Marcus Soares
Marcus Soares brought his Copacabana teaching experience to Canada, where he opened a Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in 1997.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Marcus Soares Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, “About Marcus Soares,” undated.(opens in a new tab)
Marcus Soares's academy says he joined the Carlson Gracie team in 1970, taught at the Carlson Gracie Academy in Copacabana, and learned directly from Carlson Gracie.
Where in the source: “The Story Began in Copacabana” and “A Lifetime Dedicated to Jiu-Jitsu”; paragraphs naming the 1970 team entry and former Copacabana teaching role.
Accessed:
Marcus Soares's academy says he brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Canada in 1997 and was the first black belt to open and teach a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Canada that year.
Where in the source: “The Story Began in Copacabana”; paragraph beginning “Born and raised in Copacabana” and the summary bullet beginning “First black belt”.
Accessed:
Stephan Kesting, “Marcus Soares, the Encyclopedia of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu,” Grapplearts, April 8, 2012; interview originally published in Grappling Magazine, August 2001.(opens in a new tab)
In a 2001 interview republished by Grapplearts, Soares says he began at the Carlson Gracie school in 1970, received his black belt after seven years, and trained only with Carlson Gracie.
Where in the source: Interview, opening questions “When did you start in Jujitsu” and “So you trained only with Carlson Gracie?”.
Accessed:
BAMA BJJ, “Master Marcus Soares,” undated.(opens in a new tab)
A BAMA BJJ profile says Soares left Rio for Canada in March 1997 and held his first introductory class in Vancouver on April 7, 1997 after discussing a first Canadian Carlson Gracie affiliate with Carlson Gracie.
Where in the source: “Master Marcus Soares”; paragraphs beginning “In 1996” and “In March 1997”, through the sentence giving the April 7 introductory class.
Accessed:
Sport Jiu-Jitsu Canada Federation, “History & Lineage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Canada,” undated.(opens in a new tab)
The Sport Jiu-Jitsu Canada Federation describes Marcus Soares as Canada’s only Red Belt Grandmaster and says he played a central role in introducing and expanding Brazilian jiu-jitsu across Canada through decades of teaching and mentorship.
Where in the source: “Grandmaster Marcus Soares — Canada’s Foundational Figure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”; first three paragraphs under that heading.
Accessed:
Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage