
Gabriel Sousa has a winning black belt record and is regarded as one of the best competitors in his category. A black belt World Pro champion and winner of nine AJP Grand Slam events, Gabriel has established himself as a medal winner in the Abu Dhabi Federation.
Despite being only 26 years old, Gabriel is a seasoned athlete in the elite of Jiu-Jitsu. The Ceará native had his best season in the AJP in 2018/19, when he finished as the leader of the Federation’s rankings and performed flawlessly in the biggest tournaments he competed in.
Gabriel is a tricky fighter and uses his agility to his advantage to capitalize on dominating positions and achieve devastating finishes. He currently trains with JT Torres in California, but has also made a name for himself as an entrepreneur. In 2021, he opened his own school, the Gabriel Sousa BJJ Academy, in Apex, North Carolina.
In an interview with VF Comunica, Gabriel Sousa points out that the prizes awarded at AJP tournaments and all the support given by the Federation were essential for him to be able to create his own business and continue to stand out in high-performance championships.
“AJP takes great care of its athletes. They host the fighters well, they pay the champions of the categories at each stage of the Grand Slam well and they also reward the winners of the rankings. Before the prize money was good, today it’s even better. The championships in Brazil are always full and they even get paid in dollars. It’s very good money for winning just one championship,” says Gabriel.
The next AJP Grand Slam will take place in Miami, Florida, and promises intense competition for the prize money. The championship will shake up the city on September 16 and 17. Click here to find out more about the event.