Charles Negromonte

Charles Negromonte is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Zé Radiola and a former member of Roger Gracie‘s Association (RGA). Widely regarded as one of the top medium-heavyweight competitors of his generation, Charles Negromonte earned his reputation by earning important medals of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) and Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro Tour (AJP) circuits such as the World No-Gi Championship, European Championships (Gi and No-Gi) as well as CBJJ’s Brazilian Nationals and the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam.

Charles Negromonte Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Charles Negromonte Santos

Nickname: Negromonte is often referenced as “Charlão” by his friends. A friendly way of saying Charles in Portuguese jargon.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > José Olímpio > Charles Negromonte

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF European Open NOGI (2015)
• 1st Place IBJJF South American Championship (2013)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals NOGI (2014)
• 1st Place AJP King of Mats (2018)
• 1st Place AJP Grand Slam, LDN (2016)
• 1st Place AJP Grand Slam, ADB Champion (2018 / 2020)
• 1st Place AJP Grand Slam, RJN Champion (2019)
• 1st Place AJP British National Pro (2019)
• 1st Place ACB European Championship (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF London Open (2013)
• 1st Place IBJJF London Winter Open (2015)
• 1st Place Torino JJ Challenge (2018**)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2016)
• 2nd Place CBJJ CBJJ Brazilian Nationals NOGI (2014*)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open NOGI (2015*)
• 2nd Place IBJJF London Winter Open (2015*/2016)
• 2nd Place ACB World Championship (2018)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2015)
• 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2016)
• 3rd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2013)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2012 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open Championship (2011 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2011 brown)
• 3rd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2010/2011 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Well-Rounded

Weight Division: Meio Pesado (88,30 kg / 195.0 lbs)

Team/Association: Roger Gracie Academy / ZR Team

Charles Negromonte Biography

Charles Negromonte was born on September 29, 1988, in Recife growing up in a nearby town named Paulista – both located in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco.

Although Charles spent a few months training judo when he was 6 years old, he had no particular interest in martial arts while growing up. Instead, Negromonte’s love lied in football (soccer), a sport he played competitively for years.

When Charles’ local football club was forced to close down due to financial difficulties, Negromonte turned his focus to skateboarding, an activity that he practiced relentlessly for a few years, even entering freestyle competitions.

In 2005 Charles Negromonte became aware of jiu-jitsu through his brother Orlando “Olhão”, who already practiced the gentle art in a neighboring academy. Around March that year, Charles decided to join that same grappling team, transferring his skating focus towards BJJ.

Negromonte remained with the local jiu-jitsu club all the way up to the brown belt rank, a time when he finished high school and decided to become a professional jiu-jitsu competitor. His life choice demanded a level of dedication he could not find at his gym, and for that reason, he decided to join Zé Radiola‘s team, one of the most prosperous grappling schools in the world. Due to the distance between his hometown and Radiola’s academy Charles chose to move into the gym, sleeping on the mats of the (then) Gracie Barra headquarters in Pernambuco.

It was also at the academy that Charles first started helping out with the classes, learning the coaching trade while picking up his first international coaching experience by spending 3 months in Poland, teaching jiu jitsu at the Copacabana academy – a gym affiliated with Braulio Estima at the time (Estima who was also a student of Radiola). After the Polish experience, Negromonte relocated to England for a while in order to train with Braulio and Victor Estima.

Charles spent a few years at brown belt, always making the podium of important tournaments in the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s (IBJJF) circuit, but never winning (and always losing either the final or semi-final by 2 points). In 2011 when the discussion to be promoted arose, Charles asked to stay another year in the division so he could break this “spell” that was haunting him. Unfortunately for Negromonte, 2012 brought him the same frustration and he was finally upgraded to black belt in July 1st of 2012.

After being promoted Charles Negromonte returned to England in preparation for a few up-and-coming events. While in the United Kingdom, training mainly with the Estima brothers in Birmingham, Negromonte also traveled regularly to London in order to train with the legendary Roger Gracie. With the strengthening of the relationship between Charles and the Gracie, Roger made an offer for Negromonte to move to London and join the Roger Gracie Academy team, an offer accepted after the nod by both coach Radiola and Braulio Estima.

As a black belt Negromonte’s career flourished, steering away from the bad luck he had as a brown belt by conquering important titles such as the South American Championship and the European No-Gi Open, among many others.

Cover photo by William Burkhardt of BJJ Pix.

Charles Negromonte Highlight London Fall Open 2015