Emmanuela Oliveira 
Paulo Eduardo’s academy, Gracie Barra Chandler, in Arizona, has been consolidating itself as a home of champions due to a team of competitors, molded at the base, who are expanding the scope of victories in the main tournaments of Jiu Jitsu. Worthy of the veteran’s trust, Lucas Castro, recently promoted to black-belt, is one of the GB Chandler athletes who makes learning an important resource not only for him, a competitor in search of the highest place on the podium. At the same academy where he improves his Jiu-Jitsu, Lucas Castro happily divides his functions between athlete and coach.
Born in Capivari, São Paulo, Lucas Castro came into contact with martial arts through Muay Thai. An unusual invitation made him discover Jiu-Jitsu, fall in love with the fight and completely change his life.
“I became interested in martial arts through Muay Thai. It was during this period that I met my teacher’s wife from Brazil and she invited me to take a Jiu-Jitsu class. From the first day I already knew that this was what I wanted to live for.”, says the black-belt, with a sparkle in his eyes as he remembers the love at first sight.
Lucas Castro received an offer to go to the United States while still a blue-belt
Taking Jiu-Jitsu seriously as an athlete, with dedication to competition training, took Lucas to second place on the podium at the IBJJF Worlds, still as a blue-belt. The exposure of this achievement on the biggest Jiu-Jitsu stage in the world was decisive for Lucas to receive the best opportunity of his life so far.
“Professor “Piu” was looking for two athletes to spend a season training and competing with Gracie Barra in Arizona. He sent me a message asking if I wanted this opportunity. That was definitely the turning point in my career.”, he says.
Graduated to black-belt last year, Lucas Castro has already added brand new titles to his career medals table. At the end of last year, he stepped onto the mats at the IBJJF Worlds No Gi, one of the most competitive in the modality, and ended up with one medal: third place in the rooster division. At the beginning of the year, in January, the black-belt competed in the IBJJF San Jose Open. At that time, gold became reality.
“I felt really good in this championship. I managed to apply a passing game that is one of my teacher’s strong points, a game that is not normal in roosterweight. This way, I also gain a little more confidence with each championship I participate in as a black-belt”, he comments, highlighting the surprise factor in the game for lighter competitors.
First half of 2024 will be dedicated to the gi championships
With full focus on the gi tournaments, Lucas Castro is already aiming to participate in some Opens, such as in Sacramento and Los Angeles, to heat up the engines for the PanAms and Worlds.
“The focus now in the first half of the year is certainly on the gi competitions. My goal is to raise, step by step, my name among the best roosterweights in the gi rankings, fighting as many championships as I can, performing well. Here, in Arizona, we focus on training in the gi, we do some no gi so as not to lose the rhythm.”, he concludes, determined to work tirelessly in the new season.
