Gabriel Souza

Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt – Instructor

Gabriel Souza was born in 1997 in Paulínia-SP. He grew up in Campinas-SP and in 2008 moved to Piracicaba-SP with his mother. His first contact with Jiu Jitsu occurred in Piracicaba-SP in 2008 under the guidance of Professor Daniel Padilha’s Black Belt academy. Since then he has always dedicated himself to training and sparring with experts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. With only three months of training, Gabriel participated in his first Championship, and placed Second at the Circuit Paulista of Jiu Jitsu by FPJJ (Paulista Federation of Jiu Jitsu). Three months later, at yet another Circuit Paulista exhibition, Gabriel took home the Championship, and decided then that Jiu-Jitsu coaching, competing, and refereeing was in his blood. With a training routine, Gabriel won 5 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medals within the FPJJ in addition to several other regional championships.

In 2012, Gabriel came in Third Place in the Brazilian Championship of Jiu Jitsu a sponsored by the CBJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Confederation). Gabriel increased his training, and by 2013 he was invited to train in Santos-SP with the internationally reknown Jiu-Jitsu Master and athlete Rodrigo Cavaca (2004 IBJJF WORLD CHAMPION), Co-Founder of Checkmat and Zenith teams, both being world championship winning teams with affiliates around the globe. In Santos, Brazil Gabriel had the opportunity to train with world-class athletes including Michele Nicolini 7x IBJJF World Champion, Renato Canuto, Silvio Duran and Renato Cardoso, all internationally reknown medalists.

Gabriel’s preparation and motivation in 2013 garnered him the World Cup Championship of Abu-Dhabi in Gramado; Third Place in his Weight Class and Absolute Champion at the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Long Beach, California; First Place in his Weight Class and Absolute Championship at the CBJJ Brazilian National CBJJ in Barueri-SP; Gold at the Pan American Jiu Jitsu Champion – CBJJ and Second Place in the Jiu Jitsu World Championship – CBJJE.

In July 2014, Gabriel returned to Piracicaba, continued training and was invited by his teacher Master Daniel Padilha to give seminars and lessons to his peers. His instruction at Master Padilha’s institution was so successful that the partners at the international supplements company BeGreen Organic, offered to sponsor his training, fighting, and coaching.

In 2015, Gabriel debuted in MMA circles and competed in the MMA AMMO Fight Championship events in addition to participating in other Jiu Jitsu championships. Gabriel is well-known for his foot work and kicks, which have proven extraordinarily efficient in exhibition matches, IBJJF Championships,MMA and Super Fights, with his specialty foot work and kick combo known as chaves de pé. Gabriel is a Black belt under Leo Vieira.

Sponsors

• Albino and Preto

Accomplishments

• CBJJE International Champion/Blue
• CBJJE Pan American Champion/Blue
• UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Champion/Blue
• BJJF World Championship Bronze/Blue/Juvenile
• IBJJF World Championship Bronze/Blue/Open/Juvenile
• IBJJF World Championship Bronze/Blue
• IBJJF World Championship Bronze/Blue/Open
• IBJJF Brazilian National Silver/Blue
• IBJJF Brazilian National Silver/Blue/Open
• IBJJF Brazilian National NOGI Bronze/Blue
• IBJJF NY International Open Champion/Blue
• IBJJF NY International Open Silver/Purple
• IBJJF NY International Open Silver/Brown
• IBJJF Pan American NOGI Bronze/Brown
• IBJJF NY BJJ Pro Champion/Brown
• IBJJF Las Vegas NOGI Open Silver/Brown
• IBJJF Kansas City International Open Silver/Black
• IBJJF American National NOGI Champion/Black
• Submission Victory at F2W 99
• Submission Victory at LWS for Lightweight Title
• Submission Victory at ROP for Lightweight Nogi Title
• Submission Victory at LWS for Welterweight Title