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About
José Carlos Lima Sobrinho, often known by his competitive nickname “Cocó,” is an elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu second-degree black belt. He is widely recognized as one of the premier roosterweight (Peso Galo) competitors of his generation, establishing a reputation for a fast-paced and highly technical style.
Early Life & Martial Arts Background
Born on September 14, 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Lima began his martial arts journey at the age of five through Capoeira. After moving to Rio’s South Zone at age 11, he decided to try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as an after-school activity.
Captivated by the sport from his very first class, he trained under early coaches Marcos Alexandre and Felipe Frank. Within three years, Lima completely stepped away from Capoeira to dedicate himself entirely to grappling.
Rise to Elite Status
As a blue belt training at a Grappling Fight Team (GF Team) affiliate academy, Lima’s exceptional talent quickly caught the eye of the team’s leadership. By the time he reached purple belt, he was invited to train at the main GF Team headquarters in Méier, Rio de Janeiro, to spar with the sport’s highest-level competitors.
Lima enjoyed a legendary run through the colored belt divisions, dominating the brown belt circuit by capturing both IBJJF and UAEJJF World titles, alongside a Brazilian National No-Gi Championship. Following his gold-medal performance at the IBJJF World Championship on June 2, 2016, he was promoted to black belt on the podium.
Competitive Style & Move to Coaching
On the mats, Lima is highly respected for his modern guard work and sharp transitions. He is a prominent representative of the lightweight elite, known for utilizing a variety of technical guard styles.
Weight Division: Peso Galo (57 kg / 128 lbs)
Favorite Techniques: Berimbolo, Spider Guard, and Toreando passing
Current Role: Head Coach at Kato Jiu-Jitsu (Mankato, Minnesota) and co-founder of The Flow Lab association.
Main Achievements
1st Place — UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion (2018)
1st Place — UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Grand Slam (Rio 2017, LA 2017, Abu Dhabi 2018)
1st Place — IBJJF Rio Winter Open (2017)
3rd Place — IBJJF Pan American Championship (2017)
1st Place — IBJJF World Championship (2016 Brown Belt)
1st Place — UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro (2016 Brown Belt)
1st Place — CBJJ Brazilian National No-Gi Championship (2014 Brown Belt)
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