Gustavo Ogawa

Gustavo Ogawa is a Japanese-born, Brazilian grappler and a black belt under Guilherme Mendes who also worked extensively under Alexandre Ogawa (his father). Gustavo represented Ogawa Jiu-Jitsu early on in his career and went on to represent the California-based workgroup Art Of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ), for whom he conquered many important titles, particularly in the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) circuit.

Gustavo Ogawa Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Gustavo Umeoka Ogawa

Nickname: n/a

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlson Gracie > André Pederneiras > Ramon Lemos > Guilherme Mendes > Gustavo Ogawa

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF European Championship (2026)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2022 / 2023 purple, 2024 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2023 purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2022 purple)

Main Achievements (Juvenile):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2021**)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Championship (2021**)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2021**)

* Absolute
** Weight and Absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Attacking The Back & Modern JJ style

Weight Division: Peso Pluma (64,00 kg / 141.5 lbs)

Team/Association: AOJ

Gustavo Ogawa Biography

Gustavo Ogawa was born in April 2004 in Japan. Being the son of Brazilian citizens, he received Brazilian citizenship despite growing up in the Land Of The Rising Sun.

The son of a jiu-jitsu pioneer in Japan, Alexandre Ogawa, Gustavo was initiated in his father’ s trade at a very early age (3) with his first steps on the tournament scene, beginning around the age of 5. By the time he was 8 years old, he was already fully embedded in BJJ culture, dreaming of one day being a pro-athlete.

Training out of the Ogawa Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Shizuoka, Japan, Gustavo quickly became one of the top youngsters competing in the country, being undefeated for many years. His good form earned him an invitation to be a part of the Believe and Achieve scholarship with the Art Of Jiu-Jitsu Academy (AOJ) in Costa Mesa, California, USA, when he was 14, an offer accepted by Ogawa.

Gustavo arrived at AOJ as a 14-yo green belt and remained with the USA-based workgroup throughout the other belts, under the guidance of Guilherme Mendes. It was Guilherme who promoted Ogawa throughout the adult colored belts, including his black belt in a promotion that took place on December 9, 2024.