Skip to content
The BJJ Story
Search
Back to people
Two training partners meeting on the mat.Drawn in cream, forest green, and muted terracotta. People and objects are symbolic illustrations.
Portrait unavailable. General BJJ illustration; not a likeness of this person.Illustration: The BJJ Story

Joao Marreiros

João Marreiros brings a pilot’s emphasis on precision to individual BJJ coaching at Lagos BJJ Lab in Portugal.

Biography

João Marreiros founded Lagos BJJ Lab in Lagos, Portugal, around an approach to teaching that emphasises understanding why techniques work and when to choose them. His account on the school’s website connects that approach to both his martial arts training and 17 years as a military pilot. He began traditional jiu-jitsu and self-defence in 2000, moving into Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2009. He trained for years with João Santos at Gracie Lisboa. Representing that academy at the 2012 IBJJF European Championship, he won silver in the men’s Master 1 blue-belt lightweight division. He subsequently received his black belt under Robin Gracie. Marreiros draws a connection between aviation’s demands for precision, discipline and decisions under pressure and the deliberate structure of his jiu-jitsu sessions. He describes teaching techniques through conceptual systems, giving students reasons and strategic choices to understand alongside the movements themselves. The coaching also takes account of the person practising: physical limitations, injuries, flexibility, available time, personality and goals all inform his approach. The Lab’s programme is built primarily around private study. Its description starts with assessing where a student is, establishing a goal and working out a technical and strategic route towards it. Beginners are welcome, and instruction covers both gi training, with the traditional jacket, and no-gi training without it. Although private sessions are the focus, the school also allows some group work depending on participants’ levels and aims. The student experiences selected for the Lab’s website describe that individual attention from different perspectives. Nick, identified as a purple belt, says Marreiros explained technique and philosophy in a way that suited his style. Anson, a blue belt, emphasises how instruction was adapted to the student’s skill, body mechanics, style and athletic ability. A testimonial signed by Nathalie and Chris describes help in organising a student’s game and a wish to return for further training.

Sources for this profile

  • João Marreiros, complete first-person LagosBJJLab instructor biography(opens in a new tab)

    • Marreiros dates his start in traditionaljiu-jitsu andself-defence to2000.

      Where in the source: Wholefirstpersonopeningparagraph.

      Accessed:

    • He moved into Brazilianjiu-jitsu in2009.

      Where in the source: Complete openingparagraph.

      Accessed:

    • He trained for years with JoãoSantos atGracieLisboa before receiving his blackbelt underRobinGracie.

      Where in the source: Entiresecondparagraph.

      Accessed:

    • He is the founder and instructor ofLagosBJJLab.

      Where in the source: Named JoãoMarreirosFounder heading andwholeprivatecoachingbiography.

      Accessed:

    • He says17years as a militarypilot helped shape his coaching approach.

      Where in the source: Complete thirdparagraph aboutcockpit/teaching.

      Accessed:

    • He connects precision, discipline and decisions underpressure in aviation to deliberately structured jiujitsu sessions.

      Where in the source: Wholepilotparagraph.

      Accessed:

    • His teaching breaks techniques into conceptualsystems so students understand reasons andstrategicchoices.

      Where in the source: Entirefourthparagraph explainingbeyondrepetition.

      Accessed:

    • He adapts coaching to physical limitations, injuries, flexibility, time, personality andindividualgoals.

      Where in the source: Whole fifthparagraph.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official2012EuropeanChampionship fullMaster1blue-male-light podium(opens in a new tab)

    • RepresentingGracieLisboa, he took silver inMaster1blue-beltmen’slightweight at the2012IBJJFEuropeanChampionship.

      Where in the source: Wholeeventtitle andentireMASTER1/BLUE/MALE/LIGHTcategory, allfourrank/name/teamrows.

      Accessed:

  • LagosBJJLab, all three named student testimonials(opens in a new tab)

    • LagosBJJLab is based inLagos,Portugal.

      Where in the source: Entire namedNicktestimonial explicitlyPortugal andcompleteNathalieandChrisanswerreturntoPortugal; crosscheckedschoolFAQlocationLagosandpublicschoolMapslink.

      Accessed:

    • A purplebelt identifiedasNick says Marreiros explained technique andphilosophy in away thatsuited hisstyle.

      Where in the source: Complete firsttestimonial andNickpurpleidentification.

      Accessed:

    • Anson, identifiedas abluebelt, emphasises adapting instruction to the student’s skill, bodymechanics, style andathleticability.

      Where in the source: Complete secondtestimonial includingAnsonblueidentification.

      Accessed:

    • A testimonial signedNathalieandChris describes helping astudentorganise hisgame andwanting toreturn for moretraining.

      Where in the source: Entirethirdtestimonial.

      Accessed:

  • LagosBJJLab, complete AbouttheLab teaching description(opens in a new tab)

    • TheLab is organised around private individualstudy: assess where astudentis, define agoal andwork out atechnicalandstrategicroute.

      Where in the source: WholeAbouttheLabmainbody.

      Accessed:

  • LagosBJJLab, all four public FAQ answers(opens in a new tab)

    • TheLab works with beginners and offers bothgi andno-gitraining.

      Where in the source: AllfourFAQanswers, firsttwopairs.

      Accessed:

    • It focuses on privatesessions, with exceptions forgroupwork depending on level andgoals.

      Where in the source: CompletegroupclassesFAQanswer.

      Accessed:

Lineage

No teaching connections are shown on this page.

Open lineage