Rafael Vasconcelos

Rafael Vasconcelos de Lima is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Leandro Lo and representative of the Atos JJ Team, having also worked extensively with coaches Cicero Costha (PSLPB) and Ricardo Costa (DBK). Vasconcelos broke out as one of jiu-jitsu’s hottest prospects in the São Paulo area back in 2015 as a purple belt after conquering medals in some of the top tournaments on the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) international circuit.

Rafael Vasconcelos Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Rafael Vasconcelos de Lima

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Marcelo Behring > Waldomiro Perez> Roberto Godoi > Marco Barbosa > Cicero Costha > Leandro Lo > Rafael Vasconcelos

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF Houston Open (2021)
• 1st Place IBJJF San Francisco Open (2018*)
• 1st Place IBJJF Denver Open (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF Nashville Open (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF Orlando Open (2018)
• 2nd Place UAEJJF Grand Slam, MIA (2020)
• 2nd Place IBJJF San Francisco Open (2018)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Austin Open (2018*)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Orlando Open (2018*)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Nashville Open (2018*)
• 2nd Place UAEJJF Grand Slam, MIA (2020)
• 3rd Place IBJJF South American Championship (2017)
• 3rd Place ACBJJ North American Championship (2018)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals (2016** brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rio Open (2015 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF São Paulo Open (2017* brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2015** purple)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2015* purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF São Paulo Open (2015 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2016 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2016 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2015 purple)
• 3rd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2016 brown, 2015 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF São Paulo BJJ Pro (2017**)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Open Guard, Distance Passing

Weight Division: Peso Pesado (94,30 kg / 208.0 lbs)

Team/Association: Atos JJ

Rafael Vasconcelos Biography

Rafael Vasconcelos was born on November 04, 1992 in Fortaleza – the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil.

During his formative years, Rafael gained some weight and as a way to shed the extra pounds, he decided to join a jiu-jitsu class. Vasconcelos was 16 years old at the time (2009).

Ricardo Costa of team DBK in Fortaleza was Vasconcelos’ first instructor and the man in charge of his jiu-jitsu up to purple belt. At this point Rafael was already a rising star in the Ceará grappling circuit and, believing in his potential, he decided to move to São Paulo where he could work full time on his jiu-jitsu career at Cicero Costha‘s PSLPB academy.

During his time at PSLPB, two groups started being formed inside the team. Master Cicero’s and that of the academy’s star pupil Leandro Lo. When the environment became too volatile for the two to coexist, Leandro opened his own academy (New School Brotherhood) and Vasconcelos followed him there.

At New School Brotherhood (NsB) Rafael earned both his brown and his black belts, the latter on October 30, 2017.

While competing in the international BJJ circuit Rafael befriended professors André Galvão and Angelica Galvão. The two would (on February 2018) open the doors of their academy to Vasconcelos, who from then on started representing them internationally.

Rafael Vasconcelos vs Gabriel Almeida