Representing Pacific Martial Arts, Prof. Prof. Eduardo Crema takes on Elite Team’s Michael Martinez in a 210 lbs. gi match at Fight 2 Win 96. It’s a match he’s been looking forward to, and he’ll get to compete alongside several key members of his team with PMA having six competitors on the card.
Read on and learn more about his mindset before Fight 2 Win 96!
Prof. La Crema tell us a little about yourself and your story.
I was born in Venezuela, been living in the states since 2002. I wrestled a bit in High school, which led my interest in combat sports, then I tried boxing for a while. It was my boxing coach that told me to try BJJ out. I fell in love right away!
Aside from that, I am married, work full time for an Insurance brokerage and I have no kids just my pup (Bear).
Tell us something about your training. What’s it like?
Jason Hannen is my main instructor, not only a great BJJ practitioner but an amazing role model. He manages to train, lift, is an awesome father of 4, strong churchgoer, successful at work and BJJ coach.
If I can do half of that in one lifetime, I can be content. That is the greatest asset of our gym, the members all train and “life” the same. Meaning they are successful at both facets of life.
I train for competition three times a week at Pacific, coach another two days at the Dungen MMA and have 1-2 Strength and conditioning days.
What does jiujitsu mean to you personally?
No joke saved my life, BJJ has been my steady rock before my wife. If I failed a class, changed jobs, lost a relative or any other bad experience in life.
BJJ and my Pacific Team have been there to keep me focused, half the people in my mother’s funeral were team members. These guys are family.
What do you when you’re NOT training? What’s the rest of life like for you?
Like I mentioned I work for an insurance brokerage called Market Scout I just started there, been 10 years in the industry. I help my wife who is a Real Estate agent and I try to network a lot; to us life is all about relationships.
What are some of the things you want to achieve in the future?
We definitely want children, I would love to teach my kids about life and BJJ. I am looking to compete at 7 grappling events next year, IBJJF, Five Grappling, Subcon, NAGA, ETC. Continue to improve my game and stay focused.
What’s one difficult thing you’ve had to overcome so far?
Man, losing my mother in 2010 was tough. It was a slow deteriorating process until it was her time, which that left me drained. If it was not for BJJ I would have just turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain.
This match at F2W 96 – why did you decide to compete?
I always try to push myself when the opportunity presents itself, something this big local? I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself just attending and not trying to compete.
Your opponent at F2W 95, what do you expect out?
I expect him to be ready, strong and ready to grapple. This will be a challenge.
How have you prepared for this match? Any predictions?
I have trained my ass for this match, two or three sessions a day. I predict a technical battle.
Do you have any message for your fans?
Thank you for the support not just to me but the community.
Any last words before the match?
Thank you to F2W for allowing us to showcase our passion.
