Augusto Mendes “Tanquinho”

Augusto Mendes, commonly known as “Tanquinho”, is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Master Francisco Mansur, being also one of the big names of his generation in the sport’s featherweight division, a stance solidified by his International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World title and Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) bronze medal. Aside from his accomplishments in grappling, Tanquinho also ventured into mixed martial arts (MMA), reaching the UFC in 2016. This while being one of the most recognized referees in jiu-jitsu as well as a respected grappling coach and co-founder of the Soul Fighters Academy.

Augusto Mendes Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Augusto Lopes Mendes

Nickname: Tanquinho means “little tank” a name that came after Augusto started “going through” everyone in training. His older brother which started training a year earlier already had the name “Tanque”, so Augusto as the youngest and smallest got “Tanquinho”.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Francisco Mansur > Augusto Mendes

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place ADCC World Championship (2019)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2013)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NoGi (2012/2015)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro (2011/2013)
• 1st Place CBJJ/IBJJF South American Championship (2010**)
• 1st Place USBJJF/IBJJF American Nationals (2012)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Team Nationals (2008/2009/2010)
• 1st Place FJJR Rio State Championship (2008/2010)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rio Open (2009, 2010)
• 1st Place IBJJF Las Vegas Open (2012)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Boston Open (2012)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European  Open (2013)
• 2nd Place IBJJF New York Open (2010)
• 3rd Place ADCC World Championship (2015)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2009/2011/2013)
• 3rd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2005/2008/2010/2011)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Weight Category: Peso Pena (70,00 kg / 154.5 lbs)

Favorite Position/Technique: Pressure Passing

Team/Association: Soul Fighters

Augusto “Tanquinho” Biography

Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes was born March 3, 1983, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He began training jiu-jitsu in 1997 after his brother Bruno, who had already begun training, encouraged Tanquinho to join him. After being talked into it, he started his jiu-jitsu career in Kioto gym in Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro. Just a few classes in, Tanquinho had become completely hooked.

During this time his training was under professors Alvaro and Krauss Mansor, under the supervision of master Francisco Mansor. Just 4 months into training, Tanquinho fought the Rio State Championships and took the bronze medal. It was on this day that Tanquinho found his passion for training and especially for competition.

He began competing at any opportunity, taking second in the Brazilian Championships that same year and winning countless smaller tournaments. By 14 years old Tanquinho was living jiu-jitsu and training three times a day.

What was to put him ahead in the gym and in competition came with the invitation to begin teaching at the Kioto gym in 1999. He began his career as a trainer and instructor, always under the close watch of Alvaro and Krauss Mansor, as well as Marcos Carvalho. Carvalho was a major influence during this time, teaching Tanquinho how to teach and correcting any errors.

In 2000 Tanquinho took home his first world title as a blue belt juvenile. In five tough matches, he secured his hold on the gold medal and became Kioto’s first world champion. His passion for jiu-jitsu was so great at this point that he took every penny he earned teaching class and put it toward a degree in physical education. At the University Estacio de Sá, Tanquinho dedicated himself fully to learn and improve his knowledge about training and teaching.

The Mundial in 2002 meant another world title for Tanquinho, this time after six matches at purple belt featherweight. Moving on in stellar fashion, he took silver in the 2003 Mundial as a brown belt. Despite impressive results in major tournaments, Tanquinho had to lighten up on training in order to finish his degree in Physical Education.

Tanquinho was promoted to black belt on December 2004 under 9th-degree black belt master Francisco Mansor, after which Augusto continued juggling between his academic studies and his BJJ training. Once he finished his degree Mendes became a full-time grappler (2006).

June 2005 was a decisive moment for Tanquinho, who then severed ties with Kioto. This was due to diverging ideas with regards to the direction of the team. With his brother Bruno Mendes, also a black belt at this point, the two left and founded Renovação BJJ.

It was a difficult time for the brothers, who soon realized that trying to run a gym by themselves left little time to focus on their own training. In 2007 Tanquinho began to cross-train with his friends Rafael “Formiga” Barbosa and Leandro “Tatu” Escobar, who had also found themselves without many students to push them. Tatu and Formiga quickly joined hands with Tanquinho and Bruno Mendes, along with master Alvaro Mansor, to form the association Soul Fighters on January 2008.

After the founding of Soul Fighters, the structure created a system that allowed Tanquinho to have a tight group of talented training partners. Tanquinho continued evolving winning the Rio Open as a black belt and the Brazilian Team Championships twice–where he competed under GFTeam.

Soul Fighters quickly grew into an international team, with over 1000 students spanning over 20 affiliate schools world-wide.

Tanquinho is also a renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu referee certified by the CBJJ and one of the Federations main referees.

In January 2010, Augusto Tanquinho booked his place in the World Pro Cup (in Abu Dhabi) by winning the Portuguese trials in Lisbon, making a total of 47 points on his way to the podium (3 matches). The first match Augusto was winning by 15×0 before submitting his opponent with an armbar, the second he scored  14×0 before submitting with a choke from the mount, and his final he beat his adversary by 18×0.

A promising mixed martial arts (MMA) career was also a part of Augusto Mendes’ athletic endeavors. A career started in 2014 which led him to the top promotion in this sport, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2016.

Banner photo by Ross Finlayson

Augusto Tanquinho vs Rafael Mendes