Gabriel Arges - Best BJJ Prodigy Fighter

Gabriel Arges, famous for the “Lord of the Ring '' inspired the nickname “Frodo”, is one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champions. He has practiced martial arts since his childhood, his early martial art experience was Thai boxing. Frodo also participated in his high school Soccer team. Gabriel Arges has earned his BJJ Black Belt from Romulo Barral and Felipe Preguiça. Frudoalso practiced extensively with Marcelo "Uirapuru" while fighting for the Gracie Barra Academy. He won his first World Champion title in 2014.

Gabriel Arges was born on 29 January,1993 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Brazil. In his early life, Gabriel Arges had friends that played an important role in developing his interest in BJJ. They frequently invited Gabriel to their tournaments and even open mat sessions.

When Frodo was 16 years old, he joined a local BJJ gym. There he met his first instructor, Fernando Fialho, who was also at the start of his career. He liked to spend time with his students and soon he realized the potential in the teen Frodo. Frodo trained hard and earned his Blue Belt in the span of 18 months. It was then he realized that he should compete more often.

There was a serious problem with the continuation of his training. Fernando’s gym offered training only at the blue belt level players. His instructor, Fernando, allowed him to join another gym and Frodo joined at the Gracie Barra Belo Horizonte (GB-BH) Headquarters operated by Marcelo Azevedo. 

It was in GB-BH, Frodo met Felipe “Preguica” Pena around 2010, who was at the level of Purple Belt. For many years, both trained shoulder-to-shoulder under the Gracie Barra banner. It is amazing to know that both Gabriel and Felipe were bestowed with Black Belt at the same time and at the same podium, on the stage of the 2015 No-Gi World Championship.

Frodo has earned a good name for himself in the BJJ colored division bouts. At the purple and brown belt levels during 2013-2015, Frodo won many titles including European Open Championship, American National, Pan American, and Both BJJ Gi and No-Gi IBJJF World Championship.

Gabriel Arges competed for UAEJJF Grand Slam Athlete of the session 2016-2017.

With 6 Gold and 1 Silver medal aimed for the grand prize of $25,000. Gabriel was well prepared for future competitions and had plans for investing the prize money into his website.

Gabriel expressed:

These analytics are based on his fights from 2014-2017.

Gabriel Arges is among the very few BJJ fighters who in a very short span of time secured a place among the top BJJ contenders. Frodo received a Purple belt in 2014. After two years, Frodo won the title of Middleweight division as a Black Belt in 2016.

Don’t be surprised about his swift Black Belt achievement and title win because, on his way to the title, he submitted those opponents who were World Champions prior to Frodo, like Claudio Calasans. He earned the title of top Middleweight Fighter.

In BJJ communities, it is believed that the improvement margin for a black belt is a very steep uphill endeavor. The key component in the diversity of style and success ratio in Frodo's fighting technique is his constant tendency of learning and improving his BJJ game. In almost all of Frodo's fights, it is observed that he used his guard very efficiently. No matter who the opponent is, Frodo pulled his guard.

Frodo always preferred closed guards but like everybody else, he also has a favorite. It is observed that 50% of his sweeps were transitioned from De la Riva Guard. Frodo also liked to mix the Closed guard with De la Riva Guard and confuse his opponent.

Frodo received his early BJJ training from his first instructor, Fernando Fialho, who was also at the start of his teaching career. Gabriel won his first Blue Belt under the supervision of Fernando within a short span of 18 months.

Gabriel got his Brown Belt BJJ coaching from Fernando Fialho from Gracie Barra Belo Horizonte (GB-BH) partnership.

Then he chose to compete consistently after getting his blue belt. Arges decided to divide his practice among Fialho and the GB-BH headquarters' sessions, which were led by Marcelo "Uirapuru" Azevedo.

In the BH academy's headquarters, Gabriel Arges met Felipe "Preguiça" Pena, a great coach. Pena had a purple belt at that time. Here, Gabriel won his Championship under Pena’s guidance.

Pena, along with veteran coach Uirapuru, assisted in upscaling Arges' performance.

In 2012, Pena decided to go back to his previous academy, to Romulo Barral. Arges accepted Pena's invitation and this marked the beginning of another significant student-coach relationship in Arges' life—this time with Barral.

This was a very interesting match. Three minutes into the fight and both fighters scored 2 points each. Claudio put on a very competitive fight but in the last seconds of the fourth minute, Gabriel applied a lethal Knee Bar and Claudio instantly tapped.

In January 2019, the Championship final was held in Mubadala Arena, Abu Dhabi. This was a highly anticipated middleweight bout between Gabriel and Isaque, who is the World Champion of 2018. Gabriel won incredibly by turning over the game in the last 10 seconds and winning the bout.

• 1st position in UAEJJF Grand Slam
• IBJJF European Open Champion
• IBJJF Pans Champion
• IBJJF World Champion
• IBJJF World No-Gi Champion
• IBJJF American Nationals Champion
• IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi Champion
• 1st position in ACBJJ 4 85 kg Grand Prix
• 1st position in UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro
• 1st position in UAEJJF King of Mats Champion
• UAEJJF Grand Slam, Abu Dhabi Champion
• UAEJJF Grand Slam, Los Angeles Champion
• UAEJJF Grand Slam, Tokyo Champion

GABRIEL ARGES HIGHLIGHT 2016

Gabriel Arges vs Isaque Bahiense - Final

Gabriel Arges VS Claudio Calasans / World Championship 2016

Gustavo Batista vs Gabriel Arges - 3CG Kumite I

Abu Dhabi World Pro 2017 - Gabriel Arges x Isaque Bahiense

Photo credit: @gabrielarges