Yago de Souza

Yago de Souza is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Cicero Costha, being one of the most talented middleweights of his generation. Yago, who started competing in jiu-jitsu under the supervision of Eduardo Franco and Rodrigo Ribeiro, built a career in the lower belt divisions of the sport by winning important tournaments such as the world championship, European Open, Brazilian National Championship, and South American Championship before receiving his black belt from the PSLPB team head instructor.

Yago de Souza Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Yago Vinicius de Souza

Nickname: Yago is called Tererê by some of his friends and training partners, due to his admiration of the legendary grappler Fernando Augusto “Tererê”.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Marcelo Behring > Waldomiro Perez> Roberto Godoi > Marco Barbosa > Cicero Costha > Yago de Souza

Main Achievements:

• IBJJF Pan American Champion (2016)
• IBJJF European Open Champion (2016)
• CBJJ Brazilian National 2nd Place (2018)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• IBJJF World Champion (2015 brown)
• IBJJF European Open Champion (2015/2014 brown, 2012 blue)
• CBJJ Brazilian National Champion (2015/2014 brown)
• IBJJF South American Champion (2013** purple)
• IBJJF Rio International Open Champion (2014 brown)
• IBJJF São Paulo International Open Champion (2013** purple)
• IBJJF European Open 2nd Place (2014* brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Open Guard

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82kg/181lbs)

Team/Association: New School Brotherhood (Ns Brotherhood)

Yago de Souza Biography

Yago de Souza was born on September 7, 1993, in Itabuna, State of Bahia – Brazil. Yago moved to São Paulo as a child, and it was there that he initiated his life in martial arts/combat sports, first through capoeira at the age of 8, and later taking on judo and boxing classes.

His first steps in the martial arts world came to a halt in his early teens when he chose to commit to football (soccer), a sport he practiced until he was 16 years old.

Growing up, Yago had friends and family who trained jiu jitsu, it was one of these friends (Luiz “Macarrao”) who convinced Yago to try a BJJ class when he was 16, with coach Anderson Pereira.

Yago fell in love with grappling from the get-go and joined a “Godoi Jiu Jitsu” affiliate academy nearby, a gym led by Eduardo Franco and Rodrigo Ribeiro. It would be these two coaches who awarded de Souza his blue belt.

When searching for a stronger and more competitive team to train with, Yago found a home at Cicero Costha‘s famous Projeto Social Lutando Pelo Bem (PSLPB) in 2011, a social project/academy that has consistently developed some of the biggest talents in the grappling community, competitors such as Leandro Lo, the Miyao brothers, Thiago Barros, Igor Schneider, to name a few. Costha took charge of Yago’s development from blue belt onwards.

After a fantastic first half of 2015 where Yago won his first world title (IBJJF) as well as a European title and Brazilian national title, Master Cicero Costha rewarded Yago de Souza with the black belt, on June 2015.

By the end of September 2015, Yago de Souza supported Leandro Lo and a few of his team mates in their exit from the PSLPB team, moving on to help found their own academy, led by Lo. The “Jiu Jitsu New School Brotherhood” was the name awarded to the new team.  Among the most significant athletes who left with Leandro and Yago, were: Luiza Monteiro, Helio Dias, Gustavo “Braguinha”, Ygor Schneider, Anderson Lira and Wellington Luís.