Vagner Rocha

Vagner Rocha began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey in 2001 under the mentorship of Jorge Popovitch. Initially, his training was intermittent due to family obligations and work responsibilities. After securing stable employment in construction and completing night school, Rocha recommitted himself fully to grappling, dedicating consistent time to refining his skills on the mats.

Rocha trained extensively under both Jorge and Pablo Popovitch, who significantly shaped his technical development and competitive mindset. He received all his belt promotions from the Popovitch family, culminating in his black belt promotion at the team's annual dinner party in December 2007. In 2008, Rocha transitioned into coaching at the Popovitch academy, the BJJ Centre, where he sharpened his instructional abilities and gained valuable experience managing gym operations.

In 2009, Rocha expanded his competitive horizons by debuting in mixed martial arts. He competed in prominent MMA organizations, including Strikeforce and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), making his UFC debut in 2011. Although he no longer competes in MMA, Rocha leverages his extensive experience from these elite promotions to inform his coaching philosophy, emphasizing versatile grappling skills and adaptability.

Following his departure from the Popovitch academy in 2011, Rocha established his own academy, Vagner Rocha Martial Arts (VRMA), located in Hollywood, Florida. VRMA quickly emerged as a prominent training hub in South Florida, renowned for producing versatile grapplers proficient in both sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and practical self-defense applications.

Rocha first encountered Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu at the Copa America grappling tournament in 2007, where they faced each other in the open weight final. This competitive meeting sparked a lasting friendship and training partnership. In 2009, Rocha and Cyborg co-founded "The Avengers," a formidable team featuring notable black belts such as Pablo Popovitch, Marcus Almeida, Rodrigo Cavaca, and Raphael Chaves. Although the team eventually dissolved, Rocha and Cyborg maintained their close friendship and continued training together regularly.

Rocha is a distinguished veteran of the prestigious ADCC championships, earning medals across three editions. He secured bronze medals at the 2017 ADCC World Championship and the 2022 ADCC World Championship, the latter at age 40 while competing in the heavier 88 kg division. Additionally, Rocha captured a silver medal at the 2019 ADCC World Championship, solidifying his reputation as an elite competitor who consistently performs at the highest level into his 40s.

In April 2024, Rocha headlined the Who's Number One 23 superfight against reigning IBJJF champion Nicholas Meregali, competing alongside his children Achilles and Jasmine on the same card. This marked a historic occasion, potentially the first professional grappling event featuring a father and two children competing simultaneously. Under Rocha's guidance, his daughter Jasmine Rocha won the 2024 ADCC West Coast Trials in the Women's 55 kg division, qualifying for the 2024 ADCC World Championship. This achievement positioned the Rochas to become the first father-daughter duo competing at the same ADCC World Championships.

Grappling Style

Rocha is renowned for his gritty, pressure-heavy grappling style, characterized by relentless pacing, positional dominance, and strategic control. His approach emphasizes constant forward pressure, systematically breaking down opponents' defenses and creating openings for submissions or positional advancement.

Coaching Philosophy

Rocha's coaching philosophy integrates sport competition techniques with practical self-defense applications, fostering well-rounded grapplers capable of adapting to various scenarios. At VRMA, Rocha actively mentors and corners his students, including his children Jasmine and Achilles, guiding them through successful performances at major grappling events and trials.