Gabriel Arges

Gabriel Arges was born on January 29, 1993, in Brazil. From a young age, he actively engaged in various sports, particularly excelling in soccer, where he captained his school's team. His initial exposure to martial arts occurred briefly at age 14 through Thai-boxing. However, it wasn't until age 16, influenced by friends already training and competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, that Arges fully embraced martial arts. Initially joining a local gym for fitness purposes, he quickly discovered a passion for the technical intricacies and competitive aspects of BJJ.

Arges began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey under instructor Fernando Fialho at Gracie Barra Belo Horizonte. Demonstrating rapid progress, he earned his blue belt after just 18 months of dedicated training. Seeking more competitive challenges, Arges expanded his training regimen by attending sessions at Gracie Barra Belo Horizonte's headquarters, led by Marcelo "Uirapuru" Azevedo. Here, he connected with Felipe "Preguiça" Pena, whose mentorship and partnership significantly elevated Arges' technical proficiency and competitive mindset.

In 2012, at the invitation of Felipe Pena, Arges relocated to California to train at Romulo Barral's renowned academy, Gracie Barra Northridge. Under Barral's mentorship, Arges committed fully to professional competition. His dedication quickly yielded results, as he secured his first world title at the 2014 IBJJF World Championship as a purple belt, prompting Barral to promote him to brown belt. Arges continued his ascent, ultimately earning his black belt from Barral and Pena following his impressive victory at the 2015 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship.

After capturing his third IBJJF World Championship title in 2019, Arges shifted his primary focus toward coaching and academy management. Relocating permanently to Southern California, he co-founded Gracie Barra academies in Thousand Oaks and Ventura, assuming the role of head instructor. While reducing his gi competition schedule, Arges remains selectively active in elite competitive events and superfights, skillfully balancing his responsibilities as both instructor and competitor.

Gabriel Arges expanded his competitive repertoire by actively participating in high-level no-gi events. Notably, he headlined the Fight to Win 180 superfight against veteran competitor Rafael Lovato Jr. in August 2021. Demonstrating adaptability and technical versatility, Arges continued to challenge himself against elite opponents, reaching the semifinals in the Medium Heavyweight division at the 2022 IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship. His consistent presence in prestigious no-gi tournaments, including the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds, underscores his ongoing commitment to excellence across all competition formats.

Arges is widely recognized for his dynamic and technically sophisticated guard game, characterized by precise positioning and strategic execution. Influenced heavily by mentors and training partners such as Felipe Pena and Romulo Barral, Arges emphasizes technical efficiency, adaptability, and tactical awareness. His refined approach enables him to excel consistently at the highest levels of both gi and no-gi competition, making him a respected figure among practitioners seeking to study modern guard techniques and competitive strategy.