Lucas Leite - Top BJJ Competitor & Coach

Lucas Leite is the strongest black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a fighter of Checkmat Academy. As a black belt, he competed in various grappling tournaments and marked his presence in the field of jiu-jitsu.

Lucas Leite was born on 3rd November 1982 in Sao Paulo. Throughout his childhood days, Leite practiced different sports but at the age of 12, he found interest in jiu-jitsu after seeing the first Ultimate Fighting Championship through the VHS cassette. Leite was inspired by Royce Gracie’s fighting skills in UFC and then decided to participate in jiu-jitsu.

Lucas Leite got his initial BJJ training under his first instructor, Ryan Gracie. Leite learned various basic jiu-jitsu techniques under his supervision but at that time Leite was just considering the BJJ as a hobby. Even he stopped practicing jiu-jitsu for a whole year. At the age of 18, Leite decided to move back to mats and contribute again to the BJJ but due to his family relocation, he was unable to join the Ryan’s Institute. Then Leite joined the Leozinho Vieira‘s Coaching school where he learned those major BJJ techniques which proved to be a major turning point in Leite’s life.

When Leite was fully devoted to jiu-jitsu by practicing under Leo Vieira, he gained more motivation to become a serious and top BJJ grappler. He also learned his famous signature Half Guard technique from Leo. After learning the advanced skills, Leite competed in various competitions as a heavyweight division fighter. He also competed multiple times in two weight categories above his natural weight.

In 2007, Lucas Leite moved from Brazil to America and developed one of the most powerful and renowned Checkmat Academy camps. Lucas Leite started his teaching career there and became one of the top-class head instructors of the training camps.

Lucas Leite was renowned due to his intelligent and dynamic half-guard approach. He won various BJJ tournaments by applying a twisting knee-hip pressure that opponents find hard to resist. Leite was in absolute favor of the half-guard technique as he considered this technique effective for both gi and no gi competitions. Although Leite was a lightweight, he faced multiple opponents who were heavyweights. Leite also competed against those competitors who had an absolute division. Leite’s fight efficiency was due to his training with heavier training partners at his gym. The top heavyweight competitors who faced the loss against Leite were Tim Spriggs, Roberto “Tussa” Alencar, Kron Gracie, and Xande Ribeiro.

Lucas Leite was highly proficient in applying the half-guard and always made sweeping easy for him. The sweeps of Lucas Leite include the Horse Kick Sweep, Half Lasso Sweep, and Dogfight Sweep. Among all the sweeps, the top most sweep that Lucas likes the most is the ‘Carry the baby,’ sweep. In this sweep, the opponent is carried like a baby irrespective of the fact that the opponent is big or small. Once Leite was questioned regarding his training with heavier competitors, he answered:

When Leite was asked about his goals, he said:

In 2007, Lucas Leite moved to California and opened a new BJJ coaching school where Leite is currently providing jiu-jitsu training to the students. Leite’s institute produced various top BJJ fighters including UFC athlete Jessica Penne. Jessica won various tournaments including the 2015 Pan American Championship where she competed in the 94 kg division instead of the fact that she was a middleweight at that time.

Through the kids' Jiu-Jitsu program offered at his institute, a large number of students are getting supreme quality training from top-class BJJ coaches. Leite had a strong belief that martial arts is not just about fighting but plays a strong role in contributing to the best values in the students. If they learn effectively then they can use the jiu-jitsu skills as a main tool to get success. Apart from victory in BJJ competitions, another main motive of this program is to develop awareness among the students to build strong and lifetime habits of physical fitness along with the development of supreme confidence and a focused mind. During the memorable journey of all belt divisions, children learn the effective way to formulate goals and discipline for life. Children can also benefit from learning self-defense and anti-bullying strategies which are highly valuable in their development as ethical and highly competent BJJ fighters.

This program of Lucas Leite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu provides top-notch training in both Gi and No Gi. In the No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu program, students learn techniques that only rely on the body as compared to the grips on the Gi as No Gi excludes the use of traditional clothing, Gi. Those students who acquire training in this program learn the intelligent application of various techniques including sweeping, clinching, and foot locks. Highly skilled instructors teach better defensive techniques against those opponents who do not wear the traditional BJJ Gi. Along with the defensive techniques, students get the incredible chance to get the best workouts as practicing without Gi depends on the holds, leverage, and slips.

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program is highly valuable for those students who want to compete in higher levels of BJJ competitions. This program teaches the ideal self-defense techniques to secure victory by defeating a stronger competitor. Students of this program can learn the proficient throws and takedowns through this program. Highly skilled competitors provide the best coaching classes regarding jiu-jitsu techniques and timings to maintain the best control over opponents. By learning the submission strategies, students can become skilled fighters in BJJ. So whether an athlete is at a beginner or professional level, this program can improve their skills more so they can take challenges every day.

In the 2013 Pan Championship, a thrilling battle occurred between two top competitors, Lucas Leite and Diego Herzog. Ultimately, Lucas Leite applied the Choke From Back technique against his opponent, Diego Herzog, and won the match.

Although Leite won multiple jiu-jitsu tournaments, he had to face a loss at the 2017 World Championship where he competed against the strongest opponent, Nicholas Meregali. Lucas Leite tried hard for submission but Meregali applied the Choke From Back technique and secured the victory.

In the 2009, Pan Championship, Lucas Leite faced the Augusto Vieira. At the end of the match, Lucas Leite was declared as the winner based on the points.

Marcos Tinoco VS Lucas Leite / World Championship 2016

Marcelo Garcia VS Lucas Leite / World Championship 2009

Lucas Leite x John Slater: 2014 Pan Ams Quarter Final

CC: Rodolfo Vieira vs. Lucas Leite - Openweight - 2013 Worlds

Lucas Leite VS Jay Pages / Pan Championship 2009

Photo credit: @ibjjf & @lucasleitebjj