BJJ

Tarsis Humphreys - 4th Degree Black Belt BJJ Champion

Tarsis Humphreys - 4th Degree Black Belt BJJ Champion

1. Tarsis Humphreys’s Details

Tarsis Humphreys’s Details
Name Tarsis Carvalho Humphreys
Nickname N/A
Born São Paulo, Brazil
Age 39 Years
Date of Birth 4-11-1983
Weight 88 kg (194 lbs)
Weight Division Meio Pesado (88 kg-194 lbs)
Last Weigh-in 88 kg
Height 5’10’’
Foundational Style BJJ
Career Disclosed Earnings N/A
College University N/A
Rank 4th Degree BJJ Black Belt
Head Coach Master Fabio Gurgel (The General)
Last Fight IBJJF World Championship
Favorite Technique Well-Rounded
Lineage Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Fábio Gurgel > Tarsis Humphreys
Team Association Alliance Jiu-Jitsu
Facebook Logo  Youtube Logo

2. Tarsis’s Biography

Tarsis Humphreys is a fourth-degree Black Belt under Master Fabio Gurgel of Alliance. He is the four times IBJJF World Champion. Tarsis is the first person to win the World Pro Jiu-Jitsu cup. He is also honored to be the first practitioner who trained from White to Black Belt under Master Fabio Gurgel. Tarsis continues his reverend affiliations with Alliance.

2.1. Joined Jiu-Jitsu in His Teenage 

Tarsis Humphreys started his Jiu-Jitsu journey at the age of 13. One of his friends was learning Jiu-Jitsu. He showed young Tarsis a few BJJ techniques including Armbar and RNC. Tarsis found those techniques very effective and decided to join the Jiu-Jitsu academy.    

2.2. Lucky to Have Fabio Gurgel as His First Coach

Tarsis proved very lucky that he joined Alliance as his first BJJ academy and Fabio Gurgel as his first coach. Tarsis was the first student who obtained all his belts (White to Black) from Master Fabio Gurgel. Tarsis has very good terms with the General. Under the brilliant supervision of Master Fabio Gurgel, Tarsis gradually took the steps to success. 

2.3. Tarsis’s BJJ Pro Combats

Promoted to Black Belt

Tarsis showcased the best performance in his Brown Belt career. After his outclass presentation in Pans and CBJJ in 2006, Master Fabio promoted Tarsis to the Black Belt. Tarsis received his Black Belt from the head coach of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Fabio Gurgel in 2006

Champion at Major BJJ Tournaments

Under the coaching of a great instructor, Fabio Gurgel, Tarsis won various championships including World, Pans, European Open, and CBJJ Brazilian Nationals. In the IBJJF World championship, he was runner-up and bronze winner 3 and 5 times respectively (at different belt levels).

In 2007, Tarsis was the bronze winner of ADCC. He lost in the semi-final of the ADCC against the UFC star and ADCC champion, Demian Maia. This was one of the toughest matches of his career. 

First Athlete to Win Double Gold in World Pro Cup in Abu Dhabi

Tarsis is honored to be the first person who won double gold in the first-ever match organized by Abu Dhabi World Pro. He won the championship in both weight and absolute divisions and enlisted his name in the history of the Abu Dhabi World World Pro Championship.  

Suffered from Severe Injuries

Tarsis Humphreys went through various injuries in his BJJ career. In 2009, during the World Pro finals, he suffered from some minor injuries. While the most severe injury was a knee injury that was treated by surgery in 2011. He was not able to be on the mat for almost nine months. 

Tarsis’s Coaching Career

Tarsis started instructing BJJ students at Alliance. He also opened his academy in the US but this academy did not last because of various reasons. He moved to San Diego for a few years. Now he is working to open his Alliance-affiliated academy in San Diego.  

Tarsis’s Retirement Status

Tarsis has not announced his official retirement yet. He frequently appears in BJJ tournaments as a coach. Tarsis also worked with BJJ Fanatics to record videos about the “Unstoppable Pressure Passing” and “Leg Attacks vs. Modern Guards”.  

3. Tarsis’s Historic Fights

3.1. Tarsis Humphreys Vs. Braulio Estima

Video Credit: This video is taken from the Youtube of Riccardo Ammendolia

Two great fighters, Tarsis Humphreys and Braulio Estima faced each other in the first round of ADCC. This fight was one of the best fights of Tarsis’s career. It was filled with various dynamic techniques.

Both fighters started the match head-to-head. Braulio applied a pulling guard which was not proved effective as Tarsis’s strong core did not let him to fall to the ground. This unsuccessful pulling guard left Tarsis in the top position.

Tarsis successfully mounted Braulio. Braulio tried his best to escape. After a few minutes, he escaped but Tarsis applied an armbar. After defending the armbar, Estima transitioned into the turtle position. Tarsis again reversed the move and strangled his leg. Braulio tried his best to escape.

In his attempt to escape, Braulio took the top position and strangled Tarsis’s leg. After escaping from the leg strangle, Braulio stood up while Tarsis again strangled his leg to take him down. He took the back of Braulio and put all his weight on him. Braulio put him down and took the top position and secured the back of Tarsis.    

At the end of the match, both fighters exchanged their positions at various times. Once Braulio was in the top position, Tarsis reversed the position. At the end of the match, Tarsis defeated Braulio Estima with points. 

Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class
2007 ADCC Braulio Estima Win Points R1 Absolute

3.2. Tarsis Humphreys Vs. Romulo Barral

Video Credit: This Video is taken from IBJJF Youtube

Tarsis Humphreys faced Romulo Barral in the final of the World Championship 2010. Romulo Barral is a 5th Degree Black Belt who owns his gym, named Gracie Barra Northridge. At the start of the match, both fighters were ready to win the match.

Tarsis Humphreys applied a pulling guard but could not take control of Romulo Barral. Romulo took the top position but Tarsis strangled his leg. After a few minutes, Romulo tried to free his leg. Tarsis tried to revert his position which resulted in a turtle position. Romulo took his back and secured the back control as Tarsis tried to escape but Romulo did not surrender his back.

Tarsis took advantage of that position by strangling his leg and applying the leg lock. Romulo Barral could not escape his leg from the strong grip of the Tarsis and was submitted. 

Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class
2010 IBJJF World Championship Romulo Barral Win Submission by Leg Lock Final Medium Heavyweight

3.3. Tarsis Humphreys Vs. Otavio Sousa

Video Credit: This Video is taken from IBJJF Youtube

Tarsis Humphreys faced Otavio Sousa in the semifinal of the IBJJF World Championship 2009. Otavio Souza represented Gracie Barra and is a three times World Champion and four times Pans champion. 

Sousa started by pulling guard and set his legs around Tarsis’s groin. Tarsis stood up to escape and succeeded. He strangled the foot of the Sousa and made a strong grip around it. Tarsis applied his full weight pressure on his foot. Otavio Sousa was submitted by Tarsis Humphreys in just 1 minute by foot lock.  

Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class
2009 IBJJF World Championship Otavio Sousa Win Foot Lock Semifinal Middleweight

4. Tarsis Humphreys Mian Achievements

4.1. Tarsis’s Main Achievements in International Tournaments

Years Events Weight Division
2006 IBJJF Pan American Champion 88 kg and Absolute Division
2006 CBJJ Brazilian National Champion 88 kg
2009 CBJJ Brazilian National Champion 88 kg
2010 IBJJF World Champion 88 kg
2010 IBJJF European Open Champion 88 kg
2016 IBJJF Los Angeles BJJ Pro Champion 94 kg

4.2. Tarsis’s Main Achievements as Black Belt

Year Event Belt Position
2007 IBJJF Pan American Championship Black Belt 2nd
2007 IBJJF World Championship Black Belt 3rd
2007 CBJJ Brazilian National Championship Black Belt 3rd
2007 ADCC Black Belt 3rd
2008 IBJJF Pan American Championship Black Belt 2nd
2008 IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Championship Black Belt 2nd
2008 IBJJF World Championship Black Belt 3rd
2008 IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Championship Black Belt 3rd
2009 CBJJ Brazilian National Championship Black Belt 1st
2009 IBJJF World Championship Black Belt 2nd
2009 CBJJ Brazilian National Championship Black Belt 2nd
2010 IBJJF World Championship Black Belt 1st
2010 IBJJF European Open Championship Black Belt 1st
2010 IBJJF European Open Championship Black Belt 3rd
2015 IBJJF World Championship Black Belt 2nd
2016 IBJJF Los Angeles BJJ Pro Championship Black Belt 1st

4.3. Tarsis’s Main Achievements in Colored Belt

Year Event Belt Position
1998 CBJJ Brazilian National Championship Yellow Belt 2nd
2000 IBJJF World Championship Blue Junior 2nd
2002 IBJJF World Championship Purple Belt 3rd
2004 IBJJF Pan American Championship Brown Belt 2nd
2004 IBJJF World Championship Brown Belt 3rd
2005 IBJJF World Championship Brown Belt 3rd
2006 IBJJF Pan American Championship Brown Belt 1st
2006 CBJJ Brazilian National Championship Brown Belt 1st
2006 CBJJ Brazilian National Championship Brown Belt 2nd

5. Tarsis Humphreys Professional Record Breakdown

5.1. Professional Record Breakdown

109 Matches 61 Wins 48 Losses
By Points 31 25
By Advantages 3 8
By Submission 20 7
By Decision 5 7
Penalties  1 1
EBI/ OT 1 0

5.2. Tarsis Humphreys’s Submission Method Breakdown

Method 20 Wins 7 Losses
Choke from Back 8 1
Foot Lock 2 0
Choke 1 0
Toe Hold 1 0
Leg Lock 1 0
Armbar 4 0
Bow and Arrow 1 0
Kneebar 1 0
Cross Choke 1 0
RNC 0 1
Heel Hook 0 1
Foot Lock 0 1
Triangle 0 1
Kimura 0 1
Estima Lock 0 1

6. Tarsis Humphreys Fight History

Year Competition Opponent W/L Method Weight Stage
2006 World Champ. Delson Heleno L Pts: 2x0 88KG 4F
2006 World Champ. Alexandre Ribeiro L Points ABS 4F
2007 Pan American Joao Oliveira W Armbar 88KG SF
2007 Pan American Romulo Barral L Pts: 2x2, Adv 88KG F
2007 Pan American Flavio Almeida W Choke from back ABS SF
2007 Pan American Romulo Barral L Pts: 6x6, Adv ABS F
2007 ADCC Trials Rousimar Palhares W Points 88KG 4F
2007 ADCC Trials Romulo Barral W Points 88KG SF
2007 ADCC Trials Delson Heleno L Pen 88KG F
2007 ADCC Braulio Estima W Points ABS R1
2007 ADCC A. Cacareco L Points ABS 4F
2007 ADCC Jorge Santiago W Points 88KG R1
2007 ADCC David Avellan W Choke 88KG 4F
2007 ADCC Demian Maia L Points 88KG SF
2007 ADCC Romulo Barral W Footlock 88KG 3PLC
2007 World Champ. Saulo Ribeiro L Pts: 2x2, Adv 88KG SF
2007 World Champ. Andre Galvao L Referee Decision ABS R1
2007 Super Challenge Shiko Yamashita W Pts: 9x0 ABS R1
2007 Super Challenge Antoine Jaoude W Kneebar ABS 4F
2007 Super Challenge Luiz Theodoro L Points ABS SF
2007 Super Challenge Andre Galvao W Pts: 6x4 ABS 3PLC
2008 Pan American Alexandre Souza W Pts: 2x0 88KG SF
2008 Pan American Andre Galvao L Injury 88KG F
2008 World Champ. Paul Halm W Choke from back 94KG 4F
2008 World Champ. Andre Freitas W Pts: 2x0 94KG 4F
2008 World Champ. Alexandre Ribeiro L Pts: 2x0 94KG SF
2008 NoGi Worlds Marcello Salazar L N/A 88KG R1
2008 Capital Challenge Junior Santos W Armbar 88KG 4F
2008 Capital Challenge Otavio Sousa L Points 88KG SF
2008 Capital Challenge Edmilson C. W Points 88KG 3RD
2009 Brasileiro Rafael Rihan L Points 88KG F
2009 Brasileiro Unknown W Choke from back ABS 4F
2009 Brasileiro T. Gaia W Choke from back ABS SF
2009 World Pro. Thiago Braga W Choke from back ABS SF
2009 World Pro. Braulio Estima W Pts: 2x2, Adv ABS F
2009 World Pro. Victor Estima W Pts: 2x0 88KG F
2009 ADCC I. Praporshchikov W Points 88KG R1
2009 ADCC David Avellan L RNC 88KG 4F
2009 World Champ. Gregor Gracie W Pts: 2x0 88KG 4F
2009 World Champ. Otavio Sousa W Footlock 88KG SF
2009 World Champ. Romulo Barral L Referee Decision 88KG F
2009 World Champ. Rodrigo Cavaca L Points ABS R1
2010 European Unknown W Toe hold 88KG 4F
2010 European Marcelo Bernardo W Points 88KG SF
2010 European Max Carvalho W Armbar 88KG F
2010 European Unknown W Cross choke ABS 4F
2010 European Gustavo Campos L Adv ABS SF
2010 Brasileiro Nivaldo Lima W Pts: 6x4 88KG F
2010 World Champ. Igor Araujo W Points 88KG R1
2010 World Champ. Nivaldo Oliveira W Referee Decision 88KG 4F
2010 World Champ. Eduardo Telles W Pts: 2x0 88KG SF
2010 World Champ. Romulo Barral W Leglock 88KG F
2010 World Champ. Ben Baxter W Armbar ABS R1
2010 World Champ. Roger Gracie L Choke from back ABS 4F
2011 World Pro. Jimmy Harbison W Pts: 0x0, Adv 83KG R1
2011 World Pro. Romulo Barral L Pts: 3x0 83KG 4F
2011 World Pro. Rodolfo Vieira L Pts: 5x2 ABS SF
2012 Gramado Trials Alexandre Ceconi W Pts: 2x0 94KG SF
2012 Gramado Trials Alexandre Souza W Pts: 8x2 94KG F
2012 World Pro. Vitor Toledo L Referee Decision 88KG R1
2012 World Champ. Ulpiano Malachias W Pts: 2x0 94KG R2
2012 World Champ. Roberto Alencar L Pts: 0x0 94KG 4F
2012 Rockstrike Rodolfo Vieira L Pts: 16x0 ABS NA
2013 World Expo Dean Lister L Heel hook ABS SPF
2013 Pan American Ben Baxter W Points 88KG R1
2013 Pan American Rodrigo Fajardo W Choke from back 88KG R2
2013 Pan American Andre Galvao L Kimura 88KG R1
2013 World Pro Claudio Calasans L Pts: 6x0 82KG 4F
2013 World Pro Andre Galvao W Pen ABS 4F
2013 World Pro Marcus Almeida L Points ABS SF
2013 World Pro Claudio Calasans L Adv ABS 3PLC
2013 World Champ. Gustavo Campos L Points 88KG 4F
2015 World Pro Eduardo Vieyra W Points 85KG R1
2015 World Pro Alan Finfou W Pts: 0x0, Adv 85KG R2
2015 World Pro AJ Sousa L Points 85KG 4F
2015 World Pro Keenan Cornelius L Pts: 2x0 ABS R2
2015 World Champ. Julien Cazier W Choke from back 88KG 8F
2015 World Champ. Rodrigo Fajardo W Pts: 7x2 88KG 4F
2015 World Champ. Gustavo Campos W Pts: 6x4 88KG SF
2015 World Champ. Leandro Lo L Pts: 7x0 88KG F
2015 Macaco Branco J. Urholin D --- ABS SPF
2016 World Champ. Ruan Oliveira W Pts: 2x0 88KG 8F
2016 World Champ. Patrick Gaudio L Pts: 0x0, Adv 88KG 4F
2016 All Star Tour Tryfon Stathopoulos W Choke from back 94KG F
2016 All Star Tour Joao Rocha L Footlock ABS F
2016 BJJ Pro LA Nick Schrock W Pts: 6x0 94KG SF
2016 BJJ Pro LA Keenan Cornelius W DQ 94KG F
2016 US Open Tanner Rice L Pts: 0x0, Adv 95KG SF
2017 FIVE Super League Leandro Lo W Referee Decision 92KG 4F
2017 FIVE Super League Lucas Barbosa L Referee Decision 92KG SF
2017 FIVE Super League Tanner Rice L Estima lock 92KG 3RD
2017 American Cup Diego Herzog L Points 94KG RR
2017 American Cup Diego Herzog W N/A 94KG RR
2017 American Cup A. Dwight W Points ABS SF
2017 Marianas Eric Sian W Pts: 9x2 O82KG 4F
2017 World Champ. Inacio Neto W Pts: 2x0 88KG 8F
2017 American NG Nats Joseph Moku W Points O98KG F
2018 King of Mats Clark Gracie L Pts: 0x0, Adv 85KG RR
2018 King of Mats Roberto Satoshi L Triangle 85KG RR
2018 World Champ. Esdras Mendes L Points 88KG 8F
2018 W.S.O.G. Casey Hellenberg W Referee Decision O81KG 8F
2018 W.S.O.G. Kevin Cassey W Referee Decision O81KG 4F
2018 W.S.O.G. Kaynan Duarte L Referee Decision O81KG SF
2018 W.S.O.G. James Puopolo L Referee Decision O81KG 3RD
2018 WSOG 2 Edwin Najmi L Referee Decision 81KG R1
2018 Black Belt CBD Mahamed Aly L Points O83KG SF
2018 F2W 95 Kuhio Tabancura W Bow and arrow 85KG SPF
2019 Pan American Ashur Darmo W Referee Decision 88KG 8F
2019 Pan American Lucas Barbosa L Pts: 5x0 88KG 4F
2019 World Champ. Devhonte Johnson W Pts: 2x0 88KG R1
2019 World Champ. Matheus Diniz L Pts: 3x0 88KG R2

7. Tarsis Humphreys Top Fights Links

Tarsis Humphreys VS Eduardo Telles / World Championship 2010

Tarsis Humphreys VS Romulo Barral / World Championship 2010

Tarsis Humphreys VS Nivaldo Oliveira / World Championship 2010

Tarsis Humphreys vs Braulio Estima ADCC 2007 Absolute Division

Photo Credit: @tarsisjiujitsu

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