Mariusz Manolo Linke Success Story

Mariusz Manolo Linke 4th degree BJJ black belt under Jorge “Macaco” Patino, 5th dan judo (coach Lech Morus), professional MMA record 12-6-0.

How did you develop your fondness for your sport and at what age did you start learning karate?

When I was 7 years old my mother enrolled me in judo (1976). Since then I have not stopped training. In 1996 I saw on VHS videotape Royce Gracie’s fights and then I became interested in BJJ. After winning the European Championships in France in 200O I knew that this is what I was born to do. As an interesting fact, I can add that on the same championships competed in a higher weight category Fabricio Werdum (BJJ world champion, ADCC champion and UFC heavyweight champion).

Do you have a favourite Sensei?

As I already mentioned my master is Jorge Macaco Patino a legendary BJJ, Vale Tudo and MMA fighter from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

How did you get into this position and how did your journey in this sport go?

After winning the championship in 2000 I decided to go to Brazil to improve my skills in the cradle of jiu-jitsu. I read a lot about my current master and my goal was to train with him. It took me two years to raise the money for this trip. At the end of 2002 in December, I went to Sao Paulo to chase my dreams. At that time I was a white pad, confident of my skills, but in the Macaco gym, I encountered real jiu-jitsu monsters. For two weeks I fought for survival, training every day for 8-10 hours. At the end of my stay, I took part in a tournament fighting one day about 20 fights. In the end, I won the white belt category, the blue belt category and in the purple category, I was third. My trip ended with a nomination from white to purple belt (minus the blue) which was the highest belt at that time in all of Eastern Europe. And so it remains to this day because my 4th-degree black belt is still the highest in Eastern Europe

Do you take sports as a profession or is it just a hobby?

Sport is my hobby and passion for life, but also my profession. In a word, it couldn’t be better.

What challenges have you faced in getting to where you are now? You can also share any injury story.

To define the time that led me to the place where I am, three words POT, BLOOD AND TEARS are enough. But it cannot be otherwise, because it is the only way to dreams and happiness.

What motivates you most about your profession as an athlete?

My motivation is to be a better version of myself every day, and also that I don’t want to disappoint my master and my students. You cannot let go of training, because when we do it, we go back, and what is worse, the NEVER STOP way of martial arts is abandoned, is my slogan for everyday

Do you have anything you want everyone to learn?

I don’t know if you can learn it, or if you should have it because in my opinion the most important are HONOR and LOYALTY, These two features show who we are

What tournament or match you have won are you most proud of and why?

I am a multiple World, European or Pan American champion, but it doesn’t count. There is no need to look back because only what is ahead of us counts With over 50 years on the neck and a serious knee injury, I am going to return to competing in tournaments and possibly the medal won there will be the most important for me.

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