Transcript

Intro (00:00:00):

Today, I'm honored to share the story of Kauane Ramos Da Silva, a world-renowned Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion, whose rise to the top was shaped by hard work, the support of an incredible family, and the love and grace of a couple who met her while she was selling desserts at a stoplight in Brazil. But this is not just a story about jiu-jitsu; it's a story about what it takes for any human being to rise to the top in any field. Kauane speaks about discipline, community, love, and faith in god as the forces that have propelled her forward. She’s rare, and she’s powerful, and she’s deeply inspiring. Whether you train jiu-jitsu or are simply someone fighting to build a better life, this episode will leave you inspired and give you a deeper understanding of what it takes to win. Kauane Ramos Da Silva.
I am the experiment. You can write your own story. Don't stop trying and don't get into my fear.

Justin McMillen (00:01:00):

Kauane Ramos Da Silva. Yes. Right. Happy to have you here today. And you? You are a. Actually, I'll let you tell me your background in jiu-jitsu. jiu-jitsu. So this is like, what you wake up for every day?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:01:14):

Yeah. So pretty much I've been training jiu-jitsu since 2010. Not because I wanted, but because my dad forced me. But, I've been practicing sports since I'm, like, five years old. Like, I was gymnastic. Then I started playing volleyball, then I fought, and then my father said, if you want to fight, you're going to do against someone that knows how to do. This is like I got in jiu-jitsu world and I fought my first Ironman one week after start training. So on Monday my father took me to train and on Saturday we went to a tournament to watch. But it's those kind of like small tournaments like that. You go to watch and if you find someone that is like same size as you, you can fight. So this.

Justin McMillen (00:01:54):

Is in Brazil.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:01:55):

This is in Brazil. Yeah. I'm from Brazil, actually. Curitiba, Paraná is in south like a cold, cold city. Like kind of looks like California. And I fought my first tournament on Saturday, and the girl beat me up. And that day I saw how much it would be important, like for my growth journey.

Justin McMillen (00:02:16):

How old were.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:02:17):

You? I'm 26. How old were you in ten years? Ten years? Yeah. I've been training for around 16 years. Wow. Yeah. I'm going to turn 26 this month. So. Yeah, pretty much 16.

Justin McMillen (00:02:30):

Year in that 16 years. You have you're a double gold medalist. Yeah. What's your what is your big accomplishments.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:02:37):

My big man was like being so for real winning worlds IBJJF was like one of the biggest ones. But, for myself, like, I lost ADCC trials 2024 in Brazil and my finals, like, right after I had my knee surgery. But I got my invite to fight at the ADCC because I had a good performance in the tournament. But being so for real, that tournament that I lost for me was have has much more meaning, have much more meaning than winning worlds and IBJJF because they are clean. That I became during that process was that clean that I always dreamed about being. So sometimes, like titles are important, but who you become during this journey is like the real. The real thing.

Justin McMillen (00:03:25):

Got it? Makes sense. So you were raised in southern Brazil. What was your what was your life like? Can you describe to.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:03:35):

Yeah, like the audience. My family is super humble, amazing family. And my mother, she's a baker and my father was a deliverer, so they couldn't help me financial saying. So since I started competing, like since I started taking jiu-jitsu as in my profession in 2015, I start selling these desserts. on the light traffics in Brazil.

Justin McMillen (00:03:58):

Sorry, Sorry what?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:03:59):

Selling desserts. Oh. Like snacks? Yeah. So on the, like traffic. So I was wearing gear with, like, some boxes saying 'help this athlete'. Athlete being a world champion. And people in the my city always support me trying to find raises to help me to fight. And until 2021. Yeah, that was the best year of my life. So that was February 1st and that was raining a lot, a lot. And I lost all my snacks and I was crying under a tree and I was praying, God, oh my gosh, what's the lesson about it? And okay, I got my strength and I went to buy more snacks because I lost everything. And then when I came back to sell my snacks on that light traffic, there was a car with a huge guy. His name is Rafael Brandão. He's a open class athlete of bodybuilding. So he was there with his wife and two of his friends, and they fell in cry because I was used to watch their, YouTube channel because they were inspiration. And they are like, they live in a city super close to mine. So that day, that guy told me, I'm going to help you to be an world champion. So during that whole year, he and his wife, they supported me. They found me sponsorships, supplements, gym doctors and everything. And they said the only thing that we want for you this year is I want you becoming the athlete that you always dream about being. So that whole year, I had their support to fight. And then I won my first worlds. That was up with that word.

Justin McMillen (00:05:33):

We got it. We got to talk about this. Yeah. So you you. So I'm trying to picture. So how big is this town or city.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:05:40):

My city I think around 3 million people. Okay.

Justin McMillen (00:05:44):

So it's.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:05:44):

Big. Yeah. Big. Yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:05:45):

And you your your mom is a baker. Your dad does delivery. You have your desserts that you're going out. So you're packing up and you started doing this when you were ten. Yeah.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:05:55):

No, I was 15 when I started. Yeah. Until my 15 years I was living with my family. When I turned 15, I started living in is it was a house for athletes, but it was closer to where I was training. So my family allowed me going because they knew that would be easier for me. Make money and live close to the gym because it's dangerous. Get bus in Brazil. So I was like spending a lot of time and that was dangerous. So my family says, so it's better for you and what you want.

Justin McMillen (00:06:23):

So they know they knew at a young age that you were you all knew. Yeah, I knew. Everybody realized that there was something special about you. And if you continued to work hard, you were going to get there. Okay. So and it started when you were you you started training when you were young, but you were doing stuff before that.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:06:41):

Gymnastics, gymnastics and volleyball. I'm a dreamer, so everything that I like went through. My whole family supported me and said, if it's what you want is what's going to make your heart happy, do it. So I, I believe about I trust in dreams. I trust in love. This is what I do, what I do like. This is what I do with love do for love do because it's our essential passion. When you put passion, you get there.

Justin McMillen (00:07:06):

Yeah, of course, of course. And you're so blessed to have a family that, supported that and wanted you to do well. So I'm just trying to understand it so I can kind of. I love to see the picture of, like, how someone's life is. So you're this young girl in Brazil. Modest family. Brazil's not a super wealthy country, so there's not a lot of opportunity. So when someone wants to do something, it's not the same as a U.S., where it's like doors are flying open. You have to ducking work, right? Yeah. And so you're working. You end up living in a place with other athletes. You move there because it's dangerous where you live and traveling to and from the gym even was stressful. Was it hard to move out at 15 and go live in this place?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:07:52):

Actually, I'm the kind of person that I don't think that much about what I'm doing. I just do it. And then when I realize I kind of freak out. But I do good with pressure is what we are talking about. Pressure is a privilege when you're under pressure because something good's happening. And yeah, I've never taught, taught about am I doing the right thing? I just live life like every day and I try to follow my heart and my feelings.

Justin McMillen (00:08:22):

Is that you or is that a Brazilian thing?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:08:24):

I think is a Brazilian thing? Yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:08:26):

Brazilians are like such big heart people. Yeah. The way they express, like, every. Yeah, every Brazilian I've ever met. It's like there's this energy that just radiates. You have that for sure.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:08:35):

Yeah. I think it's because we, our our country doesn't have that much help, like the government doesn't support. So we try to support each other. So then you start creating much more connection. It's like you need to help others because probably in some day you need help. So yeah, I think this is a Brazilian.

Justin McMillen (00:08:59):

thing that's missing in this country. I think there's a lot of people kind of climbing over each other. And yeah, there's some there's definitely some advantages to more poverty. I know it's a weird thing to say, but I traveled a lot in the Third World and seen how people live. And, you know, a lot of places you'll find more love and more.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:09:18):

Happiness.

Justin McMillen (00:09:20):

And happiness.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:09:20):

Yeah, there's like small things that make them happy. Something that I love about my country is like, if you go there right now, even not speaking Portuguese, you're going to get a nice street. You see an old lady sitting in front of her house, and if you look at her, she's going to ask you, invite you to go to her house and grab a coffee. Wow. Because she doesn't know where where they're from. Where are you coming if you're starving or not, but because they are like they need sometimes people in Brazil, they are trying to be who they need that like some, sorry. So they are try. They tried to be who they needed. Like they're for them. For example, nowadays I try to be the adult. Are someone supportive that I knew that I needed when I was younger. So that's my mission. And I think it comes from my country.

Justin McMillen (00:10:09):

I love it. That's I think you're describing and this is really important because I think you're being an ambassador for Brazil right now. And I think you're describing your people in a beautiful way. And I love that people are going to hear this. And it makes me excited about going to Brazil one day. I would love to see that and be around it. And, and, so I'm still seeing you, this young girl, you're 15 and you've got this dream and the community supporting you, and you're just ducking went for it because you do that, and then you think afterwards and go, oh, what did I do? So you're living with these other athletes and are they all training jiu-jitsu or.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:10:45):

Yeah. Oh, they training jiu-jitsu. We, I was from Czech much Cudi Curitiba with with my masters, Sebastian and Letícia Lalli. So they are like amazing people because since I know then like since my father and before I was used to hear about that and they are like dreamers too. They support each other's dream. So they open like these, these yan they were they weren't even charging for the athletes come to their house and like, represent the team. So until now they, they are doing that and I'm like, I'm super blessed. And grateful for everything that they do for me because, like most part of my sponsorships came from then because they were like, have they had a contact with a lot of business guys that were trying to help athletes? And they were always there, like, look, this athlete looked at athletes. So I think, when you have a team that supports you is way easier to fly.

Justin McMillen (00:11:45):

Yeah, yeah. And I think so. And I think.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:11:47):

Someone that got your back.

Justin McMillen (00:11:49):

Yeah. Exactly. And then you've got, you're, you're living in this place and you've got these people that are really trying to help and, and, and it's jiu-jitsu which is Brazil is the place. Yeah. Yeah. It's like it means something also to be training jiu-jitsu and and to be from Brazil and then to really like make that leap, don't get there right from you going out of the country and now being an ambassador for Brazilian jiu-jitsu in your way, like it's mind blowing. Yeah. Because you went from being this girl who went to a tournament and got beat your first time. Right, and then training and then now living in this place and then now you're selling desserts. Where they from your parents place.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:12:35):

Yeah. No, for my mom, because we didn't have a store. So my mom was used to work the whole day coming back home and then prepare the desserts for me to sell on the next day, so I wouldn't be anything without them. Because even tired, we even even like without any support. My mom was there every day. Give me their strength. So I always taught I don't want to disappoint people. That is supporting me. So sometimes I thought about give up. Like should I stop? Like when some traps start showing, like in your path, you're like, am I doing the right thing? But when you look back and there is so many people supporting and like giving them that push, there is no way to give up. So sometimes I talk. I think I cannot give up, not for me, but for all the others that are supporting my dream.

Justin McMillen (00:13:25):

Yeah, it's sort of like they're all around you right now.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:13:27):

Yeah. And I can see all of that.

Justin McMillen (00:13:30):

That you can. And it's, And they're cheering for you. Yeah. No. And then so now I'm imagining you're saying you're so you're selling on the street and you're selling at a stoplight. Right. So cars are pulling up and you're walking up and seeing of people.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:13:43):

And screaming, hey, do you want to support an athlete? You know, and it's funny because I always try to get into the other's worlds world because is the easiest way to have, connection. Yeah. So when I was going to trucks like those big trucks, I was trying to talk them. They are like language so they could help me. And my voice is like pretty loud. So I was just a screen. So all the other car, you would hear what I was saying. So I don't need to spend that much time. But I'm really blessed because I remember some day that I saw a girl that was in the car and she treat me so bad, so, so bad. And I was like, duck is is it about me? And I was like, no, it's about her. So that day I got one of my snacks I knock on her window and I said, hey, it's for free. I want to give you that because I, I want to give you that.

Justin McMillen (00:14:46):

Strange.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:14:47):

Noise.

Justin McMillen (00:14:48):

I think you activated my Siri.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:14:51):

My pretty loud voice.

Justin McMillen (00:14:54):

Maybe I did. All right. Well, technical difficulty. Make sure it's on.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:14:59):

That happened in the best families. So you know yeah I knock I knock on her window and I said, hey, look at this. I have this for you. I felt that God told me to give it for you. So I don't know what you passing through, but, it's to make your day more sweeter. She pulled the car. She left the car, and she hugged me in feeling cry because she said that she does love and left the hospital because she found out that her father was in the last 30 days of his life. And this is why I feel that I'm blessed. Because that day with her, like action, like treating me that bad, I felt I needed make that girls they better. So after that I started doing this every day. So every day, every snack that I was like, I mean, my mother was used to do like cakes and I was buying some guns in from every pack of gum. I was taking two to give to someone that I feel that I needed, like make their day better. Their day better. So kind of it was bringing me so much. But not about money, but feelings like bringing value to my life. We were talking about this while we were coming, but we need to accumulate things in heaven, not in there. So this is why material things are not that much important. But what you're like doing the different that you're doing, the people's life is what gonna make you be closer to God.

Justin McMillen (00:16:29):

So let's, I love I love everything that you're, you're talking about. And I agree with you. And I can see why and what you did. You could have chosen to to give back that negativity to her, but you chose to love her. And that is why it came back to you.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:16:50):

Because God's does that with us every day. Yeah, because sometimes, like we are, we look at like we are used to judge each others. Like, look at that guy is doing look the action. But we are already like doing bad things because we don't have the right of being judging someone else in every day we make bad choice. Them make us like do a step back from God. So who am I? Who am I? So if they treat you better, bad is not about you, is never about you, is about how they are. Because you just express what you're feeling. So your heart and your soul are going to show what you have inside of you. Like our mouth, like are just we are just going to speak what we have inside of our heart. So is what I learned with my father. So that you. Yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:17:43):

Yeah, that's that's so amazing. And then I think, I think what's going to happen through this conversation is we're going to paint a picture of what a recipe for success looks like, because the way you're describing your childhood and your the work that you put in and then the context or the space you're coming from in the world, I think those are all the key elements to being a successful person.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:18:08):

Yeah. And and successful is not about only about money. No, no, no, it's making money is important. But it's the last thing. Because when you're in peace with yourself, when you can lay down the pillow and like, realize, like you can have a good night of sleep and rest, kind of that's everything's about.

Justin McMillen (00:18:28):

Yeah, yeah, a lot of people don't know that. And you're really young to understand that. That's incredible.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:18:35):

Yeah. And I think it's part of like moving to USA because I, I left home I was like 15. But leaving the your comfort zone I didn't speak English when I got here. The only two words I knew was duck you and Coca-Cola. Those two it. So yeah, the most important ones. But like leave in my comfort zone and come to USA. I came because Fight Sports Miami. They gave me opportunity. My coach Cyborg and we met in Brazil and they needed a heavy representation to fight sports. And then before.

Justin McMillen (00:19:09):

You go there, I went.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:19:09):

Yes, sir.

Justin McMillen (00:19:10):

I love this so much, but I want to make sure we go.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:19:13):

Step by step.

Justin McMillen (00:19:13):

Yes. Because there's there's a lot here and there's this there's this environment where you're existing, which is there's two there's the gym and you're training, and then there's this place, you're going to try to support your dream, and you're bringing all of who you are. You're charisma, this heart and this compassion that you have. And you're having these amazing moments. And then now comes this couple that you talked about. Yeah. Can you get into that now? I want to hear this is like the dream come true. It's like the actor that's in the restaurant and then the producer comes in, hey you, I want to make you, you know, famous. And so you had this sort of angel show up, and I really. I think it's important you talk about this because I hope this person can hear this.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:19:55):

The couple that helping you in Brazil. Yeah. So they had their they had this they have this gym located in Curitiba, and they are the headquarters of check them out in Brazil. So since always I was used to go to the gym because my father was already purple belt when I started training. This is why he took me to jiu-jitsu, because I was pretty wild and I like it. Fight on the streets and against everybody. This is why I started playing like I started jiu-jitsu, because I was playing volleyball and we were in a tournament, and the girls from my team said, you're not that good. And then I punch her up and I took her down and I showed her who's the boss. So I was like, wild. And that's not good. This is part is not about that. So I think that this is why I love so much jitsu, because I could control this wild part that was inside of me. And nowadays I can let it go before I step in the mats. So get into their flow and leave them monster like, take the space is because I'm jiu-jitsu. Because I was leaving. So like, young, wild and free without control. But that's not what gods have for me. Like that's not God's plan. So he won us being warriors. Because some people think that God is like that guy that doesn't want to, that doesn't like war. Bro, the world is already a war. We need to be ready to fight but with his values. So this is why I think they're warriors are like, well, we don't need to be wars from God. We need to bring his his words and the way that we have to bring peace to the world is fighting. So yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:21:39):

I'm being strong. I think, you know, you clearly have. So I imagine this kid with all this energy and what's amazing is that you find this outlet where you're able to train, and then through that, you're able to harness it and control it and now you're not somebody that's just sort of throwing a sword around. It's like you're elegant and it's beautiful, and you're able to do it in a way where you are controlled and you can protect, rather than just smashing everything around you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's good. If you'd like to see more of this content, please subscribe to us on our channel on YouTube. You can follow us on Spotify or on X. That's good. So then you you you're out there on the street selling and this truck car rose up. What's and who and these people.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:22:23):

So these are okay. So these guys he his wife was a competitor. But nowadays only her husband competes in bodybuilding. They open class division. And they they found me on the street. They started helping me. They found raises for me to fight my first girls. That was in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi, world before 2000. You knew what you did.

Justin McMillen (00:22:46):

Was it like the first time they met you, or did you see them over and over? And they were.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:22:52):

Like, no, I just saw them like by their, YouTube channel. But that was the first time that we met in person. Like, they didn't know who I was, but they saw me selling desserts and snacks in the rain. So they said, get into the car. And it was like, sure, guys, sure I was in love. Like that was a big opportunity meeting the people they inspired me because they have a tough, tough story too So they started helping me and we were seeing each other some times, but they were doing that for love. This is what I like. This is a one of my missions in life do for love because one day I need that. And like I want to be able to give back to the world and God, what I received with so much love. Because who's going to be the person that is going to support you the whole year without even know you? We didn't have even had contact, but they wanted being like they wanted help in my journey and they did.

Justin McMillen (00:23:50):

What do think they saw in you?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:23:53):

God, yeah. Yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:23:55):

I love it!

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:23:56):

God

Justin McMillen (00:23:56):

it's this, this street where it's like, as important as you training in the gym like this, these moments out there. Because every day that you show up, even when it's raining, is you committing to. And this idea of not giving up, committing to your dream. Yeah. And then you get to be around all these people that see you and they think, man, I want to support that. Until finally the person shows up that says, yeah.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:24:18):

Like, I think that the best way that we have, like I'm super connected with God since always because of my family. And I think that the most beautiful way that you have to honor God is achieving the like you're 100% because everyone comes to the world with special talent and I'm super athletic. I didn't know that jiu-jitsu would be the way to like, honor God, but would be in a sport and like being able to achieve and give my best. Like it's a privilege being tired like to because I'm doing what I love. How many people nowadays is tired because they are working with what they love, is like you. Sometimes you leave here so tired in this transit, but it's a privilege because you were like part of the 3% of the the world that is doing what they love. So God, we are just blessed. Yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:25:14):

We're lucky.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:25:14):

Yeah. This is why I've never complain about selling desserts or snacks. Because that wasn't a problem for me. I was doing that because I knew that would bring what I need to compete. I was just there, like doing what I needed to be able to compete.

Justin McMillen (00:25:28):

So you always did. You feel like you always knew you were going to. You were going to do something great with it. Was it something that was just really clear in your head?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:25:36):

No, I was just following my feelings. I've always do that. So I moved to USA. I like I, I came to California because I'm following my feelings. Sometimes we don't know what life has for a but who have has for us. But some lesson is going to come, and the hardest moments are the ones that teaches you more about you and resilience. So I always thought, I always try to see the good part of what's happening, because if we go into like the bad trips, bro. Yeah. No way.

Justin McMillen (00:26:12):

How did you. What year did you move here?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:26:16):

Why?

Justin McMillen (00:26:17):

No. What year?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:26:18):

Other. No no no no no to 2022. Year 2022 I want my first update. Let's talk about yeah yeah yeah yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:26:25):

So so how did you you this person was helping you and how are they helping you? They were just paying for your life so you didn't have to stand on the street?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:26:31):

Like look how crazy. They found a gym to sponsor me. Then they bought a motorcycle for me. And then I was driving from my house to the gym, so I was, like, spending much, like, less time to get into the gym so I could do all my things. And during the whole year, I don't need that work. Well, like, at all. They were giving me, a I said, I forgot and then like, meal preps, they found a sponsorship of meal preps. nutritionist, doctor, supplements, gym, clothes, everything. Wow. Everything. They are angels. This is why I trust that God puts the right people in your like in your path to make you work like accomplish in getting to like 100% of like that he want he puts angels to try to help you to get there to honor him.

Justin McMillen (00:27:28):

So Kauane, why do you think some people I believe that completely. In fact, if I look at my history, my brother and I, my brothers, my business partner, we talk about this all the time because our entire history is filled with these human beings that came and showed up and changed the course of our whole our whole business, our whole life, our ability to do what we do. Not everybody seems to see that or acknowledge it. Why do you think some people are able to tap into that and some people aren't?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:28:00):

I think sometimes you're not grateful enough. Like there's the things. So I think because everything that I have like leaves and like everything that I went through showed me the way to get there. So how I'm not going to see God as like, let me see, how could there be like, my father is his fault? It's a good fault because like he always told me, you need to get there. So try to find a way to see everything good, because the world is already bad. Like world's bad people is bad. And if you don't look for the good things, you're going to go crazy. So since then, I started looking the world with tried to see with different eyes and not allowing these kind of things like put me down. Because in the end of the day, everything that you have is you, your consciousness. And if you're not working through that, you're going to fall. So this is why I think that our life is like when we put ourselves and like as our priority in life, you are the owner and the person that is going to give like guide your life. We need someone else. This is why God is important. Like Buddha, whatever that you trust, you need to have someone that is above you because when you have, you have like someone to follow their words, follow their path. And this is what make us grateful. Because when you are like the one that is guiding your life, everything that you think is going to be true, like, okay, I think that this is blue, this is blue, it's pink. It's been because you are the one guiding our life.

Justin McMillen (00:29:44):

So yeah. So you you you, I, I agree with I love the way you're putting this to. I think your accent in the way that you speak is making this even more beautiful than what? You know, if I was trying to say it. So I'm going to probably duck it up compared to what you did. But but I think that there's a recipe. It's about perspective. It's about gratitude and showing up every day with a lens on the world that God has a role like God plays a role in everything around us, and that you have to notice that no matter how painful it is, even if things are shitty, even if there's pain around you, you got to look. Even if it's raining and you're selling desserts and you see the girl who's being mean, you have to notice there's beauty there and there's an opportunity to provide love. And you did that and you kept doing that, and you've been doing that, and the world is opening up for you.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:30:31):

And this is yeah, this is God. Always. God put the angel in my life because I've seen his signs and I always ask for signs, and sometimes we just doesn't want to. We just don't want to see or listing or whatever. See the signs. I was just to think that God has like a strong force like these. God talks with me like, hey girl, you're doing bad things! For real. Like so many times I was like, praying. And I heard like a like what? Like these voice like, hey, you're in the wrong way and you need to do that. And we think that is our consciousness. But is the Holy Spirit talking with you? So yeah. But about worlds. Yeah. These couple helped me. I went to Abu Dhabi. That was the first time. Like, did you get.

Justin McMillen (00:31:20):

Sorry I keep interrupting you, but did you get really because of having all this support, did your physical ability and your skill sets just start going crazy?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:31:28):

Yeah, a lot, because I could train the whole day like the only priority was training and rest. And also I had, a sponsorship from a place called it calls Aloha in Crete, Curitiba, the Arab recovery place. So I was going three times per week to recover from the training. So I was being able to lift, run the cardio and a lot of jiu-jitsu sessions and drills and also recover because recovery is like part or part of part of the training, because if you don't rest properly, you're not going to be able to achieve your 100% in training. So kids recover is important. So, yeah. And passing through all those like all the year, I saw that sometimes we need someone trusting us and we need to be grateful. So I went to World Worlds and they told me that.

Justin McMillen (00:32:23):

I'm going to go back because it's good. So what did your parents think? When do you remember telling them? Like, these people want to help me?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:32:31):

Yeah, my father said, I knew that that would happen. My father is the person that, like, is the most supportive one. Like my mom to. She always like, does he.

Justin McMillen (00:32:41):

Dream like.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:32:41):

You? Yeah, he's a dreamer. Cheer. So. And he always said, I know that you're going to do even know like not knowing how I know that you will do. So, my strength comes from my family. Because even when I'm tired, even when I'm gone, I. When I want to give up. And we talk about that, they say, look what you've done. So just keep walking. And this is the way that if you're lost and you don't know where you're going, just start walking. Walking and the path is going to show up like you're going to be fine.

Justin McMillen (00:33:13):

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go for it. I think that's that's a theme here too. And I think I imagine that at during that year, with all the support, did you feel like an obligation? I think that's the wrong word. Like out of respect to these people to push really hard. Did that give you fuel.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:33:30):

Yeah. You don't want to disappoint. Yeah. But the thing is, like, I always wanted to prove myself that I was able to do it's not about someone else. Because when you're doing trying to not disappoint the others, you're thinking about someone else and not about what you want for your life. So when you like God first and then you and then you and then you, and then like when you were an athlete, you need to be a little selfish because you need to prioritize what's good for you. But sure, with like values, like you have your your principles. I don't know that word in English. Principle is like principles. Principles. Yes, a good English class you hear. So when you have your principles and you're loyal to their, it's way easier because you don't get lost. But, where we.

Justin McMillen (00:34:22):

were, we were okay. I love it, but we were okay. So, they helped you for a year, and that led you.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:34:31):

To that point? Yeah, there's a point. Then. Okay, so.

Justin McMillen (00:34:35):

But also this, because you have a you have a big social media following as well. So as this is happening, are you starting to accumulate that as well where you're getting traction in terms of people are starting to know who you are and you're building a name for yourself in Brazil, like through sponsorships and.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:34:50):

Like I've never talked that much about, like, social media because that will come like that, that comes while you achieve your dreams. And that is a distraction. Like that's the second part. But when you start prioritizing things that are not that important for your routine, you're breaking up with some principles. For example, one of like my most is always rest in your rest time. Sometimes we want to like grow our social media, and then we are breaking that schedule for resting because you spend a lot of time on that shit. So everything like I love routine. Routine is one of the best things in the world because if you want to get successful, you need to have a routine and you need to be loyal to that. So the social media grows at the same time that you're working that like social media for athletes, must be a work. So you have a time you get you get here and you work from 1 to 5. When you finish done like that's work in after is just enjoy less time. So yeah. But my social media like were like grow up a lot with these people. From how far out and caring.

Justin McMillen (00:36:01):

Was it because of the sponsorships and.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:36:03):

Yeah, and.

Justin McMillen (00:36:04):

This is an important part of your story because you're you're this we're about to launch you out of Brazil, right? To, to sort of chase this American dream. And you went from building, building yourself up then becoming noticed and getting support and you're rising now and. Yeah. And now the world started to know who you are. Not because anyone cares about social media but people care about it. But you're, you're doing it. And now people are seeing this. You have sponsorships at this point. And then now let's worlds next. Yes. Yeah. Okay.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:36:33):

So so yeah. Then I went to worlds and a lot of people were support supporting. This is something that I love about Brazil. Some people they couldn't be at Leeds when they were younger because Brazil has a poor like the government doesn't support them much. So most part of people we have like so many talent, so many good people in Brazil, this what I think the Brazilian nationals in Brazil was one of the hardest tournaments in the world, because there's so many people that doesn't have opportunity to come to USA because they don't have visa, and the only opportunity that they have is Brazilian nationals. So you go there and there's pretty wild fights I fought. I remember my first Brazilian nationals was my first year of 2018. I've done seven fights in my division female like female, seven fights like in worlds. I've done for it. But all of them were finals already. Like the first finals are at a final. But in Brazil, like, there's so many talented people that they don't have the opportunity. And when they go there, they give their life because it's the only opportunity that they will have to show who they are. So yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:37:47):

I see I can see why this is a whole different. There's this completely different vibe.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:37:52):

Yeah. And yeah, so I went to Abu Dhabi and I fought my first Abu Dhabi World Pro. I was purple belt and I've done four fights, but that was like a funny tournament because that was the first time that I really get into a flow, the mood, the mood. I was before my matches and I was like, there's something that I love to do before all my tournaments, like it's it's mine. I always had that. Sometimes I'm just like walking around training and I, I love music. So there is, music playing and I don't pick the music, but the music choose me and the day gets brighter, everything gets lower. And then I start seeing some highlights of the tournament. Sometimes not my next tournament, but like EDC, like I may go is like ADCC now. So I already know the music. That is going to be my music for ADCC. So I'm like listening to music and then everything gets brighter, lower and I start like seeing what I'm going to do, the clothes that I'm going to wear, my entrance, the warm up, and then I pick the music to listen during my whole camp for that day, because that's going to remember me how much I give of myself during the camp. So this is a something that I love to do. And when you're there before them, like, like one step of the match waiting to do what you love with happiness, with everything that God gave you, you're like so blessed that remembers you where from where you came from. Yeah, and I love that feeling of remembering who I was and where I am, because that makes the path much more, like, meaningful.

Justin McMillen (00:39:39):

Yeah. So you're carrying this with you everywhere you go?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:39:42):

Yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:39:43):

That's why I when I said I could see, like said, they're all around you, all these people and these experiences. So you're still holding on to this and you have it and you step out onto the mat and you're there in a completely different way than somebody who's just competing.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:39:55):

Yeah. And like I remember in worlds in Abu Dhabi.

Justin McMillen (00:40:00):

I was just like.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:40:02):

I would I was insane for me because it was the first time leaving the country. So for me it was too wild. I was so worried. I didn't speak English. I was by myself. So there was too much information. And I remember that the warm up area, I was so into the flow, remembering the music because we couldn't stay with the earphones and, our AirPods. So I was singing that music and into the flow that I almost got disqualified because I didn't hear the girl screaming my name and she was in front of me, but I was inside of that, like that world with all that energy. And my opponent said, hey, she's calling you. And I remember we went to the mat. I gave my best. I was so happy, like the feeling was happiness because everything that I've done and that was amazing to be there. Can you imagine? I was selling like, snacks and I was in Abu Dhabi. Yeah, yeah. Come on. Like. And I was in my finals. Yeah. No, I was in my semifinals and those and I was telling us, I was telling myself all the time because it's about you in your heart. Because I believe that you can't teach heart. And if there is something that can describe me is heart, like, I always put my heart and passion in everything that I do, even if I know that it can be heart-breakful. But it's who I am. It's like how God made me and I was telling, it's about you. You're in your heart, you and your heart, you and your heart. And I was losing a fight. And I think that who told me that was an angel because I was by myself. So I was like, fighting in Abu Dhabi is only five minutes. But I was purple belt and IGF normally seven minutes. And I look at the time and I thought that I had more time on the fight and I was losing, but that was only 30s. But because I thought that was IBJJF, I thought that I had two minutes and a half and I heard there was like that voice company. So like this is why I think that was the Holy Spirit talking with me. You only have 30s and then I told myself, I remember nice and loud, it's about you and your heart. And I got a crazy armbar that I didn't. I don't even know from where that came from. And then. And then I won. I went to my finals and I. And I won, and I still remember how blessed and happy I was feeling about everything that I've done. That was like I proved myself that I was able to do and be whenever, like I could do whatever I wanted.

Justin McMillen (00:42:49):

Did you were you calling your family?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:42:51):

Yeah. Right. Yeah. Right after. And I was like three AM in Brazil.

Justin McMillen (00:42:55):

Was everyone screaming in the background? Like, you're not going to believe it, but I just won.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:42:58):

No, they were watching. They were watching. That was amazing. When I called my father who was crying so much because I also it was his whole life dream like being world champion or like a competitor, but because, I was born, he was like 21. So he was super young, so he gave up of his life to give me his best, like to give everything that he could. And I'm so grateful because my father couldn't give me the best, but he gave me the best of he could.

Justin McMillen (00:43:32):

So he raised you and your parents raised you so well. They gave you.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:43:39):

The most important thing. They did great gratitude. Gratitude. And I'm so blessed because of this. So and then.

Justin McMillen (00:43:46):

Incredibly lucky person.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:43:48):

Yes I am, I agree and and.

Justin McMillen (00:43:51):

Not that you don't work hard. It's not luck. It's just we all can be born in different scenarios, and you happen to be born to these amazing people that gave you the right ingredients in the recipe to become this person.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:44:05):

Yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:44:06):

And that must have been just incredible that, Abu Dhabi was.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:44:10):

There was amazing. Amazing. And then I won. I was so happy. People were like.

Justin McMillen (00:44:16):

Who is this girl? Who's that part of it, too?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:44:18):

Yeah, that was funny because I almost had a heart attack. I don't know, this was so weird. I was watching the video, I couldn't breath, but I was laughing and then I couldn't breath. So as well, because I was so happy, I don't even have a good picture of that moment. But that was meaningful. And I spent some days there with some of France, some of my friends from Brazil, because we met there. And I came back and I made the most meaningful tattoo that I had is in my whole back, because it's about you in your heart. So all the tattoos that I have there, there, there is a meaning. So I was purple belt about then I, Sebastian Lalli gave me my brown belt. And on beginning of 2022 was when I met Cyborg and fight sports people in Brazil. They were there for ADCC trials because fight sports, no guy is like they are badass. Yeah. And is their backyard. So they were there to fight and like the whole team was there. And I met Cyborg like some months after they invited me to come to fight sports and represent the South.

Justin McMillen (00:45:29):

When you came home where because of winning, was it just like a completely different scenario now? Yeah, like we want to know who this girl is and we want to work with.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:45:38):

Kind of kind of because I was like, purple belt. It's like a is like a college. Sure. Like some people, it's also something that people should think about. I know that jiu-jitsu is growing, but we should see jiu-jitsu as a college. When you graduate, when you graduate, you start making money. Like during that process, you need to do everything. I know that money is important. We're not talking about that. But we need to understand there is a steps that we need to do, and sometimes is you need to give more than receive. And yeah, so people were like, oh, who's that girl? But step by step, step by step. And you get there slowly. And then I came back. But I had a lower back surgery like when I was gymnastic because I pulled the muscles off my lower back. So after that, after that tournament in Abu Dhabi years later I started feeling my lower back super bad, super bad. So I took three months to recover in my lower back. So I was on that tournament ADCC trials, just working and I was taking the beat, doing everything I could to recover and come back to jiu-jitsu 100%. So I started training, competing and right away Cyborg and Fight sports. They reached me out asking if I wanted to come to USA. So this is why I came and I got that fight. Sports I didn't.

Justin McMillen (00:47:09):

What year was that?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:47:09):

I was at Curitiba. It could my city.

Justin McMillen (00:47:12):

What year? What year?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:47:13):

2022 2022 one like three four months after three years. Yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:47:19):

I've this much English in three years.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:47:20):

Oh my gosh. I have so many good people around me. But one more thing that I love about me is like I'm not ashamed, I just do it. Sometimes people doesn't even understand what I'm saying, but I still trying. It happens.

Justin McMillen (00:47:35):

Off camera your friend over there is smiling and you got a good guy to be around because he talks a little bit.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:47:42):

Oh my gosh!

Justin McMillen (00:47:43):

You're going to learn a lot. Okay, an hour with with him is like four hours with somebody...

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:47:47):

And this is what I say. Like he was talking with me a few days ago and was like, is this how I look like speaking in Portuguese? Because, oh my gosh, you speak so fast. But yeah, he's going to help my my English improved a lot. But since I got

Justin McMillen (00:48:01):

He speaks really well too. So he's very articulate. So in the way he describes things is yeah. For you to yeah.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:48:08):

Like and when I got it, when I got here, I started training no-gi because in Brazil I was using I was you even used to train no-gi. I think I took two classes, like during this whole time that I'm training. And when I got that fight sports, I met Wagner, Harsha, and Jasmine, his daughter. That is like a phenomenal. And she's like half of my size. And look at that girl's like, I'm going to beat her up. Oh my gosh. She submit me five times in six minutes. I was like, bro, I need to train with these people. This is the people that I need to be around. And then Wagner and his family, they opened the doors of their dream for me. So they are like my family here. They supported me a lot. They gave me all this structure too, as Cyborg did. So I came to fight sports, fight sports, like is my house. I feel like home over there. And cyber gave me the opportunity of teaching at Fight Sports even without speaking English. Wow. Yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:49:08):

So like that you're like.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:49:09):

Oh my God. Insane as everything that is in my life. Insane.

Justin McMillen (00:49:15):

Like, here's your new teacher. She doesn't she can't speak English, but just watch what she does and do it.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:49:21):

So.

Justin McMillen (00:49:21):

Yeah, you're like trying to... Were you talking in Portuguese, as you explain?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:49:24):

No, I was memorizing. So translator is everything. Like tech knowledge is one of the best things in the world. So before my classes, like I'm a personal trainer too. So those like our personal group classes. So I had my own spot at fights first to teach personal classes. That is also one more of like the gifts that God gave me that is like transform like people's body to make they make them happy. So yeah, then I started teaching those private like those group classes and I was memorizing everything. So I was decorating what I needed to say before the class. So I was going driving like listening and trying to memorize. So I was getting there and saying, guys, please don't ask me anything during the explanation. If you have some question, I'm going to repeat everything, but don't ask me because it's going to break my my thinking. So I was memorizing getting there like so guys, da da da da da da as a translator. And there was how people start helping me with my English because, for example, I resisted say I do to they, I do tomorrow, I do yesterday like doesn't make sense. That kind of makes sense. I always force people start help me so but in I always force in myself get into like uncomfortable situations because necessity creates opportunity. So I was hanging out like it will be easy. Like the Jin has a lot of like Latin, Spanish and Brazilian people. If I was only around then I would be comfortable in speaking my language because it's kind of what we do. May in Miami, like you, don't actually need to speak English in Miami, like you can speak Puerto Rico and you're fine. But I'm in America and I need to represent I want to have more opportunities in like the if you don't know, English is something that I need to tell you kids English English classes is going to me to like be one step forward. So a lot of people told me, you should learn English. While I was in Brazil. I was like, it's not that much in part. And then when you get here and you realize that you cannot understand what important people sponsor are saying, you feel like I regret that is some like a things that I regret in my life not start learning English while I had time because I lost so many opportunities, because I didn't even I didn't speak English. That nowadays is something that I always try to say. English is like the world language. So yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:52:03):

What would you remember when you first showed up here? Like how did you feel?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:52:06):

Oh my gosh, I was like in ecstasy, but I was like, what I'm going to do because I just came like, that was one week after say Yes, Cyborg and the gym. And I was coming. So I just realized that I was in USA without speaking the language. Like when I got here, I was like.

Justin McMillen (00:52:26):

When you looked around like, how did it what was the biggest differences that you noticed? Right away?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:52:30):

I think people like because in Brazil everyone is too friendly and here people is more like conservative. Conservative, conservative. So that was something weird to approach me because I didn't speak the language, and I wanted to be part of the American community because I wanted to leave the culture. So for me, the approach was worse. Hard. Nowadays, I feel.

Justin McMillen (00:52:55):

Like you have to be like.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:52:56):

Yeah, like I was like, how should I act? Because I'm like super animated. Yeah. So I didn't know how to deal with. But people here is like always being nice with me. I think like the way that you approach everybody. Yeah. And then. Okay, I remember that I was hanging out only with American people because I wanted to get into their world. And I was talking with some of my friends two days ago and asking her a, do you remember what did they say when, like we go out in the first time? She was like, amigo, couldn't even understand what to say. And I was say, I was talking so much. Yeah, but, that's how you learn, putting yourself in, like, uncomfortable situations for everything in life. If you are comfortable, it's wrong.

Justin McMillen (00:53:44):

You were comfortable. You're not growing. Yeah. It's like anything. I mean, if you go in the gym and you're lifting weights and you don't have enough weight on to feel stress, nothing's going to change.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:53:53):

Yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:53:54):

It's a it's a truth. It's like the whole universe that works that way.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:53:58):

Yeah. And then I got here, I start training in the gi and I start challenging myself because it is this trials were a this is sea world was coming and I didn't train. But there was a girl that came from Brazil and she and she went to fight sports just to make her to have her and make her camp. And Cyborg said, this girl needs you. Even that you don't know. No. You. So I started like, it's what I say when you give more than you're like, you're expecting the universe. God's gonna give you back. Because I was there for her. Because I wouldn't, I wouldn't fight. I didn't have my invite, my ticket, nothing. But I was there to serve her. And we were training so much. And I've learned so much during that process because it's not only about us, but about how much we can and another's life. So that camp was insane. I have worlds so much being like her partner training, and I went to EDC to watch and I was like, that's my dream. I want to be part of this. I want to be that athlete. And when you are like into some of those events, you really understand what's house being, house feeling like a real athlete? Oh my gosh, just structure everything. And even that from me. For me that came from like a third world plate, a third world country. So seen all those things. I was literally living the praise that I was used to, to do. So I was there. I just needed to keep going, keep going, keep going. And yeah, so I started challenging myself. fought pan ams.

Justin McMillen (00:55:43):

How is how was learning to train no-gi or learning to compete. no-gi. Was that a huge?.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:55:48):

Crazy, crazy because I love lapel guard. So I need grips. I needed grips for me as like no-gi and gi are different worlds and something different world and something that I say is like people sometimes not gi people most part of gi people things, then no-gi is not that much important, but no-gi gives you like a pressure in a tight game. That gi doesn't give you because when there is no grips, you start like a touching and like feeling the other's body. In gi you have grip. So I left no-gi in my gi was way better. Like when I start training, like when I start training for this season. Oh my gosh, I felt so many like so much tighter, stronger. The pressure was good. So there was a challenge. But I love challenge. Like, what would.

Justin McMillen (00:56:41):

You say to people who are trans making that transition? What are some things that they should know so that they understand if they're trying to go from gi to no-gi how to do it and not give up and learn, what would you say?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:56:53):

Take the risk. Like take risks like life is about that is about take risks and learn with them. Sometimes you're not going to be successful, like doing okay, but at least you try. It can imagine like in the in the future. Like someone ask you and your regrets are like, I didn't try like what you've done in your life. This is like, this is your thing in life is like a period, like is a short period of time. So if you're not leaving your full potential, you're wasting time with your life in life is is like that. I lost some of my close friends one month ago and he was health like he had a motorcycle accident. And you never expect like in a few days, like we were talking, planning some trip and then he he's like, he's gone. So you really see life as a as a joy. Like you need to enjoy and be grateful for the time that you have in here. And if you don't live life of passion like what you're doing, what you're doing, where are you going? Yeah.

Justin McMillen (00:58:00):

So yeah, that's the point. I mean, if you don't enjoy what you're doing, you don't love it. You're not experiencing that feeling of being consumed by whatever it is you're doing.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:58:08):

But at the same time, sometimes, like we need to do things that we don't want until we start, like having the opportunities to do what we want. I don't want to be like on this, like traffic selling desserts, but that was the only option that I had to be here today. Yeah. So adults does what they need to do and kids does what they want. So that one of the sentence that my father told me. So if you want to get there, you need to do what you don't want, because that's going to guide you to the point that you want to be so.

Justin McMillen (00:58:43):

So you see, you learn no-gi. And then what was your next big one?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:58:47):

Next big accomplishment was I went to I went to Brazil to fight the trials, and I ducked up knee and the first less training of the first week of the camp for ADCC. That was beginning of 24 of 24. Yeah, January 1st week less training. My knee popped out, my patella was a stop in my quadriceps. And during three months I was like training and giving my best to get in it. This is in the best shape ever. And that was like what I said. I can't also let's step back to Mexico static. Let's go for worlds there in 2023. My whole life was I mean, my childhood dream was winning IBJJF worlds and I got here in 2022. I lost my first worlds. I got third place and the next year my goal was being world champion and fight sports.

Justin McMillen (00:59:47):

Do you lost worlds because you got third place?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (00:59:50):

Yeah, doubt. Because that's the thing. That's the thing I lost because of my mentality. Because I didn't lose. I was there between the tree, the best tree of the world. But because of my mentality, you don't give credit enough because sometimes you're not grateful for where we are. We wont achieve something that we forget, like to enjoy where we are. And that's part of the process. And I've just learned that only this is a camp. So when I want roads 2023, I want my division and open class. For those that doesn't know what is. Open class is a mix of all divisions but in your belt. So all weights but in your belt. I want my division we don't have. And plus these super-heavyweight division. And then my coach gave me the black belt on the podium. That was my dream. But the next day I was empty. Like what's next? What's next? I didn't enjoy being world champion that much as I did for ADCC trials. My name was bad, bad, bad. That was next year, so my name was so so messed up that you need to work in your mind. The muscles that you need to give of yourself, even with pain. This is why I say bad moments are important to shape who you are. Yeah, if you're like shaped bike only like, they're good things. Well, you're soft. Yeah. You're soft.

Justin McMillen (01:01:12):

Good things don't shape us that much, you know. Yeah. People are forged in fire, right?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:01:16):

Yeah. And they, like learners, has cars. Yeah. This is what makes you strong. So. And I remember that going to go into EDC, I was ready and I was leaving that moment because during the whole process to be world Championship JJ's, I wasn't thinking, I was just doing, doing, doing. And I stopped enjoying enjoying the moments that I had with my friends. So for six months of my life, I was leaving, like automatically even thinking and it's not good because in the end, like, who's going to remember that I won worlds? Like what? What really matters is like the impact in what you've done in other lives. So when I remember that in ADCC losing, I lost my finals and trials, but because of my good performance, they invited me for worlds and I was way happier. I remember the feeling of being stepping on the ADCC trials podium with my heart full of like happiness, because I remember how good was, how much I gave of myself, how much like effort I put into that journey to be there because I really lived the athlete life for worlds. I was just thinking about winning. So this is why, like it is at worlds 2022, I lost. Come on.

Justin McMillen (01:02:41):

You. It's amazing about you is that you keep learning from these experiences. So you're this perpetual student. You're constantly trying to figure out how you see the world and how the way you're showing up is affecting your performance and who you are as a human being. It's way more than jiu-jitsu for you.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:02:58):

Yeah, you. You you choose the like this amount of like my life. So I think when you have when you have God in your heart, you're guided by something bigger. So your purpose and like an earth is not being like the best athlete in the world, but how I'm going to be like how I can affect people being the best athlete in the world. This is what matters because I'm I'm being athlete right now. But I had my knee surgery. I have friends that they got paralyzed, that they cannot fight anymore. And that guy cheated. I don't know if you heard about this guy, but my first training at Fight Sports in 2022, one of my good friends, Ben, he got paralyzed. He had like an injury training and he can't walk anymore. But that guy is the more the strongest person that I know in life. He's a warrior. He teach us every day that you can't give up. He's he keeps fighting, fighting, fighting, fighting. He goes to the mat and trains and he's the one that teach me like that. Every day is a new opportunity of doing better.

Justin McMillen (01:04:08):

So it's amazing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's incredible. So you. When you hurt your knee.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:04:17):

I realize that hurting my knee was like, hurting my knee was good. Good. Because I saw that jiu-jitsu cannot be the most important thing of my life. Because one day I will not be able to fight. I will not be able to train because I'm going to get older. So who you are out of the vets, that's for the feeling that I had during my whole knee surgery process. Like the recovery. Who am I without jiu-jitsu? Because I knew there I was used to see myself as a kawan athlete. Nothing. Nothing. But what you can do out of them is how many people can help out of the mat. But being on the mat are like a plus I can achieve and I can get into much more people. I can achieve much more like public help. Others. But for yourself, like who you are out of what you do best. Like when I had my knee surgery one day, I was fighting like against the best girls in the world and next day I needed help to walk. So enjoy the moment, enjoy the process because it can, like the time in life, can take it from you. This is why we need to live with passion and can imagine regrets. Because you didn't show. You didn't give your love. Yeah.

Justin McMillen (01:05:41):

So you you you hurt your knee and you see it as a gift, which is this is a theme in your whole life is just showing up. And no matter what comes your way, you find the beauty in it. And then you continue to grow and more amazing things keep happening. So you hurt your knee. And how long has it been since you.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:06:00):

I had my knee surgery and the the the the the the, may of 22 now. Sorry to May of 20, May of 24. And I had my knee. Yeah. I heard in January and I had my knee surgery in May of 24 after 82 trials in Brazil. So I stood in Brazil. I had a family that supported me a lot. We find good doctors and that was crazy because because I kept training three months with my knee like already. Bad that got worst. And when I went, I took all the exams before I started trials. But I don't I don't want to know because that could affect my mindset for the fight. So I already had the the results, but I didn't see enough 3D to. I saw that I was like no knee anymore, no ligaments enough. And they need to reconstruct the whole training. But, I went to the first doctor and he said, I don't want to do yours. I don't want to take the risk of get making your surgery because you can lose the movement of your leg. And that moment, I remember that I saw a movie like a highlight of every scene that I passed through in my life in jiu-jitsu. I was like, oh my gosh, got it now, how about now? And I thought it was like, am I going to stop here? No, let's go for the next. And I always I'm a like, I have faith that God does the right thing and I don't give up, I don't quiet. So I found a doctor and I knew that that doctor would be the guy. He was like a small guy, Japanese with, like with those big glasses. Like, that guy is going to save me. And he made the surgery. And when I woke up post-surgery, I saw two doctors, two surgeons around my bed like angels, and they said, move your foot. Can you imagine how like, weird is? Like really realizing that that moment would be the most important moment of my life. Because if I didn't move.

Justin McMillen (01:08:01):

Yeah.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:08:02):

So I moved and I thought, I'm fine, thank you. And then I started taking the next day post-surgery. I had the surgery on Saturday. On Sunday I was already taking physical therapy because it's important, but I've been talking with so much athletes that they don't take pity this serious, but it's part of longevity if you want to, if you want to have longevity in your sport, you must do the right thing.

Justin McMillen (01:08:33):

Yeah, you need it for..... flexibility to right?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:08:36):

Everything. My game is like most part of my game is mobility and flexibility because like, my backyard is gymnastics. So. And I lost all my range motion, all my range of motion. And I didn't rush the process because sometimes it's not about you, but what you need to learn during the process. And I needed to learn. Been patience. I was used to ask God for patience because I was explosive, you know, like God gave me patience and he's going to give you. But not that easy. He's going to put you through it. You need to work for it. Yeah. So he puts you in a lot of bad moments. That's going to test you to see how much you want. Because to get in the rainbow, you need to pass through the ring. So, yeah, this knee surgery process for me was about to learn about myself being comfort about not doing anything. Like, what did you do? I was going crazy. I was reading books. I was doing like, yeah, not Netflix because I don't like TV. So I was just like tripping a lot in my thinking. I like to write. Right? Yeah. I was writing a lot about my feelings and that was one of the best moments for me about knowing about myself, because when you were athlete you're just thinking and your mindset is like, I need to do this because of jiu-jitsu. I need to follow this routine because of jiu-jitsu. But when you don't have the who you are, how about your feelings? How do you feel without having to compromise with your routine? It's totally kind of like different backyard. So I was learning about being kind with myself because before now I need to do even if I'm like under pressure, with pain, whatever. But when you don't have that compromise is about you and your feelings.

Justin McMillen (01:10:35):

So did you go to any dark places in your head during that time?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:10:39):

Yeah, like I the hardest part for me was who am I? I'm lost and I felt lost.

Justin McMillen (01:10:49):

World is jiu-jitsu at that point.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:10:50):

So yeah, like most part of my life, I'm in the same at home. I was in Brazil, I had my knee surgery in Brazil. That also gave me like more emotional support because I was around my family. I had so many dogs around me. I'm a dog person, so I had so many dogs around me, so that was giving me them their strength. But when I came back to USA two months after my knee surgery, I started teaching. I started like leaving my routine. They put me like in a dark place because at the same time, when you're recovering from the surgery from zero 0 to 9 9% is like this. But the last 1% takes so long. And that's the hardest part, because you think that you're able, you think that you're good, you think that you're ready, but you're not not. And then you need to learn about patience. And there is when you need to break your whole game. You need to break the paradigms that you have in your mind that you. For example, for me, I was a flexible. I'm a flexible person, but I need to change my whole game. My whole game playing because I wasn't able to do what I like it. So one more time, God put me in a bad situation, out of my comfort zone to learn and see that I'm able to do everything that I want is just here. So is a, block. It's something that we.

Justin McMillen (01:12:22):

A barrier.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:12:22):

A barrier, yeah, is a barrier that we create in our mind. So everything is about mind. Powerful. So power words are powerful to you? I was used to I didn't I didn't trust that until I met someone in Brazil that said words are powerful. Talk with you like as you're talking with someone else, give like talk with herself in front of mirror telling you, telling yourself the life that you want to create. And nowadays I'm leaving. Nowadays I'm leaving their life. I want to be health. That was the only like thing that I was asking myself. I want to be health because with that I can. I can work on. I can do it because like my friend, he cannot walk anymore.

Justin McMillen (01:13:09):

Right.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:13:10):

We are blessed. Every single breath is a blessing. Can you imagine.

Justin McMillen (01:13:16):

No. Yeah I was just, I was just next door and there was a guy this morning he's got, he's a amputee. He had got blown up by a IED. I think it was that he might have been shot. I'm not sure what his situation was, but I was watching him do box jumps. That's one leg. And I was just like, is beautiful. Because, you know, guys that come here, they're fighting to bring their life back, you know. And I texted a picture, a video of him from behind so he couldn't tell who he was. And I sent it to my friend. I said, this is what fighting for your life looks like, you know? Yeah, it's like the strength and resilience in that one person. But at the same time, you know, he's doing it. He's trying so hard to balance and do it and and, yeah. And I was thinking about my own legs. It's like it's so easy to take things for granted. Health is so easy to take for granted.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:14:08):

Yeah.

Justin McMillen (01:14:09):

You know, and you get sick and you're like, man, I didn't appreciate when I felt, well.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:14:13):

It's inspiring. It's inspiring. Like having someone with those with like with, like someone like that around you makes you reflect like have reflections about how blessed we are. We have both legs, both arms. We can breath. We are not like we don't. We are not passing through cancer. Cancer. Yeah. Gattaca. Every single day we have the opportunity to do and achieve what we want. But it's up to you.

Justin McMillen (01:14:41):

Yeah. It's hard. It's hard to stay there. I think I just had I was touched by this on another one of the, shows that we did, but, a friend of mine just passed away of cancer, and I got to, you know, hyperbaric. Yeah, yeah. So I did at Pat's house, I did, two and a half months of hyperbaric with him, five days a week. So we locked ourselves in this chamber, and he's at the end stages of his life, and we just talked. So we did hyperbaric together every day, every day, 90 minutes a day. And he had, even though he was dying, his sense of like, what matters in the world was so much stronger than everybody else. It was like being near somebody who was enlightened. And he's kind of a jerk. I mean, in life, you know, he's not he's not a jerk, but he he passes a lot of people off. He's got a very big personality. But to be around him and I consider myself like, what the duck? Like, why is it that we can't all find this before those?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:15:43):

Yeah.

Justin McMillen (01:15:44):

Like, why is it, why do we have to hurt or need to want to understand the value of our needs? Why do we have to like if we could stay there all the time? I think that's yeah, that's that's sort of the goal. But you do this a lot. You're pretty good at this. Your whole story is filled with you realizing that you you appreciating what you have. And through that the world keeps opening up for you. And you're so young. So it's where it's going to go from here. I mean, you you have so much more ahead of you.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:16:13):

Yeah, yeah. Like you said something that is true. Sometimes we need to lose things to start. Appreciate them. But it's part of who you are. Like, yeah, we are not perfect. We try to do our best and let me think, yeah, I think when you don't have anything, you need to fight for what you trust, like for what you believe in, what you want. So I didn't have anything. So nowadays, everything that I have is because of hard work and God. So that's why we talk about if you don't know where, where, like where you want to be, just walk. Walk. And the path is going to open for you. The doors are going to open and being resilient is not easy, is not easy because it hurts when more most part of time, we try to like run away of our feelings. And that's sad because when you're not living through what you're feeling, you're killing part of what you trust. Like if you don't leave what you're feeling, you're going to holding. You're like you're holding, kind of holding your future. Like how you're going to like be like on world champion with like, don't you think that is hard being there like before the fight. Can you imagine for me, fighters like being there one step of like being a ring is like, right? Like kill or like cure die and yeah, I don't know how to explain that.

Justin McMillen (01:17:51):

Yeah, I get I get what you mean. I think, so where you you hurt your knee, but you've recouped it. You rehabbed it and you're back.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:18:00):

Yeah, 100%, thank God. Yeah. Like, the most important for me was like the knee surgery, the recovery, the. I really went through the recovering. That wasn't my priority. And sometimes we try to rush the things, but everything has the right time. And recovering 100% from my knee surgery is what's keeping me good and strong. To come back for my challenges.

Justin McMillen (01:18:27):

Like, what's your challenge?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:18:29):

Rhodes okay. Yeah, excited for the like next month I'm going to open Arms in Orlando and after is worlds. So worlds and Black Belt is always been my dream. But the journey to get there is being magical because there's so many people like that is showing up in my path, helping me and learning with me a lot. That makes me appreciate the time that I have on the meds, because sometimes, like when the training you're not there for yourself, like you're having a shit day shit. But there is someone that you made smile and that gives you strength. So my challenge now is worlds. And my challenge now is worlds and impact. People doing what God gives me. That is this talent for jiu-jitsu.

Justin McMillen (01:19:25):

And you live in the US now. Completely miss that. You're in Miami.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:19:29):

Yeah, Miami and I.

Justin McMillen (01:19:33):

I want to know what what if there's there's two things. So you coming from another country and pulling yourself up from from not nothing. I mean very little humble means to where you are now is a big deal. And we talked a lot about that. There's also you being a woman that's working, you know, training in a sport that's predominantly dominated by men. Are you a bodybuilder, too?

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:19:57):

No.

Justin McMillen (01:19:57):

But you're physically.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:19:58):

Yeah. I just love training. I love and enjoy training. Like that's my passion. Yeah. For real. I love what I do, and God gave me athleticity. So the best way they have to honor him. And I feel so alive doing that. It's so alive. It brings me peace. Yeah. Sometimes go into a war is the way to bring peace to my life. So.

Justin McMillen (01:20:23):

Yeah. Yeah. So what would you what would you say to somebody that has a dream to come here and to to grow their life and to find something special? Let me rephrase this. This current state in the country right now, there's a lot of controversy around immigration. And I think one of the things I'm afraid of is that people will think that that, the US culture doesn't want people to immigrate here. That's not the way.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:20:52):

That that is not.

Justin McMillen (01:20:52):

True. That's not true. So you tell people that might be thinking about coming here in a way like you did. Yeah, maybe not coming through the southern border, but like that, America's not we're not.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:21:05):

It's not that.

Justin McMillen (01:21:05):

Treating you poorly or.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:21:07):

Like something, the way that I try to explain to people that what's happening in the country is like, imagine that you are you have an island. You are the king of that island. You someone gets like in, getting to your island without permission. What you're going to do is you're going to send them back. But if they come, they ask for work, they do the right thing. If they offer is always like that, I'll give you first and then you'll give me back. So that's the way people that is leaving the country is not because they are bad, but because they are taking and making the wrong like they are going for the wrong way, making bad choices. If you're here, if you're doing the right thing, your life is going to work. My life is going like, wow. Like I've never had the opportunities that I'm having. So I'm really blessed how I'm going to complain about complaining about some place that gave me and made to it, like be who I am now. These United States like part of my story. And I grow up as a woman so much here as a person because my mind was so like I was into my world thinking about you. And when you leave the country, when you get out into a new culture, you start appreciate things much more. So it's not about you is about the world. And okay, where we were.

Justin McMillen (01:22:33):

At, you're great.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:22:34):

Just keep just, So yeah.

Justin McMillen (01:22:37):

About coming here. Just the that I worry that the rest of the world thinks that we are unfriendly. No.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:22:43):

No. Yeah. You're not like people. There is good and bad. People in everywhere sure depend where you're going. So in most part of time, bad things happen in our life because we were walking in the wrong way. And sometimes people blame God because of that. But God allowed some kind of things happen in your life because you need to learn the lesson, even if it's hard. And if you don't learn the lesson, he's going to put you there again, over and over again is like a video game. You are on that level that there is the chef found the big boss. If you don't kill him next time, he's going to come stronger and stronger and stronger because you didn't learn how to kill him, how to pass through that, that level. So yeah, you need to be surrounded by good people. People that makes you grow. And growing is not listening what you want, but what hurts you. So that's how you know that you're in the right way. And what I would say for people that is coming, just don't give up. One like day by day, you need to have someone else to trust. Because when you are the owner and the guidance of your life, you're going to go to the wrong way. Because when something hurts you, you're going to step back because you don't want to pass through there. So God, first.

Justin McMillen (01:24:10):

I'm going to thank you.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:24:13):

I appreciate the opportunity of being here. I'm stoked by being here with you guys.

Justin McMillen (01:24:18):

You are such an amazing person. I had no idea. I mean, I it makes sense why you've been so successful. And I think today I've learned that the key to so much of success in life is having something respect for something that's greater than than yourself, noticing it, bringing love wherever you can go, working hard and understanding that when things are painful, it's because you're growing. And to maintain that perspective at all times. Thank you.

Kauane Ramos Da Silva (01:24:49):

I appreciate it. Yeah.