Lucas Leite

Lucas Leite is a highly decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor, famous for his half guard skills, who fights for the Checkmat Academy. Since Lucas Leite was graded as a black belt by Leonardo Vieira, he has been a regular presence in BJJ and submission grappling podiums around the world competing sometimes as a heavyweight (under 94kg/221lbs), two weight categories above his natural weight (around 78-80kg). In 2007 Lucas Leite moved from his native Brazil to the United States where he formed one of the strongest Checkmat academy camps in the USA.

Lucas Leite Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Lucas Jonas Gomes Leite

Nickname: “Loucura” means craziness in Portuguese, because of Lucas Leite’s wild character.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Leonardo Vieira > Lucas Leite

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2014/2011/2009)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2015/2014/2012/2009)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2011/2013/2015)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2013)
• 2nd Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Championship (2012)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2014/2011)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2014/2012/2009)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2007/2005 brown belt)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan American Championship (2007 brown belt)
• 1st Place G. Quest Pro Division Championship (2007)
• 1st Place FPJJ Sao Paulo State Championship (2006 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2006 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Weight Division: Peso Pesado (94/221lbs), Peso Médio (82kg-181lbs) & Peso Leve (76kg-167lbs)

Favorite Position/Technique: Half Guard

Association/Team: Checkmat BJJ

Lucas Leite Biography

Lucas Leite was born on the 3rd of November 1982 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Lucas Leite practiced a few sports growing up, but he found out about jiu-jitsu when he was around 12 years old, through a VHS cassette that displayed the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), seeing Royce Gracie‘s tremendous display of technique opened young Lucas Leite’s eyes to jiu-jitsu and he decided to try it.

The late Ryan Gracie was Lucas Leite’s first jiu-jitsu instructor, Leite trained at Ryan’s academy for a few years, but he was not an active competitor and took the sport as a hobby. Getting closer to his mid-teens, Lucas Leite lacked the motivation to keep training and eventually abandoned the sport for a whole year. When Lucas Leite decided to return to the mats (at the age of 18), his family had relocated, and it was hard to commute to Ryan Gracie’s gym, instead, Lucas decided to join Leozinho Vieira‘s gym, this proved to be a major turning point in Lucas Leite’s life.

Training alongside a legendary competitor such as Leo Vieira, Lucas Leite started getting more motivated to become a serious competitor. Leo Vieira is one of the top instructors in the world and helped Lucas Leite develop his (now) famous half guard. He also showed Lucas Leite that he could make a decent living from BJJ and was a major influence in Lucas Leite’s decision of becoming a professional competitor and coach.

In 2007 he came to the United States to compete and teach. His gym in California (Upland) became one of the main poles for the Checkmat BJJ team in the USA, the team often puts training camps together for big competitions from his academy, with Lucas Leite as one of the head coaches.

Lucas Leite vs Xande Ribeiro

Lucas Leite vs John Slater

Lucas Leite Highlight