Sergio Gasparelli

Sergio “Babu” Gasparelli is a highly respected Brazilian grappling coach, fight strategist, and lawyer. Widely recognized as one of the most brilliant minds in combat sports, Babu earned the reputation of being a “walking Jiu-Jitsu encyclopedia”—a title affectionately given to him by MMA legend and former UFC Champion Anderson Silva. He has spent decades refining the ground games of elite mixed martial artists at the sport’s highest levels.

The Origin of “Babu”
Gasparelli grew up in Brazil, where he earned the nickname “Babu” (short for Babuíno, meaning Baboon) around the age of six. The name originated during an incident in a local park when a ferocious dog broke loose. Displaying remarkable agility and climbing skills, young Sergio instantly leaped onto a high wall to escape, while his less agile friends unfortunately bore the brunt of the dog’s aggression. The nickname stuck with him for life.

Cross-Disciplinary Martial Arts Journey
Babu’s foundational background in martial arts began with Judo, where he achieved the rank of black belt before ever stepping onto a Jiu-Jitsu mat. In the early 1980s, after returning from a trip to the United States feeling out of shape, he decided to take up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to improve his fitness.

He initially trained at Ricardo de la Riva’s academy, where he earned his blue belt, while concurrently training under the legendary red belt Osvaldo Alves to merge his strong Judo foundation with advanced BJJ mechanics. After a brief hiatus from the sport, Babu returned to full-time training in 1994 under the elite world-class black belt Sergio Penha.

The Move to MMA Coaching
Around 2000, Sergio Penha relocated to Portugal, prompting Babu to seek a new training environment. Following a brief stint at the Carlson Gracie Academy during a time of structural transition for the team, he accepted an invitation to join the elite Brazilian Top Team (BTT).

Babu spent six years with BTT, evolving from a dedicated student into a trusted coach. His extreme technical knowledge and unique capacity to adapt traditional grappling to the realities of punches and cage work quickly made him a sought-after strategist. When the prominent Black House MMA team was formed by Jorge Guimarães and Carlos Barreto, Babu was formally invited to head their ground program. He ultimately stepped back from his professional career as a lawyer to dedicate himself full-time to coaching the star-studded roster.

Luta Livre Integration and Legacy
While coaching at Black House, Babu spent extensive time exchanging details with Luta Livre legend Hugo Duarte. Fascinated by Luta Livre’s unique submission mechanics—specifically their aggressive leg and foot lock systems—Babu studied the art extensively. His mastery of the style culminated in him receiving a certified Luta Livre Instructor diploma directly from Duarte in February 2010.

Through his popular instructional releases, such as the BJJ Mastermind Series, Babu has shared his 30+ years of grappling knowledge with the world, focusing heavily on side control dominance, MMA guard work, and turtle defense. He remains highly revered in both the BJJ and MMA communities as a master tactical advisor who bridged the gap between Judo, Luta Livre, and Jiu-Jitsu.