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Fernando Nascimento Araujo

Fernando Araujo is a fifth-degree black belt whose path from Rio through Oslo helped bring BJJ into the Czech martial-arts community.

Biography

Fernando Nascimento Araujo is a fifth-degree black belt and the figure around whom Jungle BJJ traces its Czech history. He told BJJ Eastern Europe that he began Brazilian jiu-jitsu at 16 after practicing taekwondo and kickboxing. Within months, BJJ had become his sole training and competitive focus. His first instructor was Rodrigo Medeiros. After Medeiros moved to the United States, Araujo continued under Francisco “Toco” Albuquerque of Nova Geracao. His route to the Czech Republic included a year in Oslo, where he taught classes and seminars around Norway. Jungle BJJ dates its Czech chapter to his arrival in 2006. The academy’s current trainer page lists Araujo as an IBJJF-recognized fifth-degree black belt with more than 30 years of BJJ experience. It says he teaches beginner and advanced classes, while the same roster identifies Daniel Holy as a black belt under him. IBJJF results give a precise view of his recent competition record. They place him first in Master 4 super-heavy at the 2024 European IBJJF No-Gi Championship, then first in both Master 4 super-heavy and open class at the 2025 Pan Pacific IBJJF Championship. BJJ Eastern Europe’s 2012 introduction looks back to Araujo’s earlier competitive years. It describes two state-level victories and a National Circuit title, and says Nova Geracao/UGF selected him as its best athlete in 1998 and 1999 before naming him its most technical athlete in 2001. When the interview asked which titles mattered most, Araujo shifted the measure away from the podium. He said his students and the friendships made through BJJ meant more to him than medals or trophies.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Eastern Europe, interview with Fernando Araujo, February 24, 2012(opens in a new tab)

    • In a 2012 interview, Fernando Araujo introduced himself as being from Rio de Janeiro and then living in the Czech Republic; the article identifies him as the leader of Jungle BJJ.

      Where in the source: Question 1, please introduce yourself - answer names Rio de Janeiro and the Czech Republic.

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    • Araujo said he began Brazilian jiu-jitsu at age 16 after practicing taekwondo and kickboxing, and within months was training and competing exclusively in BJJ.

      Where in the source: Question 2, how you got started in bjj - age 16, prior striking arts and exclusive BJJ.

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    • Araujo said he first trained under Rodrigo Medeiros and, after Medeiros moved to the United States, continued under Francisco 'Toco' Albuquerque of Nova Geracao.

      Where in the source: Question 2, who did you train under? - Rodrigo Medeiros and Toco sequence.

      Accessed:

    • In its interview introduction, BJJ Eastern Europe credited Araujo with two state-championship victories and a National Circuit title. It also reported that Nova Geracao/UGF chose him as its best athlete for 1998 and 1999, followed by a most-technical-athlete distinction for 2001.

      Where in the source: Article introduction - 2 time State Champion and 1998-2001 team distinctions.

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    • When asked about his biggest titles, Araujo said that his students and the friendships made through BJJ mattered more to him than medals or trophies.

      Where in the source: Question 5, biggest titles in bjj? - students and friends over medals.

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  • Jungle BJJ, History(opens in a new tab)

    • Jungle BJJ traces its Czech history to Fernando Nascimento Araujo's arrival in the Czech Republic in 2006, after he had spent a year in Oslo teaching classes and seminars around Norway.

      Where in the source: THE HISTORY OF JUNGLE - opening paragraph, 2006 arrival and the prior year in Oslo.

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  • Jungle BJJ, Trainers(opens in a new tab)

    • Jungle BJJ's current trainer page lists Fernando Araujo as a black belt.

      Where in the source: FERNANDO COLEMAN ARAUJO - fifth-degree black-belt line.

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    • Jungle BJJ's current trainer page describes Araujo as a fifth-degree black belt recognized and approved by the IBJJF.

      Where in the source: FERNANDO COLEMAN ARAUJO - fifth-degree and IBJJF-recognition line.

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    • Jungle BJJ says Araujo has more than 30 years of BJJ experience and teaches both beginner and advanced classes.

      Where in the source: FERNANDO COLEMAN ARAUJO - experience and beginner/advanced teaching lines.

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    • The same trainer roster identifies Daniel Holy as a black belt under Fernando Araujo.

      Where in the source: DANIEL RAGNAR HOLY - black-belt instructor line.

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    • Jungle BJJ's trainer page describes Araujo as a multiple champion in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pan-Pacific region.

      Where in the source: FERNANDO COLEMAN ARAUJO - multi-continent champion line.

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  • International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Athlete Results: Fernando Araujo(opens in a new tab)

    • The current IBJJF athlete profile lists Fernando Araujo with Jungle BJJ and a black belt.

      Where in the source: ATHLETE RESULTS - Fernando Araujo / Jungle BJJ / Black identity card.

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    • The IBJJF athlete results record Araujo in first place in Master 4 super-heavy at the 2024 European IBJJF No-Gi championship and in both Master 4 super-heavy and open class at the 2025 Pan Pacific IBJJF championship.

      Where in the source: ATHLETE RESULTS - expanded MASTERS / MASTER4 and NO GI / MASTER4 panels; Super Heavy and Open Class event rows.

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  • BJJ Globetrotters, Jungle BJJ (Prague, Czech Republic), September 11, 2018(opens in a new tab)

    • A 2018 visit report described Jungle BJJ as led by Fernando Araujo, then a fourth-degree black belt under Francisco 'Toco' Albuquerque, and said that he had spent a year teaching in Norway before helping introduce BJJ to the Czech martial-arts community.

      Where in the source: Overview - opening paragraph, fourth-degree line and prior year in Norway.

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