Sergio Penha - 8th Degree BJJ Coral Belt

Sergio Penha is recognized as one of the most influential and top BJJ players who earned his black belt under Osvaldo Alves. He is well known for one of his fights against Rickson Gracie in 1980. He had also gained an 8th-degree red and white coral belt in the BJJ as a fighter. Penha proved his career when he rose from purple to black belt without losing and showed his success as a grappler.

Sergio Penha was born on August 20, 1959, in the region of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro. Penha, in his childhood, was very active in other sports like football, swimming, and beach volleyball, which were some of his favorite playing games. Along with these games, he developed his interest in Jiu-Jitsu and started training in that too.

Sergio Penha has been an active sportsman since his teens. He was interested in games like volleyball and swimming. In 1977, under the guidance of Master Osvaldo Alves, Penha started his training in Jiu-Jitsu, and along with that, he continued practicing Judo.

Sergio Penha started his early training in Osvaldo Alves's residence, where there were no more than four people at a time. Later, he went to ‘Clube Olímpico’, and there he mastered his skills. Penha worked hard to improve his skills, and in three years, Penha was promoted to black belt from purple belt. He was awarded the purple belt with Helio Gracie’s approval.

Sergio Penha continued his legacy as soon as he got his black belt and fought with one of the best fighters in Jiu-Jitsu Rickson Gracie. Giving Gracie a run for his money, Penha fearlessly engaged in one of the most well-known fights in BJJ history. Without any previous records in Rickson Gracie's competitive history, Penha succeeded in pushing him to the brink, with Penha's score at 15×0 by the time Rickson pulled off the submission victory in the closing moments.

At the age of 22, Sergio Penha decided to quit BJJ and continued his life as a pilot. But as soon as he became a pilot, he spent years staying away from his family. After spending 22 years as a pilot, Penha, at 44, quit his well-established pilot career and decided to become a BJJ instructor.

On the 7th of June 2010, Sergio Penha was awarded the major honors in the BJJ, the red and black coral belt by CBJJ. Penha was promoted to 8th-degree red and white BJJ coral belt by Carlos Gracie Jr.

Sergio Penha as soon as he went to Las Vegas started his academy by the name of “Penha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”. The students of the academy grew in strength by the pace of time. Many fighters have reached the black belt under Penha’s guidance some of them include Jason Santos, Fabricio Moreira, Lauren Park, Mike Bland, Grant Okinaka, Rodrigo Alvarez, and even UFC former heavyweight champion Frank Mir and TUF were a part of the academy.

Sergio Penha had an experience of more than 40 years as a black belt. He dedicated his life to BJJ and developed an effective teaching method for the students. He teaches students of all different abilities and promoted more than 25 fighters to the black belt. He obtained the purpose of his life in teaching and delivering to the students a solid foundation of BJJ.

It was a great match as both the fighters were giving their best to win the match. Sergio Penha was trying to get Jamelao, but he used a leg lock to get Penha rather and won the match by using the butterfly guard technique.

Jamelao vs Sergio Penha

Photo credit: @sergiopenha_bjj