BJJ

Eduardo Telles - The Creator Of BJJ Turtle Guard

Eduardo Telles - The Creator Of BJJ Turtle Guard

1. Eduardo Telles’s Details

Eduardo Telles’s Details

Full Name Eduardo Telles Moreira
Nickname N/A
Born Sao Paulo, Brazil
Date of Birth 1976
Nationality Brazilian
Academy N/A
College/University N/A
Age 48
Last Fight N/A
Last Weight N/A
Weight Division Pesado, Super Pesado, and Pesadissimo
Weight 170 LBS
Height 6'0" / 182.88 CM
Career disclosed earnings N/A
Fighting out of N/A
Foundational Style Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Rank Black belt
Awarded by Fabio Gurgel
Head Coach  Fernando Yamasaki
Favorite Position/Technique Turtle Guard, Octopus Guard.
Lineage Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Eduardo Telles
Association  Nine Nine.

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2. Eduardo Telles’s Biography

Eduardo Telles, in his initial teens, like many BJJ fighters, got interested in judo at first. He then, after a few months, started practicing. He is known as the most famous BJJ fighter in the world. He is the generator of the “turtle guard,” first known as the turtle position, and is considered the weaker position by most fighters.


He has developed some marvelous teams and teammates. He taught many techniques, some of which are a great source of bait for opponents.

2.1. Eduardo Telles’s Early Life

Eduardo Telles was born in São Paulo, Brazil in 1976. He started the BJJ at a very young age. He used to practice judo first, which enhanced Telles’s interest in the game and he began to get involved in Jiu-Jitsu.

2.2. Eduardo Telles’s Coach name and BJJ Training

In the mid-80s, there were no Jiu-Jitsu academies in Sao Paulo; however, they are readily available in areas like Rio. Eduardo Telles first learned about Jiu-Jitsu when he visited his father’s homeland.


In 1993, as the UFC started, Jiu-Jitsu teachings became common in every other academy. Riding on the same wave, Telles Karate Academy started teaching Jiu-Jitsu.


Telles started his BJJ training journey under Fernando Yamasaki. Fernando was Telles's first instructor, and he stayed with him till his blue belt.

2.3. Eduardo Telles Purple Belt

Eduardo Telles moved to San Diego US to learn English and met the black belt Carlos Valente there. Telles decided to avail this opportunity, continued his training under Carlos, and earned his purple belt.

2.4. Fabio Gurgel’s Alliance Academy

After receiving the purple belt, Eduardo Telles returned to Sao Paulo. After reaching home, Telles decided to go to Alliance headquarters.


Many Jiu-Jitsu personalities, like Demian Maia, were getting trained under Fabio Gurgel. At the academy, Gurgel met Fernando Augusto "Terere," who later became his very good friend.


Terere was a very powerful fighter, and his career was ready to take off at the point when Eduardo Telles joined the academy.


Telles began learning BJJ more effectively with Gurgel's help and his clenched bond with Terere.

2.5. Eduardo Telles’s Black Belt

Eduardo Telles’s success story started in 1999 when he received the Silver Medal as a purple belt, the Bronze Medal as a brown belt, and the same year he received his black belt.


Telles earned the reputation of the “Weird JIu-Jitsu” because of the positions he put himself in, like the turtle guard.


This is only because, before Telles, no fighter went for the turtle guard, considering it to be the weaker style.


On the other hand, Telles used the turtle guard to bait his opponents and defeat them.

2.6. TT Team

In 2002, Telles went on to help start the Brasa Team, and along with his friend Fernando Terere, he opened the Master team, the TT team.


The TT team was a great success and earned a name in Jiu-Jitsu.

2.7. Nine-Nine Academy

After two years on the TT team in 2004, Telles went into the dark phase of his life and got addicted to drugs.


After recovering from his addiction, Telles decided to open an academy on his own and named the academy "Nine-Nine."


The logic behind the name was that ninety-nine is almost exactly equal to 100, which denotes perfection, which was Telles’s goal, and he succeeded in reaching it.

2.8. MMA career

Eduardo Telles, after his achievements in BJJ, decided to start his MMA career, had his first fight against the experienced Gracie Barra’s Rafael, and won the match by a head kick.


This didn’t last long when he fought with Landro Silva and got defeated. This is when he realized that he needed to join a professional MMA academy and then he joined X-gym in Rio De Janeiro.

2.9. Eduardo Telles as an Instructor

Eduardo Telles is the kind of instructor who likes to keep things very simple instead of making them complicated. Many students of Telles often used to say that he as a professor is very easy to understand because of his simpler and explained teaching style.

3. Eduardo Telles’s Historic Fights

3.1. Keenan Cornelius vs Eduardo Telles

In 2014 American National Black Belt Adult Male Medium Heavy Final, Eduardo faced a tough competitor, Keenan Cornelius, Telles used turtle guard and Cornelius tried hard to apply submission but didn’t get success. In the end, Cornelius won the tournament.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D hMethod Stage Weight Class Location
2014 American Nat. Keenan Cornelius L Pts: 0x0, Adv F 88kgs N/A

3.2. Eduardo Telles VS Otavio Sousa / World Championship 2010

Both Jiu-Jitsu grapplers gave it their all and played brilliantly in, what was an amazing match. Otavio Sousa grabbed Eduardo Telles early in the game and attempted a leg lock, but Telles managed to free himself and got Otavio with an ankle lock. Both fighters performed well, and Telles won this fight.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class Location
2010 World Champ. Otavio Sousa W Pts: 10x10, Adv 4F Absolute N/A

3.3. Eduardo Telles VS Eduardo Arrivabene / Pan Championship 2007

It was a fantastic Jiu-Jitsu fight, From the beginning Telles go for submission attempts and Arrivabene tried to escape but he was unable. Telles applied a choke from the back and got the submission win.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class Location
2007 Pan American E. Arrivabene W Choke from back 4F 94kgs N/A

4. Eduardo Telles’s Main Achievements

4.1. Eduardo Telles’s National And International Achievements

Year Event Medal Weight Division
2002 Team Nationals Silver Silver Medal Icon 88kgs
2003 Team Nationals Gold Gold Medal Icon 88kgs
2004 Golden Cup Bronze Bronze Medal Icon 94kgs
2004 Pan American Bronze Bronze Medal Icon 94kgs
2004 World Cup Silver Silver Medal Icon 94kgs
2005 Copa do Brasil Silver Silver Medal Icon 75kgs
2006 Pan American Silver Silver Medal Icon 94kgs
2006 Brasiliero Silver Silver Medal Icon 94kgs
2007 Paulista FPJJ Silver Silver Medal Icon Absolute
2007 Paulista FPJJ Gold Gold Medal Icon 94kgs
2007 GQ All Star Pro41 Silver Silver Medal Icon 90kgs
2007 Pan American Gold Gold Medal Icon 94kgs
2007 NoGi Pan Am. Bronze Bronze Medal Icon 100kgs
2008 H. Kong Cup Silver Silver Medal Icon Absolute
2008 World Champ. Bronze Bronze Medal Icon 100kgs
2010 World Champ. Bronze Bronze Medal Icon 88kgs
2013 American NNG Gold Gold Medal Icon 88kgs
2013 American NNG  Silver Absolute
2013 NoGi Worlds Gold Gold Medal Icon 85kgs
2013 IBJJF Pro League Bronze Bronze Medal Icon 94kgs
2014 FIVE Cali. 2 Bronze Bronze Medal Icon Absolute
2014 FIVE NoGi C. 2 Silver Silver Medal Icon Absolute
2014 American Nat. Silver Silver Medal Icon 88kgs
2014 IBJJF Pro League Bronze Bronze Medal Icon 94kgs
2017 San Diego Open Bronze Bronze Medal Icon 88kgs

4.2. Eduardo Telles’s Main Achievements (Black Belt)

Year Event Position Belt
2013 World Champion, No Gi N/A Black
2007 Pan American Champion N/A Black
2008 Brazilian National Champion – CBJJE N/A Black
2010 World Bronze Medallist N/A Black
2008 World Bronze Medallist N/A Black
2005 Pan American Silver Medallist N/A Black
2006 Pan American Silver Medallist N/A Black

4.3. Eduardo Telles’s Main Achievements (Colored Belts)

Year Event Position Belt
1999 World Silver Medallist N/A Purple
2000 World Bronze Medallist N/A Brown

5. Eduardo Telles BJJ Professional Record Breakdown

81 Matches 40 Wins 41 Losses
By Points 19 17
By Advantages 04 11
By Submission 16 10
By Decision 00 02
By Penalty 00 01
BY DQ 00 00
BY EBI/OT 01 00

5.1. Methods of Submission W/L

Method Wins Losses
CHOKE FROM BACK 02 00
ARM BAR 05 03
SUBMISSION 01 00
KNEE BAR 03 02
RNC 01 00
MOUNTED X CHOKE 01 00
KIMURA 02 00
KATAGATAME 01 00
TOE HOLD 00 01
TRIANGLE ARMBAR 00 01
INSIDE HEEL HOOK 00 01
CLOCK CHOKE 00 01
ARM IN EZEKIEL 00 01

5.2. Eduardo Telles MMA Pro Grappling Record

Opponent Event W/L Method Year
Matt Ruskin  ROC 37 - Ring of Combat 37 W Submission (Armbar) 2011
Ivan Galaz  X-Combat Ultra- International Grand Prix W KO (Punches) 2011
Dinarte Silva  JF - Jungle Fight 21 L Decision (Unanimous) 2010
Rogerio Coelho  First Class Fight 3 W Submission (Guillotine Choke) 2009
Leandro Silva  Final Combat L KO (Punches) 2008
Rafael Natal  Fury FC 6 - High Voltage W KO (Head Kick) 2008
Rubens Xavier  PFC - Predador FC 2 W Submission (Armbar) 2006

6. Eduardo Telles’s Fight History

Opponent W/L Method Competition Weight Stage Year
Marcio Cruz L Pts: 10x2 Team Nationals Medium Heavyweight F 2002
Fernando Piero W Points Team Nationals Medium Heavyweight F 2003
Hugo Carioni L Adv World Champ. 94kgs 4F 2003
Bruno Bastos W Kneebar Golden Cup 94kgs 4F 2004
Alexandre Ribeiro L Pts: 0x0, Adv Golden Cup 94kgs SF 2004
Todd Margolis W Adv Pan American Absolute SPF 2004
Rener Gracie W Points Pan American 94kgs 4F 2004
Gabriel Vella L Pts: 0x0, Adv Pan American 94kgs SF 2004
Fernando Margarida L Toe hold World Cup 94kgs F 2004
Antoine Joude W Kneebar ADCC 99kgs R1 2005
Roger Gracie L Armbar ADCC Heavyweight 4F 2005
Gabriel Napao L Pts: 0x0, Pen ADCC Absolute R1 2005
Alexandre Ribeiro L Pts: 4x2 World Cup Super Heavyweight 4F 2005
Ronaldo Souza L Clock choke World Cup 75kgs 4F 2005
Renato Ferro W N/A Copa do Brasil 75kgs SF 2005
Fernando Margarida L Adv World Champ. Super Heavyweight 4F 2005
Leopoldo Canal W Points Pan American 94kgs 4F 2006
Rafael Lovato W Pts: 2x0 Pan American 94kgs SF 2006
Braulio Estima L Triangle armbar Pan American 94kgs F 2006
Carlos Portugues W Kneebar Pan American Absolute R1 2006
Rafael Lovato L Pts: 2x0 Pan American Absolute 4F 2006
Rigoney Castro W Armbar Brasileiro 94kgs SF 2006
Jefferson Moura L Pts: 5x2 Brasileiro 94kgs F 2006
Murilo Santana L Pts: 0x0, Adv Paulista FPJJ Absolute F 2007
M. Costa W Armbar Paulista FPJJ 94kgs F 2007
Eric Shambari W Pts: 12x2 GQ All Star Pro 90kgs R1 2007
Chris Downum W Pts: 5x0 GQ All Star Pro 90kgs 4F 2007
Nathan DuCharm W Pts: 2x0 GQ All Star Pro 90kgs SF 2007
Rick Macauley L Points GQ All Star Pro 90kgs F 2007
E. Arrivabene W Choke from back Pan American 94kgs 4F 2007
Flavio Almeida W Points Pan American 94kgs F 2007
Roberto Alencar W Points NoGi Pan Am. Super Heavyweight 4F 2007
Cristiano Lazzarini L Points NoGi Pan Am. Super Heavyweight SF 2007
Gabriel Vella L Referee decision Super Challenge Absolute R1 2007
Andre Galvao L Arm in Ezekiel H. Kong Cup Absolute F 2008
Paulo Ribeiro W Armbar World Champ. Super Heavyweight R1 2008
Rafael Eluanger W Armbar World Champ. Super Heavyweight R2 2008
Roger Gracie L Pts: 0x0, Adv World Champ. Super Heavyweight SF 2008
Tatsui Onosi W Kimura World Champ. Absolute R1 2008
André Steola W RNC ADCC Trials 88kgs R1 2009
Tiago Gaia L Referee decision World Champ. Super Heavyweight 4F 2009
Joao Moncaio W MOUNTED X CHOKE World Champ. 88kgs R1 2010
Orlando Zanetti W Choke from back World Champ. 88kgs 4F 2010
Tarsis Humphreys L Pts: 2x0 World Champ. 88kgs SF 2010
Otavio Sousa W Pts: 10x10, Adv World Champ. Absolute 4F 2010
Ronaldo Antonio W Pts: 17x0 World Champ. Absolute R2 2011
Sergio Moraes L Pts: 5x2 World Champ. Absolute R2 2011
Unknown W N/A World Champ. 88kgs RDS 2011
Ian Mcpherson W Adv World Champ. 88kgs RDS 2011
Romulo Barral L Pts: 2x2, Adv World Champ. 88kgs 4F 2011
Bernardo Tavolaro W Points NoGi Worlds 94kgs R1 2012
Roberto Alencar L Points NoGi Worlds 94kgs 4F 2012
Bruno Antunes W Pts: 0x0, Adv NoGi Worlds Absolute R1 2012
Antonio Peinado L Points NoGi Worlds Absolute 8F 2012
Joao Miyao L Adv World Expo Absolute SPF 2013
Jaroslaw Konrad W Submission World Champ. Absolute RDS 2013
Antonio Peinado L Points World Champ. Absolute RDS 2013
Omar Sabha W Kimura American NNG 88kgs SF 2013
Jason Manly W Pts: 5x0 American NNG 88kgs F 2013
Osvaldo Moizinho W Pts: 4x0 American NNG Absolute SF 2013
AJ Agazarm L Pts: 0x0, Adv American NNG Absolute F 2013
Matt Jubera W Points NoGi Worlds 85kgs SF 2013
Felipe Pena W Pts: 2x0 NoGi Worlds 85kgs F 2013
Gustavo Pires L Pts: 2x0 IBJJF Pro League 094kgs SF 2013
Fabiano Leite L Kneebar Pan American Absolute R2 2014
Rafael Fraga W Pts: 4x0 Pan American 88kgs R1 2014
Rodrigo Fajardo L Points Pan American 88kgs 4F 2014
Arnaldo Maidana L Armbar FIVE Cali. 2 Absolute SF 2014
Josh Hinger W Pts: 2x0 FIVE NoGi C. 2 Absolute 4F 2014
James Friedrich L Kneebar FIVE NoGi C. 2 Absolute SF 2014
Ruben Coronado W Katagatame FIVE NoGi C. 2 Absolute 3PLC 2014
Inacio Neto W Armbar American Nat. 88kgs SF 2014
Keenan Cornelius L Pts: 0x0, Adv American Nat. 88kgs F 2014
Arnaldo Maidana L Armbar NoGi Worlds 88kgs 4F 2014
Jackson Sousa L Pts: 2x2, Adv IBJJF Pro League 94kgs SF 2014
Mike Fowler W Polaris Absolute SPF 2015
AJ Agazarm L Points Pan American Absolute R1 2015
Bernardo Faria L Pts: 8x0 Pan American Super Heavyweight 4F 2015
Fabio Leopoldo W Metammoris 7 Absolute SPF 2016
Matt Secor W EBI/OT EBI 8 84kgs R1 2016
Kyle Griffin L Inside heel hook EBI 8 84kgs 4F 2016
Andre Galvao L Pts: 8x0 San Diego Open 88kgs SF 2017
Ben Henderson L Pts: 2x0 Spider Inv. 4F Absolute SPF 2018

7. Eduardo Telles’s Top Fights

Keenan Cornelius vs Eduardo Telles

Eduardo Telles VS Otavio Sousa / World Championship 2010

Eduardo Telles VS Eduardo Arrivabene / Pan Championship 2007


Photo Credit: @eduardotelles99

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