Louie Cercedez is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the famous Roy Harris (one of the first American BJJ black belts). With an extensive Martial Arts background, Cercedez also ventured into the early staged of Mixed Martial Arts, having fought on shows when MMA was still in its embryo stage against fighters such as Javier Vazquez and Yves Edwards.
Andre Quiles is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the Leozinho Vieira with strong ties to the MMA team Chute Boxe, for whom he fought many. Quiles has won several important titles in Jiu Jitsu, such as Sao Paulo State Champions (7 times) and South American Championchip.
Fernando Monteiro is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the great master Francisco Mansor. The former Niteroi league champion has trained BJJ since 1977, and is one of the most experienced members of the prestigious Brasil 021 team.
Gastão Gracie Filho was a red belt in BJJ and the brother of Carlos, Oswaldo, George and Helio Gracie, all of which form the founding members of the Gracie Jiu Jitsu style. He moved to Sao Paulo where he helped further develop the sport there in the 1930’s.
Oswaldo Gracie was one of the founding members of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, whom together with brothers Carlos, Gastao, George and Helio, transformed the landscape of martial arts forever in Brazil. Oswaldo is often seen as the better fighter of the original 5 brothers, he went on to promote Gracie Jiu Jitsu in the state of Minas Gerais.
This charismatic black belt from the Alliance Jiu Jitsu team has medalled in some of the world’s most Important competitions such as the Mundial, the European Open and the Pan American, he is also an important figure for BJJ in the country of Ecuador where he resides and where has established an Alliance affiliate academy.
Carlos Henrique is a 5th degree black belt under master Francisco Mansor who has medalled in important tournaments such as the International Masters & Seniors, the Pan American & the Brasileiro (Brazilian Nationals). Carlos Henrique is also one of the leaders of the Brazil 021 team, an important team that has raised champions such as Hanette Staack.
One of the ADCC 2011 starlets, the American Justin Rader is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Rafael Lovato Jr and the Gracie Humaita team who has won important tournaments such as the World Nogi Championships, Grapplers Quest and the Pan American Jiu Jitsu championships.
Guga is a BJJ black belt from the Checkmat academy with several important medals under his belt, such as the Rio Open and the World Cup as a black belt, and a world title in the brown belt division, Luis Gustavo is one of the most successful competitors from the fightzone camp in Rio de Janeiro.
Amin Touati “Camelinho” is a Jiu Jitsu black belt under the legendary Royce Gracie since June 2011. From Stockholm, Sweden, Amin Touati moved to Dubai in the UAE and helped grow the sport of BJJ in that Arab country.
A professional MMA fighter with an extensive background in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Gunni Nelson is one of the main figures of a new and successive generation of European (Gunnar is Icelandic) BJJ black belts that has managed to achieve excellent results at an international level.
Davi Ramos is one of the top Jiu Jitsu lightweight competitors in the world. Born in Rio de Janeiro and taught by master Cesar Guimaraes from Top Brother and he is also part of the Atos team from Rio Claro. His strong and dynamic BJJ game have made him one of the most interesting fighters to watch in a division stacked with talent.
A BJJ and Judo black belt, Louzado has medalled in most important BJJ tournaments around the world with or without the kimono (Nogi). A black belt from the Checkmat team, Marcel has established himself in the US from where he runs one of the main Checkmat branches in the country.
Jurandir Moura is a historical figure in the Jiu Jitsu and Vale Tudo (no holds barred) history of Brazil. Having passed away on January 2010, Jurandir Moura was an 8th Degree Instructor (Coral Belt) and the man responsible for the tuition of several important fighters in the 1950’s and 1960’s era.
The very first king of the lightweight division (crowned by winning the first World Jiu Jitsu Championship in 1996), Renato Barreto was part of a Gracie Humaita generation teaming with talent, with fighters such as Royler Gracie, Wellington Megaton, Paulo Barroso and many others.
an ADCC open weight champion (2003), Dean Lister is amongst the elite of Submission Wrestling. With a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and experience in Wrestling, the Russian martial art of Sambo and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Lister became one of the most sought out grappling coaches in MMA.
Everton Santana, also known as “Dentinho” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Roger Coelho with experience in the MMA professional circuit, having also been part of the famed no rules tournament named “Rio Heroes”, an event that caused much controversy in Brazil in 2007.
The most important submission based martial art on the planet, BJJ has prospered tremendously in the last 20 years and is a long way from it’s start in the late 1920s. Today Jiu Jitsu is a thriving sport and one of the fastest growing martial arts on the planet having produced several champions that went on to be successful in MMA. This article is a short run through the sport since the early days until today.
One of the most successful wrestlers to have transitioned into Jiu Jitsu, this BJJ black belt under Renzo Gracie is a former 197 lbs Cornell University Wrestler with two D1 NCAA “All American” Wrestling championships and a Silver Medal at the ADCC.
Ricardo Cavalcanti is one of the most successful BJJ instructors to have moved to the United States from his native Brazil. A true old school black belt, having earned his stripes under Carlson Gracie, Ricardo today coaches at his academies – Team Cavalcanti – spread out through the Nevada territory.
