Eldar Rafigaev
Eldar Rafigaev went from construction work and adult boxing in Prague to ADCC trials success, Master 2 titles, and all-level teaching at Jungle BJJ.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Jungle BJJ, “Welcome” (academy overview; accessed 12 September 2026).(opens in a new tab)
Jungle BJJ says its instructors are active competitors, hold certification proving their degree, and are accredited as professional martial-arts trainers by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
Where in the source: JUNGLE BJJ — instructors
Accessed:
Richard Mann, “Five champions from 2018 ADCC European Trials qualify for 2019 ADCC Worlds,” ADCC, 13 October 2018.(opens in a new tab)
ADCC’s event report says Rafigaev won the over-99-kilogram bracket at the first 2018 European Trial and qualified for the 2019 ADCC World Championship.
Where in the source: Eldar Rafigaev — bracket winner
Accessed:
ADCC’s event report says Rafigaev submitted all four opponents in the 2018 European Trials over-99-kilogram bracket; his first two submissions took a combined 53 seconds.
Where in the source: Eldar Rafigaev — over 99kg
Accessed:
BJJ Heroes, “Eldar Rafigaev” (structured profile and complete recorded submission table; accessed 12 September 2026).(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes identifies toe holds and kneebars as Rafigaev’s preferred techniques. Its recorded submission wins are led by foot locks, with kneebars also a recurrent finish.
Where in the source: Favorite position; submissions
Accessed:
Eldar Rafigaev was born on 14 April 1987 in Chisinau, Moldova.
Where in the source: Biography — born
Accessed:
Rafigaev began boxing as an adult while living in the Czech Republic and encountered jiu-jitsu in 2011, initially training at a smaller Czech academy whose name the source could not recover.
Where in the source: Biography — 2011
Accessed:
After reaching blue belt, Rafigaev moved to Fernando Araújo’s Jungle BJJ in Prague. The academy became the setting in which he developed as a regular competitor.
Where in the source: Biography — Jungle BJJ
Accessed:
Fernando Araújo awarded Rafigaev his black belt in mid-2017, about six years after he began jiu-jitsu and after Rafigaev won a UAEJJF World Pro title at brown belt.
Where in the source: Biography — black belt
Accessed:
BJJ Heroes gives the complete lineage as Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie → Carlson Gracie → Francisco Albuquerque → Fernando Araújo → Eldar Rafigaev.
Where in the source: Profile panel — Lineage
Accessed:
IBJJF, “Athlete Results: Eldar Rafigaev” (complete category hierarchy and results; accessed 12 September 2026).(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF records Rafigaev first in black-belt Master 2 male super-heavy and first in the black-belt Master 2 male open class at the 2024 World No-Gi Championship.
Where in the source: No Gi — Master2 — 2024 World
Accessed:
In 2025, IBJJF records Rafigaev first in black-belt Master 2 male ultra-heavy at both the European No-Gi and Pan No-Gi Championships, and second in black-belt Master 2 male super-heavy at the World No-Gi Championship.
Where in the source: No Gi — Master2 — 2025
Accessed:
In gi competition during 2026, IBJJF records Rafigaev first in black-belt Master 2 male ultra-heavy at the European Championship, second in that division and third in the open class at the Pan Championship, and third at ultra-heavy at the World Master Championship.
Where in the source: Masters — Master2 — 2026
Accessed:
IBJJF’s current athlete record identifies Rafigaev as a black belt representing Jungle BJJ and includes results through the 2026 season.
Where in the source: Athlete Results — header
Accessed:
Elite Sports, “Eldar Rafigaev – A Top BJJ Black Belt Champion” (full biography; accessed 12 September 2026).(opens in a new tab)
After leaving university at nineteen, Rafigaev moved from Moldova to Prague to work. He took a construction job and later began boxing there.
Where in the source: Education; Czech Republic
Accessed:
In its 4 March 2024 profile, Elite Sports identified the degree component of Rafigaev’s rank as second degree under Fernando Araujo.
Where in the source: Biography — second-degree rank
Accessed:
In its 4 March 2024 profile, Elite Sports identified the belt-colour component of Rafigaev’s rank as black under Fernando Araujo.
Where in the source: Details — Rank; Biography
Accessed:
Jungle BJJ, “Trainings” (current English class schedule; accessed 12 September 2026).(opens in a new tab)
Jungle BJJ’s current schedule assigns Rafigaev the all-level gi classes on Tuesday and Thursday. The class description emphasizes applicable techniques, positional detail and individual coaching to develop each student’s own style.
Where in the source: GI ALL LEVELS — Eldar
Accessed: