This is number ninety-eight in Jack’s series of interviews with MMA fighters and personalities, and for this particular interview, we’re pleased to feature Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu wunderkind, Renato Laranja. Over the course of his interview series, Jack has been able to speak with many of MMA and BJJ’s greatest luminaries. These have included his interviews with Matt Serra and Renzo Gracie. But not since Jack interviewed certified badass Reggie Warren Jr., has he spoken to such a uniquely gifted martial artist. Please enjoy the conversation below.
Jack Brown: What was your first experience with martial arts/combat sports, and how did it become more than just a hobby for you?
Renato Laranja: My first experience with combat sports was a full contact Capoeira match in a abandon church. I knew it was more than a hobby because my God was allow me to put the other guy in the hospital. After that I was hook.
JB: At last count you won the Mundials 27 times. What has enabled you to be so successful in the world’s most prestigious BJJ competition?
RJ: I enable myself to do that.
JB: You are a well-known proponent of the benefits for MMA fighters of training BJJ in the gi. What are the advantages of that approach, and can you relate a time that you had to use your gi skills in an actual fight?
RJ: For example, if somebody owe you money or some stuffs like that you can grab his jacket with both of you hands and say, “Look… Give me the money that you was borrow from me.” There’s also a lot of other stuffs too.
JB: Your rivalry with 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu founder Eddie Bravo has raged for years. What are your current thoughts about Bravo and his 10th Planet system?
RJ: Eddie Bravo is like the Doug Henning of Jiu-Jitsu.
JB: Fellow BJJ world champion, and UFC veteran, Vinny Magalhaes, has accused you and your mother of many sordid things. How do you respond to these attacks on you and your family?
RJ: Vinny Magalhaes has cause me and my family a lot of pain. I can just take comforts that he was kick out of the UFC.
JB: In some of your comments over the years, there is an underlying theme of hostility toward red-headed individuals. What is it about Mark Bocek, and people like him, that has caused such a strong reaction in you?
RJ: I didn’t had any hostilities toward Mark Bocek. I just said that he was look like Howdy Doody. Which he do.
JB: Of the many MMA fighters that you have trained with in southern California, who are a few that really left a lasting impression?
RJ: Josh Barnett because he was always rub my feet after we train.
JB: You seem to be a big fan of women’s MMA and its talented athletes. What do you think of the co-ed version of TUF on TUF 18 and what are your predictions for Rousey and Tate’s rematch?
RJ: It’s fine as long as nobody touch none of the ones that I’ve express interest on. I don’t mind if the girls do stuffs to each other though. Except the Lesbians. That’s against God. And I think Ronda probably gonna win the rematch again.
JB: What led you to the path of fruits and vegetables, and why do you think so many other high-level athletes have ignored this path and turned to performance enhancing drugs instead?
RJ: My God was said a long time ago to, “Buy fruits and Vegetables… and multiply.” I’m just follow his example. All those other athletes is suffer from “Low T.” That’s why they can’t maintain a strong erections.
JB: Last question, Renato, and thanks for taking the time to do this. You are an icon, a living legend, and you’ve achieved so much in your young life. What plans or goals do you have for the future?
RJ: I don’t know what the future gonna hold for me right now but something tell me it’s gonna involve more than a little poontang. And also I’m gonna do my own variety show call, “The Renato Laranja Show.”
Thank you so much for reading and please follow Renato Laranja and Jack Brown on Twitter.
Previous interviews include: Dan Hardy, Rose Namajunas, Joe Lauzon, War Machine, Tom Lawlor, Bas Rutten, Chris Leben, Phil Baroni, Julie Kedzie, Michael Bisping, Duane Ludwig, Sara McMann, Matt Lindland, Duke Roufus, Pat Miletich, Jens Pulver, Dan Severn, Nate Quarry, Ken Shamrock, Matt Serra, Jeremy Horn, Ray Longo, Kevin Randleman, Dennis Hallman, Daniel Cormier, Shonie Carter, Renzo Gracie, and dozens more.
Visit JackJohnBrownMMA on Facebook for links to all of Jack’s past interviews.
Thank you to @KirikJenness for @theUG.
