From New Zealand to FC Barcelona ⚽ Help Oscar Represent Barça Academy NZ in Spain

On Wednesday, Oscar graded in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and earned his third tip on his grey belt white stripe 🥋

Proud doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Most people see sport as just physical.

But Jiu-Jitsu is different.

It’s like chess under pressure.

Every roll forces kids to think, adapt, stay calm, and solve problems in real time. There’s no hiding. No shortcuts. Just learning how to handle discomfort, stay composed, and keep going when things get tough.

That’s why we love it for Oscar.

Yes, he’s football-obsessed (and always will be ⚽), with futsal right behind it, but what happens outside football is just as important.

Jiu-Jitsu is helping him build:

• Resilience when he’s under pressure

• Confidence through earned progress

• Discipline and respect

• Strategy and decision-making

• The ability to stay calm in uncomfortable situations

These are life skills. Not just sport skills.

And it’s not the only arena he’s stepping into.

Oscar throws himself into everything he can:

Football, futsal, rugby union, rugby league, touch rugby, swimming, jiu-jitsu, and even triathlons when the opportunity comes up.

Why?

Because growth doesn’t come from staying in one lane.

It comes from testing yourself in many.

Every sport adds another layer:

More coordination. More awareness. More toughness. More belief.

This is all part of the journey that’s leading him toward his dream of training at FC Barcelona in December.