The BJJ Fanatics Podcast BJJ Fanatics 656: Renato Canuto
Jul 1, 2025
Renato Canuto, a black belt and world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, shares insights fresh from his MMA debut. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from grappling to striking, emphasizing adaptability and the mental hurdles athletes face. The conversation offers a humorous take on a hypothetical battle against a gorilla, blending absurdity with combat strategy. Canuto also reflects on innovative techniques influenced by soccer and the necessity of creativity in sparring, making for a captivating exploration of the evolving landscape of martial arts.
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Building MMA Skills Over Time
- Renato Canuto shared how he built his MMA skills over three years before debuting confident and better prepared.
- He balanced striking, takedowns, and jiu-jitsu while adapting the mindset of continuous learning and humility in MMA.
Jiu-Jitsu Conditioning Advantage
- Jiu-Jitsu athletes possess an advantage in MMA due to rigorous daily rounds and conditioning.
- Overtraining without intensity won't match the high-level mental and physical demands of MMA fights.
Adapting Through New Combat Styles
- Renato moved from Brazil to America and adapted from gi to no-gi grappling while learning new rules and submissions.
- He embraced being a beginner repeatedly in new disciplines like judo and wrestling, maintaining humility and focus.