“There is no end to Jiu-Jitsu; there are always new techniques and new ways to do things because, in fairness, it’s like a young art,” said Bastos on a recent edition of the Best of Midland Podcast. “I was talking about Joe; he came and was doing CrossFit. They used to have him doing CrossFit, like he was getting a routine, and they said, ‘Oh, you want to try something different?’ He had a friend who was training with me, Patrick, and he doesn’t train anymore.”
“Then he was in his 30s, and Joe was in his 50s,” Bastos said. “He came and is still training today, winning multiple world championships in his age group. He went through all the levels, from blue, purple, brown, and black, and became one of the most active competitors. If you ask me, like all his athletes know from me, he's an amateur athlete.”
Bastos, a 5th-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is known for his achievements in the sport and his leadership roles. He was a key member of the Nova Uniao team before founding his own Bruno Bastos Association in 2014 and later the LEAD Team. Bastos has opened a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Midland, Bastos Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Fitness.
Best of Midland Podcast is hosted by Ryan Shewchuk and Terra Avery. It is an extension of the broader Best of Midland program, which aims to support small, local businesses by showcasing them and the people behind them. Their website lists top businesses and upcoming live events happening in the area.
The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.