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Italo Lins

Professor

Italo Lins is a professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor in the black belt division, representing Grappling Fight Team (GFT) under Master Júlio César Pereira, the team’s founder and leader. He is part of one of GFT’s most talented generations, training alongside elite fighters such as Vinicius Marinho, Igor Silva, Rodolfo Vieira, and Jake Mackenzie.

Full Name: Italo Silva Lins de Albuquerque

Lineage: Luiz França > Oswaldo Fadda > Monir Salomão > Júlio César Pereira > Italo Lins

Main Achievements (Black Belt – Adult Division)

  • 1st Place CBJJO World Cup (2010)
  • 1st Place CBJJD World Champion (2016)
  • 1st Place CBJJO Pan Championship (2012)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Las Vegas Open (2011)
  • 1st Place IBJJF New York Open (2011/2012)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Dallas Open (2013)
  • 1st Place IBJJF London Open (2018)
  • 1st Place IBJJF London Open NoGi (2014)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Chicago Open (2019)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Rome Open (2015)
  • 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Team Nationals (2012)
  • 1st Place AJP Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, LDN (2017)
  • 1st Place AJP World Pro Trials (2014)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Manilla Open (2017)
  • 1st Place BJJFP Philippines Open (2015)
  • 1st Place BJJFP Pan Asian Championship (2016)
  • 1st Place NAGA Championship (2011)
  • 1st Place Mercosul Cup (2010/2014)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Rio Open (2010)
  • 1st Place North-Northeast Interstate Championship (2010)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF European Open NoGi (2015)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF Seoul Open (2018)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2016)

Main Achievements (Masters Division)

  • 1st Place – IBJJF World Championship (2020)
  • 1st Place – IBJJF Pan Championship NoGi (2019)
  • 2nd Place – IBJJF World Championship (2025)
  • 3rd Place – IBJJF World NoGi (2024)
  • 1st Place – IBJJF International Master (2025)
  • 2nd Place – AJP Grand Slam (2022)
  • 2nd Place – AJP Grand Slam (2024)
  • 2nd Place – IBJJF International Master (2024)
  • 2nd Place – IBJJF American Nationals (2020)
  • 3rd Place – AJP Grand Slam, Miami (2020)
  • 3rd Place – IBJJF American Nationals (2021)
  • 1st Place – IBJJF Oklahoma City Open (2023)
  • 1st Place – IBJJF Sacramento Open (2024)
  • 1st Place – IBJJF Houston Open (2024)
  • 1st Place – IBJJF Oklahoma City Open (2024)
  • 1st Place – IBJJF Denver Open Double Gold (2024)
  • 1st Place – IBJJF Orlando Open (2024)
  • 1st Place – IBJJF Orlando Open (2025)
  • 1st Place – IBJJF Oklahoma City Open NoGi (2025)
  • 2nd Place – IBJJF Oklahoma City Open (2025)
  • 2nd Place – IBJJF Atlanta Open (2022)
  • 2nd Place – IBJJF Dallas Open (2023)

 

Biography

Born on October 21, 1988, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Italo Lins first explored capoeira, another classic Brazilian martial art, for several years. It was Brazilian jiu-jitsu, however, that became his true passion. At age 12, encouraged by friends already training, he took his first class under Master Carlos Santana—a renowned coach who also introduced multiple-time world champion Bruno Malfacine to the art.

Santana’s academy shared the same lineage as Grappling Fight Team (through Oswaldo Fadda), and under his instruction, Italo advanced from white belt to brown belt. As a brown belt seeking a more competitive environment, he moved to GFT’s main headquarters in Rio de Janeiro to train directly under Master Júlio César Pereira. There, he rose quickly as a standout on the team’s roster. Master Júlio César awarded him his black belt in 2010.

Italo made an immediate impact as a new black belt, claiming titles like the CBJJO World Cup and IBJJF Rio Open that same year. Over the next decade, he amassed an impressive collection of international victories across IBJJF opens, AJP events, and other major tournaments. Transitioning into the masters division, he continued his success with highlights including gold at the 2020 IBJJF Masters World Championship and the 2019 IBJJF Pan Championship—demonstrating enduring skill and dedication at the highest levels.