and so I ended up seeing seeing these things before. Speaker 1: How about uh, the worst job you've ever had in your life? Speaker 2: Oh, man. Right out of high school, I I did uh, I did uh, Jiu-Jitsu, you know, that's pretty much what I've done. So, uh, I had uh, I only had I worked in that fine dining restaurant. And before that, I worked in this like kind of uh, kind of a cafeteria place. And so I I mean, out of those two, I guess the cafeteria one was the was the worst one. You I was basically busting tables, cleaning up tables most of the day. But, bro, you know, I guess I'm just a happy guy because it's like it's not bad, you know, like I it was cool. It was fun except for the paycheck. The paycheck wasn't cool. So I Speaker 1: The paycheck, yeah. A little disappointing. Yeah, yeah. I used to I used to bust Speaker 2: I guess I have fun whatever I do, you know, so it's like it was still cool. If I would have gotten paid better, I would have I would have I would have been fine. It would have been fine. I would have figured it out, you know? Speaker 1: No, I hear you, man. I I once upon a time I bust tables too. So I remember I remember those I remember those disappointing checks as well, for sure. Uh, what what do you think is a a secret talent that you have that people might not be aware of? Speaker 2: Um, that they're not aware of or just like I mean, well, yeah, I'm not aware of. You know, when I was younger, I was I was really into I was a into art. Like growing up, I love I like to paint, to to do like even like kind of do things with my hands, you know, uh, sculpt a little bit, you know, but like just artistic things and uh, I really enjoy it and I haven't had the time, but I'm definitely going to build some do some courses and do some practicing of, you know, just learning like visual things, you know, visual like art things. Uh, I really enjoy it. I really love it. I love creating. I love doing those kinds of things. So I think like a visual kind of art field. I I see myself studying and getting better at it, you know, especially we have to do stuff with my hands, right? Like whether with watercolors or acrylic paints and things like that. So I think I could see myself doing it like on the computer and stuff with with with the technology things. Speaker 1: That's great. That's super cool. Yeah, there's all kinds of really neat um, and robust programs for graphic design like with tablets and iPads and stuff these days that Speaker 2: It's cool because there's levels, right? You you don't need to do a lot you can do you can do the things that that, you know, the AI things, right? But you still need like a human like a visual direction, right? Like a director of it. Speaker 1: Absolutely. Speaker 2: So so it's exciting. I I love these kind of things. Speaker 1: It is. I I think that's something the human soul needs too. Like having Jiu-Jitsu is obviously great. That's an out like I think Jiu-Jitsu for me is is the best physical outlet that I've found anywhere. And there is an artistic element to it as well because you create your own game, you create your own system. It's it's a problem-solving. It's a game. It's a sport. It's an activity. It's an exercise. It's a game. But there is something cool about having also like artistic expression outside of that too. Like you like painting. You mentioned painting and I picked up guitar recently. I'm really into trying to learn trying to learn guitar. I think having having things multiple things you're pursuing like that. One of them being physical and the other being more artistic is a really important thing just for your soul, you know? Speaker 2: It's it's it's interesting you say that, right? Because uh, like our neocortex, right? Our our our our conscious thoughts, right? It's uh, it's fed from the bottom up, right? And a lot of like these skill-building things that it has to go through. Like for example, like our smell, right? There's like a place called the olfactory bulb where the smell is in the brain, right? But to get through that, it's got to come up from the spine. And so I did I did I did a lot like neuroscience courses and stuff. And so I had some issues smelling. I don't know what happened if I had a bad sinus infection or broke my nose. I don't know what it was. But I had I couldn't smell. So they did like little tests with the like little lemon thing, you know, and I couldn't smell. And so I was like, okay, let's see. And so they had me do some tests that didn't work. And then they had me read. So I would read I would smell and then I would read and then read it out loud. And then so the the the olfactory bulb is like in the middle of the brain and it was and to get to the neocortex, which is like in the front, right? Up here, it has to go through that through it has to get fed from the bottom up. Does that make sense? From the bottom from the from the bottom of the skull, the brain, right? It has to grow up to get to the neocortex. So they I I turned on that part of the brain and it went through that the smelling part, right? And because I did that, once they got it, it was on. And it's funny. Yeah. And so I I it's funny because they did a test, right? Also like mobility, right? Your your body kind of gets tight too. So I did I couldn't when I couldn't smell, like I tried to bend over touch my toes and my lower back even hurt when I when I couldn't do it because your smell is important for survival, right? And then once I could smell my smell, once I could smell, I could touch my toes. It's funny how your brain works and how we work, right? We don't even know how it works. But uh, yeah, and so I used that also for during COVID, right? When people were uh, were uh, they they lost their smell. Yeah, and it worked. And once you got once I got it, I got it. I got it back. It's crazy how like the brain works. Speaker 1: It really is. It like you said, there's so much that even now in 2026, we don't understand about the human brain, you know? And when I say we, I mean like people at like the highest levels of of of Speaker 2: And like this old neuro neuro thing, right? Like like the I became friends with this uh, German sports scientist. He works a lot of like soccer players, like professional soccer players in Europe and German Olympic uh, like athletes in different sports. And uh, yeah, man, he's he's like that's why they they get these neuro coaches because it's like it's instant, right? He even went to the World Cup in Brazil, right? Back in the day. What year was it when they won? Germany when they beat that big blow out. Speaker 1: Oh, oh, yeah, when Germany beat that was like 2000 uh, 2012? Speaker 2: Something like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So he went down there. Yeah, when they won the World Cup and he was their neuro neuro coach. And so all these all these neuro things are like the instant, you know, and once you get it, you get it. Um, whereas, you know, like a lot of like other things it's a lot longer, you know, maybe it doesn't even stick. But once it sticks once, right? You you got it, you know, so but it's understanding the brain and how it works. And so I was it's kind of cool that smell thing, right? And you went we went through the bottom to get to the and we used, you know, if you understand the brain how to do those things. Anyway, it's been a passionate on these last 10 years and the Tacfit stuff. The Tacfit is like applied neuroscience. So it's like it's uh, that's why because I had to figure out why like things started to come back online for me when I when I, you know, I had some issues, right? I was telling you like walking and some other stuff too. And I started things started to come back online for me. I started to work better in my body. And I was like, why why did that happen? And so I became like obsessed with like applied neuroscience and the body how it works. And I did all these courses and yeah. Speaker 1: That's fascinating. That's so cool. That's so and that's and it's funny because that's another thing like we talk about how, you know, overcoming hardships or like dealing with injuries and things like that. It forces you to explore other avenues in your game. If it wasn't for the MS diagnosis, that might have been something you might have never gotten interested in, you know what I mean? Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, for example, like, you know, I think you're people like, oh, my shoulder hurts. Like I had a doctor say, you have to get shoulder surgery. And I'm like, I used to just be like, oh, sorry to hear that, you know. Get now because of the things that I've been studying and learning with through Tacfit and all the courses that I've been doing. It's like, oh, let me see. And like I I have them stretch out their their lat or their like do like a stretch. Let me see. Oh, it looks like your lat's really tight. You know, from all the gripping over the years, right? Your your body adapts to what you do, right? And then some things get tighter and stronger and then you lose mobility in other places and then you start to get pain. Your your brain is telling you giving you signals like, hey, you got to change it up, right? And so I was like, let me see. And then I'm like, because of the understanding I have like stretch out your lats every day this week, do this this stretch, you know? And then he's like, oh, my shoulder doesn't hurt anymore. You know? And that's just one thing, but he's like, you never got shoulder surgery, right? And so how powerful is that because I can I can help people. My students can stay on the mat. And not just that, but it helps it's helping me understand and become a better teacher because I understand body mechanics better. What is, you know, why do you why do you why do you have your elbows in? When you're on bottom, you're always trying to open up the guy's elbows, right? Because it's weak. Why? Because when your elbows are in, right? You're connected to your lats and you're connected to your whole body. Like you your power kind of position, right? Same thing in boxing, same thing in Muay Thai, right? And uh, yeah, so it's just it's allowed me to understand Jiu-Jitsu at a deeper level, I guess, you know? Uh, it's been really cool, you know? Speaker 1: That is cool. Do you have a favorite book that you've uh, that you've read on that on this topic? So I'd like to I'd like to explore a little bit about that. Speaker 2: Uh, how the brain changes itself. Um, the the talent code. Speaker 1: That's one of my favorite books. Yeah, I love the talent code. When you mentioned myelin earlier, I was like, yeah. Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly, exactly. Right? Because when you have MS, right? Your immune system attacks your myelin sheath, right? And so it's cool because that book is basically on myelinization. Though I don't know I think there's uh, one on like body maps, like body maps, like how you, you know, your your hands have so much um, square footage in your brain, right? Because they're important for survival, right? And so different parts of your body, like your leg has the same amount of square footage in your brain as as as like one of your fingers, right? Isn't that crazy? And so like different parts of your body are more important according to your brain, right? For survival. And then the other one is like on on uh, neuroplasticity, like learning, right? Um, I think that's one that how the brain changes itself. Another one I forgot the the the I forgot the name what it's called that the the the brain map, right? Where I had the that part of the of the the brain. I'll I'll look it up and I'll send it to you. But those three books are are great, you know, the talent code is a good one, right? And then the neuroplasticity book, I think how the brain changes itself. Uh, and then the second one is that just the importance of different parts of your body, right? And you know, if one thing like your smell is off, for example, right? Your my my lower back is hurting, right? And just how everything's interconnected with each other. Like, you know, we have these cranial nerves, right? In our in our, you know, in our skull, right? And one like one small thing, it's it's a system-wide effect, right? Of of of of your your body's response. Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely. Well, man, I I appreciate these recommendations. I'm going to I'm going to look some of these up today for sure. And then when you remember the name of the other one, please text me. I will. Yeah, I'd like to know for sure. Yeah. Uh, next question on the Pumble game. What's your favorite bad food to eat? Favorite junk food? Speaker 2: Ooh. Oh, man. Man, I'm I'm loving burgers. Not that it's bad, you know, depends on the I you know, I'm I'm so like I'm so um, what do you call it? Uh, kind of dialed in that I guess it's just like I even try to eat good like healthy burgers because it just you feel better, right? You feel better. Um, I guess pizza or burgers. I like ice cream. I like ice cream. Yeah, I like ice cream. The good good quality ice cream, right? It tastes better too, right? It tastes better. So, uh, Speaker 1: Describe your perfect burger. Cause I'm a I'm a I'm like a burger aficionado. I love I'm like kind of a burger snob. I love burgers. So do you prefer smash or do you prefer like a thicker like a TGI Fridays burger? Speaker 2: Uh, I like uh, I like I like a good a good meat, you know, a good meat. Speaker 1: It's good thick. Yeah. Speaker 2: A good thick, yeah, good thick. Speaker 1: Okay, good. Speaker 2: Uh, I like I like to be hungry and have a like a really solid burger, right? I don't like bacon. I don't like those I don't like bacon, but I like I like a nice solid burger and just pretty simple, but if the like in and out is good, right? It can be good, you know, it has like a good sauces and stuff, but overall like kind of basic. I like a basic burger and just the meat have the meat be be the the prize of the of the of the meal, you know? Speaker 1: That's great. Dude, if you if you find yourself in Sao Paulo again, let me know. I will show you the I will show you the best burger I've ever had in my life. Speaker 2: All right, deal. Speaker 1: Yeah, it's not it's right here in my neighborhood. I've never had a better burger anywhere else. It's dude, this burger is unbelievably good. It's a little tiny hole in the wall place and they are they they are killing it. So let me know if you're here. What's what's your what's your most hated food? What's something you cannot eat no matter what? Speaker 2: Oh, man. What don't I like? I don't like liver. Speaker 1: Oh, yeah, liver. Yeah, yeah, it's kind of a that's kind of a specialty like an acquired taste for sure. Speaker 2: I don't like the smell. I don't I don't like the taste. My wife is always trying to cook it and my kids eat it, you know, but I'm like, nah, I'm good. Speaker 1: Yeah, no, it's good for you, but it's one of those things where it's like, man, you got to put some crazy amount of uh, seasoning on it for me to even be able to sit in the same room with it. I hear you. Um, who do you think is what do you think is your biggest phobia? Speaker 2: Phobia. Um, I don't know, man. Like I try to I try to I try to run towards the bullets, you know, if I'm scared of something, you know? So, uh, um, it's hard to say because I if I like I'm scared of this, I do it and then I'm not scared of it anymore, you know? I think like that kind of the martial art mindset, right? Speaker 1: That's great. So no chronic phobia then. Nothing nothing that really is like a recurring thing that freaks like you're not afraid of like snakes or spiders or heights or Speaker 2: You know, you know, there was a there was a what was it the selection? Uh, it's like on the Amazon. It was like a TV show. Speaker 1: Okay. Speaker 2: And uh, it was like kind of like an Navy SEAL kind of going through different things, like in the water, drown proofing, like these different tests, you know? And there was this one where they put these guys in a box and they drilled they drilled them in there. Like so like like I'm not claustrophobic like that, but like, bro, like in there and then they had like a baby crying like it's part of like one of the one of the military like trainings, you know, to kind of you're so uncomfortable and you can't panic, right? If you panic, that's it. But you're drilled into the thing. Right? You can't tell like you can get out. But you're like, imagine the panic and then they they're uncomfortable because you're hearing a baby cry. And all these things. So man, I guess that would be tough, right? To be I I I maybe I'll comfortable just seeing it, right? Because the guys come out of there, they're they're like they're crying and they're like traumatized, right? Speaker 1: Dude, it's funny one of the one of the things I just just in one of the one of the most recent episodes, we were talking about people that uh, cave dive and they like go into those like Oh, yeah, yeah. Speaker 2: Oh, yeah, yeah. Speaker 1: sections of caves where it's like literally like you're like scooting like a worm through a dude, I can't I can't even look at it. It makes me so Speaker 2: That's on my algorithm too right now. Like uh, yeah, yeah. Speaker 1: Yeah, dude. That's how they get you, man. You click it one time and now it's just like, oh, you like that? Here's some more. It's like, no, I don't. I don't like it. I was no, I didn't mean to. Yeah, resetting the algorithm is tough once you uh, once you indulge it, you know? Um, Alberto, final question for the Pumble game. Uh, if a zombie apocalypse breaks out right now in Southern California, what's the first thing you do? Speaker 2: You know, I already prepared for that because I I watched The Walking Dead. Speaker 1: Yeah. Speaker 2: So first thing I did is I got a gun. Speaker 1: Nice, nice. Speaker 2: You know. And so that that way it goes down. At least I can I can get some go somewhere else and maybe if I need more guns or whatever, you know? So, uh, definitely definitely a gun, you know? Speaker 1: Yeah. So load up and are you are you hunkering down? Are you grabbing your gun and hunkering down or are you getting out uh, and away from populations? Speaker 2: You know, man, in the during the pandemic time, right? It was kind of like a sketchy time because we don't know what was going to happen. There was like riots and all these different things and I feel pretty confident in my Jiu-Jitsu community. And when it was going down because people were like, they're freaking they don't know what to do, right? And so we kind of we kind of like kept connected. And so I feel pretty good connecting keeping our community like the Jiu-Jitsu gym would be like the the the place, right? We we we we meet up, you know, so maybe the gym would be the place. The the set up here too is pretty good. It's like a little castle a little bit. We have like upstairs and like a surrounding thing. So I think it would be a good spot to hunker down, you know? Speaker 1: The COVID thing was kind of a um, an interesting preview into how quickly society can go from civilized to like not. I remember Speaker 2: Was it was it what was his name with the bat in the in the Walking Dead? Speaker 1: Oh, oh, yeah, that I I didn't watch that far into the seasons, but I think his name was it starts with a N. Uh, Neelan, Neelan, Nilan. Uh, ah, God, I I don't I don't remember his name. But the bat with the nails in it. You're talking about. Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I know all the, you know, watching that show, guys that that are able to have a like a a team or like a, you know, like a little little like big group. A squad, yeah, like a big group, right? They're the ones who survive, right? So I think that'd be my play. You know, I wouldn't hunker down by myself and my not, no, no. We're going to we're going to get like we're going to get like 100 people together. We're going to we're going to we're going to we're going to we're going to be in control, you know? Speaker 1: That's a smart thing to do. Yeah, that's a smart thing to do. Which makes you worry which makes you worry if things get real one day, uh, dude like gangs, like street gangs, that they'll they'll be like Speaker 2: Yeah, man. We're building a gang. We're building a massive gang and we're all we're going to be tough guys. We're not just going to be like little like passive dudes. No, hell no. We're going to train up, bro. Speaker 1: Yeah, if your squad's not if your squad's not tough and trained, now you just you're just a group of people that are going to get your your your vegetables taken from you by by street gangs or tougher people. Yeah. Speaker 2: The vegetables. Speaker 1: Yeah, that's how it is. But but Alberto, that was the final question for the uh, Pumble game. Congratulations. You win. You got your double underhooks. Speaker 2: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 1: And once again, guys, the Pumble game was brought to you by BJJFanaticsgear.com. Head over to the website to check out the very best gear on the market. Alberto, talk to me about the crucifix position. I know the crucifix position is something that's been a staple in your game for a long time. When did that first appear in your game and uh, why do you think it's been such an important facet of your Jiu-Jitsu? Speaker 2: I remember learning it in in in Brazil and I I just I felt really uh, uh, I felt very natural. And uh, so I started doing it and then I started having success with it in grappling tournaments, Gi and Nogi tournaments. And then I started doing it in MMA as well. I think I did four even though it doesn't state on the result of the of the of the record that it says like choke, whatever, but it was a crucifix, you know, my first MMA fight I did a crucifix, you know. And uh, I don't know. It's fun. It's fun. You start to see it everywhere. Like you see like Braulio Estima, like, you know, he's posting all these different things like that assassin choke. It's just fun. It's a lot of fun. Um, so I think I think uh, I think one I've just having success with it. Early on, I was when like big big guys to kind of do it. I remember like Marcelo Garcia started doing it later on as well. Um, um, for a while. And so it's just fun. It was different, you know? And not something that everybody did, right? So it was like surprising for a lot of people. Um, and uh, and now it's just it's just fun. It's like you're you're you can see it. You can see it everywhere. You can find it everywhere. And you threaten the arm bar and the choke at the same time. And then of course, besides that, you have so many other submissions from there. Like you see like uh, Mendes's brother do it in the in the I think it was the finals or semi-finals of the worlds, right? Like doing a wrist lock from there, right? So like there's so many options that you can do. Speaker 1: Yeah. I also love seeing how some people adapt like the Kimura trap system into it as well. Like you Yeah, it's all it's all it's all there for the taking. Yeah. Speaker 2: Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. Speaker 1: I remember you talk about the fun the fun nature of the of the position. I remember one of one of the highlights, one of my most satisfying moments in Jiu-Jitsu on the mats was as a blue belt. I hit a from side turtle the uh, the crucifix entry where you wrap your inside leg around the the inside bicep that's closest to you. And then you hook the other side and just do a front roll and you end up basically rolling with dude, I can't when I finally made that work one day. I was just like, oh my God, bro. I'm going to I'll never forget that. It is like a very satisfying place to land because it's like, dude, this is all attack for me and all defense for you, buddy, you know? So it's uh, it's it's a it's a fun place to be. What what do you what do you think are some of the biggest like technical mistakes that you see students make as they're learning to set up and use the crucifix? What are some uh, what are some common errors you see people make? Speaker 2: Um, I think they like because I from the turtle position, for example, that that's where I like to to teach it. It's like the the really high percentage one. Um, and I think on that position, people get they don't understand the control of the arm bar. The arm bar is the control like if you lose the control of the arm bar, like you kind of lose on it, you know? I think another thing is having a tight seat belt, you know, on the one that you can do the you can do the rolls and things like that. But like it's kind of a little bit loose and if the guy's like like kind of noodle arms, whatever, you can you just slip out of it, you know? But I like that like a seat belt from that crucifix. And I like to use the arm bar to roll the guy. Um, and then I think just knowing what to do in each like not problem, but every scenario, you know, if the guy's arm comes out, not losing position. If the guy uh, you know, gets out of the arm bar, transitioning to the back, like just having an answer for every piece, you know, I guess you asked me for the beginner guy, right? Is that you asked me? Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. Yeah, yeah, for for anyone that's trying to learn to develop. Speaker 2: So I I think I think I guess the beginning for the beginning guy is just understanding how to do the arm bar. So understanding the control of the arm bar with your legs. That's the hardest part for a beginner guy. So once you understand how to manipulate the arm with your legs, then you're you're then you start to understand it. And then after later on as you get into it, like just understanding all the scenarios that can happen every every every position when you're trying to do it. Because if you fight MMA, right? For for, you know, like a decade or whatever. And so you can't you don't want to lose position in MMA fight. And so it's cool because it was a fancy position, but like it's you don't want to lose position ever. And so I really really hammered home all the all the scenarios. Speaker 1: That's great. What would you say is your highest percentage entry for crucifix? Like where where do you find yourself getting there the most? Is there a particular position that you feel like connects to you? Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the turtle. The turtle. Turtle, yeah. The turtle. Um, you know, guys, you know, I did Orlando Sanchez was my student. He did it. He did it in Abu Dhabi, ACC, like years ago. And uh, and uh, like guys shooting for like a high crotch, like a high C, you know? And that's a perfect setup for a crucifix. You just kick your leg back and then boom, like a verbal submission or the guy turns it and then you do that roll, you know, from it. Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, it's a lot of like you said, a lot of creative fun ways to find I think once once you once you learn a couple entries, you start seeing a hundred others, you know, it's just like, oh, man, there's entries from all over the place. You do a great job actually of laying out all this in your instructional. In fact, if you guys are listening and you want to get better at the crucifix position, check this one out. It's one of our best sellers. It's called Crucifix Crane Style. It's available right now at BJJFanatics.com. So if the crucifix is something you're wanting to improve, head over and get that knowledge because uh, Alberto did a great job laying it all out for sure. Speaker 2: Thanks, man. Yeah. Speaker 1: Uh, Alberto, in closing, man, what are some of your major goals for 2026? What are some things you hope to accomplish this year? Speaker 2: Um, well, we have this book, the the we have the the this book and I'm going to do my best to kind of promote it. But uh, I think, bro, I I'm a I'm a dad and I want to be the best dad I can be. Um, to my kids, my family, my my husband, you know, and then my the student the the students, you know, the my my Jiu-Jitsu family. I want to support them as much as I can. And so not like bigger, right? But I just want to I want to quality, you know, I want to keep trying to improve myself so I can be better for for all all of them, all the people around me in my life. Speaker 1: Alberto, man, it is really a pleasure to have you on the show. I'm sorry there were so many years in between the first uh, the first visit and this one. Uh, let's make the next one not so long. Always a pleasure to chop it up with you, man. You're welcome back anytime. Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Ryan. Appreciate it. Speaker 1: Of course. Absolutely. Guys, for anyone out there that wants to keep up with Alberto, it's easy to do so. He's on Facebook, uh, Alberto Crane. His Instagram is Alberto Crane. His YouTube channel is Alberto Crane Show. Like I said, guys, he has a great podcast. So go check it out. Uh, his website is Albertocrane.com. If you guys are ever traveling through uh, Southern California, he's got four locations of his academy, Legacy BJJ. Uh, one of the top schools really anywhere in the world. So drop in and train if you can. If you can't make it to Southern California, you can learn from him anywhere in the world here at BJJFanatics.com. We talked about his crucifix instructional today. He also mentioned his cross guard instructional. He's got a few of them on there. So type in Alberto Crane on BJJFanatics.com and uh, you won't be disappointed if you pick one out. Also, guys, he's got his book dropping today. It's called All In. It's available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and anywhere else books are sold. Uh, so get on that, support Alberto and check out his really cool life story. You won't be disappointed. And that's going to do it for this episode, everybody. I really appreciate you tuning in. Please stay tuned for the next episode of the BJJ Fanatics podcast.