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Otavio Sousa

“The Steamroller”

From Recife to Huntington Beach, Otavio Sousa carried Zé Radiola's lessons into a career as a world champion and teacher.

Last updated: 22 September 2026

Biography

Otavio Sousa built a career as a middleweight competitor and a teacher within Gracie Barra, winning three IBJJF world titles at black belt while developing his work in California. His route to those titles began in Recife with José Olímpio, better known as Zé Radiola; his teaching later took him to a school of his own in Huntington Beach. Born in Recife in 1986, Sousa began jiu-jitsu in November 1999. He recalled being drawn to the sport at thirteen after watching Royce Gracie defeat larger opponents in the UFC. A friend suggested a nearby Gracie Barra academy, and Sousa liked the atmosphere he found there. Radiola became his principal coach. In Sousa's account, the demands of training came with personal support: Radiola sometimes traveled to watch his students compete and shared in their satisfaction when they won. In 2007, Sousa won the brown-belt world championship in the open-weight division, where competitors of different sizes could face one another. Carlos Gracie Jr. subsequently awarded him his black belt. Radiola remained an important figure in his preparation, a relationship distinct from the role of the man who promoted him. By May 2012, Sousa was teaching at Gracie Barra Irvine in California and preparing for another World Championship. He described an approach built around connected attacks. A submission attempt, a hold intended to force a concession, could occupy an opponent's defense while he prepared the next threat. He also changed his physical preparation. After the tournament, he said he had put more work into conditioning because he felt it had previously fallen short of his technical ability. His first world title at black belt came that year against Claudio Calasans in the middleweight final. With ten seconds left, Sousa completed a sweep, turning a position underneath his opponent into one on top. The late reversal decided the match. The following season brought another test of his preparation. Before the 2013 Pan, Sousa said losses to Kron Gracie at Metamoris and Rômulo Barral at the IBJJ Pro League had pushed him to train harder. Radiola was again helping him refine his work at Gracie Barra headquarters. Sousa retained the middleweight world title in 2013, with Calasans again finishing second. That October, he reached the under-77 kg final at ADCC in Beijing, where Kron Gracie won the title and Sousa took silver. His third IBJJF world championship followed in 2016. This time, he and Gracie Barra teammate Gabriel Arges reached the middleweight final and finished with a closeout: they did not contest the match, and Sousa received first place. A different kind of finish brought his third black-belt Pan title in 2017. In the middleweight final, he submitted Isaque Bahiense with a flying triangle after 45 seconds. The technique is a choke applied with the legs, entered here by jumping into position. Sousa explained that Bahiense had stood up while holding one of his legs. Unable to knock him off balance, Sousa jumped into the attack to avoid giving up takedown points. Sousa won a fourth Pan title in October 2020. He had entered a heavier division and said the experience helped prepare him for larger opponents at BJJ Stars. Speaking that month, he also described how he approached the pressure of competition: he tried to put past titles aside, stay composed and focus on how he performed that day. Alongside those competitions, Sousa was building an academy. Gracie Barra Huntington Beach was already holding classes by April 2015. Its launch announcement described programs for children, women and students at different stages of training. Sousa said owning a school had been an ambition for years; he wanted to use his experience to help students work toward their own goals. The school's current website lists him as an instructor and a fourth-degree black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr. Sousa's explanation of teaching goes beyond the school itself. He told Pasando Guardia that he carried Radiola's approach into his own classes, pushing students in training and supporting them at competitions. Teaching also returned him to the details of his own jiu-jitsu. Explaining a movement and answering a student's question required him to recall it, examine it and learn it again.

Sources for this profile

Gracie Barra Huntington Beach, Instructors; undated current academy page, accessed September 22, 2026.(opens in a new tab)
- Sousa holds a black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr.
  Where in the source: OTAVIO SOUSA — “Black Belt”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Sousa began training jiu-jitsu in November 1999 and has represented Gracie Barra throughout his training career.
  Where in the source: OTAVIO SOUSA — “November 1999”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Gracie Barra Huntington Beach lists Sousa as a fourth-degree black belt.
  Where in the source: Degree statement — “4th Degree”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Sousa earned an ADCC silver medal.
  Where in the source: OTAVIO SOUSA instructor section, accomplishments paragraph, final listed achievement — “ADCC Silver Medalist”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
BJJ Heroes, Otavio Sousa; undated individual athlete biography, first biographical paragraph.(opens in a new tab)
- Otavio Sousa was born in Recife, Brazil, in 1986.
  Where in the source: Otavio Sousa Biography, first paragraph — “July 1986”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Sousa developed under José Olímpio, known as Zé Radiola, at Gracie Barra in Recife.
  Where in the source: Otavio Sousa Biography — “José Olímpio”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- After his brown-belt world title, Sousa received his black belt from Carlos Gracie Jr.; Zé Radiola had been his principal coach.
  Where in the source: Promotion paragraph — “Carlos Gracie Junior”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Some martial-arts media have called Sousa The Steamroller, a nickname associated with his strength and match pace.
  Where in the source: Nickname — “The Steamroller”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Sousa won three IBJJF black-belt world titles, in 2012, 2013 and 2016.
  Where in the source: Main Achievements — “IBJJF World Champion”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Graciemag, World champ Otávio Sousa teaches to lure opponents into your game, June 7, 2012.(opens in a new tab)
- Sousa won the brown-belt open-weight title at the 2007 World Championship.
  Where in the source: Opening interview paragraphs — “2007”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Sousa won his first black-belt world title in 2012, defeating Claudio Calasans in the middleweight final with a sweep in the last ten seconds.
  Where in the source: Final description — “last ten seconds”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Sousa said his main preparation change for the 2012 Worlds was greater emphasis on conditioning, which he felt had previously lagged behind his technique.
  Where in the source: Preparation discussion — “physical conditioning”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Pasando Guardia, Entrevista OTAVIO SOUSA, Gibransinho; page dated April 26, 2015, interview describes the run-up to ADCC in China in 2013.(opens in a new tab)
- Sousa recalled starting at thirteen after watching Royce Gracie beat larger opponents in the UFC; a friend suggested the nearby Gracie Barra academy, whose atmosphere attracted him.
  Where in the source: First answer — “Royce Gracie”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Sousa described Radiola as a demanding teacher who supported his students, sometimes traveled to their competitions and took personal pleasure in their wins.
  Where in the source: Answer about his teacher — “Profesor”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Sousa said he adopted Radiola's approach by pushing his own students and coaching and supporting them at competitions.
  Where in the source: Answer about lessons passed to students — “alumnos”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Sousa explained that teaching helped his own jiu-jitsu: explaining movements and answering questions made him recall, revisit and learn techniques again.
  Where in the source: Answer about preparation — “aprendes dos veces”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Graciemag, Otávio Sousa all set for Worlds: You can’t let the opponent think much, May 14, 2012.(opens in a new tab)
- Sousa was teaching at Gracie Barra Irvine in California by May 2012.
  Where in the source: Photo caption — “GB Irvine”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- In May 2012, Sousa described an attacking approach in which one submission threat prepared the next while the opponent was occupied defending.
  Where in the source: Interview's answer on attacking — “push for the finish”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
IBJJF, World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2013, official results.(opens in a new tab)
- Representing Gracie Barra, Otavio Ferreira de Sousa placed first in the adult male black-belt middleweight division at the 2013 Worlds; Claudio Calasans placed second.
  Where in the source: Male / Adult / Black / Middle — “Otavio Ferreira de Sousa”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
BJJ Eastern Europe, Otavio Sousa: Losing To Kron & Romulo Made Me Even Stronger For The 2013 Season, March 17, 2013.(opens in a new tab)
- Before the 2013 Pan, Sousa said defeats to Kron Gracie at Metamoris and Rômulo Barral at the IBJJ Pro League made him train harder; Radiola was again helping refine his preparation at Gracie Barra headquarters.
  Where in the source: Preparation paragraphs — “Ze Radiola”; final answer — “train harder”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Graciemag, ADCC 2013: veja Kron Gracie x Otavio Sousa na final até 77kg em Pequim, October 27, 2013.(opens in a new tab)
- Sousa reached the under-77 kg final against Kron Gracie at ADCC in Beijing in October 2013; Kron took the division title.
  Where in the source: Article title; ADCC 2013 results summary — “Até 77kg: Kron Gracie”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2016, official results.(opens in a new tab)
- Sousa took the 2016 adult male black-belt middleweight world title, with Gracie Barra teammate Gabriel Arges second.
  Where in the source: Male / Adult / Black / Middle — “Otavio Ferreira de Sousa”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
BJJ Eastern Europe, Results: 2016 IBJJF World Championships, June 6, 2016.(opens in a new tab)
- Sousa and Gabriel Arges closed out the middleweight final at the 2016 Worlds, with the title going to Sousa.
  Where in the source: Middleweight final — “Sousa by close out”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Graciemag Newsroom, Otávio Sousa explica triângulo voador que deu seu tricampeonato no Pan de Jiu-Jitsu 2017, March 20, 2017.(opens in a new tab)
- Sousa won the 2017 Pan middleweight final by submitting Isaque Bahiense with a flying triangle after 45 seconds, earning his third black-belt Pan title.
  Where in the source: Opening report — “45s”; final interview answer — “terceiro título”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Sousa explained that Bahiense rose from guard holding one of his legs; when he could not unbalance him, Sousa jumped into the triangle to avoid conceding takedown points.
  Where in the source: Sousa's final-match explanation — “single leg”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
PVT, Tricampeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu, Otavio Sousa elogia nomes escolhidos para o GP do BJJ Stars, October 19, 2020.(opens in a new tab)
- In October 2020, Sousa won his fourth Pan title and said competing in a heavier division had helped him prepare for larger opponents at BJJ Stars.
  Where in the source: Opening paragraphs and first answer — “categoria mais pesada”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Discussing his approach in 2020, Sousa said he tried to set previous titles aside, stay mentally composed and concentrate on his performance that day rather than place extra pressure on himself.
  Where in the source: First quoted answer — “todos os títulos”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Huntington Beach via PRLog, World Champion Otavio Sousa Opens a New Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu School in Huntington Beach, April 7, 2015.(opens in a new tab)
- By April 2015, Sousa's Gracie Barra Huntington Beach academy was open and holding classes, with children's, fundamentals, advanced, black-belt, women's and private programs announced.
  Where in the source: Opening and program paragraphs; closing announcement — “classes are in session”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- At the academy's launch, Sousa said he had wanted his own school for years and wanted to pass his experience to students to help them pursue their goals.
  Where in the source: Sousa's launch statement — “my own academy”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Gracie Barra Huntington Beach, academy home page, accessed September 22, 2026.(opens in a new tab)
- Gracie Barra Huntington Beach continues to list Sousa among its instructors.
  Where in the source: Instructors at gb huntington beach — “Otavio Sousa”.
  Accessed: 2026-09-22

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
Year	Event	Result	Division
2016	IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-82 kgGiVerified	1st place	-82 kgGiVerified
2015	ADCC 2015Source: adcombat.com-77 kgNo-giVerified	4th place	-77 kgNo-giVerified
2013	ADCC 2013Source: adcombat.com-77 kgNo-giVerified	2nd place	-77 kgNo-giVerified
2013	IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-82 kgGiVerified	1st place	-82 kgGiVerified
2012	IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-82 kgGiVerified	1st place	-82 kgGiVerified

Lineage

View in lineage tree

Trained under

Carlos Gracie Jr.Source: bjjheroes.com