Daily Inspiration: Meet Roney Edler Barroso Da Silva

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roney Edler Barroso Da Silva

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Ceará, Brazil. This part of Brazil, the NorthEast, is one of the poorest parts of the country. I grew up in the interior, where life is tough. It is hot, the infrastructure was not well developed, and there were not a lot of opportunities for people to better their lives.

As a young person, I didn’t enjoy school, and I got into a lot of trouble. When I was 14, in the mid 90s, I started to train Jiu Jitsu because I thought it would help me fight on the streets. It did teach me how to fight, but it also turned my life around completely. I became engrossed in my training, and eventually became a high level and respected competitor. Instead of being on the streets looking for chaos, I spent my time training and competing. At the time, because I didn’t have a lot of money, that meant sleeping on the mats in different academies, or sleeping in bus terminals if I was traveling to compete. It wasn’t easy, but I loved the sport, and it kept me away from trouble and the path I was on.

I was in a very bad Motocross accident and had to stop training Jiu Jitsu for many years, In 2013 I returned to training, which may have been the hardest thing I have done in life. Where once I was a top competitor in Brazil, I was out of shape and losing to people who were my students. But I love the sport and what it does for my mind and body, and I persisted. I eventually returned to competition and earned my black belt.

Fast forward to 2019, I was a guest professor at a Jiu Jitsu camp in Buzios, north of Rio de Janeiro, At this camp I met my wife and business partner, Kari Johnson Barroso, who was there training as part of her team. We stayed in touch after the camp, and eventually she sponsored me for the K1 Visa (90 Day Fiancé Visa). In 2021 I arrived in the United States, and we lived in Overland Park. During that year I was fortunate to be invited to give seminars at several academies in the Kansas City Area. While I enjoyed opportunities to teach at various schools in the KC Metro, I had always dreamed of owning my own academy. We had the opportunity to acquire an academy in Topeka, and decided to move and give it a try.

In 2022, we founded Roney Edler Training Center, LLC, and have been going strong ever since. Today we are Topeka’s only traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy. We offer classes for Men and Women, Kids and Adults. We have classes for absolute beginners and competitors, and are proud of the family atmosphere we have created. Because of my long life in Jiu Jitsu, and because of my competition experience, I am able to bring in top level athletes for seminars, training sessions, and private classes. Just in August we will have a current World Champion Black Belt, one of the most successful Women Black Belts of all time, and an up and coming star who is a reigning World Champion Brown Belt on the mats with us, We are proud to bring the best of the best to Topeka.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing worth having in this world is easy. The biggest challenge for me has been the cultural and language barrier. I try to talk with my students, and have gotten a lot better, but learning English as an adult has not been easy.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
For many years I was very proud of my athletic achievements in Jiu Jitsu. When I was younger I was well known in my part of Brazil for being a very tough competitor. I am fearless and love a challenge. Now that I am older this style of competition has taken a toll on my body. After several surgeries I can’t compete as often as I’d like. However, my students both in Brazil and here in Topeka do very well in competitions. We are known for our aggressive style, and our ability to control our matches. Outside of tournaments, our academy is known for its welcoming culture. We help each other, and are happy while we train. We have a great balance of hard work and having a good time. From the kids class to adults we are family. It makes me proud everyday to see my students helping each other.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
In the early 1990s I went on a trip with my friends to Jericoacoara, Brazil. At the time, there was no power or road access; it was just a small fishing village on a beautiful beach. Now it is part of a National Park and a tourist destination for Brazilians. It’s known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and is one of the only places in Brazil where you can watch the sun set over the ocean. This beautiful place stayed in my heart, and I visit every year. Now I host our annual team camp there, with hopes to unite my students in the US with our students in Brazil. I have had some of the happiest times in my life on the beach there.

Pricing:

• Free Trial Classes Offered for Kids and Adults

Contact Info:

• Website: https://roneyedlerbrazilianjiujitsu.com
• Instagram: @roneyedlerbrazilianjiujitsu
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roneyedlerbjj
• Other: @sertao_brazilian_jiujitsu