Yago de Souza

Yago de Souza was born on September 7, 1993, in Brazil, relocating to São Paulo during his childhood. His martial arts journey began at age 8 with capoeira, a traditional Brazilian martial art emphasizing fluidity and agility. He later expanded his training to include judo and boxing, although football remained his primary athletic pursuit until age 16.

At 16, Yago discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through his friend Luiz "Macarrao." He began training at a Godoi Jiu Jitsu affiliate academy under Eduardo Franco and Rodrigo Ribeiro, who awarded him his blue belt. This early foundation provided Yago with essential technical skills and ignited his passion for competitive grappling.

In 2011, seeking a more competitive environment, Yago joined Cicero Costha's renowned PSLPB academy. Under Costha's mentorship, Yago rapidly evolved into a high-level competitor, refining his technical precision and strategic mindset. Following an impressive competitive run in 2015, Cicero Costha awarded Yago his black belt in June of that year. Yago credits Costha as a pivotal figure in his competitive growth and technical development.

In September 2015, Yago partnered with elite competitor Leandro Lo to co-found the New School Brotherhood (Ns Brotherhood). Training extensively alongside Lo, Yago further elevated his competitive skills and strategic approach, considering Lo another significant mentor in his career.

During his brown belt tenure, Yago established a notable rivalry with Dillon Danis. Their frequent encounters in major tournament finals featured closely contested matches, generating anticipation and highlighting Yago's emergence as a prominent figure in the competitive BJJ landscape.

Yago faced considerable setbacks due to injuries, notably suffering a major knee injury in 2017. In 2018, another injury during a match against Isaque Bahiense sidelined him for over a year. Throughout his recovery, Yago prioritized strength and conditioning, systematically rebuilding his durability and explosiveness to ensure a successful return to elite competition.

In 2017, Yago relocated to Texas, initially teaching at Rodrigo Pinheiro’s academy in Boerne. He subsequently became an instructor at 3:16 BJJ in Rockwall, Texas, where he continues to share his extensive knowledge and competitive experience, mentoring students in both fundamental and advanced techniques.

Yago returned to competition in impressive form in 2021, capturing four consecutive IBJJF Open gold medals in Orleans, Orlando, Memphis, and Houston. He also earned a silver medal at the 2021 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the medium-heavyweight division, narrowly losing a highly technical finals match against Tainan Dalpra.

Yago de Souza is widely recognized for his dynamic and technically sophisticated open guard. His strategic guard play enables him to effectively control opponents, create openings, and initiate precise attacks, making him a formidable competitor in his weight class.

Throughout his competitive career, Yago has secured victories over several elite grapplers, including Otavio Sousa, Josh Hinger, Marcos Tinoco, and Vitor Oliveira. These notable wins underscore his technical proficiency, tactical intelligence, and resilience at the highest levels of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition.