Rodrigo Freitas

Rodrigo Freitas is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Aldo Januário (Caveirinha), known as one of the top competitors of his generation, a reputation earned through his numerous medals in the sport, which included a No-Gi Pan American Championship title (2014) and his American National wins of 2010/11/13.

Rodrigo Freitas Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Rodrigo Lamounier de Freitas

Nickname: n/a

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > Aldo Januário > Rodrigo Freitas

Main Achievements:

1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi (2014)
1st Place IBJJF American Nationals (2013 / 2011 / 2010)
2nd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2016 / 2014)
2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi (2015 / 2010)
2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2009)
2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi (2014 / 2013 / 2010)
3rd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2013)
3rd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2014/2012)
3rd Place IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi (2015 / 2012)
3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2019)
3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2016 / 2021)

Favorite Position: Open Guard

Weight Division: Peso Leve (76kg/168lbs)

Team/Association: Rodrigo Freitas Jiu Jitsu

Rodrigo Freitas Biography

Rodrigo Freitas was born on the November 29, 1983 in Belo Horizonte, capital of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil’s second most populous state.

While in his early teens (1997), Rodrigo was signed on to a jiu jitsu academy in an attempt to vent off some of Freitas’ hyperactivity. Although he had tried other martial arts activities prior to BJJ (namely karate and judo), Rodrigo took a shine to jiu jitsu and quickly became committed to the sport.

Throughout his formative jiu jitsu years, Freitas only had one coach, the illustrious Aldo Januário – also known as “Caveirinha”. Januário graded Rodrigo in all his belts, including his black belt in 2007.

Coach Caveirinha was affiliated to the Gracie Barra Academy, a team that started expanding to the USA in the late 2000’s. Januário spoke of Rodrigo Freitas’ potential as a competitor and coach to the leaders of GB who decided to bring him over to the US on March 2009 to help develop the brand name in the Northern Hemisphere.

Freitas became a highly successful coach and competitor as predicted by Aldo Januário. After years developing his own jiu jitsu team, Rodrigo Freitas decided to leave Gracie Barra to develop his own academy, a move that took place on July 2015.

Cover picture by D-Klyne Design.

Rodrigo Freitas vs Julian Vega