THE CODE OF DISCIPLINE
The Article
Full Contact Fighter
November 2000 Volume 5, Issue 11
Full Contact Fighter
November 2000 Volume 5, Issue 11
Above pic Minotauro, Clean, Sperry, Arona, and Amauri
Evento Campeonato Brasileiro 2000
Foto Marcelo Alonso
Locale ICJG Rio
Evento Campeonato Brasileiro 2000
Foto Marcelo Alonso
Locale ICJG Rio
UNITED STATES ONCE AGAIN
BJ Penn put his name in Jiu-Jitsu history after being the first North American World Jiu-Jitsu black belt champion. American Dustin Denes (Brazilian Top Team) showed that he has some of the same stuff. Completely addicted to Jiu-Jitsu, Dustin Denes left his family, and a degree in business administration to come to Brazil and learn Jiu-Jitsu.
"I started training with Conan and Brutus, but my life really changed when I met Rodrigo Nogueira. The guy brought me to Brazil and I decided to live to learn Jiu-Jitsu. So I went to live in Brazil," says Dustin, nicknamed by Brazilian friends as "Clean." As soon as he got to Brazil four months ago, Clean started to train all day long. "I train with Brazilian Top Team fighters in Murilo Bustamante's Academy from 11 to 3 o'clock, then I take some açaí and go straight to De La Riva's school in Copacabana from 5 to 10, sometimes I train 15 times," says Denes. Besides training a lot, Dustin is known for recording all of the details of his training sessions. "He has everything he does in the computer," says Rogério Minotouro, twin brother of Rodrigo Minotauro. Rogério shares an apartment with Dustin in Rio de janeiro.
After 4 months of training really hard, Dustin got a big gift...the Brazilian national title in the brown belt open division. He won the bronze medal in the category; he defeated 2 opponents, and lost to Erick Wanderley in the final. Dustin ran after the gold on the last day of the competition. To get there, Dustin choked out two highly respected fighters: first, Anderson Leal (Carlson Gracie), then "Marcelinho" (Alliance) in the final, who had defeated Max (Gracie Barra) and Claudio Godoy (Godoi/Macaco). After winning the gold medal, Clean gave us the following interview:
BJ Penn put his name in Jiu-Jitsu history after being the first North American World Jiu-Jitsu black belt champion. American Dustin Denes (Brazilian Top Team) showed that he has some of the same stuff. Completely addicted to Jiu-Jitsu, Dustin Denes left his family, and a degree in business administration to come to Brazil and learn Jiu-Jitsu.
"I started training with Conan and Brutus, but my life really changed when I met Rodrigo Nogueira. The guy brought me to Brazil and I decided to live to learn Jiu-Jitsu. So I went to live in Brazil," says Dustin, nicknamed by Brazilian friends as "Clean." As soon as he got to Brazil four months ago, Clean started to train all day long. "I train with Brazilian Top Team fighters in Murilo Bustamante's Academy from 11 to 3 o'clock, then I take some açaí and go straight to De La Riva's school in Copacabana from 5 to 10, sometimes I train 15 times," says Denes. Besides training a lot, Dustin is known for recording all of the details of his training sessions. "He has everything he does in the computer," says Rogério Minotouro, twin brother of Rodrigo Minotauro. Rogério shares an apartment with Dustin in Rio de janeiro.
After 4 months of training really hard, Dustin got a big gift...the Brazilian national title in the brown belt open division. He won the bronze medal in the category; he defeated 2 opponents, and lost to Erick Wanderley in the final. Dustin ran after the gold on the last day of the competition. To get there, Dustin choked out two highly respected fighters: first, Anderson Leal (Carlson Gracie), then "Marcelinho" (Alliance) in the final, who had defeated Max (Gracie Barra) and Claudio Godoy (Godoi/Macaco). After winning the gold medal, Clean gave us the following interview:
How did you find out about Jiu-Jitsu ?
I trained free-style wrestling for 7 years of my life. One day a friend of mine took me to Conan's Academy and I started to train with him and his brother Brutus. I loved that, in Jiu-Jitsu I started using muscles that I don't even know that exist.
When did you realize that your Jiu-Jitsu had improved ?
When Minotauro took me to Brazil. I always wanted to come to Brazil, but Conan never took me there. I knew that if I wanted to learn, I should come to Brazil where the best trainers are. When Minotauro brought me here and I had the opportunity to train with the best, I decided to move to Brazil and live to train and learn Jiu-Jitsu.
What your parents say about that ?
They supported me. Actually, they are very proud of me because they always taught me that I should run after my dreams, and that's what I did.
So what's your dream ?
My dream is represent Jiu-Jitsu in Vale Tudo, represent the Brazilian Top Team in Vale Tudo and all the people who helped me like Minotauro, Conan, and Brutus. They built the fire in me and now the Brazilian Top Team added gasoline.
Is it true that you have thousands of computer disks with notes of your training ?
Yes, I like to save the positions in the computer, Jiu-Jitsu is a very complex sport, there are thousands of positions. It's difficult to memorize everything.
I've heard that you train all day long...
Yes, I really love to train. Normally I train from 10 to 3 in Murilo's Academy (Leblon) and after that I take açaí and go straight to De La Riva's Academy (Copacabana) where I stay until the last training session. Unfortunately in competition time I cannot go to train with De La Riva because now (after the Top Team was created) I can compete against his fighters. But I love to train there, it is the best place to learn new positions. De La Riva is very knowledgeable and is one of the nicest person I've ever known.
How do you feel after winning this medal ?
I have no words. I feel really great because in the Brasileiro, you can face the very best that this sport has to offer. It has motivated me to train more and more.
Is is true that even the day after the competition you went to train ?
Yes man, I never stop because the enemies are always training. I relaxed my body by running one hour on the beach.
How is living in Brazil ?
Amazing, Brazil is a natural country, I'm really feeling good here. Besides Brazilians being very friendly, you can train and go to the beach or take some açaí, I really like it.
You intend some day bring everything you learn here to the American people ?
Yes, some day in the future I intend to come back and give my experience to Americans and help Jiu-Jitsu grow around the world.
Congratulations and good luck in the next one. FCF
I trained free-style wrestling for 7 years of my life. One day a friend of mine took me to Conan's Academy and I started to train with him and his brother Brutus. I loved that, in Jiu-Jitsu I started using muscles that I don't even know that exist.
When did you realize that your Jiu-Jitsu had improved ?
When Minotauro took me to Brazil. I always wanted to come to Brazil, but Conan never took me there. I knew that if I wanted to learn, I should come to Brazil where the best trainers are. When Minotauro brought me here and I had the opportunity to train with the best, I decided to move to Brazil and live to train and learn Jiu-Jitsu.
What your parents say about that ?
They supported me. Actually, they are very proud of me because they always taught me that I should run after my dreams, and that's what I did.
So what's your dream ?
My dream is represent Jiu-Jitsu in Vale Tudo, represent the Brazilian Top Team in Vale Tudo and all the people who helped me like Minotauro, Conan, and Brutus. They built the fire in me and now the Brazilian Top Team added gasoline.
Is it true that you have thousands of computer disks with notes of your training ?
Yes, I like to save the positions in the computer, Jiu-Jitsu is a very complex sport, there are thousands of positions. It's difficult to memorize everything.
I've heard that you train all day long...
Yes, I really love to train. Normally I train from 10 to 3 in Murilo's Academy (Leblon) and after that I take açaí and go straight to De La Riva's Academy (Copacabana) where I stay until the last training session. Unfortunately in competition time I cannot go to train with De La Riva because now (after the Top Team was created) I can compete against his fighters. But I love to train there, it is the best place to learn new positions. De La Riva is very knowledgeable and is one of the nicest person I've ever known.
How do you feel after winning this medal ?
I have no words. I feel really great because in the Brasileiro, you can face the very best that this sport has to offer. It has motivated me to train more and more.
Is is true that even the day after the competition you went to train ?
Yes man, I never stop because the enemies are always training. I relaxed my body by running one hour on the beach.
How is living in Brazil ?
Amazing, Brazil is a natural country, I'm really feeling good here. Besides Brazilians being very friendly, you can train and go to the beach or take some açaí, I really like it.
You intend some day bring everything you learn here to the American people ?
Yes, some day in the future I intend to come back and give my experience to Americans and help Jiu-Jitsu grow around the world.
Congratulations and good luck in the next one. FCF
Быть знаменитым некрасиво.
Не это подымает ввысь.
Не надо заводить архива,
Над рукописями трястись.
Цель творчества самоотдача,
А не шумиха, не успех.
Позорно ничего не знача,
Быть притчей на устах у всех.
— Борис Пастернак, Сестра моя — жизнь
Не это подымает ввысь.
Не надо заводить архива,
Над рукописями трястись.
Цель творчества самоотдача,
А не шумиха, не успех.
Позорно ничего не знача,
Быть притчей на устах у всех.
— Борис Пастернак, Сестра моя — жизнь
Testimonial
Dustin is a trailblazer for American Jiu-Jitsu, a mentor and motivator to all. As I was a young white belt I read an article of Dustin living in Brazil, training multiple times per day and crushing the tournament scene in the late 90s. This motivated me to follow suit. Dustin has a passion and knowledge of a true master.
Jeff Messina, 4TH Degree Black Belt, Revolution Dojo
Dustin is a trailblazer for American Jiu-Jitsu, a mentor and motivator to all. As I was a young white belt I read an article of Dustin living in Brazil, training multiple times per day and crushing the tournament scene in the late 90s. This motivated me to follow suit. Dustin has a passion and knowledge of a true master.
Jeff Messina, 4TH Degree Black Belt, Revolution Dojo