Male Jiu Jitsu Competitors

Thiago Rogerio dos Santos is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under André “Negão” Terencio and one of the main instructors at the Brasil 021 team. Though Thiago is an instructor at Brasil 021, he also competes having achieved some important titles such as the Niteroi state championship and a bronze medal at the New York Open.

Am accomplished Jiu Jitsu fighter in the Super Featherweight division, Bobadilla has won numerous important tournaments including the World Cup on 3 occasions, making him one of the main figures in the Grappling Fight Team camp.

Dennis Asche is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Roberto Correa AKA “Gordo” and an instructor at the Gordo Evolve academy. An American citizen, Dennis Asche has transformed his life due to BJJ, having lived extensively in Brazil and adopting the South American country as his second home.

Jose Junior is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who managed to slip under the radar of many BJJ enthusiasts until he submitted one of BJJ’s top players, Bernardo Faria, on the World Pro Jiu Jitsu Cup tournament in 2011. A student of master Juarez Soares for many years, Jose Junior moved to the United Arab Emirates to be part of the BJJ schooling program there, where he became a grappling coach.

Raoni Barcelos is a Wrestler and a top level Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under 7th degree coral belt, Laerte Barcelos (his father). Training Jiu Jitsu since he was 2 years old, Raoni Barcelos has stacked up many important titles, including 4 world titles in the lower belts; he is also a successful Freestyle Wrestler having important titles such as a Freestyle National title.

Italo Lins is one of the top up and coming Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters in the world. Lins is a black belt under GFT Master, Julio Cesar Pereira, being part of a very talented generation of fighters from the Grappling Fight Team camp of which Igor Silva, Rodolfo Vieira and Jake Mackenzie and many others are a part of.

Antonio de Melo is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Masters Robson Gracie and Geraldo Gonçalves Flores who is currently part of the Brazil 021 team, a team led by the legendary Hanette Staack, Andre Terencio and Carlos Henrique. Melo has been a BJJ black belt since 1993, having medalled in important tournaments such as the LINJJI and the International Masters & Seniors IBJJF competition.

Ricardo Evangelista is a top Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under master Julio Cesar from the Grappling Fight Team (GFT) and one of the best super heavyweights in BJJ having won several important tournaments at the top level such as the Brazilian Nationals and the Rio Open.

James Brasco is an elite Wrestler and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Pablo Popovitch. Brasco has defeated several big names in the grappling scene, such as Clark Gracie, Gunnar Nelson, Steve Gable and many others.

One of the strongest competitors to have come out of the new Gracie generation, Clark Gracie is a Jiu Jitsu black belt having been taught by both his father, Carley Gracie, and Rodrigo Medeiros from the BJJ Revolution team, with whom Clark Gracie has trained for most of his competitive career.

Eduardo Monteiro is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Guilherme “Caju” Rocha from Gracie Fortaleza and a strong competitor in the North-East region of Brazil. Eduardo was named “Fighter to Watch for 2010” by BJJ website Meia Guarda for his competitive achievements.

Alexandre “Baiano” dos Santos is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under master Neury Gomes, he is also a Pan Pac’s medallist belonging to the famous Cia Paulista team. In 2010 he moved to Australia to help Carlos Vieira run Paulista’s ever growing franchise in the region.

Simpson “Sim” Go was the first Mark Laimon student to be awarded the grade of black belt in Jiu Jitsu. A multiple time Grapplers Quest champion, Sim Go rapidly became a big name in the Las Vegas grappling circuit, later becoming an instructor at the prestigious Cobra Kai gym, one of the biggest Nogi (BJJ without the gi) schools in the country.

Joao “Johnny” Faria is a Brazilian Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt with plenty of experience in Nogi as well. A Flavio Behring black belt, Johnny has won several important competitions since arriving in the USA in 2006 such as the Pan American and the World Nogi Championships.

Denny Prokopos was the very first Jiu Jitsu black belt graduated by Eddie Bravo, and subsequently the first black belt generated from Bravo’s 10th Planet system. Denny is also one of the most talented Nogi Jiu Jitsu practitioners in the United States having won several important tournaments such as the Mundiao (Nogi) and the FILA World Grappling tournament.

Father to two of BJJ’s biggest stars in the 1980’s, Flavio Behring was also of great contribute to the growth of the sport in Sao Paulo. A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Red Belt in Jiu Jitsu, Flavio Behring has trained Jiu Jitsu since 1947 and became one of the Gracie Academy’s top students in the 1960’s.

A Jiu Jitsu black belt under Carlinhos Gracie, this Gracie Barra coach has trained with some of the best BJJ practitioners in the world, such as Erik Wanderlei and Marcio Feitosa. He has also been the sparring partner of Royce Gracie in preparation for several of his fights.

Considered by many as the best guard in the Gracie family, Rilion Gracie was tremendously influenced by his brothers Rolls and Crolin. Rilion also taught the Gracie Jiu Jitsu style half way around the world having opened schools in Europe, North and South America. Today Rilion is still sought out by several big names in the sport for technical advice.

Rolker Gracie is an important figure in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, being the 4th son of Helio Gracie and one of the main figures within the Gracie Humaitá organization, arguably the most historical of BJJ academies, from where he has influenced the technical growth of many world champions.

Rodrigo Ranieri is a World Jiu Jitsu Cup gold medallist (2006) and a top super featherweight grappler. A BJJ black belt under master Paulo Cesar Rezende, Ranieri (also known as “Mike” or “Mike Tyson”) moved to the United States where he has competed extensively in his weight class and open weight classes all around the country.