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By Patrick Lujan

Mike Carbullido heads to Abu Dhabi for the World Championships April 11-13. (courtesy photo)

Purple belt jiu-jitsu artist Mike Carbullido has been making waves in the sport and his next goal is the Abu Dhabi World Championships April 11-13 – his first time he’s qualified for the prestigious event.

“The training is going great,” said Carbullido, who is set to travel on his all-expense-paid trip to the Middle East. “My expectations are to go in there with a strong mind, a strong heart and come out on top with the gold medal and prize money.”

Like any sport or art, practice and repetition are pillars to success. Carbullido has been training at Atos BJJ Academy in San Diego, California 3-4 times a day training jiu-jitsu and three days a week doing strength and conditioning.

“We’ve been training so hard for this year’s tournaments (Pan Ams, Abu Dhabi World Pro,Worlds, etc.),” Carbullido added. “Professor Andre (Galvao) has us under a great training routine so my body feels more ready than it’s ever been.”

He is scheduled to compete in the 88kg (194-lb.) division but as of a couple of days ago, his training has taken him down to a lean, mean 185-lbs.

Carbullido has been winning gold in just about every tournament since his blue belt days, until last month’s Pan Ams in California. He took second place in his division, losing a close finals on a referee decision. That’s close!

Carbullido with teammate lightweight Michael Liera, Jr. who won double gold at the Pan Ams including the absolute purple belt. (courtesy photo)

“The Pan Ams actually helped me in a lot of ways,” he said. “It was my first time cutting weight and dropping to a lower weight class in years. I felt amazing, my body felt so fast and strong. I also learned a lot about my jiu-jitsu and what I need to work on.”

As for Abu Dhabi, it is the equivalent to a golfer’s major tournament. All participants had to win in a qualifier just to get in and the best in the world will be there.

Carbullido will be heading there with a mental state like no other.

“I always tell myself…a strong mind is everything. If you go in with the mentality that ‘Oh this guy is big or oh this guy is really good or what if this what if that’ you already lost the battle. Every fight I go in believing in myself and my abilities. I try and always train my mind just like I train my body.”

Mike will be participating with 12 other Atos teammates at this tournament.

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