Godhino medals at Jiu Jitsu championships

by Stephanie Dunlop
Special

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Mississauga's Carlos Godinho returned home with gold and bronze medals from the recent Pan-American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Campionships.
Held in Kissimmee, Florida, the event attracted over 300 competitors from 10 countries.
Godinho, 44, captured gold in Men's Senior II middle heavyweight division.
Godinho added the bronze medal in the Men's Senior II open class weight division, but unfortunately could not advance to the gold medal match due to an injury.
"I was armed right after the time," explained Godinho, in reference to an elbow injury he argues was sustained after time had run out in the match. The hold Godinho's opponent placed him in hyper-extended his tendons.
"I wasn't in it for very long so I wasn't too badly injured," says Godinho.
But, he feels his opponent "intentionally" injured him.
And since Godinho could not advance to the gold medal match his opponent did and eventually won the gold medal.
"(Choosing not to advance) was disappointing but it was the safest thing to do to avoid further injury," added Godinho.
In order to keep in shape for such competitions, Godinho decided to open a club of his own called The Way Martial Arts in Brampton.
Open for three months, Godinho is a regular visitor to the club training three to four hours a day, six days a week. His training, coupled with his full-time job at Puddy Brothers Ltd, which is his sponsor, practically takes up his entire week.
But martial arts has always been a part of Godinho's life.
Originaly from Toronto, Godinho first trained as a 7-year-old.
"I started studying when I was 7 in karate and Tae Kwon Do," says Godinho. "I switched to Jiu Jitsu because I like the hands on aspect of it more than the kicking and screaming aspects of the other two."
Godinho competes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wich is more like wrestling. The more popular version, of Jiu Jitsu, developed by the Japanese, involves more karate and judo.
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu there are throwdowns and chokeholds like wrestling, and competitors win by scoring points.
Godinho recently came fourth at the World Championships in Brazil in September.
Prior to that, he made his comeback after 20 years of not competing, winning gold at the 2000 Pan-American Championships.
"I'm hoping to compete in the worlds next year," says Godinho, adding, "I want to go back to the Pan-Ams next year and try and retain my title."

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