Michel Langhi is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the legendary Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” and one of the most gifted guard players in BJJ’ featherweight division. Being the brother of lightweight world champion Michael Langhi, Michel (often regarded as “Langhinho”) became a starlet of his own merit after successive impressive wins in the lower ranks where he won tournaments such as the World Championships, the Pan American and the Brasileiro.
Yuri Simões is one of Jiu Jitsu’s rising stars and a representative of the Checkmat academy fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Awarded with his black belt on December 2011, Yuri made a name for himself in the lower ranks after wining several important competitions such as the Mundial, the World Nogi Championships, the European Open to name a few. Yuri Simões is also the adopted brother of another BJJ starlet, Ary Farias.
Fabiano Silva is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Ricardo Liborio from the American Top Team (ATT), who also competes in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Fabiano is also known as the head coach of the Temecula (USA) branch of ATT.
The first Swedish female black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Ida Hansson is also one of the top competitors of her generation, having fought throughout the world, medalling in some of the world’s most important grappling tournaments. Hansson fights out of the Checkmat team in Denmark (Arte Suave) one of the top high level BJJ academies in Europe.
Victor Estima is a prolific Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who has medalled in some of the world’s most important BJJ tournaments such as the “Mundial”, the European Open and the World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship. Victor is also the brother of the legendary grappler, Braulio Estima.
Nivaldo Oliveira a world Brazilian Jiu Jitsu champion and a black belt under the legendary Leo Vieira. Nivaldo has become one of the strongest fighters from the Checkmat team, having defeated several important figures in tournaments all over the world.
Vinicius Marinho is another great GF Team (Grappling Fight Team) black belt with an extensive curriculum of achievements in competitive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu including wins at the Mundial (World Championships) and the Brazilian Nationals. Marinho, who started training at age 10,achieved his BJJ black belt status when he was 19 years of age.
Gabriel Ribeiro is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Master Carlos Henrique, under whom he graduated in 2010. A team member of the Brazil 021 academy, Gabriel has medalled in prestigious Rio de Janeiro tournaments such as the Copa Conde Coma the Carlson Gracie Cup and the Gavazza Cup.
Rafael Heck is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the legendary coach and competitor Leonardo Vieira. This BJJ practitioner made a name for himself fighting in the State of Sao Paulo, where he achieved numerous podium spots in important competitions such as the World Cup, the Sao Paulo State Championships and many others.
Gabriel Rainho, also known as “Biel” is a Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt from the Grappling Fight Team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This Master Julio Cesar Pereira black belt is one of the top featherweights from the famed GFT having won the the Rio de Janeiro State Championships and the Brazilian National numerous times.
Thiago Rogerio dos Santos is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under André “Negão” Terencio and one of the main instructors at the Brasil 021 team. Though Thiago is an instructor at Brasil 021, he also competes having achieved some important titles such as the Niteroi state championship and a bronze medal at the New York Open.
Jose Junior is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who managed to slip under the radar of many BJJ enthusiasts until he submitted one of BJJ’s top players, Bernardo Faria, on the World Pro Jiu Jitsu Cup tournament in 2011. A student of master Juarez Soares for many years, Jose Junior moved to the United Arab Emirates to be part of the BJJ schooling program there, where he became a grappling coach.
Raoni Barcelos is a Wrestler and a top level Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under 7th degree coral belt, Laerte Barcelos (his father). Training Jiu Jitsu since he was 2 years old, Raoni Barcelos has stacked up many important titles, including 4 world titles in the lower belts; he is also a successful Freestyle Wrestler having important titles such as a Freestyle National title.
Italo Lins is one of the top up and coming Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters in the world. Lins is a black belt under GFT Master, Julio Cesar Pereira, being part of a very talented generation of fighters from the Grappling Fight Team camp of which Igor Silva, Rodolfo Vieira and Jake Mackenzie and many others are a part of.
Ricardo Evangelista is a top Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under master Julio Cesar from the Grappling Fight Team (GFT) and one of the best super heavyweights in BJJ having won several important tournaments at the top level such as the Brazilian Nationals and the Rio Open.
James Brasco is an elite Wrestler and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Pablo Popovitch. Brasco has defeated several big names in the grappling scene, such as Clark Gracie, Gunnar Nelson, Steve Gable and many others.
One of the strongest competitors to have come out of the new Gracie generation, Clark Gracie is a Jiu Jitsu black belt having been taught by both his father, Carley Gracie, and Rodrigo Medeiros from the BJJ Revolution team, with whom Clark Gracie has trained for most of his competitive career.
Eduardo Monteiro is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Guilherme “Caju” Rocha from Gracie Fortaleza and a strong competitor in the North-East region of Brazil. Eduardo was named “Fighter to Watch for 2010” by BJJ website Meia Guarda for his competitive achievements.
Denny Prokopos was the very first Jiu Jitsu black belt graduated by Eddie Bravo, and subsequently the first black belt generated from Bravo’s 10th Planet system. Denny is also one of the most talented Nogi Jiu Jitsu practitioners in the United States having won several important tournaments such as the Mundiao (Nogi) and the FILA World Grappling tournament.
“Treta” as she is usually called, is a jiu jitsu world champion and a black belt for the Ryan Gracie team. Formerly with Cicero Costha (from Barbosa BJJ), Talita Nogueira switched camps to become one of the most successful fighters in women’s Jiu Jitsu in 2011, with a win at the Mundial and a win at the ADCC trials in Brazil.