Kennedy Maciel

Kennedy Maciel is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt, a promotion awarded by his father – legendary grappler Rubens Charles (also known as Cobrinha). Widely regarded as one of the top competitors of his generation, Kennedy Maciel started making waves in this sport during his colored belt campaigns. A time when he earned world titles at both the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) and the United Arab Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), two of BJJ’s most prestigious leagues.

Kennedy Maciel Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Kennedy Leonardo Maciel

Nickname: Cobrinha Junior

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Alexandre Paiva > Fernando Terere > Rubens Charles > Kennedy Maciel

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2024)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Championship (2024)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship NOGI (2020)
• 1st Place ADCC Brazilian Trials 1 (2024)
• 1st Place AJP Grand Slam, MIA (2020)
• 2nd Place ADCC World Championship (2019)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2022)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2018 brown, 2016 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2018 brown)
• 1st Place AJP Abu Dhabi Pro (2018 brown)
• 1st Place ACBJJ North American Championship (2018 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2015 blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF Juvenile World Championship (2014)
• 1st Place IBJJF Juvenile World No-Gi Championship (2014/2013)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2016 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2017 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2016 purple)

Favorite Position/Technique: De La Riva Hook

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

Team/Association: Alliance

Kennedy Maciel Biography

Kennedy Maciel was born on January 02, 1997, in São Carlos – a city located inside the Brazilian state of São Paulo.

Although the son of a jiu-jitsu legend – Rubens Charles Maciel, Kennedy was not “raised” on the mats as it’s been the case with so many other children of grappling legends. Instead, Rubens moved to the United States in 2007 and it was only in late 2012 that the young Maciel joined him in California and started his introduction to jiu-jitsu.

With his father by his side, Kennedy’s talent immediately started shining through. This was evident after his first IBJJF Pan medal (gold) in 2013, just a few months into his training.

Working almost immediately as a full-time grappler, Kennedy started helping his father with the kids’ classes. Through his hard work and dedication, Maciel conquered the lower belt divisions of the sport with repeated success at the World and European Open tournaments.

Kennedy’s many triumphs as a brown belt, particularly in 2018 a period in which Maciel went unbeaten with 7 gold medals in 7 tournaments, led his father Rubens Charles to promote the young Maciel to black belt on June 2018.

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Kennedy Maciel vs Richard Santos