Portrait unavailable. General BJJ illustration; not a likeness of this person.Illustration: The BJJ Story

Luanna Alzuguir

World and ADCC champion Luanna Alzuguir turned years of competition into teaching at AVIV and work for women's opportunities in jiu-jitsu.

Last updated: 22 September 2026

Biography

Luanna Alzuguir won world titles at lightweight, middleweight and in the open division before bringing that competitive experience to AVIV Jiu Jitsu, the school she co-founded with Ana Carolina Vieira. The Brazilian black belt's career includes an ADCC championship and a place in the IBJJF Hall of Fame. Her account of becoming a teacher reaches beyond those results: helping other people learn meant looking past the techniques that worked best for her own body. Born in São Paulo in 1985, Alzuguir began training as a child. In a 2009 TATAME interview, preserved in a credited reprint, she recalled that her mother expected her and her two sisters to choose a sport. A jiu-jitsu school opened near their home, and she started at nine. Her early teachers included Marcelo Mathias and Celso Brito; she earned her blue belt while training with Brito at Godoi/Macaco. Training did not remain straightforward. BJJ Heroes recounts that difficulty finding regular partners led Alzuguir to concentrate on her journalism studies. University competitions brought her into contact with Marco Barbosa, who invited her to train. She also began teaching as a brown belt at Anhembi Morumbi University. According to her 2009 interview, Barbosa promoted her to black belt in December 2007. The reference biography dates her graduation to 2008, while distinguishing it from the journalism internship she did not complete as she pursued jiu-jitsu professionally. After the 2008 Worlds, Alzuguir joined Fábio Gurgel's Alliance team. Her explanation for the move was practical: she wanted training organized around competition, with technical instruction, conditioning and support for a professional career. Sponsorship remained a difficulty, she told TATAME in 2009. In another interview the following year, she credited Gurgel's teaching, conditioning work with Dimas, her own increased commitment and a room of people pursuing the same competitive goals. These were the changes she believed had helped her improve. The results came in both gi competition, contested in the traditional training uniform, and submission grappling. At the 2009 Worlds, Alzuguir took the women's lightweight title for Alliance, with Kyra Gracie second. Later that year she won ADCC's under-60 kg division. ADCC's contemporary report records a submission over Laurence Cousin in the semifinal and a 3–0 final victory over Sayaka Shioda. Her subsequent world titles crossed divisions. In 2010 she finished second at lightweight and won the open class, where athletes are not separated by weight. She returned to the top of the lightweight podium in 2011, ahead of Luiza Monteiro, then won at middleweight in 2012 and retained that title in 2013. Her gi championships therefore cannot be reduced to success in a single weight category. A match at the 2013 Brazilian Nationals gives a closer view of her work. Alzuguir won both middleweight and the open division, submitting Michelle Nicolini with an armbar in the open final. She told Graciemag that their competitive meetings went back to 2005, but this was the first time either had submitted the other. Before the tournament, she had cut back on teaching and devoted more time to drilling, repeatedly practicing specific movements. She also described putting less pressure on herself. Initially she felt constrained; as the matches passed, she felt her confidence grow. The decisive armbar had a history of its own. In 2008, Alzuguir had missed the attack in a Brazilian Nationals semifinal against Luzia Fernandes. She subsequently worked on it with Murilo Santana. Recalling the Nicolini finish, she explained how she controlled her opponent's body and denied her space before attacking from high mount, a position on top with the knees advanced toward the opponent's shoulders. Alzuguir also tested her grappling in mixed martial arts. Preparing at American Top Team alongside Amanda Nunes and Nina Ansaroff, she chose an amateur debut so she could experience the sport and a new flyweight weight cut before competing professionally. In October 2017 she submitted Brittney Cloudy with a rear-naked choke in the third round at Gateway Fighting Series. Invicta FC announced her signing in January 2018, when a professional debut had yet to be scheduled. That year she also won the adult black-belt medium-heavy division at the No-Gi Worlds for Alliance. At AVIV in Boynton Beach, Alzuguir and Vieira built a shared teaching project. In a 2021 interview with sponsor Hyperfly, Alzuguir explained that preparing herself for competition had meant refining her own game. Coaching required her to keep learning for students whose physiques, experience and approaches differed from hers. She wanted the school to welcome people training for ordinary personal goals as well as tournament competitors. WLRN's 2022 visit offered a student's perspective on that aim. Kat Janis described finding suitable women to train with and a sense of belonging she had missed elsewhere. Alzuguir connected progress with feeling able to be oneself. Vieira, her wife and fellow coach, described another kind of influence: seeing Alzuguir succeed earlier in her own career had helped her imagine becoming a champion. Alzuguir helped prepare Vieira for her 2022 world title. After winning ADCC in 2024, Vieira again credited her coaching and support with helping rebuild her confidence to compete. Their work also extended to competition opportunities for women. In 2019 they organized a petition seeking fairer prize money, more coverage and additional weight-category opportunities; WLRN reported that it attracted over 6,000 signatures in three weeks. The AVIV Experience program lists both women as coaches for its women-only jiu-jitsu retreat. In March 2026, WLRN reported AVIV's move into larger premises and announced a free self-defense seminar planned for International Women's Day. Describing her approach, Alzuguir put prevention before physical responses: recognizing danger, managing one's emotional response and choosing a purposeful action were part of what she wanted to teach.

Sources for this profile

BJJ Heroes, Luanna Alzuguir, undated.(opens in a new tab)
- Luanna Alzuguir was born in São Paulo in 1985.
  Where in the source: Biography opening — “1985”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Her early teachers included Marcelo Mathias and then Celso Brito at Godoi/Macaco, where she earned her blue belt.
  Where in the source: Biography, early training — “Celso Brito”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- After difficulties finding regular training partners, Alzuguir concentrated on journalism studies. University competitions brought her into contact with Marco Barbosa, whose invitation drew her back to training.
  Where in the source: Biography, university transition — “journalism”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- As a brown belt she taught at Anhembi Morumbi University. BJJ Heroes dates her graduation to 2008 and reports that she pursued professional jiu-jitsu without completing the journalism internship.
  Where in the source: Biography, teaching and study — “Anhembi Morumbi”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Alzuguir moved to Fábio Gurgel's Alliance team after the 2008 Worlds.
  Where in the source: Biography, final paragraph — “2008”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
TATAME interview reproduced by Vicente Cavalcanti Jiu-Jitsu, Luana Alzuguir, 29 May 2009.(opens in a new tab)
- Alzuguir recalled beginning jiu-jitsu at nine after a school opened near her home. Her mother required her and her two sisters to practise a sport, leaving the choice to them.
  Where in the source: Opening answer — “aos 9”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Alzuguir said Barbosa awarded her black belt in December 2007.
  Where in the source: Promotion answer — “dezembro de 2007”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Explaining her move from Barbosa to Alliance, Alzuguir said she needed more directed training and found technical instruction, conditioning and support for a professional career. She identified sponsorship as a major obstacle to dedicating herself fully to the sport.
  Where in the source: Team-change and career-barrier answers — “patrocínio”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
TATAME interview reproduced by Tensai/Checkmat Japan, Entrevista – Luanna Alzuguir, 12 May 2010.(opens in a new tab)
- In 2010 Alzuguir credited Alliance's shared competitive purpose, Gurgel's technical teaching, increased commitment and conditioning with Dimas for her improvement.
  Where in the source: First two answers — “objetivo de todo mundo”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2009, official results.(opens in a new tab)
- Representing Alliance, Alzuguir won the women's lightweight title at the 2009 Worlds; Kyra Gracie placed second.
  Where in the source: Adult / Brown Black / Female / Light — “luanna alzuguir”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Kid Peligro, ADCC 2009 Live results last day, ADCC, 27 September 2009.(opens in a new tab)
- Alzuguir won the under-60 kg final at ADCC 2009, beating Sayaka Shioda 3–0. The event's live report also records her semifinal submission of Laurence Cousin.
  Where in the source: Finals — “Under 60KG”; earlier match — “Laurence Cousin”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010, official results.(opens in a new tab)
- At the 2010 Worlds Alzuguir took the women's open-class title and finished second at lightweight; Alliance teammate Gabrielle Garcia was the open-class runner-up.
  Where in the source: Adult / Brown Black / Female / Open Class and Light — “Luanna Alzuguir”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2011, official results.(opens in a new tab)
- Alzuguir won the women's lightweight division at the 2011 Worlds for Alliance, ahead of Luiza Monteiro.
  Where in the source: Adult / Brown Black / Female / Light — “Luana Alzuguir”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
IBJJF, World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2012, official results.(opens in a new tab)
- Alzuguir won the women's black-belt middleweight title at the 2012 Worlds for Alliance.
  Where in the source: Female / Adult / Black / Middle — “Luanna Alzuguir Marton Moraes”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
IBJJF, World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2013, official results.(opens in a new tab)
- Alzuguir retained the women's black-belt middleweight title at the 2013 Worlds for Alliance.
  Where in the source: Female / Adult / Black / Middle — “Luanna Alzuguir Marton Moraes”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
IBJJF, Hall of fame, undated current listing.(opens in a new tab)
- The IBJJF lists Luanna Alzuguir Marton Moraes in its Hall of Fame.
  Where in the source: Hall of fame, women — “LUANNA ALZUGUIR MARTON MORAES”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Graciemag, Veja por que o Brasileiro foi “um dos melhores torneios” da vida de Luanna Alzuguir, 2 May 2013.(opens in a new tab)
- At the 2013 Brazilian Nationals she won middleweight and the open division, finishing Michelle Nicolini with an armbar in the open final. Alzuguir said it was the first submission between them in matches dating back to 2005.
  Where in the source: Opening and final analysis — “armlock”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Alzuguir described increasing drilling, reducing teaching commitments and competing with less self-imposed pressure before the 2013 Nationals. She felt restricted early in the event but gained confidence from match to match.
  Where in the source: Answer about preparation — “mais tempo de drill”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Alzuguir traced the high-mount armbar used against Nicolini to work with Murilo Santana in 2008 after she had missed that attack in a Brazilian Nationals semifinal against Luzia Fernandes. She described limiting Nicolini's space and controlling her body before finding the finish.
  Where in the source: Technical explanation — “Murilo Santana”; “montada alta”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
BJJ Heroes, Jessica Cristina Santos, undated.(opens in a new tab)
- BJJ Heroes reports that Jessica Cristina Santos worked with and learned from Alzuguir during Santos's coaching period in the United Arab Emirates, after Santos moved there in 2014.
  Where in the source: Biography, UAE period — “Luanna Alzuguir”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Guilherme Cruz, ADCC champion Luanna Alzuguir confident ahead of amateur MMA debut, MMA Fighting, 13 October 2017 (14 October UTC).(opens in a new tab)
- In 2017 Alzuguir trained at American Top Team, including with Amanda Nunes and Nina Ansaroff, before an amateur MMA debut. She said she waited until she felt ready and chose an amateur contest to experience MMA and a new flyweight cut before turning professional.
  Where in the source: Debut interview, preparation and choice — “personal experience”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Guilherme Cruz, Luanna Alzuguir scores submission win in amateur MMA debut, MMA Fighting, 14 October 2017.(opens in a new tab)
- Alzuguir won her October 2017 amateur MMA debut against Brittney Cloudy by rear-naked choke in the third round at Gateway Fighting Series.
  Where in the source: Fight report — “third-round”; “rear-naked choke”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Guilherme Cruz, Invicta FC signs jiu-jitsu star Luanna Alzuguir, MMA prospect Adriana Vukovich, MMA Fighting, 28 January 2018.(opens in a new tab)
- Invicta FC announced Alzuguir's signing in January 2018, when her professional debut was still unscheduled.
  Where in the source: Announcement paragraph — “inked deals”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- MMA Fighting identifies Alzuguir as Brazilian.
  Where in the source: Biographical paragraph — “Brazilian”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
IBJJF, World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2018, official results.(opens in a new tab)
- Alzuguir won the adult women's black-belt medium-heavy division at the 2018 No-Gi Worlds, representing Alliance.
  Where in the source: Female / Adult / Black / Medium Heavy — “Luanna Alzuguir Marton Moraes”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro, Aviv Jiu Jitsu club profile, undated.(opens in a new tab)
- AVIV Jiu Jitsu's AJP profile identifies Alzuguir and Ana Carolina Vieira as its founders and lists Alzuguir as the person in charge in Boynton Beach.
  Where in the source: About and management — “Luanna Alzuguir”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Wilkine Brutus, First openly gay couple in Brazilian jiu-jitsu launches Boynton Beach school, urges change in sport, WLRN, 14 July 2022.(opens in a new tab)
- WLRN reported that Alzuguir and Ana Carolina Vieira met in Brazil in 2012, married in 2018 and opened their Boynton Beach school in 2019.
  Where in the source: Biographical passage — “met in Brazil in 2012”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- At AVIV, Alzuguir linked improvement to feeling comfortable enough to be oneself. Student Kat Janis described gaining suitable female training partners and a sense of belonging that she had lacked elsewhere.
  Where in the source: School visit and student testimony — “comfortable”; “Kat Janis”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Alzuguir helped prepare Vieira for her 2022 world title. Vieira told WLRN that seeing Alzuguir as a successful champion earlier in her own career had made that path seem possible for her.
  Where in the source: Coaching passage and closing recollection — “huge inspiration”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- In 2019 the pair's petition sought fairer prize money, coverage and weight-category opportunities for women. WLRN reported more than 6,000 signatures within three weeks.
  Where in the source: Petition paragraph — “6,000”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Hyperfly, Athlete Focus: 5X BJJ World Champion and Hall of Famer Luanna Alzuguir, 24 March 2021.(opens in a new tab)
- In a 2021 interview Alzuguir described a coaching shift from perfecting her own game to continuing to learn for students with different ranks, bodies and styles. She wanted AVIV to serve ordinary practitioners as well as competitors.
  Where in the source: First coaching answer — “different people, ranks, bodies and styles”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Alzuguir said she wanted greater visibility and opportunities for women's jiu-jitsu, and planned self-defence seminars and retreat camps to help women train with confidence.
  Where in the source: Answers about visibility and self-defence — “retreat style camps”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
ge/Combate, Da quase aposentadoria ao título do ADCC: Ana Vieira detalha volta por cima, 28 August 2024.(opens in a new tab)
- After winning ADCC in 2024, Vieira credited Alzuguir, her wife and coach, with helping her recover confidence and believe she could return to competition during a difficult period.
  Where in the source: Passage naming wife and coach — “treinadora”; recovery reflection — “voltar a lutar”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Wilkine Brutus, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champs lead Boynton Beach women’s self-defense seminar for International Women’s Day, WLRN, 5 March 2026.(opens in a new tab)
- In March 2026 WLRN reported AVIV's expansion to larger premises and a planned free self-defence seminar for International Women's Day. Alzuguir described teaching danger recognition, emotional regulation and purposeful action, with prevention preceding physical responses.
  Where in the source: Seminar explanation — “P-R-A”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
AVIV Experience, Meet The AVE Team, undated current page.(opens in a new tab)
- AVIV Experience lists Alzuguir and Ana Carolina Vieira as coaches for its women-only Brazilian jiu-jitsu retreat.
  Where in the source: Meet The AVE Team — “Coaches”; footer — “Women-only Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Retreat”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
Year	Event	Result	Division
2013	ADCC 2013Source: adcombat.com-60 kgNo-giVerified	2nd place	-60 kgNo-giVerified
2013	IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-69 kgGiVerified	1st place	-69 kgGiVerified
2012	IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-69 kgGiVerified	1st place	-69 kgGiVerified
2011	ADCC 2011Source: adcombat.com-60 kgNo-giVerified	3rd place	-60 kgNo-giVerified
2011	IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-58 kgGiVerified	1st place	-58 kgGiVerified
2010	IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.orgAbsoluteGiVerified	1st place	AbsoluteGiVerified
2009	ADCC 2009Source: adcombat.com-60 kgNo-giVerified	1st place	-60 kgNo-giVerified
2009	IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-58 kgGiVerified	1st place	-58 kgGiVerified

Lineage

View in lineage tree

Trained under

Marco Barbosa Source: bjjheroes.com