Marcos Tinoco

Marcos Silva Tinoco, also known as “Lekinho”, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Marcelo Garcia, who belongs to a fantastic generation of competitors developed by the legendary “Marcelinho”. A member of the multiple-time world champion team Alliance in New York, and a former pupil of Juarez Soares in Brazil, Marcos turned heads his way after an incredible 2014 brown belt campaign, where he won important tournaments such as the world championships and the New York Pro.

Marcos Tinoco Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Marcos Vinícius da Silva Tinoco

Nickname: “Lekinho” is a jovial or upbeat way of saying “Muleke” or “Muleque” which stands for “young” in Brazilian slang. This is usually attributed to a person with a playful personality.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Fabio Gurgel > Marcelo Garcia > Marcos Tinoco

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2018/2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi (2018/2015)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Summer Open (2017)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2017)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2018/2016)
• 2nd Place UAEJJF Grand Slam – LA (2019)
• 2nd Place IBJJF New York Summer Open (2017*)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2018)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2014 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF NYC Pro Championship (2014 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Summer  Open (2014** brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2011** purple, 2013 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2012 purple)

* Absolute
* Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Lasso Guard and Armbar

Weight Division: Peso Médio (181lbs/82kg)

Team/Association: Alliance

Marcos Tinoco Biography

Marcos Tinoco was born on the 18th of December, 1988, in Araruama – state of Rio de Janeiro. Marcos started his jiu-jitsu training at the age of 16 under Master Juarez Soares’ guidance, himself a former student of Monir Salomao, a legendary coach who graded GFTeam‘s Julio Cesar and world champion Marcos Barreto.

At Araruama Jiu-Jitsu, the team founded by Juarez Soares, Marcos Silva Tinoco found a tournament driven team, led by one of the top coaches in the region. Being raised in such a tenacious environment, Marcos soon became a tough competitor himself, winning a substantial amount of tournaments, local and statewide.

Always trying to improve on previous goals, Marcos started seeking tougher tournaments to compete in. With the help of his teammates André de Freitas and Bruno Lima, Tinoco managed to get the funding and the visa permit that allowed him to travel to the US, where he participated in the Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship (purple belt). Shortly after the tournament, Tinoco accepted an offer that allowed him to stay in America and work as a coach, the offer was made by his friend Eder Perciliano.

During the World Pro Championship of 2012 in Abu Dhabi, Marcos met a girl (Hana) that would later become his wife. Hana worked for a Marcelo Garcia affiliate gym (MBJJ in Memphis) and pushed for Marcos Silva to go and train with Marcelo Garcia. After a few training sessions at the MG headquarters in New York, Marcos decided to stay, switching teams with the full consent of his former instructor Soares in 2013.

With the help of Marcelo Garcia and the support of the team, Tinoco’s jiu-jitsu blossomed, earning him important titles such as the world title in 2014. This fantastic year would lead to his black belt, awarded on the 19th of January, 2015 by Marcelo Garcia, on the same day as Jonathan Satava, another great competitor from the MG camp.

Marcos Tinoco @ European Open