By Lynn Mitchell:
Star of  ”No Reservations” - The Travel Channel’s top rated show – Anthony Bourdain and his wife Ottavia are featured in this piece about Ottavia’s interest in MMA.

Ottavia Bourndain recently picked up a Silver Medal at Grapplers’ Quest Beast of the East.  In a TapOut interview, Ottavia explains she’s only been doing jiu jitsu for seven months.   She attended an Elite XC fight in NJ featuring Gina Carrano back in 2007 – this inspired her to watch more MMA and join a Muay Thai class – now she’s hooked!  Her training partners in Muay Thai were also Renzo Gracie’s student in jiu jitsu and encouraged her to try out the art.   Renzo Gracie is a Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and a  popular BJJ coach Gracie has helped train a number of MMA professional fighters such as: Matt Serra, Ricardo Almeida, Georges St. Pierre, Frank Edgar, Rolles Gracie, Kyra Gracie and Roy Nelson.

After experiencing jiu jitsu, Ottavia Bourdain is now obsessed.  She trains with Igor Gracie five or six times a week.  Igor Gracie – a member of the famous Gracie Family - is black belt from the  Gracie Barra Academy.  Ottavia trained with the gi, then tried no-gi, and loved it. Now, Igor Gracie recommends she needed to be really good in the gi before she goes back to no-gi, so that’s what they’re doing.  Ottavia expressed her interest in an amateur MMA fight.

During a intoxicated dinner with her husband, Anthony Bourdain says. “You know, I’m thinking about next season. I think we should go to Rio, and I think you should take a fight there.”   So, Anthony and Ottavia Bourdain are leaving on May 6 to go to Rio, and they are taking Igor Gracie with them.   Ottavia states “I’m taking a jiu jitsu match, and it will all be shot for my husband’s TV show.”

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