Marcelo Saporito

Master Marcelo Saporito is a coach at arguably the most iconic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy in the world, the “Academia Carlson Gracie” in Rua Figueiredo Magalhaes, Copacabana – Rio de Janeiro, an academy that produced some of the biggest starts in jiu jitsu and MMA. Saporito took the mammoth task of replacing the late Master Carlson Gracie at the helm of the gym, which he did to perfection with over 200 team titles.

Marcelo Saporito Jiu Jitsu

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Marcelo Saporito

Main Competitive Achievements:

Brazilian National Champion (1994 brown, 1995 black – CBJJ);
Brazilian National Silver Medallist (1993 purple – MAMELUC);

Weight Division: Peso Pena (70kg-154lbs)

Team/Association: Carlson Gracie

Marcelo Saporito Biography

Marcelo Saporito was born on the 21^st of July, 1959 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He started martial arts when he was still a pre-adolescent, at 11 years of age, doing boxing and Tae Kwon Do. He trained the Korean martial art very seriously, having won two Rio de Janeiro state championships in a row (in 1978 and 1979).

In 1981 Marcelo decided to try something different, and he joined the AABB Judo club, here he trained the Japanese martial art under Professor Jomar (with whom he holds a Judo brown belt). With time Saporito started getting more interested in grappling and in the efficiency of Brazilian Jiu Jistu, and in 1982 he finally gave BJJ a shot joining the Carlson Gracie academy in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.

Marcelo Saporito trained all his BJJ life with the unequalled Carlson Gracie and achieved all his belts from the Gracie Master, including his black on the 20^th of November, 1994. He started giving classes at his master’s academy after a personal request from Alberto Santos (another coach at the academy). After Carlson assessed Saporito’s skill as an instructor, he was quite impressed and decided to have Marcelo on board as a full time assistant coach. With time his influence in the team was evident and he was asked to take over as the head coach.

Today, with Saporito’s help, the academy has conquered over 200 trophies, in all ages and sexes, developing World Champions, Pan American Champions, Brazilian Champions and a lot more. Some of Master Marcelo’s most famous black belts are: Daniel Christoph, Luis Sergio de Morais Barros, Patricia Hing, Gustavo Granha, Alan Moraes, Orlando Cunha, Wilham Cavalcante, Wilson Borges, Fabio Novaes.