Bruno Bastos is a black belt dedicated to teaching Jiu-Jitsu, but passing technical knowledge on to his students didn’t fully satisfy him. Today, in Midland, Texas, Bruno runs a training center that stands out for its facilities and its people. It was with the arrival of Cassia Moura, currently Bruno’s most prominent athlete, that the coach saw the need to do more for the competitors he guided. That is what he revealed in an exclusive interview with The Mat Nation.
“Some students were in the transition from brown belt to black belt, and I believed in their future. I saw they needed something extra to attract opportunities to grow their careers. At the same time, Cassia had just arrived here and I also knew her potential, even though she was only a blue belt. So instead of bringing in someone to handle that middle ground, I decided to do it myself,” he explained.
His desire to get into this field came with prior study. Bruno Bastos has a degree in Sports Management and says he has always been interested in areas of knowledge that go beyond the mats. The final decision came after a conversation with a still small group at the academy, including Emily Ferreira, one of his talents, and Cassia herself. “I made an Instagram post announcing ‘Beyond Jiu-Jitsu Management’, and that’s how it all started,” he said.
SIGNING A CONTRACT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY; THAT IS WHEN A MANAGER CAN GUIDE
During his career as a professional athlete, Bruno experienced how hard it is to handle everything alone. That is also why he identified a gap in career management. Today, Jiu-Jitsu, gi and no-gi, is a sport with a wide range of events, developing faster and faster. There is no shortage of opportunities, but you need to get noticed and then carefully analyze the clauses of a contract. An athlete with a manager to handle that can leave the paperwork in good hands and focus on training and on taking care of their own image, another very important aspect of the professional world.
“I think what really matters is being able to focus on your career while a qualified professional looks for the best deals, whether it’s superfights, seminars, courses, sponsorship contracts, interviews, podcast appearances and so on. I used to do everything myself. So I know how much work it takes to organize it all. Contracts, for example: most of the time, athletes don’t check everything. And even when they do, they may not fully understand them. Not to mention a manager’s negotiating power. I understand the side of the events and sponsors, but I always negotiate the best deal for my athletes,” he detailed.
EVEN RENOWNED, WELL-POSITIONED CHAMPIONS DON’T PASS ON A CAREER MANAGER’S KNOW-HOW
Today, the roster of competitors under Bruno’s care is long and full of names from Jiu-Jitsu’s elite. Tayane Porfírio, João ‘Bisnaga’ Mendes, Cassia Moura, Rider Zuchi, Júlia Boscher and Aurelie Le Vern are some of them. All have upcoming commitments at internationally renowned events. According to Bruno, the approach to positioning each athlete is fully personalized. It depends on the stage of their career and the goals they want to reach. Bruno evaluates each case individually, and his work at the helm of ‘Beyond Jiu-Jitsu Management’ keeps gaining reach thanks to positive results.
“I believe my history in Jiu-Jitsu, along with my credibility in the community, helps a lot. I want the sport to grow, and I’m committed to that,” he stressed.
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
