Leonardo Nogueira - An Elite BJJ Black Belt Champion

Leonardo Pires Nogueira is a top Black Belt Champion associated with coach, Fabio Gurgel. Leo Nogueira is now an instructor at Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Academy and trains young minds with Tozzi Pass or Sao Paulo Guard Pass, which is his specialty. He made his name in the BJJ World when he won a gold medal at the Brazilian Nationals Championship of 2011 in the Absolute weight division. Besides that, he won several gold medals at the IBJJF World Championship and other BJJ tournaments.

Leo Nogueira was born in a small town, Guaruja of Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 12, 1987. From a very young age, he was very fond of sports. Because of his height (6 ft 2 inch), he was very good at different sports during his childhood.

Leonardo Nogueira started his BJJ career when he was 16 years old. His first academy was Integracao Team where he learned from Elcio Figueiredo. Because of his tall age, Nogueira was a very good Guard Player from the very beginning. Figueiredo had a good influence as an instructor on Nogueira. Because of him, Nogueira won a gold medal, even when he was a Blue belt, in the IBJJF Worlds Championship.

After winning the gold medal, Leonardo Nogueira started looking for a more skilled and competitive team for training. In 2007, Nogueira switched from the Integracao Team to the Alliance Team which is a more suitable place for Nogueira. Nogueira got the best Gi training and career opportunities at the Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Camp.

After some time at Alliance Team Leo Nogueira won a gold medal in the absolute weight division in the IBJJF World Championship and secured his Brown Belt. On July 1, 2009, Leo Nogueira was promoted to Black Belt by his coach Fabio Gurgel.

Leo Nogueira experienced a lot of injuries during his career as a top BJJ Black Belt Fighter. In 2013, he got severe knee injuries that he could appear in the IBJJF Worlds Championship that year. As a result, he did not appear and miss most of the important BJJ tournaments. But instead of losing hope he decided to make the situation better by creating his “Sao Paulo Guard Passing System”. He did not stop his training due to injuries but continued learning techniques that were possible.

On the 5th of June 2016, during the IBJJF Worlds Competition, Nogueira tested positive for Clomiphene, a drug banned by the USADA. Upon this, Nogueira was prohibited from participating in any kind of IBJJF competition for the next two years till 2018. Hence, along with his knee injuries and after this probation period, Nogueira did not participate in any BJJ championships from 2013 to 2018.

He continues competing properly after his two-year probation period in 2018. Now he is an instructor at Alliance Jiu-Jitsu camp in Atlanta. During his injuries and probation time, Leo Nogueira finds time to organize some courses regarding methods on how to make your game better. His “Half Guard Encyclopedia and The Sao Paulo Guard Passing System” courses are available online.

In the 2012 IBJJF World Championship for the Black Belt Category in the super heavyweight division, Leo Nogueira fought with Antonie Carlos Jr who is also an elite Black belt fighter. The fight continued for almost 10 minutes and none of the opponents succeeded in submitting the other. In the end, Leo Nogueira won the match by gaining more points for takedowns, guard passes, and back mounts.

In the semi-final of IBJJF Pro League GP 2016, Leo Nogueira faced Mahamad Aly, a top BJJ Black belt. In the first 4 minutes both the fighters secured 2 scores for the sweep. After halftime, Leo Nogueira secured an extra 2 points for a takedown and won the match.

In the final round of the Atlanta Winter Open 2016 Competition for the Black belt category in the Absolute division Leo Nogueira confronted Osvaldo Moizinho. The match lasted for a complete 10 minutes and in the end, Leo Nogueira won the match by gaining 9 points for back control, takedown and guard pass vs 0 zero points of the opponent.

Leonardo Nogueira VS Antonio Carlos Jr / World Championship 2012

Leo Nogueira x Mahamad Aly - IBJJF Pro League GP 2016 - Semi Final

Leo Nogueira x Osvaldo Moizinho - Atlanta Winter Open 2016 - Black Belt Adult Absolute - Final

Photo Credit: @leo_nogueirabjj