Lucas Rocha

Lucas Rocha is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under “Zé Radiola“, being one of the most well respected competitors to have come out of the ZR Team – Recife academy (formerly Gracie Barra Recife), a school that has produced several elite grapplers such as Otávio Sousa, Bruno Alves, Braulio and Victor Estima, to name a few. After a stellar campaign in the lower belt divisions, where Lucas earned World, Pan American, and Brazilian National titles, Rocha moved to the United States, establishing himself as the head coach of Gracie Barra Arcadia in California, while still competing at the highest level.

Lucas Rocha Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Lucas Rocha de Freitas

Nickname: n/a

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > Jose Olimpio > Lucas Rocha

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship No-Gi (2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF Dallas Spring Open (2019)
• 1st Place IBJJF San Jose Open (2019)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Santa Cruz BJJ Pro (2015)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2015)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2014)

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2008 blue, 2009 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2009 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF Brazilian Nationals (2008 blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF Brazilian Nationals Juvenile (2007)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2008 blue, 2009** purple, 2010 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2010* brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and Absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Well Rounded

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82kg/181lbs) and Peso Pesado (94kg/207lbs)

Team/Association: ZR Team

Lucas Rocha Biography

Lucas Rocha was born on the 12th of February 1990, in Piedade – Recife. South coast of Pernambuco state – Brazil.

Rocha’s martial arts journey started through judo when he was 4 to 5 years old. Although Lucas did not enjoy the activity and repeatedly flunked the belt promotion tests, he persisted, particularly due to his mother’s pressure. Finally a few years into this activity, Lucas was allowed to quit.

A few years into his childhood and Lucas tried another shot at martial arts, joining a karate school nearby. The experience followed the same process, with Rocha quitting in a short period of time to join a football (soccer) team.

When Lucas was 12 years old, he witnessed his cousin get into trouble at school, an event in which he was forced to run away from 5 kids who were looking for a fight. This incident made Rocha realize the importance of self-defense, and as a result, he decided to go back to martial arts, seeking his uncle, the illustrious José Olímpio (Zé Radiola) for training.

Radiola had challenged Lucas to come and train at his academy numerous times during family gatherings. Invitations always refused by the young Rocha, so when Lucas asked his father to take him to his uncle’s gym (2002), his dad never believed he would stay. The maturity shown by Rocha took everyone by surprise at the time, with Lucas rapidly becoming a grappling “phenom”.

At the age of 17 Lucas visited America for the first time while competing at a major event. He fell in love with the country, particularly California and decided he wanted to live there. In 2009 Master Carlos Gracie Junior and Márcio Feitosa were in need help with the running of their Irvine academy, assigning the job to Lucas Rocha and Otávio Sousa.

During his stay at Gracie Barra Irvine, Lucas Rocha was awarded his brown belt by Márcio Feitosa, in a rather unusual belt ceremony, one to which Carlos Gracie and Zé Radiola participated through Skype, due to travel arrangements. On September 2012 Lucas Rocha received his black belt from his longtime coach and uncle, Zé Radiola.

Cover photo captured by Grapple TV.

Lucas Rocha vs Jeffery Boudreaux (2015)