Gilbert Burns
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Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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About Us
Gilbert Burns was born on July 20, 1986, in a town called Fonseca in Niteroi – State of Rio de Janeiro.
Martial arts training started early for Durinho, who first picked up a jiu-jitsu gi at the age of 12, with his brothers Herbert and Frederick. Their first instructor being Luis Carlos da Fonseca, at the old Santa Marta College in Niteroi.
Two years later, Master Luis quit his coaching post due to personal issues, and Ramon Lemos, a well known brown belt from the area, took control of the kids’ workgroup. Ramos started taking his students to train with different coaches, including André Pederneiras at Nova União headquarters in Rio de Janeiro and at Associação Oriente academy in Niteroi, with Max Camâra and Rafael “Fofitio” Barros, a fruitful relationship that would live through for many years.
As time passed, particularly during his teens, Gibert spent most of his time training at Associação Oriente de Jiu-Jitsu in Niteroi, which led to two silver medals at the IBJJF World Championships as a brown belt. Shortly after his 2nd silver medal, in 2007, Burns was promoted to black belt by coach “Fofitio“. Later that year he moved to Rio Claro in the state of Sao Paulo, becoming part of Ramon Lemos‘s newly formed team. Durinho competed first under the Brasa Academy banner and later staying with Ramon when he formed the Atos academy in a combined effort with André Galvão.
In 2009 Burns conquered his 3rd silver medal in the World Championship, his first at black belt, making himself noticed in the sport’s top division. After this he did a tour around Asia, coaching in Singapore, Philippines and Hong Kong, going to the United States shortly after.
With the start of 2010, Gilbert began his best period at the time, reaching to the semi-finals of the European Open in January (allowing his teammate to advance to the finals), after that an amazing run at the World Pro Cup trials in Rio de Janeiro where he beat the heavy favorite Celso Venicius (who had only lost 3x as a black belt prior to this meeting). The two met again at the semi-finals of the main event in Abu Dhabi with the Niteroi wonder boy going through to the final, winning the gold medal, and the 8000 dollars prize money against Claudio Mattos. Gilbert Burns continued his good form as he went on to win the Brazilian Nationals in May that year.
On October 2011 Gilbert Durinho Burns officially left the Atos team, the reason given by Burns mentioned that he had been helping MMA fighter Vitor Belfort prepare for his upcoming fights, Belfort was a direct rival of UFC champion Anderson Silva. Silva was a student of Durinho’s coach Ramon Lemos and due to the conflict of interest, Gilbert felt it was best to leave the team in good terms.
