Marcelo Garcia says 'the main purpose of jiu-jitsu' is that technique beats strength

Strength and other physical attributes play a major role in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) competitions. But for the legendary Marcelo Garcia, it all comes down to having complete mastery of the techniques.

Speaking with Jordan Teaches Jiu-Jitsu, the Brazilian icon explained his thoughts on the matter:

"I don't know if people remember that, but I also never chose [my] weight division. I don't have to be stuck in my division. I always feel like I want to prove that I have a better technique, a better jiu-jitsu [fighter] than my opponent, and what's a better way to show [it than] against somebody bigger, because that's the main purpose of jiu-jitsu, to prove that the technique wins [over] the strength."

Watch the entire interview below:

Garcia's words are backed up by his decorated BJJ career, highlighted by four gold medals as a 77kg competitor in the ADCC World Championships.

As an openweight competitor, otherwise known as the absolute division to BJJ athletes, Garcia has claimed two second-place finishes and four bronze medals across different tournaments.

He is set to showcase his mastery of 'The Gentle Art' when he locks horns with fellow legend Masakazu Imanari at ONE 170 on Jan. 24, 2025, inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

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Marcelo Garcia comments on his comeback to competition

Marcelo Garcia rode off into the sunset in 2011 as he took on the responsibilities of being a father and growing his gym. However, his desire to compete again led him to sign with ONE this past November.

Garcia said in an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show:

"I don't know if we can get any older, but obviously we're not getting any younger. So I feel like this time is now since I still have that feeling."

Watch the entire interview below: