Renato Cardoso began his martial arts journey at age 13, initially training in judo. His passion for grappling quickly drew him towards Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which he began practicing at 15. Cardoso's early BJJ foundation was built at a small local academy before he transitioned to the renowned Nova União, where he refined his skills and earned his brown belt.

Seeking advanced training opportunities, Cardoso relocated to Santos, São Paulo, to join Rodrigo Cavaca at the Checkmat academy. Training alongside elite competitors significantly elevated his technical proficiency and competitive mindset. His dedication culminated in receiving his black belt from Cavaca on June 15, 2012.

In mid-2014, Renato Cardoso made a strategic career move, departing from Checkmat to join the prestigious Alliance academy in São Paulo. This transition allowed him to further sharpen his technical arsenal under Alliance's elite coaching staff, marking a pivotal moment in his competitive trajectory.

Cardoso later relocated to Abu Dhabi, quickly becoming a prominent figure within the UAE jiu-jitsu community. Representing the Commando Group Team in various AJP events, he established himself as a dominant force in Masters competition. His tactical prowess earned him gold medals at prestigious events, including the 2024 Asia Continental Championship (Masters, 94kg) and the 2024 Abu Dhabi World Masters (Master 1, 94kg). At the latter event, Cardoso showcased his technical mastery by submitting Australia's Roberto Dib in the final with a fully extended leglock, following an impressive semi-final victory over Jackson Sousa.

Renato Cardoso is widely recognized for his aggressive, submission-focused approach to competition. Early in his black belt career, he notably submitted all nine opponents at the 2012 São Paulo International Open, capturing gold in both his weight class and the absolute division. This remarkable feat earned him media recognition as Checkmat's "crown jewel" prospect. Cardoso consistently employs this attacking style, demonstrating its effectiveness even at Masters-level competitions, as evidenced by his podium finish at the 2023 ADWPJJC Masters.

Technical Highlights

Cardoso's competition style is characterized by relentless submission hunting, particularly favoring leglocks and dynamic guard attacks. His ability to seamlessly transition from positional control to submission threats makes him a formidable opponent and an influential figure for practitioners studying aggressive, finish-oriented strategies.