Gabriel Almada 
Lucas Norat is one of Gracie Barra’s main bets to shine in the major championships. Lucas was revealed by Professor Villeem Coelho at GB Jacarepaguá and has been living in Arizona since 2017. He has been a member of the Jiu-Jitsu elite for almost three years, when he was decorated by Flavio Cachorrinho, and has obtained expressive results in the competitions he has tested himself in since then. This year, Lucas took the bronze at the IBJJF Pan-American in the superheavy division.
Throughout his short and promising journey as a black belt, Lucas Norat has won the Phoenix and Charleston Opens and won superfights in grappling events such as F2W and Third Coast Grappling. His record in the colored belts is remarkable. Norat has been Brazilian, South American and American champion with and without a gi.
Lucas took up Jiu-Jitsu as a teenager because he needed to stand up to bullying. Until then, he hadn’t identified with any sport, until Jiu-Jitsu became a passion.
“I started training Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 13. I was bullied at school and had a fight scheduled with a boy much bigger than me when I got back from vacation. So I asked my father to take me to train with him, who was already a purple belt at the time. And, for the first time in my life, I realized that I was good at a sport. I didn’t even tell my father about the fight and it never happened, but Jiu-Jitsu stayed with me forever,” says the black belt.
Norat left for Arizona to pursue his dream of making a living for Jiu-Jitsu. Today, he trains and teaches at GB East Mesa, one of the most renowned teams in the state. He recalls that when he arrived in the region, there weren’t many Jiu-Jitsu teams, but the martial art has spread in recent years.
“Jiu-Jitsu in Arizona has been growing very fast. When I moved here in 2017, there were practically only a few academies, like Gracie Barra, Gustavo Dantas, Tanquinho and others, but it was very scarce. Today the state has become one of the biggest hubs in the US, with renowned athletes, not only from Gracie Barra, but also from Ares, with Queixinho, and Marcio André’s students, who form a strong team. A few months ago, I fought in a local Arizona Federation championship with a good prize pool at stake and the Absolute bracket had victorious fighters such as myself, Marcio André, Danilo Moreira, Josh Guerra, among others. It could very well be a card for a big event broadcast by Flograppling,” shared the Gracie Barra athlete.
Lucas is dedicated to Jiu-Jitsu and grappling and has the ambition to become a specialist in both disciplines. The Gracie Barra representative points out that many athletes see this conciliation as a barrier. However, Norat is confident that it is possible to specialize in both areas if the discipline comes first.
“Many people believe that combining two careers is an obstacle, but it’s the opposite for me. I’m a better businessman because of the athlete mentality I’ve built up over the years, and I’m a better athlete because of the sense of purpose that’s added to my routine. I feel more authentic as a teacher and do what I love on a daily basis, instead of hiding behind my black belt and retiring with the excuse that I have to teach at the gym and can’t train properly. Obviously it’s not easy, but with discipline and organization, I can train at a high level, prepare, run my business and teach, all in one day. I also have a great support network with my work colleagues and, above all, my wife, who helps me on a daily basis,” says Norat.
The Brazilian is a consistent competitor in IBJJF tournaments and is constantly improving. He wants a rematch against Mathias Luna and guarantees that he is prepared to win.
“I’d like to face Mathias Luna. He beat me in the absolute final of the Phoenix Open recently. I made a mistake and paid dearly, but I know I can beat him. His style of fighting is catimba, getting into his opponents’ heads, I like it and respect it, but it’s not going to work for me. I just want my rematch and another chance to show what I’m capable of,” says Norat.
Lucas Norat recently began a new cycle in his professional life. He is now managed by Bruno Bastos, one of the most influential businessmen in the Jiu-Jitsu community. He comments on the agreement and is optimistic about appearing in major grappling events.
“I’m excited about this new phase in my career. Signing with Bruno Bastos and his team of agents is an honor. The biggest reason I chose to sign with Bruno was the professionalism and treatment he gave me. I felt a lot of confidence in his work and, if we’re going to work together, the relationship has to go beyond business and numbers. We’re talking about me being on the biggest events, such as WNO and UFC Fight Pass in the near future,” says Norat.
