Carlos Henrique - The Lightweight BJJ Beast

Carlos Henrique, or CH7, is an elite BJJ black belt grappler under Isaque Bahiense, representing the Dream Art Academy. Henrique won his first international top-ranked tournament, the IBJJF World Championship, with a brown belt. He has competed against professional jiu-jitsu practitioners and won multiple titles in Gi and Nogi tournaments. Henrique is a 2x IBJJF World Gi and NoGi, 3x American Nationals, 2x Brazilian Nationals, 2x AJP Abu Dhabi Pro, 1x Pan NoGi, 1x ADCC and 1x European Open Championship winner. In 2023, Henrique married Camryn Costa, a purple-belt jiu-jitsu grappler.

Carlos Henrique was born in Manaus, Brazil, on July 06, 1999, but grew up in the Manaus neighborhood city Alvorada. Since Henrique was a kid, he was interested in football. He joined a local football club and played there till 13. But he got extremely disheartened when he saw that soccer was not given enough attention in Amazonas, and to become a professional footballer, he had to move to Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. In 2014, Henrique’s friend invited him to join martial arts classes at a local training center. It was the first time Henrique interacted with MMA, and he learned a few basic techniques, but then he lost interest and quit.

After some time, he saw some athletes wearing kimonos and belts going towards a Jiu-jitsu training institute. Henrique’s curiosity for the sport developed, and he decided to try it. He joined Nova Uniao BJJ Academy. He quickly learned basic techniques and beat other boys at the gym. Henrique’s instructor promised to promote him to green belt only if he paid 150 Brazilian reels. Unfortunately, Henrique did not belong to a rich family, so he couldn’t afford that money and dropped out of the gym.

After a few months in 2015, Henrique approached a training institute, Checkmat, and started training under Ivaniel Oliveira and John Kleicy. He observed a different environment in Checkmat from Nova Uniao. He was promoted to blue belt and then competed in local tournaments, winning the titles of IBJJF European Open and CBJJ Brazilian Nationals. In 2019, Henrique’s coach, Ivaniel Oliveira, moved to the US, and he had to leave Checkmat Academy. Soon, he discovered a new Jiu-Jitsu training academy, The Dream Art, in Sao Paulo. Till that time, Henrique had made up his mind that he wanted to be a professional athlete. He applied for the gym and got selected. In 2019, Henrique became a part of Dream Art, but soon after he started his training, Covid-19 hit the world, and he had to return to his native town. In Manaus, he joined the Escola Melqui Galvão’s academy, his training center was much similar to Dream Art. Henrique was promoted to purple belt under Melqui and John Kleicy. Within only one year, he was promoted to brown belt in 2020 by his master after he won the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals.

After pandemic restrictions were dispersed, Henrique thought of returning to Sao Paulo and working at Dream Art Academy. He returned to Dream Art and was trained under Isaque Bahiense, winning multiple titles.

In 2022 at brown belt, 21-year-old boy Carlos Henrique won the gold medal in the IBJJF World Championship for the first time. It was a remarkable milestone for him in his BJJ journey.

Carlos Herique moved to Houston, Texas, and joined Dream Art Jiu-Jitsu Academy. After massive achievements, in November 2022, Carlos Henrique was promoted to BJJ Black Belt under Isaque Bahiense just after winning the AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro title. In 2023, Henrique competed against top BJJ fighters in both local and International tournaments with and without BJJ Gi and took home high-ranked titles. Currently, he is associated with the Orandy Bros Jiu-Jitsu.

In the 2023 IBJJF Pan Championship NoGi, the final bout occurred between Carlos Henrique and Daniel Sathler. Sathler pulled a close guard, put pressure on his left arm, and attempted a flip. Henqriue gets into a knee bar, tightly grabbing his opponent to get an advantage.

Sathler escaped but was again dragged on the mat via straight arm lock by Henrique, followed by an armbar. It was a tough fight as both grapplers tried submission attacks against their opponents.

Henrique kept good control over his opponent. He attempted a crucifix and then, with a guillotine, got two points. Henrique won the title of IBJJF Pan Championship NoGi in the lightweight division as a black belt for the first time.

In the 2022 IBJJF World NoGi Championship, a final ten-minute grappling match occurred between Carlos Henrique and ADCC Champion Dante Leon. the bout began with Henrique pulling a half-guard pass and Leon exerting pressure on his knees. Henrique escaped and attempted an arm bar, dragging Leon on the mat.

Carlos Henrique attempted a triangle over the top with his single leg on Leon’s shoulder. Leon pulled his leg, and Henrique got in a 50-50.

Dante Leon kept maximum pressure on his opponent and won the match by points and advantages.

In the 2023 IBJJF Flo Grappling GP semi-finals, a thrilling match was held between Dream Art representative fighter Carlos Henrique and Atos top fighter Andy Muraski. The bout begin with a half-guard pass pulled by Henrique.

Henrique kept the pressure on Muraski’s leg by keeping it engaging inside and pulling a tornado guard with Muraski’s chest on Henrique’s back. Henrique beautifully played his leg game, holding on to his opponent and defending himself, but Muraski somehow managed to release his legs and came on top of Henrique.

The fight got quite intense as both grapplers fought with full energy. But Muraski got control over his opponent. He choked his opponent from the back and won the bout.

Léon Larman vs Carlos Henrique / Pan Championship 2023

Carlos Henrique v Alexandru Kiss / European 2020

Elijah Dorsey v Carlos Henrique / IBJJF FLOGRAPPLING GP 2023

Lucas Silva vs Carlos Henrique / Nashville Spring Open 2023

Pedro Marinho vs Carlos Henrique / Houston Fall Open No-Gi 2023

Photo credit: @ibjjf.com