Salvatore Sanguinetti is a BJJ Brown belt and tearing up the tournament scene lately. If you haven't seen him at a tournament yet, he is a FIERCE competitor. I wanted to catch up with him and introduce him to you all with a quick interview. I've known Sal since he started training BJJ about 6 or 7 years ago. I used to kick his ass on the mat a few times a week. That hasn't happened in a loooooong time...hehe.

2006 4-man pro brown belt invitational at the East Coast Grappling Championships - Gold Medalist
3 times VABJJ Champion - ( Blue - Purple - Brown) - Gold Medalist
Judo Maryland State Championship 2004 - Gold Medalist
Mundials 2003 - Quarter Finalist
Pan American Games 2003 - Bronze Medalist
3 times Grapplers Quest Championships - Gold Medalist
Atlantic Coast Championships - Gold Medalist

Sam: Hey, Sal. First off, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. So how long have you been training and with whom?

Sal: Since March 2000. I remember when I went to visit my cousins in Boston, Kenny, Keith and Kirk Florian and they used to beat me up in their basement. They told me about Mario Yamasaki in the Washington, DC area, that's how I got involved.

Sam: Describe your style of BJJ.

Sal: It's hard to describe my game right now because I'm always changing and looking for new ways to play bottom or top in Jiu Jitsu. But I'm always pretty aggressive and fast when I have to be.

Sam: What is your favorite submission or setup?

Sal: I always like to get the armlock from the side control and guard or setup different chokes from knee on stomach or half guard. Mostly, I like to try new submissions and positions.

Sam: You recently won the 4-man pro brown belt invitational at the East Coast Grappling Championships dominating both your opponents (8x0 and 22x0). What did you think of your matches? How did you prepare before the event?

Sal: Yeah, the first fight wast against Jeff Jacobs from Gustavo Machado. He is a very technical competitor with a good heart, always moving and never giving up the pass. For me that was my hardest fight, but I scored enough to move up to the final where I faced Dennis Hayes from Pedro Sauer. I think he is also a Black Belt in Judo, not sure. He felt very strong, but I started scoring some points with a throw and stayed on top most of the match. I end up scoring more points through the end of the match getting the win. Team Yamasaki has a lot of great fighters we always help each other as a family and train together. 
 

Sam: You never seem to get tired and it's hell to keep up with you. What is your training like these days?

Sal: I just went back to my competition routine; cardio conditioning, lifting and swimming help me a lot. When I'm on the mats I try to correct the technical side of my jiu jitsu. Fernando [Yamasaki] is a huge motivator before tournaments. He is always pushing us to the limits.

Sam: Who are your top 3 BJJ influences? Why?

Me, myself and I [laughs]. Of course, always my masters and cousins. Mario Yamasaki, Fernando Yamasaki, Francisco Neto, Keith Florian and Kenny Florian. They have been there since the beginning, not just as jiu jitsu instructors, but as brothers, friends and fathers at the same time. I'm very lucky to have people like them in my life.

Sam: Top 3 life influences. Why?

Sal: I have more than three. My mother, she is an incredible woman, Francisco Neto, Antonio Cancino (tartaruga ninja) and the Yamasaki Bros. OOOZZZ!!!

Sam: If you could start your BJJ training all over again from the beginning, what would you do differently?

Sal: Less partying!!!

Sam: You have an attacking, aggressive jiu jitsu game. Seems like it would translate well. Any plans for MMA?

Sal: Starting training for MMA is in my plans for 2007. I have to train really hard before I even get my first MMA fight. For sure you will see me there when I feel mentally and physically ready. I want to perform really well, there are a lot of TUF guys out there now, it's not joke.

Sam: Give me one of your top highlights of your BJJ career?

One time we went to California to compete at the Pan American Games. It was just a few of us. All of a sudden Fernando Yamasaki called Rickson Gracie to meet with him at his gym in Beverly Hills. When we got there I thought it was gonna be just saying hi and hanging out, but we all went inside the mat and he closed the door. There was probably around 13 guys inside and Rickson start talking about jiu jitsu and life, letting us ask questions, but the best part is that he used me to demonstrate some techniques. I think that was pretty cool. Rickson is a living legend.

Sam: I hear you are opening a new school in Manassas, VA. What's the scoop on that?

Sal: Yes, the new Yamsaki Jiu Jitsu in Manassas, VA. We will have the grand opening on February 12th, 2007. Mario  Yamasaki and  Fernando Yamasaki will be there giving a seminar for all the new beginners in BJJ. The address is 10391 Central Park Dr. (2nd Floor) Manassas, VA 20110. www.grappling.com - A new adventure and responsibility with the students, hopefully every thing will work out the way we expect.

Sam: When is your next competition? Schedule for 2007?

Sal: This year I came back to competitions full time.  This January I am competing at the European Cup in Portugal and after that the Pan American Games, Mundials, Nationals and many other tournaments in the U.S. I will probably be doing a super fight in April also, but for sure it's a busy year for me.

Sam: Anything else you want to say?

Sal: Thank you very much for the interview and for the support from NHBgear.com all these years. I also want to thank my masters for guiding me for the right path every day of my life. To all my team mates from white belts to black belts for keeping the team strong and support each other. Finally to my sponsors NHB Gear and Jiu Jitsu Gear, Sirius Kimonos and BadAss Coffee of Alexandria.

 
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UPDATE: 2/2007 Sal competed in the BJJ European Cup in Portugal and brought home the Silver medal in the adult Brown Belt Featherwieght division.