Marcelo Garcia is able to carry his abilities again to the lots. The BJJ legend signed a cope with ONE Championship to return to energetic competitors. Whereas no date has been given for his return, Garcia was adamant he had by no means formally hung up his black belt.
“I don’t know if individuals notice it, however I by no means retired. By no means ever did I say the phrase ‘retired.’ Nevertheless it was positively a plan to take time without work of competitors for 2 totally different causes. One was that I used to be simply not so excited to go compete, and I felt like I wished time to give attention to one thing that may make me happier. And at that second, it was my fitness center in New York Metropolis. I used to be taking a whole lot of time, simply educating on daily basis, not touring, simply specializing in my college students. After which, as soon as I had a child, clearly, life turned the wrong way up. After which I felt like, ‘Oh, I wanna be the perfect that I may as a father, as a dad. So I took that point,” Garcia commented to ONE.
Along with his baby getting older, Garcia is discovering somewhat extra time to coach and put together for competitors. For the final decade, he discovered it exhausting to have the identical motivation that made him an icon. That’s now not the case, and after signing his new cope with ONE, Garcia is able to give every thing he can to be prepared for whoever is reverse him.
A LEGEND RETURNS 👑🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu icon Marcelo Garcia is popping out of retirement to compete in ONE submission grappling! Who do you need to see him tackle first? pic.twitter.com/oc3lyOLmYv
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) November 11, 2024
“For the final, like, 10 years, I used to be not motivated to coach exhausting as a result of I didn’t really feel like there was anyone coaching to beat me. [But having a tough opponent] kinda at all times pushes me. In actuality, whenever you’re coaching that tough, you may have extra unhealthy days than good days. However I at all times felt like, ‘Okay, I can’t keep away from this. I can’t relaxation as we speak. I can’t sleep in. I’ve to do it.’ So I at all times really feel like I’ve extra self-discipline after I really feel that anyone is coaching to go in opposition to me. I at all times really feel I’ve to do greater than that individual,” the grappling legend mentioned.
His time away was not fully his selection. Garcia battled abdomen most cancers and underwent chemotherapy, which prevented him from getting on the mats. After securing that the majority essential victory, the Brazilian is completely satisfied to chase all of his objectives.
“It’s been so lengthy that I haven’t been in a position to do every thing that I wish to do. I really feel like now I’ve the liberty to only do all of the issues that make me completely satisfied,” Garcia mentioned.
Anytime a legend returns, they’ve immense choices to select from for the place they wish to compete. The identical could be mentioned for Garcia. There was no scarcity of alternatives for him to step again on the mats.
What made the BJJ grasp select ONE? For Garcia, it was about feeling valued. He remarked that there’s an appreciation for who he’s on and off the mat, which was a deciding issue when placing ink to paper.
“I similar to to be appreciated. I spent a lot time in jiu-jitsu. In competitors. I really feel I at all times have given my greatest, and I really feel just like the appreciation from ONE Championship got here on the proper time. They worth me. They worth my time. And actuality is I can identify each group that was making an attempt to persuade me to go compete. However then ONE, particularly with Leozinho, Leo Vieira is anyone that’s near me, near my household. He got here in for us. If I wanna come again, I would like to come back again to a corporation that values my work, that values my time, that appreciates the athlete. And that’s what I felt with ONE,” the Brazilian said.
The highly-anticipated return could haven’t any date, however Garcia has a easy message. The Brazilian needs everybody to know he’ll give 100% when he makes his method onto the worldwide stage. Win or lose, Garcia will thrill the followers with an opportunity to observe a real grasp at work.
“I simply know and I can promise that I’ll give every thing I’ve. After I say every thing I’ve, I do know I’m gonna give my greatest, it doesn’t matter what. I’m ready to present a match, a struggle, that individuals need to see,” Garcia mentioned.
