Gustavo Batista

Gustavo Batista, often referenced as ‘Braguinha’ is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Leandro Lo and a former representative of the New School Brotherhood academy in the sport’s international tour, later changing to Atos JJ (2018). Batista made a name for himself in the lower belt divisions of this martial art’s competitive circuit, particularly as a brown belt – a time when Braguinha conquered the #1 Ranking of the United Arab Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) beating several outstanding black belts in the process, including Alexandre Ribeiro, José Júnior, John Combs and Kevin Mahecha.

Gustavo Batista Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Gustavo Espindola Batista

Nickname: Commonly known as Braguinha, the name is a reference to Gustavo’s resemblance with former BJJ world champion António Braga Neto. Braguinha is a Portuguese term for Little-Braga.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Marcelo Behring > Waldomiro Perez> Roberto Godoi > Marco Barbosa > Cicero Costha > Leandro Lo > Gustavo Batista

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2018*** / 2021*** / 2024)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2018 / 2020 / 2021 / 2023)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2019**)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2023)
• 1st Place UAEJJF King Of Mats (2019)
• 1st Place 3CG Kumite Grand Prix 195lbs (2020)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2019)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2020* / 2021*)
• 2nd PlaceUAEJJF Grand Slam, RJ  (2017)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2023)

Main Achievements (Coloured Belts):

• UAEJJF #1 Ranked Brown Belt (2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Champion (2015** blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Champion (2015** blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open Champion (2017** brown, 2016** purple, 2015** blue)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brasileiro Champion (2017** brown, 2016* purple, 2015** blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF Manaus International Open Champion (2016 purple)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (2017 brown, 2016 purple)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Manaus Brazil Pro Champion (2017 brown)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Gramado Brazil Pro Champion (2016 purple)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Grand Slam, Abu Dhabi (2017 brown)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Grand Slam, Tokyo (2016 brown)
• 2nd Place UAEJJF Grand Slam, RJ (2017)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2017 brown, 2016 purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2016* purple)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2016 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2016 purple)
• 3rd Place Copa Pódio MW Grand Prix (2017)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute
*** Closed division with teammate

Favorite Position/Technique: X Guard, Knee Slice Pass

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

Team/Association: Atos JJ

Gustavo Batista Biography

Gustavo Batista was born on March 11, 1996, in Florianópolis, the capital of southern Brazil’s Santa Catarina state, growing up in Palhoça – also in SC.

Like most Brazilian children, Batista’s introduction to competitive sports was made through football (soccer), an activity he carried on practicing up until 2012. Gustavo gained interest in jiu-jitsu through his older brother who already practiced this martial art, and by the time Braguinha was 15 he too decided to join the local BJJ academy.

Felipe Teixeira was Gustavo’s first instructor and the man who graded Braguinha with his blue belt, an important step in Batista’s life as it was then that he decided to become a professional BJJ athlete. Galvanized by good competitive results Batista decided to move to São Paulo and enroll at the world-famous PSLPB (Projeto Social Lutando Pelo Bem) gym/project led by Cícero Costha.

At PSLPB Braguinha met and befriended Leandro Lo, who was a big reference (and somewhat of an unmentioned captain) for the workgroup. Once Lo split from Costha’s affiliation in September 2015, Batista followed him and joined the newly formed NS Brotherhood academy.

After an outstanding career as a purple and brown belt, where Braguinha conquered the rank of #1 brown belt in the world by the UAEJJF, in October 2017 Batista was promoted to black belt by Leandro Lo, the same instructor who had previously promoted Gustavo to purple and brown belt.

In January 2018, after some turmoil in the Ns Brotherhood academy, Gustavo Batista chose to switch camps, following his then-girlfriend Luiza Monteiro to Atos Jiu-Jitsu in California.

Photo by Ken Sawada
WB: jiujitsu.mods.jp
FB: facebook.com/jiujitsuspirits

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Gustavo Batista vs Tommy Langaker (2017)