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Gabi Garcia

Creator credit recorded on the linked source page: Bruno Massami · CC BY 3.0

Gabi Garcia

“Gabi”

Source: bjjheroes.com

Gabi Garcia's path from Alliance champion to teacher runs through four ADCC titles, MMA and a school built with her competition earnings.

Biography

Gabi Garcia built her career around the problem of controlling another grappler: getting on top, keeping the position and finding a submission. An Alliance competitor and black belt under Fábio Gurgel, she won major championships in the gi and without it before taking that experience into mixed martial arts and her own academy. Her development can be traced through the accounts of people who faced her, trained beside her and learned from her. Born in 1985, Gabrielle Lemos Garcia played volleyball, handball and field hockey before making jiu-jitsu her profession. BJJ Heroes' account of her early life places her family's move to São Paulo when she was 13. An uncle's involvement in jiu-jitsu drew her toward the sport, and her first coach was known as Johnny. Later, while training with Gurgel and approaching the end of university, she set aside plans for an advertising career to concentrate on competing. Her family, especially her father, supported the choice. Gurgel would award her black belt. Her first Worlds title came in 2008, when she beat Maria do Carmo at heavyweight. Women then competed in a combined brown-and-black-belt division; separate black-belt categories arrived in 2012. Graciemag's history of the women's Worlds credits Garcia with six titles across 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012, including victories in both her weight class and the open division in each of the last two years. Open-weight competition brought athletes of different sizes into the same bracket. Those results did not mean opponents had no answers. Ana Laura Cordeiro, recalling a 2009 victory over Garcia, described giving up on a double-leg takedown and switching to spider guard, using sleeve grips and her feet to control from underneath. From there she swept Garcia, reversing their positions, and reached knee-on-belly. By the time Cordeiro discussed the match in 2013, she thought Garcia had become a more technically accomplished opponent who made better use of her strength and build. It was a rival's assessment of how much had changed. Garcia gave her own account of that development after winning twice at the 2011 Worlds. She told Graciemag that she trained three times a day and regarded jiu-jitsu as her work. She felt faster and more technical after changes to her training and diet, and credited Gurgel with reshaping her approach to both the sport and her life. Alliance also made her a valuable training partner. Luanna Alzuguir explained in 2011 that preparing with Garcia helped her deal with heavier women in open-weight competition. The following year, Garcia had already qualified for the Abu Dhabi World Professional tournament but still wanted to enter the Gramado trials. She described several reasons: testing her jiu-jitsu, competing before family in her home state and helping training partner Andressa Correia reach the final. In the same interview, she welcomed separate brown- and black-belt divisions for women as evidence that the sport was growing, while asking for better prize money and greater respect for its female competitors. At ADCC, where competitors grapple without the gi, Garcia won gold in 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2019. The last of those victories made her the first woman to win the event four times. Her 2019 route included a points win over Stephanie Egger and a referee's decision against Ana Carolina Vieira before the final with Carina Santi. FloGrappling's account of that final describes the practical force of Garcia's top game: with one leg caught in Santi's half guard, she applied pressure from above, separated an arm from Santi's defenses and finished with a kimura shoulder lock. She had also begun competing in MMA. In her RIZIN debut on December 31, 2015, Lei'D Tapa knocked her down, but Garcia recovered and won by a first-round technical knockout with punches on the ground. By 2020, money earned in MMA and jiu-jitsu was supporting a different project: an Alliance school in Eastvale, California. In a February 2020 interview with TATAME, Garcia said an injury had kept her out of MMA during 2019. She returned to gi competition and discussed opening a school with her MMA coach. She chose Eastvale and spent eight months putting the academy together, funding it with her competitive earnings. She named Alliance's teaching approach, Atos and Cobrinha's academy among her reference points, and intended to keep competing while overseeing the school. For beginners, she described three introductory lessons devoted to basic movement and self-defense, with her own supervision. Her stated ambitions extended beyond producing medalists: she wanted students to build confidence and learn to deal with bullying. At the 2021 Worlds, Garcia announced that she was leaving IBJJF competition. Her plans still included no-gi events, ADCC and MMA. The federation lists her in its Hall of Fame. Her teaching also reached people outside the tournament circuit. On February 27, 2022, she and fellow instructor Myra Mazza helped teach a free, four-hour self-defense seminar organized by Hollywood PAL and the LAPD South Park Community Safety Partnership. Twenty-five women attended sessions on awareness, escaping danger and practical self-defense. In the organizer's report, one participant described Garcia putting her at ease and spoke of feeling safe and supported among the other women. In August 2024, Garcia faced Craig Jones at the first Craig Jones Invitational in Las Vegas. Before the match, she explained that its entertainment value could reach people unfamiliar with grappling's tournament rules. She also cited the event's charitable aims, including help for flood-hit Rio Grande do Sul, as part of her decision to take part, and said she planned to give her purse to affected relatives. Her proposed tactics remained centered on controlling position: getting past Jones' guard, reaching side control or mount and leaving him little room to escape. Jones won the bout with a rear-naked choke in the second round.

Sources for this profile

  • RIZIN Fighting Federation, ギャビ・ガルシア (Gabi Garcia), undated athlete profile.(opens in a new tab)

    • Gabi Garcia was born on 17 November 1985.

      Where in the source: Athlete information — 生年月日 / 1985年11月17日

      Accessed:

    • Garcia made her MMA debut for RIZIN on 31 December 2015, defeating Lei'D Tapa by a first-round TKO. The promotion's account describes Garcia recovering after being knocked down and finishing with punches on the ground.

      Where in the source: Career paragraph and complete two-row record — 2015.12.31

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Heroes, Gabrielle Garcia, undated profile, accessed 22 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • Gabrielle Lemos Garcia is known in jiu-jitsu as Gabi Garcia.

      Where in the source: Identity fields — Full Name; Nickname

      Accessed:

    • Garcia received her jiu-jitsu black belt from Fábio Gurgel.

      Where in the source: Opening profile and biography's promotion paragraph — black belt

      Accessed:

    • Garcia represents Alliance in jiu-jitsu.

      Where in the source: Athlete fields — Team/Association

      Accessed:

    • Garcia grew up playing several sports, including volleyball, handball and field hockey. Her family moved to São Paulo when she was 13; an uncle who trained jiu-jitsu prompted her interest, and she first attended a local coach known as Johnny.

      Where in the source: Biography opening — Gabrielle Garcia Biography

      Accessed:

    • While already training with Gurgel, Garcia put her intended advertising career on hold during her final university year to concentrate on jiu-jitsu. Her family supported the decision, particularly her father.

      Where in the source: Biography, university and family paragraph — advertising

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag, Worlds: remember the awesome history of the female division and register to compete in 2015, 13 May 2015.(opens in a new tab)

    • Garcia won the heavyweight title in the combined women's brown-and-black-belt division at the 2008 Worlds, defeating Maria do Carmo. The women's black belts received a separate division in 2012.

      Where in the source: Historical account — In 2008; In 2012

      Accessed:

    • Graciemag's historical accounting gives Garcia six Worlds titles: one in 2008, one in 2010 and two each in 2011 and 2012.

      Where in the source: Champions' totals near article end — Six-time world champion

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag, Gabi Garcia: I don't feel any pressure, 6 June 2011.(opens in a new tab)

    • Garcia won both heavyweight and open weight at the 2011 Worlds. In 2010 she had won her weight category and shared the open-class final with Alliance teammate Luanna Alzuguir.

      Where in the source: Opening report — 2011 double gold Worlds winner

      Accessed:

    • In June 2011 Garcia described training three times daily and said that training and changes to her diet had made her faster and more technical. She treated jiu-jitsu as her job and credited Gurgel with changing both her jiu-jitsu and her life.

      Where in the source: Interview middle and conclusion — three times a day

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag, Women's competitions then and now — Ana Laura Cordeiro weighs in, 27 August 2013.(opens in a new tab)

    • Ana Laura Cordeiro recalled beating Garcia in 2009 after abandoning an unsuccessful double-leg attempt for spider guard, a sweep and knee-on-belly. Looking back in 2013, Cordeiro said Garcia had improved technically, become stronger and learned to use her build more effectively.

      Where in the source: Question about defeating Garcia — spider guard

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag, Confirmed for Pan, Luanna reveals secret to absolute performances, 16 March 2011.(opens in a new tab)

    • Luanna Alzuguir said in 2011 that training with Garcia was a central part of her preparation for open-weight competition against heavier women.

      Where in the source: Final question and answer — I train with Gabi

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag, Gabi Garcia explains competing in Jiu-Jitsu despite already being through to Abu Dhabi, 23 February 2012.(opens in a new tab)

    • Already qualified for the 2012 Abu Dhabi World Professional tournament, Garcia explained that she still wanted to compete at the Gramado trials to test her jiu-jitsu, perform before family in her home state, and help training partner Andressa Correia reach the final.

      Where in the source: First and second interview answers — put my Jiu-Jitsu to the test

      Accessed:

    • Garcia welcomed the separation of women's brown- and black-belt divisions in 2012 as a sign of growth, while calling for increased prize money and respect for the women who trained and competed.

      Where in the source: Final interview answer — prize money increases

      Accessed:

  • Hywel Teague, FloGrappling, Gabi Garcia Powers Through To Historic Fourth ADCC Gold Medal, 30 September 2019.(opens in a new tab)

    • Garcia became the first woman to collect four ADCC gold medals when she won in 2019, adding to victories in 2011, 2013 and 2017.

      Where in the source: Opening report — first woman; wins in 2011

      Accessed:

    • At ADCC 2019 Garcia beat Stephanie Egger 2–0, advanced past Ana Carolina Vieira by the referee's decision, and submitted Carina Santi with a kimura in the final. The final report describes Garcia applying top pressure and isolating Santi's arm from top half guard.

      Where in the source: Tournament and final paragraphs — top half guard

      Accessed:

  • Mateus Machado, TATAME via R7 Esportes, Gabi Garcia conta detalhes da criação de sua própria academia nos EUA e celebra, 3 February 2020.(opens in a new tab)

    • In a February 2020 interview about her new Alliance academy in Eastvale, California, Garcia said an injury had kept her out of MMA during 2019. She returned to gi competition and, after discussing an academy with her MMA coach, chose Eastvale and spent eight months building the school.

      Where in the source: First two answers — Era um sonho antigo; oito meses

      Accessed:

    • Garcia described an introductory sequence of three lessons at her Eastvale academy, concentrating on basic movement and self-defence. She said she personally supervised these lessons and wanted students to gain confidence and handle bullying, rather than pursue medals alone.

      Where in the source: Middle and final answers — três aulas introdutórias; defesa pessoal

      Accessed:

    • Garcia said she funded her academy with earnings from MMA and jiu-jitsu. She cited Alliance's teaching method, Atos and Cobrinha's academy as examples, and intended to continue competing while supervising the school.

      Where in the source: Middle and concluding answers — meu dinheiro

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, Hall of fame, current directory, accessed 22 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • The IBJJF lists Gabrielle Lemos Garcia in its Hall of Fame.

      Where in the source: Women's members — GABRIELLE LEMOS GARCIA

      Accessed:

  • Lucy Wynne, Grappling Insider, Gabi Garcia Retires from IBJJF, 12 December 2021.(opens in a new tab)

    • Garcia announced her retirement from IBJJF competition at the 2021 Worlds, while intending to continue in no-gi grappling, ADCC and MMA.

      Where in the source: Opening report and follow-up on future competition — retiring from IBJJF competition

      Accessed:

  • Hollywood Police Activities League, World Jiu Jitsu Champion Gabi Garcia Teaches Local Women to Fight Back, 2 March 2022.(opens in a new tab)

    • On 27 February 2022 Garcia and fellow instructor Myra Mazza helped deliver a free four-hour women's self-defence seminar organised by Hollywood PAL and the LAPD South Park Community Safety Partnership. Twenty-five women attended; the programme covered awareness, escapes and practical self-defence.

      Where in the source: Event report — February 27, 2022; Twenty-five (25)

      Accessed:

    • A participant quoted by Hollywood PAL described Garcia making her feel comfortable during the 2022 seminar; she reported feeling safe and supported by the other women.

      Where in the source: Participant response following programme summary — helped us feel comfortable

      Accessed:

  • Guilherme Cruz, MMA Fighting, Gabi Garcia vows to smash Craig Jones and shock the world in CJI superfight, 14 August 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • Ahead of the 2024 Craig Jones Invitational, Garcia described the match with Jones as a way to bring grappling to viewers unfamiliar with tournament rules. She said the event's charitable intentions, including support for flood-hit Rio Grande do Sul, helped persuade her to accept; she planned to give her purse to affected relatives.

      Where in the source: Pre-fight interview — entertainment; Rio Grande do Sul

      Accessed:

    • Garcia explained her approach to the Jones match through positional control: passing guard, sweeping, reaching side control and mount, and limiting opportunities for the opponent to escape.

      Where in the source: Tactical interview answer — side control and mount

      Accessed:

  • Guilherme Cruz, MMA Fighting, CJI video: Craig Jones taps out Gabi Garcia with rear-naked choke, 18 August 2024 UTC.(opens in a new tab)

    • Garcia faced Craig Jones in a superfight at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational in Las Vegas in August 2024. Jones won with a rear-naked choke in the second round.

      Where in the source: Opening and second-round account — rear-naked choke

      Accessed:

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
YearEventResultDivision
2019ADCC 2019Source: adcombat.com+60 kgNo-giVerified1st place+60 kgNo-giVerified
2012IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.orgAbsoluteGiVerified1st placeAbsoluteGiVerified
2012IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-80 kgGiVerified1st place-80 kgGiVerified
2011IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-80 kgGiVerified1st place-80 kgGiVerified
2011IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.orgAbsoluteGiVerified1st placeAbsoluteGiVerified
2010IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-80 kgGiVerified1st place-80 kgGiVerified
2008IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-80 kgGiVerified1st place-80 kgGiVerified

Lineage

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