MARCIO ANDRÉ — THE RIGHT PATH TO VICTORY

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Lineage:

Mitsuyo Maeda → Luiz França → Oswaldo Fadda → Sebastião Ricardo → Wendell Alexander → Daniel Almeida → Fábio Andrade → Marcio André

Main Achievements:

• IBJJF World Champion (2014 brown, 2013 & 2012 purple, 2011 blue)
• UAEJJF World Pro Champion (2016 black, 2014 brown, 2013 purple)
• IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2016 black, 2013 brown)
• IBJJF Pan American Champion (2013 purple)
• CBJJ Brazilian National Champion (2013 & 2012 purple, 2011 junior blue)
• IBJJF European Champion (2016/2015 black, 2014 brown, 2013 purple)
• CBJJ Brazilian Teams Champion (2010 junior blue)
• IBJJF World Championship Runner-up (2016)
• IBJJF Pan American Championship Runner-up (2017)
• IBJJF World Championship 3rd Place (2017)
• IBJJF Pan American Championship 3rd Place (2016)

Favorite Position/Technique: Open Guard

Weight Division: Peso Pena (Featherweight) – 70kg / 154lbs

Team/Association: Nova União (Bangú)

We’ve heard it before: “Jiu-jitsu saved my life.” Marcio André is one of the many who credits jiu-jitsu with doing just that. Growing up in a favela in Bangu, Brazil, Marcio’s father was murdered when Marcio was just two years old. Growing up without a father contributed to him hanging with the wrong crowd. Early in life, Marcio was on the path to becoming a criminal.

Later, Marcio would again face tragedy at a young age. His mother was chronically ill and would tell Marcio that when he turned eighteen, that’s when she would give up her fight for life, knowing she had lived long enough to raise a man. Sure enough, after his eighteenth birthday, his mom let go of her fight. Dealing with this type of adversity can easily derail someone’s life, but thankfully around the age of ten, Marcio discovered jiu-jitsu and coach Fabio Andrade.

Fabio had more confidence and hope in Marcio than even Marcio had in himself. Fabio gave him the direction he needed and is credited with helping many others out of crime and poverty through his social project offering jiu-jitsu to underprivileged kids in Bangu.

Marcio’s first big competitive breakthrough came when he won the World Championship as a blue belt in 2011. It was then that he knew he wanted to dedicate his life to jiu-jitsu. Just three years later, in 2014, Marcio received his black belt under Fabio Andrade. Along the way he won two world titles at purple belt, one at brown, and missed a black belt world championship in 2016 by a single advantage to Rafael Mendes.

It’s clear that Marcio is on the right path — one that leads to victory both in jiu-jitsu and in life. We were privileged to spend time with Marcio and learn about his journey and his technique, which we are proud to share with you here.