Michael Langhi
Michael Langhi connected spider-guard detail with elite results, then shifted from shaping his own game to developing Alliance students.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJ Fanatics Brasil, Michael Langhi Celebra Seus 34 Anos, article celebrating his 34th birthday in 2019.(opens in a new tab)
Langhi was born on 2 April 1985 in São Carlos, in Brazil's São Paulo state.
Where in the source: Opening birthday paragraph, full name and birthplace
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As a teenage capoeira practitioner, Langhi met Rubens Charles, known as Cobrinha, who introduced him to jiu-jitsu.
Where in the source: Second and third career paragraphs, capoeira and first teacher
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Langhi won IBJJF world titles at blue belt in 2004, purple in 2006 and brown in 2007. Cobrinha awarded his black belt in 2008.
Where in the source: World titles at blue, purple and brown, followed by 2008 promotion paragraph
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In 2009, a year after his black-belt promotion, Langhi won the European, Pan, Brazilian National and World championships.
Where in the source: Grand Slam paragraph naming all four events in 2009
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Graciemag, 2015 Worlds No-Gi: Pena, Mackenzie crowned open class champions; other results, 9 November 2015.(opens in a new tab)
Langhi won the 2015 No-Gi World lightweight title in his first appearance at that event, defeating Mansher Khera 2–0 in the final.
Where in the source: Complete weight-division results, lightweight final paragraph between featherweight and middleweight
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Graciemag, Training program: The moves that helped Langhi dominate the LW scene, 4 April 2020; originally published in 2010.(opens in a new tab)
When Cobrinha left the Sports Winner gym in São Carlos for São Paulo, Langhi took over his teaching duties; his younger brother Michel later filled that role when Michael also moved to São Paulo.
Where in the source: Opening history, three successive teachers
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Langhi's published weekly programme organized spider-guard work around maintaining distance and recovering guard, then connecting those skills to sweeps, back takes and submissions. It also included guard passing and attacking from top position.
Where in the source: Six-day programme, days one through six
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Graciemag, Michael Langhi vibra com Europeu e revê derrotas, 30 January 2013.(opens in a new tab)
After earlier defeats, Langhi said he rejected excuses and accepted that the winning opponent had been better. He described regular training in São Paulo under Fabio Gurgel, frequent technical corrections and continuing contact with Cobrinha.
Where in the source: Interview, responses about defeats and daily training
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In January 2013 Langhi won the European lightweight title, finishing his first opponent and winning the remaining two matches on points. He described final opponent Vinicius Marinho as someone he had faced since the colored belts, so a small mistake could decide the contest.
Where in the source: Opening and responses on the three matches and Marinho
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Graciemag, A mature and intelligent Langhi explains the training to win another World title, 22 May 2013.(opens in a new tab)
A visa problem prevented Langhi from attending the 2012 Worlds. Before returning in 2013, he said his training had become more carefully divided to cover different situations and that preparation helped him feel confident.
Where in the source: Opening and first two training responses
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Langhi rejected the idea of personal rivalry with Leandro Lo despite having lost their three meetings at that time. Before important matches, he said he reviewed his preparation and strategy and drew support from his family, wife, Gurgel and Cobrinha.
Where in the source: Interview, rivalry and final pre-match response
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Vitor Freitas interview, Graciemag, Ouro no Europeu, Michael Langhi agora vai atrás do tri no Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu, 30 January 2015.(opens in a new tab)
After time out with a knee injury and surgery, Langhi won the 2015 European lightweight title. He said it restored his confidence and that he planned to skip the Pans to focus on a third World title.
Where in the source: Opening and first interview response
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Langhi said he spent much of the 2015 Europeans fighting from top position and felt comfortable both passing an opponent's guard and sweeping from his own. The final against Gabriel Rollo went to the judges, and Langhi said he believed he controlled much of it.
Where in the source: Second and third interview responses
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IBJJF, Michael Langhi on Alliance’s 13th World Title, His New Role with the Team, and his Mission to Spread Jiu-Jitsu, interview discussing the 2022 Worlds.(opens in a new tab)
After his main competitive career, Langhi took responsibility for running Alliance's São Paulo headquarters. He described preparing for that responsibility by developing skills beyond competition and wanting to take care of Fabio Gurgel's work.
Where in the source: Opening interview response on running the headquarters
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At the 2022 Worlds, Langhi's Alliance São Paulo students Thiago Saboia and Guilherme Avelino won purple-belt lightweight and heavyweight respectively. Langhi said Saboia submitted every opponent; he also highlighted Dimitrius Souza's Pan title and World silver that year.
Where in the source: Second interview response, named students
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Alliance won its thirteenth team World title in 2022, which Langhi described as his first in a coaching role. He wanted to help students achieve their goals and give back to the team that had supported his career.
Where in the source: Team-title paragraph and final goal response
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The IBJJF describes Langhi as a three-time World champion in its account of his transition into coaching.
Where in the source: Opening introduction, three World titles before the coaching interview
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Kime, Michael Langhi amplia legado e vira referência no ensino na matriz da Alliance, undated.(opens in a new tab)
Langhi describes his teaching work as organizing around the development of a group, whereas competition had centered his schedule on his own training. He combines teaching and mentoring with managing people, processes and academy culture.
Where in the source: Transition paragraph and academy-management section
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Langhi says he uses Alliance's established methodology rather than a personal named system. He emphasizes an instructor's ability to understand people alongside technical knowledge and says he wishes he had understood people management earlier.
Where in the source: Methodology paragraph and future-instructors response
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Alliance Jardins, About Alliance, current academy page.(opens in a new tab)
Alliance Jardins in São Paulo lists Langhi among the instructors available to its students; its programmes include children and adults from beginner to advanced levels.
Where in the source: Academy description, classes with Michael Langhi
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IBJJF, World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2015, results(opens in a new tab)
At the 2015 gi World Championship, Michael Alexandre Langhi placed first in the adult male black-belt lightweight division, ahead of Alliance teammate Lucas Alves Lepri in second.
Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / BLACK / LIGHT (162.60LB): 1 Michael Alexandre Langhi; 2 Lucas Alves Lepri
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Redação Graciemag, 1 June 2015, 2015 Worlds results report(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag's completed 2015 gi Worlds report says Michael Langhi and Lucas Lepri closed out the men's lightweight division, with Langhi receiving his third black-belt World title.
Where in the source: Male: Michael Langhi closed out the lightweight with Lucas Lepri to win his third world title.
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Redação Graciemag, 6 June 2015, Langhi post-Worlds interview(opens in a new tab)
In a post-event interview, Langhi said the 2015 gi World title ended a five-year wait after titles in 2009 and 2010. Graciemag reports that the final with Lucas Lepri was closed out without a fight, after Langhi won his semifinal against JT Torres on an advantage following a 2–2 points tie.
Where in the source: Bicampeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu em 2009 e 2010; Na final, ficou com o título ao fechar sem luta com Lucas Lepri.
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Competition results
| Year | Event | Result | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-76 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -76 kgGiVerified |
| 2010 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-76 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -76 kgGiVerified |
| 2009 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-76 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -76 kgGiVerified |
Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage