By Jiu Jitsu on May 02nd, 2010

Alexandre de Souza (Gracie Floripa)

Alexandre de Souza

Alexandre “Pop” de Souza is a Jiu Jitsu Black Belt fighting out of his adopted city of Florianopolis. Get to know more about one of the best fighters in the World not linked to a major BJJ team

Alexandre Souza in Detail

Name: Alexandre de Souza

Meaning of Alexandre de Souza’s Nickname: “Pop” as he is called came about because Alexandre had similar features to a local Capoeira fighter who was named “Pop”. Someone at his academy started calling Alexandre by the name, and it stuck until today.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Crolin Gracie > Alexandre de Souza

Main Achievements (BJJ):

2x European Champion (2008 Open Weight and Medium Heavy)
Brazilian National Champion (2008 Open Weight)
3x South American Champion (2008 Open Weight and Heavy Weight, 2007 Open Weight)

Weight Category (BJJ): Meio Pesado, Pesado and Super-Pesado.

Team/Association: Gracie Barra – Floripa

Alexandre de Souza Biography

Alexandre de Souza was born in 1986 on a small town called Baúru, in the State of Sao Paulo – Brazil. He started training Jiu Jitsu in 1997 when he was 11 years old, but it was only in 2001 that he met the man that would become his master, Crolin Gracie. The two met as Alexandre moved to the Southern Town of Floripa to study mechanical engineering at the local university (UFSC) and joined Crolin Gracie’s academy to continue his BJJ tuition. He trained hard with the 6 degree (Sexto Grau) Jiu Jitsu black belt being rewarded in 2004 with a black belt of his own.

In 2007 de Souza had one of his best years as a competitor, winning against some of the best fighters in the World, athletes such as Romulo Barral, Bruno Bastos, Roberto Tozi, Tarsis Humpreys and many others, he seemed set on reaching a high place at the World Championships that year, unfortunately his Visa was denied and he could not compete in the World’s biggest stage that year.

Although Alexandre is one of Jiu Jitsu’s toughest competitors, he is also one of the very few that does not train at any of the major academies, choosing to prepare himself training with his students at his Floripa Academy.

Alexandre de Souza vs Bruno Bastos