“"Zé Cobra" basically means "Joe Snake" a name frowned upon by Josef in the beginning of his career, but a name he embraced later on. The name comes parallel with Josef's first steps in BJJ. As a teen he met a Brazilian family that accepted Josef as their own, the Macedo family. With them he learned all about the Brazilian culture and even how to read, write & speak Portuguese. Josef's first Jiu Jitsu instructor knew the Macedos very well and would rarely speak with Josef in English at the Academy. Josef would often study his instructor & use his own moves against Him. The coach would say -sparring "Porra Zé voce é malandro pa ca****o, igual a uma Cobra" - "Damn Zé, you are getting sneaky, just like a snake!" And so he started being called, "Zé Cobra!"”
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