Lucas Leite
Lucas Joas Gomes Leite · São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
The 2007 middleweight world champion for Brasa, the São Paulo native made half guard the trademark of his career and won six black belt Worlds medals.
- black belt Worlds medals, from 2007 to 2015
- 6
Who is Lucas Leite
Lucas Leite won the middleweight world title in 2007, a year after receiving his black belt from Leonardo Vieira. Representing Brasa, he took gold on a podium with teammate André Galvão as runner-up and Murilo Santana and Gustavo Campos in bronze.
Born on November 3, 1982, in São Paulo, he started at around 12 under Ryan Gracie and joined Leo Vieira’s academy at 18. He was the brown belt lightweight world champion in 2005. He moved to California in 2007 and made half guard, in the version known as the coyote half guard, the trademark of his game and his teaching.
He stayed on the Worlds podium for almost a decade: bronze in 2009 and 2012 and silver in 2011 at middleweight, and silver at heavyweight in 2013 and 2015, losing the finals to Rodolfo Vieira and Xande Ribeiro. Without the gi he was world champion in 2009, 2011 and 2014. In 2011 he moved up two divisions to compete at heavyweight at the No-Gi Worlds and beat Roberto Tussa in the final.
A CheckMat instructor, he runs academies in Southern California, in Upland and La Habra, and travels the world teaching seminars. His last Worlds was in 2017.
Recent wins
- 2017Rodrigo RibeiroWorlds, round of 16 · advantage
- 2016Vinicius MarinhoWorlds, round of 16 · choke from the back
- 2015Tim SpriggsWorlds, semifinal · decision
- 2015Eduardo InojosaWorlds, quarterfinal · decision
- 2015Lucas RochaPans, final · 20-2
- 2013Xande RibeiroWorlds, semifinal · decision
- 2013Roberto TussaWorlds, quarterfinal · 16-0
- 2011Roberto TussaNo-Gi Worlds, final · advantage
Losses
- 2017Nicholas MeregaliWorlds, quarterfinal · choke from the back
- 2016Marcos TinocoWorlds, quarterfinal · advantages
- 2015Xande RibeiroWorlds, final · 4-2
- 2015Keenan CorneliusMarianas Open, open class semifinal · 4-2
- 2013Rodolfo VieiraWorlds, final
Major titles
2015
- IBJJF Worlds Heavyweight Silver
- IBJJF Pans Heavyweight Gold
2014
- IBJJF No-Gi Worlds Gold
2013
- IBJJF Worlds Heavyweight Silver
2012
- IBJJF Worlds Middleweight Bronze
2011
- IBJJF Worlds Middleweight Silver
- IBJJF No-Gi Worlds Heavyweight Gold
2009
- IBJJF Worlds Middleweight Bronze
- IBJJF No-Gi Worlds Gold
2007
- IBJJF Worlds Middleweight Gold
Before black belt
- IBJJF Worlds 2005, brown belt, lightweight Gold
Spotted something to fix or update?
Any athlete can send VF Comunica a message suggesting a change to their own profile. Our newsroom checks every detail before updating the page.