Name: Alec Baulding
Nickname: Cofrinho (piggy bank)
Age: 21
Rank: Brown belt
Gym: Alliance Headquarters
Length of time training: Six years

Website, blog, or twitter or facebook links:

Alliancebjj.com, allianceatlanta.blogspot.com

Summary about yourself:

List of titles or accomplishments:

2010
• IBJJF World Championship Purple Belt Absolute 2nd Place
• IBJJF World Championship Purple Belt Middle Weight 1st Place
• IBJJF Pan Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt Absolute 1st Place
• IBJJF Pan Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt Middle Weight 1st Place

2009
• IBJJF World Championship Purple Belt Middle Weight 2nd Place
• IBJJF New York International Open Purple Belt Middle Weight 1st Place
• IBJJF New York International Open Purple Belt Absolute Champion

2008
• IBJJF Pan NO-GI Championship Purple Belt Middle Weight 2nd Place
• IBJJF Pan Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt Middle Weight 3rd Place

How did you get involved in bjj?

I saw a group of guys training and that sparked my interest in martial arts. Then I researched which martial arts was the best, and watched videos and Alliance martial arts came up the best.

What is your favorite bjj story?

My friend Jonathan Tooker, aka the Jamanta sneaking a suspiciously large plastic bag of white protein powder on to an airplane. How he wasn’t stopped is beyond me.

Who are some of the people who have influenced you bjj?

Chris Moriarty, Professor Jacare, Cobrinha, Ian Mcpherson, Jordon Schultz, Pedro Torres, Jonathan Tooker, Daren Roberts, Chace Wheaton, Fabio Gurgel, Marcelo Garcia, Lucas Lepri, Bull Shaw, pretty much any one from Alliance.

What is your favorite position and why?

The banana split, because people usually don’t watch out for it and its name sounds delicious.

If you could start training all over again, what would you change in your training routine and why?

I would have started learning take downs from wrestling or Judo earlier, because a lot of matches are decided on the feet.

How do you think competition helps your jiujitsu?

I think competitions are very good for every ones jiujitsu, it shows you what works, what doesn’t, and sometimes times you find/create new moves that push you to the next step.

Who are some people you have beat in competition that you are proud of and why?

I have never really thought about this, I respect everyone that steps on the mat and I see competitions just like training.

How has bjj helped and changed your life?

Bjj has definitely made me more social, having such a close knit group of friends (ATL crew) and a large network of training partners makes it very hard to be shy. Bjj has also taught me how to be man, to dedicate myself to a task and to succeed.

What do you think is not stressed enough in order to better your game in grappling?

Drilling, most people don’t drill or don’t do it enough.

What are your plans for the next 5-10 year?

I plan on graduating college next year with a degree in mathematics (2012) and training to win the worlds at brown belt and eventually at black belt too. I also really want to compete in the main tournament of Abu-Dhabi World Pro and my dream is to do the ADCC one day.

What are three things people may not know about you?

I eat about 5 lbs. of ahi tuna jerky every week, my dream is to go to Japan and train Judo and meet girls, and I think that bacon should have its own food group.

Any shout outs?

Shout out to Shoyo(roll), Team Alliance and Professor Jacare, Alliance Kids, my secretary (yes I have a secretary) Clinton Gouviea, my sempai Daren Roberts and his big brother David Leibowitz(Itsumo) and his family, my family (that don’t understand what I do but still supports me), Leah Culberson and Becky Signoretti of Atlanta Hot Yoga (thanks girls). I love you guys.