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Kjetil Lydvo

Norwegian black belt Kjetil Lydvo rose from his Voss team to a brown-belt world title and repeated black-belt podiums in the ultra-heavy division.

Biography

Kjetil Lydvo grew up in Voss, Norway, where his early competition experience came through uphill running. He had also begun boxing at ten when, in 2012, he started Brazilian jiu-jitsu at seventeen. His first coaches in Voss were André Fievel and Jason Shields, who led the group when Fievel was away. After earning his blue belt, Lydvo moved to Oslo and joined Frontline Academy under Eduardo “Teta” Rios. That relationship carried him through the rest of the belt system. In 2019, Frontline’s collaboration with TSI Basketak brought Lydvo to the club for a week as one of its seminar instructors. Lydvo’s competitive breakthrough came when he became an IBJJF world champion at brown belt in 2022. Rios promoted him to black belt at Frontline on 6 January 2023. At that year’s European Championship, Lydvo reached the adult men’s black-belt ultra-heavyweight final after victories over Pedro Bisneto and Cleyton Flores, taking silver behind Mason Fowler. Later in 2023, he won both the ultra-heavyweight and open-class divisions at the London Fall International Open, submitting four opponents across five matches. His results continued across the major adult black-belt events. In 2024, Lydvo earned ultra-heavyweight bronze at the European, Pan and World Championships. He added bronze in the same division at the 2025 Brazilian National Championship and the 2026 European Championship. IBJJF currently lists him as an adult black belt representing CheckMat International, while Frontline remains the setting for his development under Rios and his black-belt promotion.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Heroes, “Kjetil Lydvo”(opens in a new tab)

    • Kjetil Lydvo is a Norwegian grappler, born in Voss, Norway, in January 1995.

      Where in the source: Profile introduction and Biography opening — nationality, Voss and January 1995

      Accessed:

    • Lydvo first learned jiu-jitsu in Voss from André Fievel, with Jason Shields leading during Fievel’s absences; after earning his blue belt, Lydvo moved to Oslo and continued at Frontline Academy under Eduardo “Teta” Rios.

      Where in the source: Biography paragraphs 2–4 — first coaches, blue belt and move to Frontline Oslo

      Accessed:

    • Eduardo “Teta” Rios promoted Lydvo to black belt at Frontline Academy on 6 January 2023.

      Where in the source: Biography closing — black-belt ceremony, promoter and date

      Accessed:

    • In 2022, Lydvo won the IBJJF World Championship at brown belt.

      Where in the source: Main achievements — 2022 World Championship and brown belt

      Accessed:

  • Kingz, “Kjetil Lydvo”(opens in a new tab)

    • Growing up in Voss, Lydvo competed in uphill running and began boxing at ten; he started jiu-jitsu in 2012 at seventeen.

      Where in the source: Athlete story and Did You Know — childhood sports and 2012 jiu-jitsu start

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, “2023 European Jiu-Jitsu Championships Submission Study”(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2023 IBJJF European Championship, Lydvo took silver in the adult men’s black-belt ultra-heavyweight division after beating Pedro Bisneto and Cleyton Flores before losing the final to Mason Fowler.

      Where in the source: Adult male black belt ultra-heavy bracket — quarterfinal, semifinal and final

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, “London Fall International Open Results: Kjetil Lydvo Wins Double Gold,” 16 October 2023(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2023 London Fall International Open, Lydvo won both the ultra-heavyweight and open-class divisions, completing five matches and submitting four opponents.

      Where in the source: Event report opening and Kjetil Lydvo section — two divisions, five matches and four submissions

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, “2024 World Championship Standings Update”(opens in a new tab)

    • Lydvo earned bronze in the adult men’s black-belt ultra-heavyweight division at the 2024 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: Adult Male Black Belt standings — Ultra Heavy podium

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF athlete profile, “Kjetil Lydvo”(opens in a new tab)

    • Lydvo earned bronze in the adult men’s black-belt ultra-heavyweight division at the 2024 IBJJF European Championship.

      Where in the source: Adult Grand Slam Placements — Ultra Heavy, European 2024, third

      Accessed:

    • Lydvo earned bronze in the adult men’s black-belt ultra-heavyweight division at the 2024 IBJJF Pan Championship.

      Where in the source: Adult Grand Slam Placements — Ultra Heavy, Pan 2024, third

      Accessed:

    • Lydvo earned bronze in the adult men’s black-belt ultra-heavyweight division at the 2025 IBJJF Brazilian National Championship.

      Where in the source: Adult Grand Slam Placements — Ultra Heavy, Brasileiro 2025, third

      Accessed:

    • Lydvo earned bronze in the adult men’s black-belt ultra-heavyweight division at the 2026 IBJJF European Championship.

      Where in the source: Adult Grand Slam Placements — Ultra Heavy, European 2026, third

      Accessed:

    • IBJJF lists Lydvo as an adult black belt representing CheckMat International.

      Where in the source: Athlete header — academy, belt and age division

      Accessed:

  • TSI Basketak, 2019 annual report(opens in a new tab)

    • TSI Basketak’s 2019 annual report identifies Lydvo as one of the club’s seminar instructors and says its Frontline collaboration enabled him to spend a week at the club.

      Where in the source: Årsmelding TSI basketak — 2019 seminar section and Frontline collaboration paragraph

      Accessed:

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
YearEventResultDivision
2026IBJJF European ChampionshipSource: ibjjf.comUltra heavy (black belt)GiVerifiedBronzeUltra heavy (black belt)GiVerified
2024IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: ibjjf.comUltra heavy (black belt)GiVerifiedBronzeUltra heavy (black belt)GiVerified
2023IBJJF European ChampionshipSource: ibjjf.comUltra heavy (black belt)GiVerifiedSilverUltra heavy (black belt)GiVerified
2022IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: ibjjf.comUltra heavy (brown belt)GiVerifiedGoldUltra heavy (brown belt)GiVerified

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