Lucas Pinheiro

Lucas Pinheiro, also known as “Bad Boy” is a jiu-jitsu athlete of Brazilian Indigenous descent, who was awarded the rank of black belt by Carlos Holanda (Esquisito). Lucas is also a former student of Faustino Neto (Mestre Pina) as well as Cícero Costha, who earned the reputation of being one of the most prolific athletes in the sport while competing in the lower belt categories of the sport, particularly after a fruitful 2015 brown belt campaign, when he earned important medals at the Brazilian Nationals and World Championship. Lucas Pinheiro would later cement his status as one of the top light-featherweight black belt competitors of his generation.

Lucas Pinheiro Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Lucas dos Santos Pinheiro

Nickname: “Bad Boy” is a label that Lucas has carried since his childhood in Manaus, due to his reputation of being an aggressive kid.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Osvaldo Alves > Faustino Neto > Carlos Holanda > Lucas Pinheiro

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2023)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2022)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2020)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship NOGI (2020)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2023)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals NOGI (2022)
• 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals NOGI (2018 / 2019)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open NOGI (2022)
• 1st Place AJP Grand Slam, MIA (2020)
• 1st Place ADCC Las Vegas Open (2022)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2017)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2016 / 2017 / 2022)
• 2nd Place AJP Grand Slam, ABD (2022)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2015 brown)
• 1st Place AJP Brazil National Pro (2015 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rio International Open (2014 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2015 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Floripa Open (2014 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Guard Passing

Weight Division: Peso Pluma (64kg/141lbs)

Team/Association: Atos JJ

Lucas Pinheiro Biography

Lucas Pinheiro was born on the 11th of February, 1994 in Manaus – the capital city of the state of Amazonas, Brazil.

Raised in a low-income family hold, with his parents away working for long hours, Lucas spent much of his time in the streets earning the reputation of being somewhat of a daredevil. Often causing fights “just for fun”. When he was 9 years old, one of Lucas’ best friends took him to a class at “Mestre Pina” jiu-jitsu academy, knowing that he would most certainly enjoy the environment. Pinheiro’s friend was correct, Lucas felt a great connection with the sport from the get-go becoming almost immediately hooked.

At the famous Mestre Pina academy (one of the most renowned academies in the region), Lucas went from white to purple belt, leaving the academy (and Manaus) at the age of 17 after an invitation by Cícero Costha to come to Sao Paulo and lead the life of a competitor, settling in Costha’s Sorocaba affiliate academy.

In Sao Paulo under Cícero Costha‘s tutelage is where he truly turned into a dedicated competitor, earning the rank of brown belt. His spectacular brown belt campaign led him to the IBJJF World Championship in Long Beach – CA, where Lucas earned a silver medal. While in California, Pinheiro was offered a position as a coach at an academy in the US, the offer was made by a Checkmat affiliate gym, which forced Pinheiro to switch camps. He would earn his black belt from the hands of fellow Manauara, Carlos Holanda. A few years later, Pinheiro joined the Atos Academy.

Cover photo by Mariana Viana.

Lucas Pinheiro vs Woolf Barnato