Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Fighter Wiki, All their history from their favorite techniques to the meaning behind their Portuguese nicknames as well as fight videos and techniques. Learn more about your favorite Jiu Jitsu figures on this section.
John Lewis is former MMA fighter and a martial artist who holds black belts in a variety of fighting styles, including a black belt in judo awarded by the legendary Gene LeBell and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Master André Pederneiras, having been mentioned by many as one of the first true mixed martial artists, considering he mastered many different styles in a time when only style specialists were fighting MMA.
Another quick interview made by our Portuguese correspondent Hugo Miranda, during the European open. This time, with the established Jiu Jitsu black belt, Mr Alan ‘Finfou’ do Nascimento. Alan has been living in Sweden for a number of years, raising some of the hottest prospects in the country. Hugo had a quick chat with the black belt at Casal Vistoso in Lisbon.
Another quick interview by our Portuguese correspondent Hugo Miranda, during the European open. This time, with the rising star Jackson Sousa, newly crowned European heavyweight Jiu Jitsu champion, a man who has trained his fare share in London, England
Rodrigo Conceição, more commonly known as Rodrigo “Aquiles” (also spelled Akillis or Achilles), is one of the top Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts in the lightweight division who competes for the Alliance Academy, Rodrigo Aquiles is also part of an incredible tradition of BJJ competitors from the Cantagalo slums in Rio de Janeiro, an area of the city that has produced several big names of the sport.
Jackson Sousa is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Rico Vieira, competitor off of the Fightzone academy in Rio de Janeiro – Checkmat Academy headquarters, and who is another child of Vieira’s social project at the Cantagalo’s slums.
Shanti Abelha is a Brazilian born, black belt competiror in Jiu Jitsu, who fights for the Checkmat team in Denmark (Arte Suave). Shanti is one of the top female athletes in the world, having medalled in many of the top tournaments on the BJJ roster.
Crézio Chavez is an important figure of Jiu Jitsu having attained the 9th degree (red belt) in the gentle art. Crézio Chavez competed several times for the Gracie Academy in the 1950s decade in Vale Tudo fights ending his career undefeated. Chavez was also a great ambassador of BJJ in Petropolis, Brazil, where he opened the first academy of the region
Helio Vigio is a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and an important figure in this martial art’s history. A former instructor of the Gracie Academy in the 1950’s, alongside Carlson Gracie, Robson Gracie and Joao Alberto Barreto, Helio Vigio defended the Gracie Jiu Jitsu name in several “Vale Tudo” (No Holds Barred) fights later becoming one of the best BJJ/NHB/MMA referees in the world
Luiz Panza is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Marco Barbosa who is one of the top heavyweight competitors of his generation. A former professional model, Luiz Panza traded the catwalk for Jiu Jitsu, turning professional in 2013. On his first year as a black belt competitor, Luiz immediately made a name for himself piling up medals at the highest level of BJJ.
Bruno Mendes, more commonly known in the Brazillian Jiu Jitsu world by his nickname “Tank”, is one of the leaders and founding members of the BJJ team: Soul Fighters. A black belt under Alvaro Mansor, Tank spent several years working behind the scenes of IBJJF competitions before fouding his own team with his brother, the world champion Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes, Leandro Escobar and Rafael Barbosa.
One of the top Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitors of an exciting new generation of featherweight fighters to have appeared in BJJ post 2010, Victor Genovesi is also the son of marathon runner Dani Figueiredo and one of the top BJJ coaches in the world, Alexandre Paiva with whom Victor has trained since his teenage years.
Marcio Corleta is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Mauricio and Sylvio Behring, who was considered one of the top ultra heavyweights of his generation in the sport. Through his excellent sporting career, Corleta brought awareness to the quality of Jiu Jitsu practiced in the south of Brazil
Marcio Stambowsky, also known as Macarrão, is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coral belt, who is one of the 10 men to have been graded as a black belt by the legendary Rolls Gracie, often mentioned as the “Famous Five”. Stambowsky, who was one of the top grappling competitors in the 1980s.
Abraham Marte is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Abraham Tabar from team Basico BJJ of the Dominican Republic. Marte was the first high end competitor to come out of the Dominic Republic and the first to medal at the World Championships in a black belt division.
Leandro Escobar, also known as ‘Tatu’, is qualified instructor in Muay Thai and a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under “Dedeco” Almeida, being also one of the leaders of the Soul Fighters BJJ academy and the head coach of its competition team in Rio de Janeiro.
Paulo Mauricio Strauch is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Master (9th degree red belt) who trained under Master Reylson Gracie before founding his own academy in 1984. From his academy in Copacabana Master Paulo Mauricio Strauch has taught numerous champions such as the world famous Caio Terra, Alexandre Vieira and many others.
Keenan Cornelius is a Hawaiian and a famous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor with a tremendous fan base in the United States. The talented fighter received his black belt from André Galvão in September 2013 though he started his career as a grappler training under BJ Penn and Lloyd Irvin’s tuition where he won all the top tournaments in the purple and brown belt levels, being considered the most accomplished brown belt of all time.
Paulo Miyao and his brother João are known as the Miyao Brothers, two very well known Jiu Jitsu competitors under the Cícero Costha academy banner. João and Paulo are known for their flamboyant guards and the use of the berimbolo sweep/back take.
João Miyao and his brother Paulo are known as the Miyao Brothers, two very well known Jiu Jitsu competitors under the Cícero Costha academy banner. João and Paulo are known for their flamboyant guards and the use of the berimbolo sweep/back take.
Marcelo Azevedo, also known by his nickname “Uirapuru” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the illustrious Vinicius Draculino, who filled in Draculino’s boots as head coach of Gracie Barra Belo Horizonte head quarters after the departure of the famous instructor to the United States.