Luan Carvalho

Luan Carvalho is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Master Cláudio Joanino of the Nova União academy in Macaé. One of the rare examples of a competitor who reached success at black belt, having gone through his coloured belt career in obscurity, Luan turned a few heads his way after his 2015 Pan American Championship performance where he defeated the decorated veteran Rodrigo Caporal. Carvalho would carry on in good form that year winning the Rio Fall Open and at the Brazilian Nationals, defeating two former champions, Michael Langhi and Juan Caio Kamezawa while cementing his name as one of the top lightweights of his generation.

Luan Carvalho Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Luan de Carvalho Alves

Nickname: “Luanzinho” is often used by those closer to Luan, this is a friendly way of saying Luan in Portuguese.

Lineage: Luiz França > Oswaldo Fadda > Sebastião Ricardo > Wendell Alexander > Claudio Joanino > Luan Carvalho

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian National (2016/2015)
• 1st Place CBJJ South American Championship NOGI (2022)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF Asian Open (2018)
• 1st Place AJP Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, RJ (2016)
• 1st Place AJP Brazil National Pro (2016)
• 1st Place IBJJF Sao Paulo Open No-Gi (2014)
• 1st Place IBJJF Sao Paulo BJJ Pro (2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rio Summer Open (2016)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rio Summer Open No-Gi (2016)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rio Fall Open No-Gi (2015)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rio Fall Open (2015)
• 2nd Place IBJJF South American Championship (2017)
• 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2020)
• 3rd Place CBJJ Brazilian National (2017)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Rio Winter Open (2016/2015)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Rio Summer Open No-Gi (2016*)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian National (2013 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Dallas Open (2012 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Houston Open (2014 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rio Open (2011 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF Miami Open (2014 brown, 2009 blue)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2014 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position: Taking the back

Weight Division: Peso Leve (76kg/167lbs)

Team/Association: Nova União

Luan Carvalho Biography

Luan de Carvalho was born on the 22nd of July, 1991 in Macaé, a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Luan’s first sporting activity was capoeira at the age of 10, he would add jiu jitsu to his activities later.

When Luan was 11 years old, one of his friends, who had started jiu jitsu, got injured and decided to quit training. The friend offered his gi (kimono) to Luan who approached coach “Ernesto” at a local social project designed to keep kids away from crime, by teaching them jiu jitsu.

Starting classes with Ernesto, It didn’t take long for Luan to show interest in competitions, and seeking to do better at the tournaments, Luan decided to move to a bigger team with a more competitive environment, joining the Nova União (NU) – Macaé for the effect. One of the biggest teams in the region. At NU Luan’s progress was diligently followed by Master Cláudio Joanino, a well known figure and a first generation black belt under Wendell Alexander.

Having joined a highly competitive team, Luan’s first times at Joanino’s gym weren’t easy. The level was extremely high and Luan would often get so beat up that he would go home crying. Knowing of Luan’s family dire economic situation, Master Cláudio Joanino never charged Carvalho a monthly fee, and Luan showed his appreciation by training several times per day, often hiding from his mother (who wanted him to focus in school instead).

The hard work paid off for Luan and he started winning many local tournaments and progressing in the belt system. Though Luan’s talent was unquestioned, he failed to medal at an international stage, his biggest medal being a bronze at the Brazilian Nationals in the brown belt division (2013).

In 2014 Luan Carvalho competed at the World Championship, losing in the brown belt ¼ finals. He returned home on the 4th of June and immediately put his gi on and went to work, both angered and saddened by the missed chance to prove his worth. He was surprised to see his master calling his name and awarding him with his black belt in class. When tying the belt around Luan’s waist, Master Joanino told him: “Keep working hard, your time to shine is coming”.

Joanino was right, and on his first year as a black belt, Luan did the unthinkable, winning one of Rio de Janeiro’s most important titles (Rio Fall International Open) and the Brasileiro (Brazilian National), a competition he had lost in 2014 on the first round.

Since arriving at the black belt division, Luan de Carvalho has become one of the top lightweights in Brazil beating many highly regarded veterans of the sport such as the multiple time world champion Michael Langhi.

Banner picture by: Marco Aurélio Ferreira.

Luan Carvalho vs Marcelo Tuber (2011)

Luan Carvalho Technique