Interview with Joe Hurst (Budweiser Jiu-Jitsu World Cup)
On January 20th and 21st the 2007 Budweiser Jiu-Jitsu World Cup is set to take place in the outskirts of Charlotte, North Carolina.
www.BudWorldCup.com
On January 20th and 21st the 2007 Budweiser Jiu-Jitsu World Cup is set to take place in the outskirts of Charlotte, North Carolina. This prestigious event has quickly become one of the marquee jiu-jitsu events in the United States since its inception in 2001. The event was created by Joe Hurst and Garrett Barger and motor sports icon Dale Earnhardt Jr. Now that we’re only a few weeks away from what should be the biggest and best Bud World Cup to date, I was fortunate enough to catch up with tournament promoter Joe Hurst to discuss this year’s event.
Bevois: Joe, you’re a Black Belt in jiu-jitsu not just promoting, and have been training jiu-jitsu since 1993, right around the time the art first got noticed in America due to Royce Gracie’s success in the UFC. Since that time, you have been noted as the first American ever invited to roll on Helio Gracie’s personal mat at his home in Brazil. Would you say that this rare opportunity to train with a master in his natural environment is comparable to my invite to go cougar hunting with Scotty-OTM at Tulio Perrone’s birthday party in Rio next summer?
Joe Hurst: I was truly honored to have been there and trained at his home. That day was very important to me. I'm just waiting for an invite from Scotty!
Bevois: Now throughout your jiu-jitsu career, you’ve had the opportunity to train with some of the best in the world, such as Helio Gracie, Saulo Ribeiro, Carlos Lemos Jr., Roberto "Gordo" Corrêa, Relson Gracie, Marcello Clemente, and Daniel Moraes. Who would you say has contributed the most to your jiu-jitsu learning curve and why?
Joe Hurst: I was really blessed to have trained with each and every one of those guys. To pick one would be impossible, as each of these guys bring an incredible angle to the sport.
Not to mention they could all kick my butt!!!
Bevois: Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Grappling have been very popular on the West Coast for years with academies located on just about every street corner. How would you say the jiu-jitsu and submission grappling scene is doing in the Southeastern part of the country, particularly in the Tar Heel State, now compared to when you first started?
more go to http://onthemat.com/fighters.php
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