In this new series of articles "A Day In The Life Of A Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt" we'll show exactly what the daily routine of the sport's top athletes looks like.

In this article, GF Team competitor Victor Silverio shares his typical daily schedule of training and teaching at his gym, GF Team Florida. 

6:15am: The alarm rings. Today, I gave myself the luxury of not having to do a private lesson at six so I could wake up a little later. My first class of the day is at 7AM. No need to wake up so early, because the days that I have class in the morning, I sleep here at the gym. 

I always thought it was a little crazy--the story of the Miyaos sleeping in the gym--but now I get it. It's just more convenient. You can wake up and you'll never be be late because you're already there. It's just building a greater connection with the gym, because it's already your home.

7:00AM: I always have the presence of my two most dedicated students in the 7AM class: Joao Ribeiro and Ian Pagan. They are perhaps responsible for making me so dedicated nowadays. I always wanted to be a world champion, this was a boy's dream, but today I want to show them that it is possible. I want to show exactly what you need to do to get there; I don't hide anything. They are with me every day, almost all day. 

The other student is a friend. He is 55 years old, and started jiu-jitsu just less than two months ago. He is the owner of an Italian restaurant in the same mall as GF Team Florida. 

The 7 o'clock class is not actually my class, but I'm covering for the other teacher, Leandro Albuquerque, who got hurt. Though Ian and Joao are more advanced, I count on their goodwill to help me teach Toni some basic things. They are only 15 and 17 years old, and for boys this age to wake up at 6AM to train during the holidays shows me that commitment to success is not an extra--it's the least you can do to hopefully have a chance. Success comes every day--it's the whole process. 

8:15AM: After the training is over we usually do drills--sometimes for time, sometimes 100 repetitions each side, just to finish up the session.

9:30AM: We usually have breakfast together at a really nice place here in Boca Raton, Florida, called First Watch. They have a super healthy menu, which helps stay on diet. For me it is crucial to eat well right now, since I decided to test myself at lightweight.

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10:30AM: Between breakfast and afternoon training is one of the principal times of my day: lying in the gym and watching some fights on Flograppling. I never used to do this much, but I ended up the picking habit after I moved here to study everyone. I watch the champions and the tough guys from my division. I watch a bit of guys that inspire me, I watch some of my friends' matches, and I even watch the brown belts. 

Perhaps this is the secret for the evolution of my jiu-jitsu. Today I can say that my game is much better than when I was training with the best in the world at GF Team HQ in Meier [Rio de Janeiro]. Maybe because I was forced to leave the comfort zone, look to improve, to think, , to innovate, experiment and repeat. 

FloGrappling changed jiu-jitsu completely. Today, everything is more accessible. You can watch a live event with your friends on a Saturday night, and it doesn't necessarily need to be the UFC. Or you can watch your own matches and study your mistakes.



12:00PM: Afternoon training is the toughest workout of the day, where my main training partner AJ Sousa comes. He's not only my main training partner, but one of my best friends. 

Our games complement each other. He's got a modern guard with some of the best transitions I've ever seen. I play a top game, always looking for a superior position. Coincidentally, we are both now beginning to change. I play more from bottom, and he's on top. 

He always brings his students, who are also responsible for keeping us at a high level. We have world and Pan champions on every side. We always drill for a few minutes to warm up, and then we start training. 


Photo by Patrick Kirnos

2:00PM: After training I eat right here on the mat. I have a health food sponsor that makes everything much easier. 

4:00PM: Before the kid's class I clean the gym and make everything ready for their arrival.

5:00PM: I try not to stay with just the basic positions in the kid's class. Here they need to know how to get the back, and how to play lasso guard, for example. Everything goes as you teach. We're already seeing the result at tournaments.

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7:00PM: Tuesday evening's class is open for all levels. Today we focus on taking the back when the opponent is standing. During training time, I roll with some of them too.

9:00PM: I ended up going to the gym to lift weights and for a sauna. I do it almost every day except Wednesday and Friday, because I go to my student's Crossfit gym, Crossfit West Boca. It is something that greatly improves my cardio, and teaches me to train when tired.

10:30PM: When I get back I prep the next day's classes. I say thanks for the students who came during that day and I go to sleep. 

It seems a bit tiring, but it's all for a cause, and for love. Jiu-jitsu changed my life, and now I try to pass this onto others as it can change their lives too. If I had to describe jiu-jitsu I would call it the best medicine for depression possible.