A list of all Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Pan American champions with their respective bios/wiki’s. All in the black belt divisions since the opening of the BJJ Pan Ams.
One of the greatest super heavyweight competitors in jiu jitsu’s sporting history, Alexandre “Café”, became known as a Gracie Barra representative during the 2000’s decade, where he accumulated victories over some top competitors such as Fabricio Werdum, Marcelo Garcia, Fernando “Terere” or Demian Maia to name a few. Café also had a short spell as a mixed martial arts fighter, competing in the UFC.
Gianni Grippo is widely regarded as one of the leading figures of the ‘Berimbolo Generation’ of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, having built that reputation in the lower belt divisions of the sport where he conquered 6 world titles (4 with the gi and 2 without). Grippo competed for the Renzo Gracie Academy up until brown belt, when he switched to Marcelo Garcia’s Alliance, continuing his grappling career at the multiple time world champion academy.
Tammi Musumeci is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who became one of the top featherweights in the women’s divisions at the young age of 19. Tammi Musumeci turned a few heads her way after she won the Pan American Championship in 2014 in her first year as a black belt, beating two former world champions on her way to the top.
Marcio Corleta is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Mauricio and Sylvio Behring, who was considered one of the top ultra heavyweights of his generation in the sport. Through his excellent sporting career, Corleta brought awareness to the quality of Jiu Jitsu practiced in the south of Brazil
A professional MMA fighter, Jiu Jitsu black belt and Capoeira Master, Delson Heleno, also known as Pe de Chumbo is part of the elite grapplers of the world, having been a former Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World and Pan American champion at the black belt level. He is a student of Adilson Lima from the city of Teresopolis.
The creator of the Baratoplata technique, Rafael Freitas (AKA Barata) is also an accomplished Jiu Jitsu black belt, having competed and won in some of the most respected tournaments in the BJJ international circuit. Barata is also the coach of Gracie Barra New Mexico.
One of the founding members of the Brazilian Top Team academy, Bebeo Duarte is also a highly decorated black belt in Jiu Jitsu, having won important tournaments such as the Mundial (World BJJ Championships) and the Pan American. This Carlson Gracie black belt is also a manager for many important MMA fighters, such as Alexandre “Cacareco”.
Cassio Werneck was one of the top Brazilian Jiu Jitsu middle-weights at the turn of the century. A black belt under Ricardo Reis, Cassio …
Marcos Barreto made history as the very first world Brazilian Jiu Jitsu champion in the “Galo” weight division, back in 1996. A black belt …
Tiago Alves is one of the most famous BJJ practitioners from the Barbosa Jiu Jitsu Team. A black belt in both Jiu Jitsu and Kung Fu Alves excelled in the “Arte Suave” having achieved many important titles in the black belt division, such as Brazilian National Champion (with and without the Gi), Pan American Champion and even South American champion.
South Africa’s very first jiu jitsu black belt World champion, Penny Thomas was one of the most accomplished competitors of her generation, in Jiu …
Jonatas Gurgel, also known as “Tagarela” is one of the top Jiu Jitsu fighters in the famous American Top Team (ATT). With an amazing …
Fabiana Borges is one of the top black belts in the women’s jiu jitsu divisions of the 2000 decade. The two time Pan American …
Carlos Vieira Holanda, also known as “Esquisito” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Master Faustino Neto, and another important fighter to come out of the BJJ hive that is Manaus in Brazil, the birth place of several important fighters such as Ronaldo Souza, Ary Farias, Saulo Ribeiro and many others. In 2010 “Esquisito” (who fights for the Checkmat Academy) was crowned Pan American champion, defeating Caio Terra to reach his gold medal.
The 1997 pluma BJJ black belt World Champion, Joao Roque went on to have a fruitful MMA professional career, fighting in shows such as the Shooto Japan, UFC, Deep and VTJ. Roque is also one of the first African native BJJ black belts in the world.
A historical figure in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Leticia Ribeiro has collected medals in world grappling events for years on end, being considered one of the top 10 best female fighters of all time having been distinguished with a mention in the IBJJF Hall of Fame. Leticia Ribeiro is also the leader of one of the best female BJJ teams, the Gracie Humaitá, an organization teeming with talent, such as Penny Thomas, Bia Mesquita, Mackenzie Dern amongst many others.
He is the son of Gracie Barra founder Carlinhos Gracie and member of the famous Gracie family. Kayron is also one of the brightest stars in Jiu Jitsu’s middleweight division, with many important wins at black belt level, since obtaining his black belt in 2009.
An amazing grappler “Soca” has conquered numerous BJJ and submission wrestling competitions including the prestigious ADCC tournament (considered to be the elite grappling trophy), the Pan American BJJ Championship and the “Brasileiro”.
A Jorge Pereira black belt, Guigo is a World and Pan American Champion from Rio de Janeiro. Today he lives in Sao Paulo where he leads his own BJJ team.
3x BJJ World Champion and 5 BJJ World silver medals. This impressive resume defines this amazing competitor from Gracie Barra, today the head coach of GB America.