Giancarlo Bodoni

Giancarlo Bodoni began his martial arts journey at the age of five, initially training in karate. He soon expanded his skillset by incorporating taekwondo, briefly competing in both disciplines. At age 12, Bodoni transitioned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the renowned instructor Rillion Gracie, who guided his progression from white to purple belt.

In 2017, Bodoni fulfilled a lifelong ambition by traveling to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—the birthplace of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—to deepen his training. During this period, he established a significant training partnership with Gutemberg Pereira of GF Team. When Pereira relocated to Toledo, Ohio, Bodoni continued his development with the local GF Team affiliate. Later, after his father moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, Bodoni joined the local Alliance academy, training under legendary competitor Lucas Lepri. Under Lepri's mentorship, Bodoni earned his brown belt in June 2018.

In 2021, Giancarlo Bodoni joined John Danaher's New Wave in Austin, Texas, to elevate his no-gi grappling career. Training alongside elite grapplers such as Gordon Ryan and Nicholas Meregali, Bodoni quickly emerged as one of Danaher's key protégés. He attributes his continued success to Danaher's systematic, research-driven approach, highlighting Danaher's ability to anticipate grappling trends and techniques well ahead of the competition.

Giancarlo Bodoni solidified his status as a dominant force in submission grappling by capturing the 88kg gold medal at the ADCC 2022 World Championship, submitting veteran competitor Lucas "Hulk" Barbosa in the final. He repeated this remarkable feat at the ADCC 2024 World Championship, becoming the first athlete to secure back-to-back titles in the 88kg division. These victories positioned Bodoni as a potential contender for a historic third ADCC title in 2026.

Bodoni's grappling style blends structured systems with personal creativity, heavily influenced by Danaher's innovative coaching methods. His technical arsenal includes precise wrestling takedowns, efficient back takes, and advanced leg entanglements. At New Wave, Bodoni and his teammates proactively develop counters to emerging grappling trends, consistently staying ahead of the competitive curve.

In late 2024, Giancarlo Bodoni signed with ONE Championship to compete in their submission grappling division. He is set to debut at middleweight (~93kg), immediately contending for the vacant grappling title. Fans eagerly anticipate potential matchups against elite grapplers such as Tye Ruotolo and Dante Leon, viewing this as an exciting new chapter in Bodoni's competitive journey and an opportunity to further cement his legacy.

Beyond his competitive accomplishments, Bodoni embraces a mentorship and leadership role within the New Wave team. He actively teaches classes and mentors rising grapplers, embodying Danaher's ethos of "good energy and hard work" in the training environment. Additionally, Bodoni conducts international seminars, sharing championship-winning techniques that have defined his career. Immediately following his 2024 ADCC victory, Bodoni returned to training with Danaher, already strategizing improvements for future competitions—a testament to his relentless pursuit of sustained dominance in the grappling world.