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Paulo Santos

“Paulinho”

Source: bjjheroes.com

Paulo "Paulinho" Santos developed PS Phoenix schools, has taught in Paris since 2003, and continues to compete in IBJJF Master 7 divisions.

Biography

Paulo Sergio Silva dos Santos, better known as Paulinho, built his teaching career across three settings: Rio de Janeiro, southern Brazil, and Paris. Born in Rio in 1960, he first trained in jiu-jitsu at thirteen under Wilson Mattos. That beginning was interrupted. He returned at twenty-five at Academia Corpore, then joined Romero Cavalcanti's team. Santos earned a judo black belt in 1991, the year to which BJJ Heroes also dates the conception of the PS Phoenix association. Cavalcanti awarded him his jiu-jitsu black belt on 14 April 1993. In 1993, Santos moved to Balneario Camboriu. He established an academy there and expanded schools whose students represented PS Phoenix. Pedro Mello was among the students shaped during this period: Mello began under Santos at thirteen and progressed from white through purple belt before his teacher left for Paris. Paris became the next chapter in 2003. Santos moved there to teach and continued building teams connected to PS Phoenix; the COCEP biography says he has taught jiu-jitsu in Paris since 2003. BJJ Heroes also lists refereeing at major IBJJF and UAEJJF events among his roles. COCEP's current teaching roster lists him as a sixth-degree black belt, while the IBJJF identifies his team as PS Phoenix BJJ. Competition runs through the same long career. BJJ Heroes lists Santos as a Brazilian National champion in 1996, 1999, 2000, and 2002, and as a European champion in 2006 and 2007. The IBJJF lists him second at the 2024 European Championship in Master 7 black-belt featherweight, first at the 2025 European Championship in Master 7 black-belt light-feather, and second at the 2026 Brazilian National Championship in Master 7 black-belt light-feather. More than three decades after his 1993 promotion, he was still representing PS Phoenix in competition.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Heroes, Paulo Sergio 'Paulinho' profile.(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Heroes identifies the subject as Paulo Sergio Silva dos Santos, commonly known as Paulinho, and links him to PS Phoenix and Romero Cavalcanti.

      Where in the source: Profile heading and opening biography: full name, nickname, team and teacher.

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes gives Paulo Sergio's birth date and place as 23 July 1960 in Rio de Janeiro; only the year is proposed for the infobox.

      Where in the source: Profile facts and opening biography: birth date and Rio de Janeiro birthplace.

      Accessed:

    • According to BJJ Heroes, Paulo Sergio began jiu-jitsu at thirteen with Wilson Mattos, later returned at twenty-five at Academia Corpore, and then joined Romero Cavalcanti's team.

      Where in the source: Biography paragraphs 1–3: Wilson Mattos start, interruption, Academia Corpore return and Romero Cavalcanti.

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes reports that Romero Cavalcanti awarded Paulo Sergio his black belt on 14 April 1993 and that Paulo had earned a judo black belt in 1991.

      Where in the source: Biography promotion and cross-training paragraphs: judo rank in 1991 and jiu-jitsu black belt in April 1993.

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes says Paulo Sergio moved to Balneario Camboriu in 1993, established an academy there and expanded schools whose students represented PS Phoenix, an association the profile dates to 1991.

      Where in the source: Biography middle section: 1993 move, academy expansion and PS Phoenix association designed in 1991.

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes says Paulo Sergio moved to Paris in 2003, taught there, continued building PS Phoenix-connected teams and became a referee at major IBJJF and UAEJJF events.

      Where in the source: Biography closing section: 2003 Paris move, teaching and refereeing role.

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes lists Paulo Sergio as a Brazilian National champion in 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2002, and as a European champion in 2006 and 2007.

      Where in the source: Main Achievements list: Brazilian National Champion and European Champion year lists.

      Accessed:

  • COCEP Jiu-Jitsu Bresilien, Paulo-Sergio diplomas and biography.(opens in a new tab)

    • Paulo Sergio's French team biography identifies him as Paulo-Sergio Silva dos Santos, says he trained with Wilson Mattos and Romero Cavalcanti, received his black belt in 1993, founded PS Phoenix and has taught in Paris since 2003.

      Where in the source: Paulo-Sergio biography: full name, teachers, 1993 promotion, PS Phoenix and Paris chronology.

      Accessed:

    • The COCEP biography says Paulo Sergio built PS Phoenix schools in several Brazilian locations after settling in Balneario Camboriu.

      Where in the source: Biography section after the 1993 black-belt paragraph: Balneario Camboriu and named PS Phoenix locations.

      Accessed:

    • The COCEP biography says Paulo Sergio has taught jiu-jitsu in Paris since 2003.

      Where in the source: Biography closing paragraph: teaching in Paris since 2003.

      Accessed:

  • COCEP Jiu-Jitsu Bresilien, L'equipe pedagogique.(opens in a new tab)

    • The current COCEP teaching-team page assigns the degree value six to Paulo-Sergio Silva dos Santos's black belt.

      Where in the source: Teaching-team roster, Paulo-Sergio entry: name and sixth-degree black-belt designation.

      Accessed:

    • The current COCEP teaching-team page lists Paulo-Sergio Silva dos Santos as a sixth-degree black belt.

      Where in the source: Teaching-team roster, Paulo-Sergio entry: name and sixth-degree black-belt designation.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, Paulo Santos athlete results page.(opens in a new tab)

    • The IBJJF athlete page identifies Paulo Santos of PS Phoenix BJJ as a black belt and lists him first in the Master 7 light-feather division at the 2025 European championship.

      Where in the source: Athlete header and Results: 2025 European, Master 7, Black, Light Feather, 1st.

      Accessed:

    • The IBJJF athlete page lists Paulo Santos of PS Phoenix BJJ second at the 2024 European championship in Master 7 black-belt featherweight.

      Where in the source: Results: 2024 European, Master 7, Black, Feather, 2nd.

      Accessed:

    • The IBJJF athlete page lists Paulo Santos of PS Phoenix BJJ second at the 2026 Brazilian National championship in Master 7 black-belt light-feather.

      Where in the source: Results: 2026 Brasileiro, Master 7, Black, Light Feather, 2nd.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Heroes, Pedro Mello profile.(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Heroes' Pedro Mello profile says Mello began jiu-jitsu under Paulo Sergio Santos at thirteen and was guided by him from white through purple belt before Paulo moved to Paris.

      Where in the source: Biography opening: first teacher, white-to-purple progression and Paulo Sergio's move to Paris.

      Accessed:

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