The articles written by the PÚBLICO Brasil team are written in the variant of the Portuguese language used in Brazil.
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His contact with the sport occurred when Emanuel Enzo was 10 years old. His sister, Poliana Carmem, then 15 years old, trained at Champion social projectin São Sebastião, Brasília. The mother, Poliana Gerônimo Carvalho, 37, suggested that her son take a trial class. The boy liked it and started playing the sport and taking part in competitions. At 12 years old, Emanuel speaks enthusiastically about the 33 medals he has already won. The last one was at the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship — Children, in the city of Barueri, São Paulo, in June this year. On that occasion, there were four fights to climb the podium and receive the silver medal.
The athlete’s resume, with three podiums in the Brazilian championship, qualified him to register for the European Kids Jiu-Jitsu, to be held this weekend at the Complexo Municipal Desportivo do Casal Vistoso, in Lisbon. The forecast is that Enzo will take to the mat around 3pm on Sunday. The trip to Portugal was offered by the Department of Sport and Leisure of the Government of the Federal District. The accommodation was arranged by an uncle who knows the Brazilian ambassador to Portugal, Raimundo Carreiro. Upon learning of Enzo’s story, Carreiro offered that mother and son stay at his official residence.
This is Enzo’s first international competition, who says he is loving Lisbon. Before facing the challenge, he walked around the city, without neglecting the discipline and concentration necessary for the dispute. With daily training, he says he is very excited about the challenge. “I’ve already won a gold medal in the Brazilian Championship, which is the most difficult in the world, and now I’m looking for gold in the European Championship. I’m calm. For me it’s more of a competition. I’ve fought several times in Brazil,” he says.
It was during the pandemic that Poliana looked for the Campeão social project for her daughter, who was already practicing jiu-jitsu. After the girl, it was Enzo’s turn to become interested in sport. “I follow the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Confederation. As he had already been on the podium in three Brazilian championships, I saw an opportunity for him to compete in Portugal. For his career, it is a very important step, because new sponsors may emerge”, she assesses.
The mother says it’s not easy to see her son enter a fighting competition. “I feel nervous and worried, not about the result, but about the possibility of him getting hurt. I watch a little from afar”, he confesses.
But she worked hard so that Enzo could go to the competition in Portugal. She sent her son’s CV to the Sports Secretariat of the Government of the Federal District, organized raffles and had the help of sponsors who already support her son’s career.
The family is inspired by the success of Brazilian athletes, world jiu-jitsu champions Pedro and Nina Moura. Born in São Sebastião, they also trained in the Campeão social project and now live in the United States.
Nina, Nívia’s surname, started practicing judo at the age of 12, inspired by her brother. She was already a brown belt when she suffered a knee injury that sidelined her from the sport.
At the age of 17, he discovered jiu-jitsu, in which he conquered stages and improved until he reached black belt. Since 2017 he has lived in the United States, currently in the city of San Diego.
Poliana states that they are an example and about her son she states: “Emanuel is going to be a champion”.
