Vinicius Cruz

Vinícius de Rezende Cruz (born June 6, 1976, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), widely known by his friendly nickname “Vinicinho,” is a historic figure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s ultra-technical roosterweight division. A prominent competitor during the golden era of 1990s Jiu-Jitsu, Cruz cemented his legacy as the man who perfected and popularized the devastating “loop choke” in high-level competition.

Martial Arts Roots and Carlson Gracie Headquaters
Growing up in Rio’s famous Zona Sul (South Zone) in the Botafogo neighborhood, Cruz was introduced to martial arts at age seven through Taekwondo, inspired by his uncle Marcus Rezende, a well-known competitor in the sport. At age ten, he transitioned to Muay Thai under coach Vagner Coelho. It was during Friday vale-tudo (no-holds-barred) classes at the Muay Thai gym that Cruz got his first taste of ground fighting.

A friend later took Cruz to a formal Jiu-Jitsu class taught by the charismatic Luis “Manimal” de Oliveira. Cruz immediately fell in love with the art. Due to a hectic school schedule, he soon moved his training to the main Carlson Gracie Academy headquarters, which offered more flexible class times. There, he came under the direct tutelage of the illustrious Marcelo Saporito.

Mastering the Loop Choke
While training at the Carlson Gracie Academy, Cruz was introduced to the loop choke by Isaías de Souza, one of Carlson’s most famous black belts. Recognizing the unique leverage of the position, Cruz became obsessed with it. With the specialized coaching of Marcelo Saporito and Sergio Abimerhy, he transformed the loop choke from a basic lapel attack into a highly intricate, systematic submission trap.

Cruz progressed rapidly through the ranks under Saporito. On December 9, 1997, he was awarded his black belt by Grand Master Carlson Gracie in a historic ceremony alongside future legends Marcos “Parrumpinha” da Matta and Marcos “Flexa” Mello.

Competitive Achievements
Competing in the Peso Galo (Roosterweight / 57 kg) division, Cruz was a constant medal fixture in the sport’s most prestigious tournaments throughout the late 90s and early 2000s:

World Champion: He captured gold at the IBJJF World Championships in 1997.

Pan American Champion: He won the Pan American Championship title in 1996.

Major Tournament Accolades: He was a multi-time Copa Akxe Champion (1993, 1994, 1995), a Copa Company Absolute Champion (1996), and a 2-time World Championship Silver Medalist (1996, 1999).

International Coaching Legacy
Following his highly successful competitive run, Cruz transitioned into an international ambassador for the sport. He was instrumental in expanding the Carlson Gracie style of Jiu-Jitsu globally, traveling extensively to establish top-tier training programs in the United Arab Emirates, specifically anchoring major developments in Abu Dhabi. Today, he remains highly revered as both a foundational pioneer of the roosterweight division and a master technician of gi-based choke mechanics.