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Felipe Costa

Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and Brasa instructor Felipe Costa won the 2003 world title at roosterweight.

Biography

Felipe Costa is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt associated with Brasa, known for his 2003 world title at roosterweight and his work as an instructor. In a 2019 interview, Costa traced his start in the sport to an interest in self-defense and a club close to his home. Competition kept him training. He identified Rodrigo “Comprido” as a formative figure who went from fellow student to teacher and academy leader. Costa has described a long route to his first world title. In a 2018 essay, he recalled that nerves and inexperience often stopped him in the early rounds as a colored belt, although he valued the hard training around him. His goals gradually shifted from winning a match to earning a medal and then taking first place at smaller events. In a later interview, he said he had never won an IBJJF gold medal at the colored belts. He recalled receiving his black belt a year before his 2003 adult title; the IBJJF results list him first in the black-belt roosterweight division at that year's World Championship, representing Master. His results continued under the Brasa name. The IBJJF records Costa as the adult black-belt roosterweight champion at the 2007 Brazilian Nationals. He finished second in the same division at the Pan Championship in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and third at the 2010 World Championship. Those later entries place him with Brasa. In a 2012 interview, Costa described himself as one of the team's leaders and, at that time, a third-degree black belt under Comprido. Costa also described teaching Brazilian jiu-jitsu in different countries after his 2003 world title. In a later interview, he recalled organizing camps with Comprido in several countries. A 2012 Graciemag report described his work with Brasa-affiliated academies in Mexico. He also created sessions open to athletes from different teams who weighed under 73 kilograms. Having struggled to find higher-belt training partners of a similar size, he brought lighter grapplers together across team lines. His teaching extended to a Brasa project for children with visual impairments at Rio de Janeiro's Instituto Benjamin Constant. Graciemag identified Costa, Comprido, Michelle Matta and João Marcello Lemos among the instructors involved in 2009. At a year-end session, the magazine reported 20 pupils in attendance. Costa later wrote that he, Comprido and Matta had begun volunteering in 2006, that Lemos joined later, and that the classes ended in 2012.

Sources for this profile

  • International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), Results, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2003 (2003).(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF lists Felipe Costa of Master in first place in Adult / Black / Male / Rooster at the 2003 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship.

      Where in the source: IBJJF Results → "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2003" → full "Adult / Black / Male / Rooster" block: "1 | Felipe Costa Master", followed immediately by "Adult / Black / Male / Light Feather".

      Accessed:

  • International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), Results, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010 (2010).(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF lists Felipe Costa of Brasa in third place in Adult / Black / Male / Rooster at the 2010 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship.

      Where in the source: IBJJF Results → "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010" → full "Adult / Black / Male / Rooster" block: "1 | Bruno Malfacine Alliance"; "2 | Caio Terra Gracie Elite Team"; "3 | Felipe Costa Brasa"; "3 | Rafael Freitas Gracie Barra", followed immediately by "Adult / Black / Male / Light Feather".

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag editorial desk, "5 basic rules of Felipe Costa’s cross-training for Jiu-Jitsu," 31 January 2012.(opens in a new tab)

    • Graciemag reported in 2012 that its GMA and Brasa black belt Felipe Costa had created training sessions for people from different teams who were under 73 kg.

      Where in the source: Opening paragraph above the group photograph: the editorial introduction describes access across clubs, and Costa's first response specifies the weight ceiling.

      Accessed:

    • Costa said he organised cross-team sessions for lighter grapplers because he had struggled to find higher-belt training partners of a similar size; Graciemag reported participants from several rival teams.

      Where in the source: Cross-team training article: the second body paragraph explains the difficulty of assembling lighter advanced partners; the next names participating clubs.

      Accessed:

  • Brazilian Black Belt, "Felipe Costa talks about his motivation to keep competing on BJJ and much more," 16 December 2012.(opens in a new tab)

    • In an interview published in 2012, Costa said that after becoming World Champion in 2003 he began teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu around the globe.

      Where in the source: Embedded ArteSuave interview, first answer immediately below the Dutch introduction: Costa recounts his 2003 title and the teaching trips that followed.

      Accessed:

  • Brazilian Black Belt, "Felipe Costa answers about Mexico, BJJ CAMP, tournaments and much more," 27 March 2012.(opens in a new tab)

    • In a 2012 interview, Costa said he was a third-degree black belt under Rodrigo Comprido.

      Where in the source: Numbered interview, question 6 about age, first training, rank and teacher: its opening answer gives his 2012 degree and identifies Comprido.

      Accessed:

    • In a 2012 interview, Costa said he was one of the leaders of the BRASA team.

      Where in the source: Numbered interview, question 1 about his principal school and affiliates: the first answer states his leadership role within Brasa.

      Accessed:

  • International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu 2007, official results.(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF records Felipe Costa representing Brasa as the Adult Black Male Rooster champion at the 2007 Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu.

      Where in the source: Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu 2007 → ATHLETES RESULTS BY CATEGORY → complete ADULT / BLACK / MALE / ROOSTER division: 1 Felipe Costa / Brasa; 2 Rufino Gomes / Brasa; 3 Ivaniel Oliveira / Carioca Team; 3 Caio Terra / Strauch.

      Accessed:

  • International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2009, official results.(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF places Brasa's Felipe Costa second in Adult Black Male Rooster at the 2009 Pan Championship.

      Where in the source: Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2009 → complete ADULT / BLACK / MALE / ROOSTER division: 1 JOAO CARLOS KURAOKA / AXIS; 2 FELIPE COSTA / Brasa; 3 SHOJI MASADA / STRAPPLE OHANA; 3 MAKOTO SAWADA / Paraestra.

      Accessed:

  • International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010, official results.(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF places Brasa's Felipe Costa second in Adult Black Male Rooster at the 2010 Pan Championship.

      Where in the source: Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010 → complete ADULT / BLACK / MALE / ROOSTER division: 1 Bruno Malfacine / Alliance; 2 Felipe Costa / Brasa; 3 Joseph Capizzi / Renzo Gracie; 3 Makoto Sawada / Paraestra.

      Accessed:

  • International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2011, official results.(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF places Brasa's Felipe Costa second in Adult Black Male Rooster at the 2011 Pan Championship.

      Where in the source: Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2011 → complete ADULT / BLACK / MALE / ROOSTER division: 1 Rafael Freitas / Gracie Barra; 2 Felipe Costa / Brasa; 3 Joseph Capizzi / Renzo Gracie; 3 Brandon Mullins / Gracie Barra.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Eastern Europe, interview with Felipe Costa, 1 September 2019.(opens in a new tab)

    • In a 2019 interview, Costa said childhood interest in self-defence first brought him to a nearby Brazilian jiu-jitsu club, while the challenge of sport competition kept him training.

      Where in the source: 2019 Q&A, opening question about how he entered the sport: the first answer moves from childhood self-defence to the competition challenge.

      Accessed:

    • Costa identified Rodrigo Comprido as a formative teacher who progressed from fellow student to instructor and academy leader.

      Where in the source: 2019 Q&A, second question about an influential early figure: Costa names Comprido and traces his change from fellow student to instructor.

      Accessed:

    • Costa said he never won IBJJF gold at the coloured belts and kept competing through many losses before his 2003 black-belt world title.

      Where in the source: 2019 Q&A, answer to the question about his 2003 breakthrough: Costa discusses his lower-belt IBJJF results, repeated losses and decision to continue.

      Accessed:

    • Costa said training with the Brasa team gave him lasting memories and that he and Comprido had organised Brazilian jiu-jitsu camps in several countries.

      Where in the source: 2019 Q&A, near the end, answer about treasured memories: Costa connects his Brasa travel with camps organised alongside Comprido.

      Accessed:

  • Felipe Costa, 'Por que eu? Da alfabetização a faixa preta', Brazilian Black Belt, 30 August 2018.(opens in a new tab)

    • Writing in Portuguese in 2018, Costa recalled that nerves and inexperience often stopped him early in tournaments while he was a coloured belt, even though he enjoyed training hard alongside successful teammates.

      Where in the source: Portuguese essay, section on competitive jiu-jitsu: after the account of friendships, one paragraph attributes early losses to anxiety and inexperience; the next recalls enjoying demanding training.

      Accessed:

    • Costa wrote that he gradually progressed from valuing any competition win to wanting a medal and then a first place at smaller events; he said he won the adult black-belt world title in 2003, a year after receiving his black belt.

      Where in the source: Portuguese essay, 'Amadurecimento' section, first three paragraphs on changing goals; then the 'Faixa Preta' section, paragraph opening with the year 2003.

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag editorial desk, 'Jiu-Jitsu para cegos ganha destaque no Sportv', 21 November 2009.(opens in a new tab)

    • A 2009 Graciemag report named Felipe Costa alongside Michelle Matta, João Marcello Lemos and Rodrigo Comprido as instructors behind a Brasa jiu-jitsu project for visually impaired children at Rio de Janeiro's Instituto Benjamin Constant.

      Where in the source: 2009 news item about a Sportv segment: the second body paragraph names the four Brasa instructors and the Rio institute.

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag editorial desk, 'Deficientes visuais recebem convidado ilustre do Jiu-Jitsu', 16 December 2009.(opens in a new tab)

    • Graciemag reported on a 2009 year-end training session at Instituto Benjamin Constant attended by Costa and other project instructors, with 20 visually impaired pupils present.

      Where in the source: 'Deficientes visuais recebem convidado ilustre do Jiu-Jitsu' → opening paragraph '20 atletas do projeto'; later 'Felipe Costa, Michelle Matta, João Marcelo e Muzio De Angelis falaram'.

      Accessed:

  • Felipe Costa, 'Social Project', Brazilian Black Belt, undated page viewed 8 October 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • Costa's account says he, Comprido and Michelle Matta began volunteering for the Instituto Benjamin Constant programme in 2006 and that the classes ended in 2012; he says João Marcelo later joined them.

      Where in the source: Costa's Portuguese account below the embedded video: its first paragraph names the original volunteers and year; the fourth gives the year the classes ended.

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag editorial desk, 'Felipe Costa leads team to success at Mexican Nationals', 3 January 2012.(opens in a new tab)

    • Graciemag described Costa as a Brasa team leader working with affiliated academies in Mexico in 2011, and reported his account of visiting schools there ahead of the Mexican Nationals.

      Where in the source: 2012 Mexican Nationals report: its first two body paragraphs identify Costa's Brasa role and Mexican affiliates; the next two describe his visits to schools before the event.

      Accessed:

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
YearEventResultDivision
2003IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-57 kgGiVerified1st place-57 kgGiVerified

Lineage

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Trained under

Students2