Andrea Verdemare
“Mezzo Kilo”
Source: spiritoguerriero.wordpress.comAndrea “Mezzo Kilo” Verdemare developed Flow with Serena Gabrielli, combining competition, individual teaching and a connected curriculum.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Luca Lo Vecchio, own Andrea Verdemare interview, Spirito Guerriero, April 10, 2018(opens in a new tab)
Andrea Verdemare is Italian.
Where in the source: italiano
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His brother’s training led him to try BJJ around 2002, after initially considering Muay Thai.
Where in the source: First answer.
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He worked long Christmas shifts in a toy shop to fund his first European campaign, training after work.
Where in the source: Competition decision.
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His Mezzo Kilo nickname came from Tisi joking about his slight build during an unsuccessful pressure pass.
Where in the source: Nickname answer.
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He organised a shared yearly syllabus as connected chapters, rather than a succession of unrelated techniques.
Where in the source: Teaching principles.
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He linked discipline and respectful conduct to an environment where the whole class could learn.
Where in the source: Teaching principles.
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Flow separated basic movement and scoring, dynamic fundamentals, advanced combinations and competition preparation.
Where in the source: Academy class structure.
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Competition sessions combined guided drilling, sparring and changes in physical intensity.
Where in the source: Competition class.
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Early black-belt losses undermined his confidence; renewed motivation centred on himself and those who believed in him.
Where in the source: Mental training answer.
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By 2018 his principal ambition was improving the team’s organisation and giving students a cohesive sporting and human experience.
Where in the source: Final goals answer.
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Flow Gym Roma, own current Andrea Verdemare biography(opens in a new tab)
He was born in 1985.
Where in the source: Opening Classe1985.
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He remains Flow’s head jiu-jitsu coach in Rome.
Where in the source: Current instructor heading.
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Flow Jiu Jitsu, own founder history(opens in a new tab)
Federico Tisi guided his development from white belt through black belt.
Where in the source: Opening training paragraph.
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A wrist injury at the 2008 Worlds limited his hand movement and brought his judo practice to an end.
Where in the source: Judo training and wrist paragraphs.
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In 2011 he committed to teaching and competition full time, continuing overseas study to improve his classes.
Where in the source: Fulltime2011 and travel paragraphs.
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IBJJF, European Championship2006 official results(opens in a new tab)
He won adult male blue-belt roosterweight gold at the 2006 Europeans.
Where in the source: Adult/Blue/Male/Rooster rank1.
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IBJJF, European Championship2007 official results(opens in a new tab)
He won the adult male purple-belt roosterweight division at the 2007 Europeans.
Where in the source: Adult/Purple/Male/Rooster rank1.
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IBJJF, European Championship2008 official results(opens in a new tab)
He retained adult male purple-belt roosterweight gold at the 2008 Europeans.
Where in the source: Adult/Purple/Male/Rooster rank1.
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IBJJF, European Championship2009 official results(opens in a new tab)
He won adult male brown-belt roosterweight gold at the 2009 Europeans.
Where in the source: Adult/Brown/Male/Rooster rank1.
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IBJJF, World Championship2008 official results(opens in a new tab)
His 2008 World Championship silver came in adult male purple-belt roosterweight.
Where in the source: Adult/Purple/Male/Rooster rank2.
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Mario Puccioni, own eyewitness Tribe grading report, December21,2009(opens in a new tab)
Tisi awarded him his black belt at Tribe’s tenth-anniversary celebration in December 2009.
Where in the source: Named grading ceremony paragraph.
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Manolo El Chupacabra, own Andrea Verdemare interview, Grappling-Italia, July 2, 2010(opens in a new tab)
In 2010 he combined daytime IT office work with physical training and teaching after work.
Where in the source: informatico di giorno; Lavorare in ufficio
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For smaller grapplers he favoured open guards and angles that avoided an opponent’s weight, then sought back control.
Where in the source: Small-versus-large answer.
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He saw gi and no-gi as sharing movement principles, with cloth grips adding constraints and technical possibilities.
Where in the source: Gi/no-gi answer.
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Still teaching alongside Tisi in 2010, he was preparing his own venture and a mapped European competition calendar.
Where in the source: Own academy and future answer.
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Flow Gym Roma, own BJJ history, class progression and network(opens in a new tab)
He and Serena Gabrielli founded Flow in 2015 to create a professional, welcoming environment for children, recreational practitioners and competitors.
Where in the source: Dai campioni agli appassionati.
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Flow’s network uses a shared teaching method and continuing instructor development across affiliated schools.
Where in the source: Network sections.
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Nicola Mercuri, own Andrea MezzoKilo Verdemare interview, Try To Fight, February2012(opens in a new tab)
He argued that belt progress should reflect each student’s goals and development, rather than competition alone.
Where in the source: Non-competitor black-belt question.
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His 2012 classes linked conditioning, technical study and sparring, followed by individual questions and advice.
Where in the source: Teaching organisation answer.
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An injury in 2012 shifted his immediate attention to rehabilitation and teaching while he planned a return to competition.
Where in the source: How activity will change answer.
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Jiu Jitsu Legacy, own Andrea Verdemare interview before ADWPJJC13, November2021, updated February2022(opens in a new tab)
Gabrielli was his main drilling and sparring partner; her questions and difficult positions forced him to find new answers.
Where in the source: Who influenced your game.
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He cited Ricardo Vieira, Rafael and Guilherme Mendes, and Lucas Lepri among his technical influences.
Where in the source: Influence answer.
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Preparing for the 2021 World Pro after old injuries, he prioritised conditioning and intended to enter adult and masters divisions.
Where in the source: Championship experience and training answers.
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Refereeing at Rome’s Continental Pro helped him understand the rules and avoid strategic mistakes.
Where in the source: Training answer.
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He valued BJJ as a way for young people to face failure, solve problems and develop creativity.
Where in the source: Personal impact answer.
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Jiu Jitsu Legacy, own Serena Gabrielli interview, November2021(opens in a new tab)
Gabrielli identifies him as her black-belt professor and credits his ability to adapt to opponents and escape difficult situations.
Where in the source: Opening and influence answers.
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Flow Jiu Jitsu, own Andrea Verdemare instructor biography(opens in a new tab)
His own instructor biography connects overseas training at Cobrinha’s academy, Art of Jiu Jitsu and Unity with his teaching development.
Where in the source: Training and methodology paragraphs.
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IBJJF, European Championship2024 official results(opens in a new tab)
He won black-belt roosterweight gold in Master 2 at the 2024 Europeans.
Where in the source: Male/Master2/Black/Rooster rank1.
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IBJJF, Andrea Verdemare official public athlete results(opens in a new tab)
His official 2026 results include black-belt Master 3 roosterweight gold at the Europeans.
Where in the source: Black/Master3/Rooster European2026 first.
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His 2026 Pan title was in black-belt Master 2 roosterweight.
Where in the source: Black/Master2/Rooster Pan2026 first.
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Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage