From Rio De Janeiro To Texas: How One Man Rebuilt His Life with Gleidson Cutis

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In today's episode, From Rio De Janeiro To Texas: How One Man Rebuilt His Life with Gleidson Cutis, We sit down with Gleidson “Poney” Cutis and trace the long road from a violent childhood near Rio de Janeiro to building a new life in Texas through discipline, faith, and community. We talk honestly about transition stress, identity beyond achievement, and how bravery is built one uncomfortable decision at a time. 

• transition stress and why connection predicts emotional well-being 
• growing up around violence in Brazil and how “normal” can still be traumatic 
• bullying, early martial arts training, and finding confidence through competition 
• the identity trap of trophies and the grief of never celebrating wins 
• choosing a college “plan B” while pursuing professional MMA 
• a faith turning point in the US that breaks an old family pattern 
• arriving in Texas with almost no money and almost no English 
• marriage strain, divorce, depression, and home not feeling like rest 
• losing a job tied to visa status and getting unexpected support to start again 
• a promise to share what God has done and the start of a bigger purpose

Show Guest:

Gleidson Moraes Cutis ("Poney") is the Founder, Head Coach, and Professor whose life story is a testament to the transformative power of faith, discipline, and martial arts. Born in Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—one of the country's most challenging communities—he overcame a childhood surrounded by violence, bullying, and limited opportunities by dedicating himself to martial arts from an early age.

A graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education, Gleidson combines academic knowledge with decades of elite competitive and coaching experience. He is also a Certified Life Coach through Febracis, holds certifications in Emotional Intelligence and Business High Performance, and is an accomplished public speaker. His passion for personal growth and faith is reflected in his books, On the Mat With Christ and A Verdadeira Luta, where he shares the lessons that have shaped his life and purpose.

A devoted Christian, husband, and father, Gleidson believes that true strength is built through character, perseverance, and service to others. His coaching philosophy extends far beyond competition, focusing on helping students develop confidence, resilience, discipline, and integrity both on and off the mat.

Gleidson began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2002 and Kickboxing in 2006. He has been teaching martial arts since 2008 and holds the rank of 3rd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and 1st Dan Black Belt in Kickboxing. He has also served as a multiple-time IBJJF referee, contributing to the sport at the highest levels.

Throughout his competitive career, Gleidson has earned numerous prestigious titles, including World Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, NAGA World Champion, Brazilian Cup No-Gi Champion, two-time Brazilian Champion, two-time Rio de Janeiro Champion, three-time Fight 2 Win Pro Champion, three-time Submission Hunter Champion, multiple-time AJP Champion, and multiple-time IBJJF Champion.

In mixed martial arts, he compiled an amateur record of 2-0 before achieving a professional record of 7-4, competing internationally across Brazil, the United States, Canada, and Italy for respected organizations including WOCS, GSF, WebFight, Hero FC, RFA, LFA, ACB, and the UFC.

Today, Gleidson's greatest passion is helping others discover the same life-changing benefits that martial arts gave him. Having experienced firsthand how training can provide purpose, confidence, and hope, he is committed to empowering students of all ages and skill levels to become stronger physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

He lives by two guiding principles: "We are what we allow ourselves to be; we make our choices, and our choices make us," and "You are not special—you are unique." Through every class, seminar, and mentorship opportunity, Gleidson strives to help others realize their unique potential and begin their own journey of transformation.

You can connect with Poney at: Fighteria,  On Instagram, and on Facebook. You can also find his books, The Fighteria Way Collection, on Amazon. 

Transcript

Starting Over And Belonging

Speaker 6 0:00

Welcome to Couch 10 with Cat, mental wellness with a friendly voice. I'm Cat, your friendly neighborhood marriage and family therapist, assembling author, and TEDx speaker. But most of all, I'm a proud wife and mama, endurance athlete, and wholehearted coffee lover. And I'm truly delighted to be your host. Each week we gather for thoughtful conversations about relationships, resilience, healing, and yes, sometimes we laugh along the way. Let's begin. Leaving home changes you. Sometimes you choose it, and sometimes life chooses it for you. You pack your dreams, your fears, your family, and a version of yourself that no longer fits. And somehow you find the courage to begin again. Today is a story of one man's journey from the vibrant streets of Rio de Janeiro to the quiet beauty of Wimberley, Texas. It's a story about faith, family, resilience, and discovering that sometimes home isn't the place that you were born. It's the place where you become who you were always meant to be. There's something universally human about starting over. Whether it's moving to a new town, beginning a new career, becoming a parent, ending a relationship. We all know what it feels like to step into the unknown. Most of us imagine change as exciting. But if we're honest, change can be very lonely. It's filled with uncertainty. You wonder if you've made the right decision. Maybe you miss familiar faces or coffee shops or the language or the corner store that you saw your friends at. Yet somehow many of life's most beautiful chapters begin with that uncomfortable first step. Today's guest knows that feeling intimately. His journey stretches thousands of miles from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to our beautiful hill country here in Wimberley. On the surface, it looks like a story about martial arts and entrepreneurship, but underneath it's really about courage, about building a life from the ground up, about family, faith, and purpose. You're listening to Couch Time with Cat. I'm Cat, and today we're talking to Gladeson Pony Cutis about his remarkable journey from Rio de Janeiro Wimber Rio de Janeiro to Wimberley, Texas, and the lessons he's learned about resilience, belonging, and finding home.

Transition Stress And Why Connection Matters

Speaker 6 2:30

Psychologists often talk about something called transition stress. Even when change is positive, our nervous system can experience a loss. A new home often means leaving behind familiarity. And research tells us that one of the greatest predictors of emotional well-being during major life transitions isn't perfection or confidence. It's actually connection. Feeling that we belong somewhere, having people know our name, sharing meals, finding purpose. In today's world, people are experiencing transitions that aren't always visible. Children are growing up, parents are aging, people are changing careers. Some are grieving the life that they thought that they would have. Others are quietly trying to build a new chapter. Gladson's story reminds us that beginning again isn't reserved for the brave. It's how bravery is built. His real name is Gladyson, but we all call him Pony Cutis. Is a Christian, a devoted husband and father, the owner and head coach of Fideria Academy, a fourth-degree Brazilian jujitsu black belt, kickboxing black belt, former professional MMA fighter, published author, creator of the Fire Fighteria Way, and our good friend. But what inspires me the most in the life that he's built, not only through discipline and hard work, but by creating a place where people of all ages can grow in confidence, respect, resilience, and community. Today we're stepping behind the titles and the achievements to learn about the person behind them.

Meeting Pony Through Our Kids

Speaker 6 4:16

Hey Coach Pony.

Speaker 4:18

Hey Cat.

Speaker 6 4:18

Welcome to Couch Time with Cat.

Speaker 4:20

Thanks for having me, though. Very excited here to be here talking to you guys.

Speaker 6 4:24

I am so excited. Listener, before uh Pony started telling me stuff and I said save it for the show.

Speaker 2 4:32

Yeah.

Speaker 6 4:34

So I have known Coach Pony really tangentially for several years, but really only closely, I would say, for six months or seven months or so. I um my kids go to your jujitsu school and they've gone two or three times a week for two years. And I honestly don't even know how I I think one of their friends went there, so we signed up, and I think that was just a God thing because my children have grown in immeasurable ways that is awesome in their confidence and they love it there. They're like, Can we go back again today? And I'm like, we live 40 minutes away. Wow. And they're like, let's go. And I'm gonna know that. Yeah, and I'm like, okay. So they they adore it, and because they belong and because you all love them so well, I'm happy to do whatever. You know, I'm happy to show up. So, listener, I want you to know that I have a great affection for this man and his wife, and I really want to share his story with you because it's just phenomenal. Okay, so Poney, you ready? Yes, very ready.

Speaker 5:50

Okay, how old are you? Now I'm 37. Just a pup. And I hope I stayed there and I want to keep on going. Yeah. Okay, so you're 37.

Childhood In Rio Surrounded By Violence

Speaker 6:00

Where did you grow up? I have grew up in the city that I come from, it's called Bel Ferroxo. It's located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. What is your original language? It's Brazilian Portuguese.

Speaker 6 6:11

Brazilian Portuguese. Yes. Okay, so you know Brazilian Portuguese and English.

Speaker 6:15

English, yeah, and I can play a little bit of Spanish. Yeah, it's a lot of Spanish. But it's very similar, but yes.

Speaker 6 6:21

Okay. Tell us what did you love about where you grew up? Wow.

Speaker 6:27

What did I love about there? Yeah. Not much. Not much. Why not? It's it's really hard to make a small comparison here where I am today in Wimberly, Texas. So a common thing for me growing up is literally just simple thing, you go to school in the morning. I don't know how many bodies I'm gonna see on the way to school. You know that got killed the night before. So that was something that and here in Wimberly, Texas, now where I am today, when I hear some gunshots, I'm the one shooting. So it's very different. It's even harder to compare because I feel like I'm in a paradise every day. Wow. So but I would say the people, people are very, just like you here, people are very welcoming and warm and loving. But the environment. But it was dangerous. It's dangerous. Not just internally, I would say. We we can be very dangerous inside ourselves. And but uh the the environment outside was was extremely dangerous, and which was hard because we were not even the hard part was not even that I don't have access to other things. My family, very fortunate they will be able to provide a good living for me and my siblings, but even these though, our surrounding areas. We don't have nothing well to be doing, and I I remember growing up fighting, that was something that I I stick with. Do you have brothers and sisters? I have two sisters. I'm the oldest.

Speaker 4 7:57

You're the oldest, and mom and dad? Mom and dad, yes. And you all lived together?

Speaker 8:02

We all lived together, yeah. But around maybe 13, if I'm not wrong, remembering right now, my parents divorced. Okay. So that was a completely different cycle that shaping me and my sisters in many ways because it was really really hard on us back then.

Martial Arts As Survival And Identity

Speaker 8:17

When did you start martial arts? I start was I was five years old. Five? Yes, and that's sometimes I I when I talk to people say, I don't know if that was good or bad, because that's the only thing that I know, you know, but that's something that I've started and I never stop. I just find myself in there and I don't know, I love so much.

Speaker 6 8:40

Was it common back then or in your neighborhood for five-year-olds to study Brazilian jiu-jitsu?

Speaker 8:46

No, not even because I was getting bully. And it was not even jiu-jitsu. When I was starred, I was at Karare, and then I did a capoeira, which was like a Brazilian style of some sort of fighting dance. Very effective and fun. But jiu-jitsu, I found I was 11 years old-ish. And growing up a little bit more, got into the teenager phase, and many things going on, and I started competing right in the beginning. And there was some sort of identity that I find because growing up, getting bullyed all the time, and all the kids mess with me. Now I got this little piece of metal in my chest, and people call me champion and praising me, and I say, wow, I like this feeling. And that shaped me in many ways growing up, but I didn't understand how good that was and how bad that would be having my identity shape around that alone. So around champion. We can talk more as we go, but that was something that I've discovered a couple years back that I'm not what I'm do. Oh, that is such a hard blessing. Find out who I was and who I am, that was really hard. Yeah.

Speaker 6 9:57

Wow. So you started when you were five and you were in martial arts, and then around 13 you started. Eleven. Eleven, Brazilian jujitsu. And when did you decide you wanted to come to the US? I remember 13 years old.

Speaker 10:15

Answer your question right away. I was 13. Okay. And it was right the moment that my parents was, you know, on and off, was really hard. We were going through a lot of things. But I remember with this big argument that I have with my my dad back then, or many than we had growing up. And I remember going upstairs to my bedroom, and I just slammed the door and yelling, I will leave the United States. I'm gonna be a professional fighter and I'm gonna have my job. Nobody's gonna stop me. And I was yelling this over and over again while I was crying because they don't want to be training anymore at some time because that's all I want to do. I don't want to go to school, I want to do jujitsu. I don't want to do this, I want to do jujitsu. And was, and of course, that was not the right thing to do. I gotta go to school, I gotta do all those things. And growing up a little bit more, like I'm I stuck with it. I just all we want to do was competing because of the feeling I am something now. People see me now, and back then I didn't understand. Today looking back, I do understand, but back then just want to get the feeling we're feeling over and over and over when is the next tournament? I gotta get a new matter, I gotta get a new matter, I gotta get a new one, a new one, and my whole life was on that way, and it was really good, but not so good when I realized what built me. Yeah.

Speaker 6 11:34

It's also, but there's a season, you know. It was, it is and sometimes we need those external things to help build us up to a certain point, so then we can handle learning the rest. Because if we don't have accomplishments and if we don't have that sense of self-efficacy, so self-efficacy, listener, is the ability for you to know that you can handle something. And if you have that confidence and trust in yourself, you can handle a lot. But if you've never been challenged to the point where you have to trust yourself or you have to show up for yourself, if you've never been tested in that way, you never earn the self-efficacy. So it's like you almost have to go through that in order to then kind of get to a safe spot, like an island. And then you can kind of think, oh, okay, maybe I'm not my accomplishments.

Speaker 12:33

Yes, yes. And you are very right because just like you said, and don't uh everybody didn't listen. I was like, guys, that's something that it's good to be a champion, it's good to win, it's good to do all those things. But I I think just like you said, the resilience over time during the sport built me in many ways. Just like you said, have the island over there, and then eventually understanding that, okay, that's not who I am, that's what I do. And I did really well. And that was the blank page that I find myself over those years, okay, because right now, fasting forward, we're here in our Wimberly, Texas. I'm not fighting professionally anymore. I'm coaching people right now, but eventually throughout this journey, I was the guy in the office. I have the coaches coaching, I have the athletes training, I have the trainers teaching people, and I was there in the office looking to the wall with a bunch of pictures and me traveling, doing those fights in Brazil, in the US. I went to Canada's Hillary, all and I was questioning myself: I'm not the guy on the picture anymore. I'm not a guy on the mat anymore. I'm not a guy holding the trophy, the matter anymore. I'm not a guy teaching. Who am I? And that was wow. And this was 20-21. So it's not long ago. And that's when I started my real fight. That's when this born in me, okay, and I realized everybody fight for something that's not necessarily the fight on the mat. And that's when God started pulling me towards the direction a little bit more to try to understand human in general and study me. Because I lost myself throughout the process. Now I have to try to find out and activate my real identity. Because yes, being a champion, okay. I was for a long time doing the sport, but that's not literally who I am because I'm not doing that anymore. Oh, I'm a black belt. Yeah, I didn't born a black belt. I became a black belt.

Speaker 2 14:30

That's right.

Speaker 14:30

I'm a coach, I didn't bore a coach, I became a coach. I'm an entrepreneur, I I didn't bore, I became so we always was dealing with those things, and I have to dig deeper. And I got beat up in many good ways, but I'd be able to find comfort after a while.

Speaker 6 14:47

So you were a young boy in Brazil getting bullied around a lot of violence, yes, around a lot of danger. I'm sure you experienced many traumatic events seeing that. I've never seen a dead body.

Speaker 15:02

I did not know it was traumatic back then. Right. Today, looking back, yes, it was, but it was just another day. It was common. Never you'll be normal, but it was very common.

Speaker 6 15:12

I have several Brazilian friends, and they um they have such a different perspective because of the violence that they've seen, and they're like, Oh, you'll get kidnapped, but it's fine, they'll take you back. Or like, oh, it's not that dangerous. You'll only get held up once. And I'm like, Wow. Yeah, they just have these stories that are wild, just wild. And they're like, Yeah, my friend Bia, who we've had on the show before, her brother was talking to me and he was like, It's super safe. I only got held up at gunpoint one time. And I was like, bro here, that would be oh you know. So Brazilians have a different type of perspective and resilience to violence or to crime. Yep. The syncristances that you grow up with. Yeah. Wow. Okay. What age did you decide to come to the US? To US when that I decided to come. Well, what age did you come?

Speaker 16:17

Did I come? Okay, I think I was 28, 28, 26, I don't remember now. I think it was 2015. Oh man, getting older, forgot it right now.

Speaker 6 16:31

So the whole time between 13 and 28, you're a fighter. Yeah, I was. Okay, tell us about your professional fighting.

Speaker 16:40

That was

College Compromise And Going Pro

Speaker 16:41

training in Brazil for the no, I was going to school, finish school, go to the gym. And usually it was 2 p.m. we start for session, and then I go home at 10 p.m. So that was every day. We have uh two sessions in the afternoon, and then I rest for an hour, and then I have another session at night. Wow. I did this for I don't know, a few years doing that as a teenager. When I grow a little bit more 18, my big deal with my family was a now let me go to US. But my mom wanted me to go to the college, and like I said, the circumstances was really hard, but they were fortunate enough to help me and my sister. My mom said, no, you gotta go to college because you gotta have a plan B. And I say, look, mom, I don't believe that thing. Like my plan B to make the plan A work. I will be, and the little kitty came back. I will be a professional fight. I'm gonna leave the United States. My whole life was always reaffirming that for me. And she said, no, look, we we already realized that's what you want to do. I don't think that's gonna be the path that you should go. And but we're gonna support you. But you have to go to the college and say, All right, okay. We're getting somewhere in here, you know. I say compromise. Choose my degree, mom. What do you want me to do? Are you crazy? I cannot choose. You gotta choose the same mom. My degree is a black belt, mom. That's my degree. Um this is gonna be applicable in anywhere in the world, and I go. I can survive a jiu-jitsu, mom. I don't think you understand. Choose my degree. And she said, I don't know what to say. And I said, okay, put him in a law school. And she said, no way, law school, that's none with the USA. I don't know either. And then she said, How about your physical education? Go for physical education. You want to be with the athletes related in sports, and I think that will help you. I said, right, fine, sign me in. And she signed me in and went for the four years, got my bachelor's. Really? I I did, yes, and I want to get in, get out as soon as I could. What was the name of your college? Was Unia Bill. Yeah, it was a private college they have over there, and they just sent me over. I remember they did that. I got my my diploma, and I say, Mama, here is for you. I just headed to her because I don't have no idea, mom, what I'm gonna do with this. Can I just fight it now? Because the money that they're gonna afford there is say, just send me to US, save the money, send me there and I figure that out. Just putting me in the plan to go over there. Once you get there, I figured it out. Is your mom are your mom and dad still with us? They're still alive? It's still alive. They're still alive, yes. They're still alive. Today they understand. Yeah, they're very proud and happy. Yeah, and went back in time and had a few conversations. And sorry, son, I'm sorry to mom. And so what are their names? My mom is Glade, my dad is Ilso. Uh-huh. And actually, my name. Yes, you gotta. Yes. My name is the mixing. Glade and Ilso and Glade Son. Yeah, that's literally what it is.

Speaker 1 19:40

It's fun. Okay, that's where I come from.

Speaker 19:43

Yeah, we know.

Speaker 6 19:44

Oh man, that's funny. Wow. So you graduated from college, you're fighting the whole time, you're in tournaments, you're winning medals, you're feeling more and more like a champion. Yes, literally. Literally. What else is happening in your life around that time?

Speaker 20:02

So that time was funny because was as soon as I was in transition to finish the college, and it was a ready transition to started fighting MMA professionally. And when I started that during college, a little bit before college, I have a couple amateurs fight. And my mom and my family was terrifying. They they was just like, man, see my son getting punched in the face for leaving. That's not something that's terrifying. But I love it so much. And it's cool, feels good, you know? And and and while doing this, and I remember, and as soon as I finished the college, my first professional fight in our city, that the state that you came from, was in a big show that did over there, and my mom started driving, and she didn't know because I was doing my my work with the promotion, having to record interviews, picture, and all of this.

Speaker 4 20:53

Sure, you're and it was professional.

Speaker 20:55

And it was live on TV, all the fights was live on television, and she started driving in the city, she saw outdoors all over with my picture. Because back then I was starting MMA, but I was in the previous bouts in Jiu-Jitsu, I was a couple times national champion, was world champion in jujitsu, and have a look. Let's pause there.

Speaker 6 21:15

Okay. Let's not blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You're saying it like a couple times national, a couple times world. Yeah. What are you saying? Say those slowly.

Speaker 21:26

Couple times. Yeah.

Speaker 6 21:30

That was. You were a national champion?

Speaker 21:33

Yeah. Twice? Was, was. A couple state championships and a one-on-one world championship there.

Speaker 6 21:40

A world championship.

Speaker 21:42

Yeah.

Speaker 6 21:43

World.

Speaker 21:44

Yeah.

Speaker 6 21:45

That must feel amazing. I can't even beat Lucy at running.

Speaker 21:51

Yeah. I don't know. It's see, even nowadays for me, and that was the there was That I have after a while, because right now it seems like a big deal. It is a big deal. For me, it was like, and now because I'm not doing it anymore, I'm fine with, but every time that I talk about it for me, it's hard for me to appreciate. Because for me it was like I have to get this, so they let me do that. Because if I win a medal, first start because the bully and the fulfillment to have my you know people praising me and looking and he's a champion, don't mess with this guy anymore. But I have to become something that, okay, my family don't want me to do this. I have it to prove them wrong. So that was my feel my whole life. Every time that I got a medal was like almost like a showing their face right here. Guys, I'm right, you guys are wrong. I can become something with it. And every time then I lost, it was like they were right. The end of the they were right. And I've like always saying a couple years back, before I make that transition to a father, and I was fighting manager's contract to know it's it's a duty, it's it's a job you gotta perform. And I always had a time to celebrate my wins. And that hurt me many ways because I'm still dealing with this nowadays to celebrate my wins. And we know how God is gonna give you more if not celebrate what you know, what I give to you. So that is my real fight. But I remember when I going through this, you know, and getting a face all over my outdoor and live on TV, and my mom come and see. And after the fight, I got the paid, and it's like, okay, we're not paying anymore for you to compete, but you start getting paid right now, but it's not enough. So yeah, mom gotta start from somewhere, but you guys, you guys didn't get it yet. I won't stop. There's no way, no way back, you know. And for me, you asking right now was a couple times that was a big of a deal, but for me it was just another way to prove they were wrong and I was right.

Speaker 6 24:12

The energy around it for you, you it sounds like you have a little grief, a little sadness around the energy with which you accomplish the goals. Yes. Yeah. Because I've known only known you on the other side of the bridge, you know. And um, I'm a little older than you. Does it look alike? Thank you, thank you. So um it even though we have this energy, there is also the practical side. You have to be disciplined, you have to be focused, dedicated, and there has to be skill. There has to be these things. Nobody gave it to you because they felt bad for you. That's very true. You earned it. So even though the energy may not have been exactly what you wanted in reflection, sometimes, you know, we you know, here's the grace. You have to have grace for yourself or your circumstances, and you were using the fuel that you had. Now you know that anger is not a sustainable fuel, right? I need great grace and love. Those are sustainable for the long term. But you still accomplish those things. Nobody was nobody put it in the mailbox for you. Like you worked really hard. It was very hard. So two national championships. Yeah. How many state championships? Three. Three and one world. And one world, yes. I mean.

Speaker 4 25:44

Yeah, I'll take it. Thank you. Yes. Bravo. Oh man. Bravo. Are you uncomfortable? Uh fine.

Speaker 25:54

Yeah, I don't know. Yeah.

Speaker 4 25:56

It's I don't know. Yeah, it's it's okay. Yeah. Okay. He's uncomfortable, everybody.

Speaker 6 26:01

That's all right. That's all right. It's good. We're all human and we all are uncomfortable at some point. Pony keeps inviting me to a jujitsu class, and I keep saying no.

Speaker 26:11

And eventually, eventually she was wearing. Yeah, she was rather eventually.

Speaker 6 26:16

Because I know I'll be uncomfortable. Yeah. So we'll we'll trade.

Speaker 26:20

We'll be there.

Speaker 6 26:21

I'll go to a class.

Speaker 26:23

Done deal.

Speaker 6 26:23

I'll go to a class. Dun deal. You're uncomfortable here, I'll be done deal.

Speaker 26:28

I'd say not even here. I feel like uh comfortable just for the fact that too when we're talking about those accomplishments. Yeah. I don't know. I just feel like that was my job. I gotta done this. You know, I I'm still struggling right now. I know I can say this. You know, I know. The pictures that you see when you come to the gym on the wall. Yeah, right. Look at that. Get him a towel, everybody. You see, you see the pictures there on the wall. Took me five years to produce pictures there. No, we a lot of people not even knew that I fought professionally.

Speaker 6 27:01

When we signed up, our first year as a family there, I didn't know who you were.

Speaker 27:05

Yes, and many people didn't because I don't like it.

Speaker 6 27:08

I didn't know who you were until the other guys left.

Speaker 27:12

Yeah.

Speaker 6 27:13

Like I thought, because there's no name tags.

Speaker 27:15

Yeah, no. I tried away.

Speaker 6 27:17

So I was like, who is this person? I don't know who this is. I would just see the name of the tag or name plaque on your door, your office door, but I had no clue because I thought, um, I think you have a there was a gentleman there and he was older. Not super old, but like just older than you. Yes. Who's that guy? He was a coach.

Speaker 27:40

Coach there.

Speaker 6 27:41

He would walk around in a ghee and he would go to the back in the office. Was that your coach?

Speaker 27:47

No, no, no.

Speaker 6 27:47

No, no.

Speaker 27:48

We have because we have I have a couple coaches throughout the journey there because, like I said, for a long time I was not on the mat directly. Because I have these other coaches from Brazil that we give an opportunity, so they come here. Oh, maybe he was just a coach. And it was just behind the business managing.

Speaker 6 28:04

Oh my god. Well, that's why I didn't know who you were. Yeah. Okay, okay. So you're a world champion. You're 28. Yes. You're winning all these things. Are you married?

Speaker 28:16

Are you Yes? Back then I was in a relationship since I was 18. 18. At that age, 18 to 28. Oh my God. So I moved here to US that throughout this transition, the no growing up, and we got married here. We had a baby, but the life didn't work out. And she went back, and my baby's still there with nowadays with her with the mom.

Speaker 6 28:38

And let me go back to that. Why did you pack your bag? Like, how did you know, okay, we're going now? What was that for you?

Speaker 28:46

Was it was not even we was like I go. Yeah. Because back then we weren't married, we were in a relationship. So we got married when we got here, and she was doing her things in Brazil, so I was doing as my chase this dream to be a well-known professional fighter, living in the US. But I remember first time I came here was the beginning of the 15th.

Faith, Temptation, And Breaking A Pattern

Speaker 29:10

And I went to California, San San Jose. A friend of mine has a gym over there. And I went there and stayed with them for a jiu-jitsu jam. Jiu Jitsu jam. Yeah, his name is Kyle Teha. And I stayed there with Kyle for maybe two months in his gym. And then I went back to Brazil. But while I was here, I was talking to other friends, then I was here ready. And hey man, I finally came here. It's super cool this place, this country. Just shared with them. Then I was here. And I went back to Brazil. And I remember, but throughout that was the same time that we're getting to know Christ. I've got baptized on the same year, 15th, was January 5th, 10 a.m. in the morning. And I never gonna forgot. And I I make the decision to come to Christ. But a year before that, I was getting discipled by a good friend of mine. He's 63 now. We're still like a really good friend. And throughout the journey here, that's what he says to me, you think you go in there to realize your dream is becoming a fighter, but it's something else. And I didn't know, you know. And when I had the chance to come to San Jose to train with him for the very first time, and he says, that's one of the big encounters of my life that changes everything. Because he says, look, be aware, stay vigilant, because God has a fight there for you that's not related to the fight that you're going for. He always showed me. And what you talking about? Like you whoa, dude. Like you don't know what you're talking, you know. And I came and I all the tournaments then I came to compete. I got beat up bad in the first match. Oh no. That was you were really hurt. Terrifying. I was scared because this new place, new country, I don't know how it's gonna be. The fear of the unknown.

Speaker 2 30:52

Yes.

Speaker 30:53

I couldn't perform well. But I remember throughout this time I had to make a trip to Chicago because I have to go compete over there. And I remember staying in this gym. I don't remember the name right now, but a this friend of my coyote called to his friend in Chicago if he could keep me in the gym for like a week so he can have a place to stay and then compete. And then I was gonna get ready to go back. But when I was there, the last day, I got beat up in a tournament so bad. Oh no. And he came to the gym at night, and I was in the little room with the cameras stay on the TV, and he came with like a two girls. And my my fiance was in Brazil back then. And I said, Man, I just want to thank you for the time that I have you here with us. And here let's play a little beyond the mat with the ladies. And I said, look, man, like zero English. I got my Google translator, like pointed to my finger, like my ring. And that was crazy because my whole life I struggled with that growing up in Brazil. See grandpa cheat on grandma, daddy cheat on mom. And I was going the same path because in order to be a man, you gotta have a bunch of women's. And that was the lesson. Then I that was the pattern. I won't say the lesson, the pattern that I grew up with. And I went the same route, you know, when I was young and immature and knowing Christ and who I should be, and I perform as a man. But I remember that day saying no for that. Wow. And I just locked the door and I just started pushing. He tried open, I locked the door. And he said, okay, if you want to tap back for me on the phone, if you want to change your mind, we're gonna be here on plane. And he was with this lady on the mat and the whole night. They were yelling, calling me. Wow. And they were having a bunch of fun, you know, that's in their coats. And on the mat, and the camera, the TVs was right on my there on my face. Thank God. I got the blanket, I cover, I got the pillow, I just put over my head, and I started crying and praying and saying, God, take me out of here, take me out over here, make me sleep, make me sleep. And that morning when I wake up, I felt I never, ever, still nowadays, be able to experience a feeling like that.

Speaker 4 33:17

Wow, what was that?

Speaker 33:18

I felt like I was walking clowns. I was so fresh. So walking on clowns? Literally, literally so fresh, so a burden that came out of my shoulder. And I'm pretty sure that day I will I got set free for this I would say generational scene that we have in our family. Yeah. I got set free on that day. And going back to Brazil after the terrible experience in here in America. All I want to do my whole life is come to America. And I came and now lost all the matches. Like was yeah, literally, that's the word to put in one word. Yeah. But I remember going back, my friend then disappointed me. He saw me and he started laughing. I said, Why are you laughing, dude? I don't talk to anybody, just come back. You know, he picked me up in their port.

Speaker 2 34:07

Right.

Speaker 34:08

Well I laugh like a God show me, man. You you passing the test. Yeah. What you're talking about, like uh, I know. When you have the right time, you're gonna share with me, but I already know.

Speaker 4 34:19

What?

Speaker 34:19

And what you know, like I know, take our time, we're gonna talk. And a couple of days pass by, and he's really into it with God. The guy has a different relationship with the guardian. I started sharing to him and he started laughing, and I knew it. I knew I knew it. And now you're free.

unknown 34:36

Wow.

Speaker 34:37

And he started teaching me more about the Bible, and I made the decision to know to come to Christ. And I I I told Lord, I said, look, the experience was bad, but I really want to keep on doing this. If that's what we have for my life, please help me get it there. And

Texas With No Money And No English

Speaker 34:53

two months later, I received a phone call from Texas, a gym in San Antonio.

unknown 34:57

What?

Speaker 34:58

And yes, literally. And we're looking forward to it. It's like a movie. It's like a movie. And there, this friend of mine, he was calling and said, Look, man, they they they need a coaching in Texas. They're the owner of the gym in San Located in San Antonio. And I've talked about you and a couple of other guys, but he say, like, they look at you up and they really liked what they saw. They want to give you a deal to come here teach for them. They're gonna give you a salary, a car, and a house to stay. You just gotta come and teach.

Speaker 6 35:26

Stop it.

Speaker 35:27

Literally. And I say, wow.

Speaker 6 35:29

Pony, can we do a part two? We can't.

Speaker 4 35:32

Okay, this feels like too much for a one part.

Speaker 35:36

We can't, yes.

Speaker 4 35:37

Wow.

Speaker 6 35:38

Okay, so then you came.

Speaker 35:40

I came. And I came literally, just like we were talking before. I put my gi on my backpack. Uh you had a backpack? With my gi on. What's a gi? Gee is the jujitsu uniform, the clothing that we put to file in. So a backpack and a gi. That's it. Did you have any money? No. No money. No, back then, fifty dollars considering some money. That's how I got in my pocket.

Speaker 6 36:05

And did you know English?

Speaker 36:07

Hi, buy and sorry. That's it. Hi, buy and sorry.

Speaker 6 36:11

Hi?

Speaker 36:11

Because I look at Google. Yeah. Good. And sorry. Sorry.

Speaker 6 36:15

That's it. Oh the rest you're with your hands and using Google Translate.

Speaker 36:21

Google later.

Speaker 6 36:23

Yeah, everything. 50 bucks, a backpack. That's it. A ghee high bye, sorry.

Speaker 36:28

Yep. You land in Texas. Yes, I ported in San Antonio, and I was waiting for somebody to pick me up. Then I don't know who's gonna pick me up. I just landed there. Oh my god. Waited for somebody to come and touch on me and hey, are you this guy? Yeah.

unknown 36:43

Wow.

Speaker 6 36:44

That was literally the the cool thing. Well, there are a million cool things, but one for sure is that if somebody messes with you, you can protect yourself. For sure. So you're not walking around scared. No, no. No. No, that's yeah, that's that's a very cool feeling. It is. You've earned that for me.

Speaker 37:00

I can't get in any room in the world and I feel very comfortable.

Speaker 5 37:03

Yeah. Yeah. That is not any room.

Speaker 37:06

A lot of rooms. Couch time with cat. Sometimes I can get uncomfortable. So it's not any room. Let me calm over here.

Speaker 6 37:16

I you know, a reason, listener, that my husband and I send the girls to jujitsu is because we want them to feel good in their bodies and we want them to be able to defend themselves wherever they are. And they're pretty good for their ages and they're they love it and they're dedicated. And uh Pony, I haven't told you this, but one time, like if they go to the restroom together and like at an airport or restaurant or something, they'll keep an eye out for weird people, you know, creepy, creepy guys is what they say. And um they start to say, they start to say it like this. Good thing you're a yellow belt. Yeah, like they start to yell it.

Speaker 37:59

They're like so people know that it's fine.

Speaker 5 38:01

Yeah, um, they're like, You got a stripe last week. Yeah, like they they start to say it real loud.

Speaker 6 38:10

Because they're like that don't try anything.

Speaker 4 38:16

Yes, yes, yes. We will rally, yeah. That's good though. That is good, yeah.

Speaker 3 38:20

It's good, it's good. I mean, the creepy person can think these kids are crazy. Yeah. I won't mess with them.

Speaker 38:27

Yeah, I won't go with them. They're definitely not a target. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 6 38:31

That's amazing. Okay, so you were 28 when you landed. 28, yeah. Okay. And how long did you work in San Antonio?

Speaker 38:40

It was three years. Three years I was there. Three years. Yeah, three years. And then we had a chance. They let me go after those three years.

Speaker 6 38:47

And were you still fighting professionally or just coaching?

Speaker 38:51

I was coaching, fighting pro that the deal then I told them, I said the only way I go, as much as that's the only offer I got on the table to make sure coming here, because I'd say I want to keep it pursuing this dream to become a well-known professional fighter, eventually go to FC and say, all right, we're gonna help you, because that's what I've been doing here too. I say, perfect. So I came and I taught them jujitsu. And in another hand, they were helping me with the training, providing me training for keeping my career, want to come to MMA. And was happy three years. Yeah, it was awesome. Yeah. So then you're 31. Yes.

Speaker 6 39:27

Okay. You're a fighter? Yes. You're a coach. Yes. You've got some professional experience. Yes. Are you happy?

Speaker 39:33

No. I just got recently divorced. Oh no. So yeah, throughout the time. So this happened.

Speaker 6 39:40

I didn't mean to laugh. You just said yes, yes, yes, and then you said no. And it no. I thought you were gonna say yes.

Speaker 39:45

Yeah, because it was everything that I always want to leave, I was experiencing. But the circumstances, the environment that was was everything that I don't want it. Oh no. Because as much I wasn't the person that I used to be growing up, going back to the previous relationship, I did everything that I'm not supposed to be doing when you were in the relationship that I'm not proud of nowadays. I didn't have other way to cope with. And I have to come into knowing Christ, I said, you know what, I just gotta say the truth. And eventually I say, Hey, I gotta talk. And can we have a moment right now? I gotta lay down everything for you. And I just said it. And it's really hard to come back after something like this. But I said, look, if you forgive me, I promise you, right now, before God, my heart was with Christ already, then life will be different. And so she forgave after a couple of months. We stayed together, and I come to US first, and she comes three months later. And we stay here for all those three years. We we got married and we have our daughter over here. But what's your daughter's name? Letitia. Letitia. Letitia, yeah. But somehow, somehow, the past, I I I don't like to say she brings the past with me. The past just comes with me.

Speaker 6 41:05

Yeah, and it's hard.

Speaker 41:07

Any fight that I have, any social media comment, if the person is a woman comment on my social media, who is this girl? Like I have no idea. Yeah, that's right. I was going worst and worst and worst. I see that in my work all the time. So you will understand a little bit that yeah, yeah, absolutely. So and that happened. We the no, I never want to cross the line to do nothing in a woman that I shouldn't. But she did cross the line and I said, you know, for me is that no more. And and yeah, after getting hit and I'll be able to, I hit people for a living, but I'm never gonna hit a woman in my life. No, of course, you know, when but I receive it and I say, okay, that's done. Yeah. Which was really, really bad. It wasn't gonna work anymore. We're gonna work anymore. But I was trying to make it work because my daughter. I don't wanna she grow up without the daddy around. And I push like for long, long couple months, but it is what it is. And answer your question before, so yes, everything was good, but every time that I come into my safe place after long day training, getting beat up and getting cut and hurt and going home. And this is another work was not calm.

Speaker 6 42:23

I mean, home was not calm.

Speaker 42:24

No, was was another mat. I gotta keep on fighting.

Speaker 6 42:28

Yeah, I just wanna rest.

Speaker 4 42:30

Yeah. Yeah. Wow. So that how it was.

Speaker 6 42:33

Okay, so listener, here's what we're

Fired, Visa Fear, And A Lifeline

Speaker 6 42:35

gonna do. We're gonna bring Pony to Wimberly. We're gonna bring the story, we're gonna land it in Wimberley, and then next week we're gonna bring you the second episode. There we go. And we're gonna go Wimberly to today. Does that sound okay? Sounds perfect for me. Okay, how did you go from San Antonio to Wimberly?

Speaker 42:51

San Antonio to Wimberly one day after the transition, yeah, 2018. And when I got when I no, I came here when I was divorced on that year, and it was three years and I weren't working with them. I believed my heart, I was very depressed. And I was really hard to keep it performing as coach the way that I was. For the business might be not that interesting because the coach was down, sad, and it's understandable. But the problem because back then I have a contract with a promotion from Russia. So the first fight they booked me in Canada. And being a Brazilian, United States, with under the visa, every time I'm gonna leave the country for a fight to come back, it's a nightmare. Oh really. A lot of bureaucracy. I gotta go to OSC Ambassad again, do another interview, why you were here, doing your butt, why I wanna go back, and really uncomfortable, really hard. And I went to Canada and come back, and on that year I had a fight in Italy. And I've got divorced in January.

Speaker 2 43:55

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 43:56

Terrible, try keep on training, went to Italy in April. And I went over there and I fought to fight. My fight got canceled twelve hours before. My opponent was coming from Russia. He has a problem in Germany. They couldn't come in. Wow. And those Russians are crazy. They have a problem everywhere. So I was there. They at least they paid me the money, the fight show. So they paid me. And I was there in Italy for I lived, left Romini and I went to Florence for like a 10 days to try get my visa again to come back to US. Italy is not a bad place to be. It's not. Yeah, I really liked. But when you were life is complete, when you're not good inside, of course. You can be in a paradise without be complaining, you know. That's right. That's how it was for me. And but when I come back, they hey Poney, let's let's have a coffee before we back to work. Just want to talk to you. And I'm pretty straightforward. Never gonna forgot, you know, that Starbucks incoming, hey man, look, I just can no longer work to you anymore. From this day we don't need to go to the gym. Like we're just gonna let you go. And they stand up and left. Literally. You fire. In other words, you fire.

Speaker 4 45:06

Wow.

Speaker 45:06

And I say, okay. Now the house that I'm gonna leave, it's they afford for me. The car, they provide for me. Right. The salary, the money that I have is coming from the job. And my visa was directly attached to them. Wow. I've got to go any other place. And I say, okay, what am I gonna do with my life now? So answer your question, how ended up in Rimberley, a couple months fasting forward on that journey, that investor find that out, and they bring me closer, come and teach for me, got to know me a little bit more. And I was in New Broncos.

Speaker 4 45:46

Wow.

Speaker 45:46

And I was coming to San Antonio to New Broncos every day to connect with him and his gym than he used to have back then. And I teach him a couple of months, and he got to know my heart a little bit more, where I was, my life, everything that I've been through. And he said, look, man, what you have is very unique. Like, I'm gonna try to help you, you know. And but I didn't understand how I'm gonna try to help you. And eventually one day he put him in a car, drive me to San Marcos. He already had a place and he rent a small little place there for me. He had a gym. In New Brunswick. Okay. Uh huh. And he went to San Marcos and he opened a gym for me in New Brunswick, the first Federal Yeah.

Speaker 6 46:21

And he said, Nobody's ever opened a gym for me.

Speaker 46:24

Yeah, but that happened for me. So and and I would say no, not so often. I would say no, because Pawnee's a good guy, you know.

Speaker 2 46:35

I'm just kidding.

Speaker 46:36

But it was the grace of the Lord back then. I I understand that the process that I went through was part of the process, in order to get to the purpose. Wow. So and that happened. So I come here in Wimberly, he opened up this gym for me in San Marcos, and we opened in January of the 19th. And on March, and I made a promise to God. I say, if you make this come through, I will promise everyone that comes through the door. I'm gonna let them know what you did in my life and how graceful and loving you are. That was between me and God. And opened the gym. Pony, okay, talk about the gospel right now. Talk to those people about my love. I was scared. I was scared about you talking about the gospel. January passed by, February passed by, and I never mentioned one word. I didn't have a Bible in the front desk, you know, people sometimes ask, but I always retain myself. And one day I have a really big encounter that was really uncomfortable for me, and I just decided, you know what? I'm gonna start this next week. And it was the end of the March. And I started preaching the gospel on Monday, on Friday, the first student came to Christ. And I was like, wow. Like, okay, sorry, Lord. I know now I'm gonna do what you have been calling me. Because I know it was me. My English was broken right now. People might struggle into understanding me now, but with guys, it was even worse back then. I've learned English, that's another cool story watching cartoons. We can go over that later. That's how I learned English.

Speaker 6 48:09

This is a perfect place. Can we pause here? We can, we can. You're okay. I'm gonna will you be uncomfortable for another hour later so we can finish the story? I'm very comfortable now. Okay. Okay, good.

Where To Find Pony And Closing

Speaker 6 48:23

Okay, listener. Let's pause here. And I know you're gonna come back next week to finish the rest of the story or to finish listening. So, Pony, for now, where can the listener find you? How can they get in touch with you?

Speaker 48:36

And when it comes to the social medias, we have at Gladeson Pony, my name Gladyson, and Pony G-L-E-I-D-S-O-N-P-O-N-E-Y. And Fire Ria Academy. Same way. So put it there at Gladys and Pony on Fire Ria Academy. You're going to be able to find me over there.

Speaker 6 48:51

Okay, listener, and I'll attach everything to the show notes. So Fideria is F-I-G-H-T-E-R-I-A. And I'll put everything in the show notes so you'll be able to find him next week. We'll come back with the rest of the story, his books, his impact on the community here locally, and also something called the Fiderhea Way, which is um a method he developed that is I am behind a million percent. So, listener, thank you so much for being here. Every time you listen to the show, you help my dreams come true. And I appreciate you so very much. Until next time. Thank you for spending this time with me today. If this episode resonated, I'd love to stay connected with you. You can follow along on Instagram and Facebook at Couchtime with Cat and sign up for my newsletter at CouchTimewithcat.com for reflections and resources delivered straight to you. Listen to Couchtime with Cat on KWVH 94.3 and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, and iHeartRadio. Your support means so much to me. Thank you. Until next time, take good care of yourselves.