NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A Q&A with Filip Matos who is the head instructor at Roll Jiu Jitsu Academy.

Name and position with the team/club?
Filip Matos: Head Instructor/Coach at Roll Jiu Jitsu Academy

What team do you coach?
Matos: Roll Academy Students and Competition Team

How long have you been coaching?
Matos: I started coaching at a social project academy in Brazil over 16 years ago. I have been coaching on the North Shore for 7 years.

What is your background in this sport?
Matos: I am a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Boa Vista, Brazil.

What are one or two things that the team does in training that are keys to their success?
Matos: REPETITION until it becomes second nature. And training without ego.

Name a person who inspired you to play/coach this sport.
Matos: The Mendes brothers from AOJ in California have always been an inspiration for their coaching and instruction.

Please describe the most memorable championship your team has won.
Matos: In 2019, I planned to take a student to the IBJJF Worlds in Las Vegas and he broke his ribs a couple of days before we were supposed to leave. I was unsure if he would even be able to compete but we made a plan, which he followed to the letter, and he not only competed but won the gold medal.

How do you encourage the team after a disappointing loss?
Matos: I always say, “It wasn’t your day today. It was your opponent’s time to win. We will go home and train harder and come back, better.”

Describe your proudest coaching moment.
Matos: I coach kids starting as young as four years old and watching my students grow and start competing in tournaments always makes me so proud. Just to see them putting themselves out there and trying their best makes me proud.

What is the biggest life lesson you’ve learned from being a coach?
Matos: Not to project my experiences or expectations on the students and to let them evolve on their Jiu Jitsu journey organically.

What legacy do you hope to leave as a coach?
Matos: I want my students to learn that the best parts of Jiu Jitsu are the inclusivity, community and lifestyle.

Please share a quote with a message of advice or support for the team.
Matos: “Every student is gifted; they just unwrap their packages at different times.” Don’t compare yourself to others, it’s your journey.

Reflections?
Matos: For me, the fact that I came from nowhere and had all the opportunities that came to me from Jiu Jitsu and put a lot of good people around me, I want to share that with people and help create opportunities for them as well, on and off the mat.

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