Luiz Panza

Luiz Panza is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Marco Barbosa, who also worked extensively with Leonardo Vieira at the Checkmat HQ academy. A former professional model, Luiz Panza traded the catwalk for Jiu Jitsu, turning professional in 2013. After earning his black belt rank, Luiz quickly made a name for himself by piling up medals at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s (IBJJF) Mundial, Pan American (gi and no gi) and Brazilian Nationals (gi and no gi).

Luiz Panza Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Luiz Fernando de Azevedo Panza

Nickname: n/a

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Marcelo Behring > Waldomiro Perez > Roberto Godoi > Marco Barbosa > Luiz Panza

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2016)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2016/2014)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship (2013**)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian No-Gi Nationals (2013**)
• 1st Place ACBJJ Berkut Grand Prix 95kg (2017)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Grand Slam, Los Angeles (2016)
• 1st Place IBJJF LA BJJ Pro (2016)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2020)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2017**/2013)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2013)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Brazilian Nationals (2013)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Closed Guard & 50/50 Guard

Weight Division: Super Pesado (up to 100kg/223lbs)

Team/Association: Checkmat Jiu Jitsu

Luiz Panza Biography

Luiz Panza was born on the 2nd of February 1990 in the north side of São Paulo, growing up in a middle class neighborhood. Being a very energetic kid, the Panza family hold decided to introduce Luiz to martial arts early on, and by the age of 7 he started practising Kung Fu, later moving on to Karate (Shotokan), a style he practiced for many years, earning a black belt in the Japanese fighting art.

Panza always envisioned competing in MMA but being a teenager (around 15 at the time) he could not afford to pay for a membership at an MMA gym. With that in mind, he saved up money given by his family in festive events such as birthdays/Christmas and by the age of 16 he had a decent sum of cash with which he walked into the Lotus academy. At Lotus he asked if he could train there with their MMA fighters. The money wasn’t enough for him to take classes for too long, so instead he asked if he could just come in during the MMA sparring sessions and spar with their athletes, a request that was accepted by the gym administration.

This MMA training went on for a while until the moment when Luiz had a street fight (with a guy who was trying to mess with his girlfriend). Luiz hurt the other man badly and was forbidden to train by his mother who believed that training MMA made him more aggressive. At the time Luiz’ best friend, Felipe Marques, trained BJJ and the two (Felipe and Luiz) got together with Mrs. Panza and managed to convince her to let Luiz start Jiu-Jitsu. This was in 2007 and Luiz Panza started training with coach Edilberto da Ponte, of A.O.A. team. Luiz became a big fan of Jiu-Jitsu and started competing regularly reaching his blue and purple belts under the supervision of Mr. Ponte.

At purple belt level, Luiz Panza started looking for a more competitive team where he could continue to grow in the sport, Panza decided to switch to Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu, one of the top teams in the state where he received both his brown belt and his black belt (on the 17th of December, 2012).

Before deciding on becoming a professional athlete, Luiz Panza was an emerging model who was also finishing his degree while working at a bank. With a bright future ahead of him as both a model or a banker, Panza decided to give up on these well-paid professions to dedicate himself fully to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His first year as a black belt was a huge success and proved that the young Panza had what was necessary to make it among the elite grapplers of the world, stacking up an impressive medal tally.

LINK WITH CHECKMAT TEAM

In 2014 Luiz Panza moved to the United States of America where he joined the Checkmat Academy under the guidance of Leozinho Vieira, where Luiz achieved further sporting success.

After the birth of his first child in 2018, Panza opted to focus on a career as a grappling instructor, then opening his own gym in 2019, Academia Panza Jiu-Jitsu, also known as Checkmat Rolling Hills, in Rolling Hills – California.

Luiz Panza vs Rafael Zilio

Luiz Panza vs Diogo Almeida

Luiz Panza vs Pedro Henrique

Luiz Panza vs Ronnie Wuest

Luiz Panza vs Rodrigo Faria