Roberto Satoshi: The BJJ Coach and The World Champion

1. Roberto Satoshi’s Details

2. Roberto Satoshi’s Biography

Roberto Satoshi also known as “Toshi” is a Black Belt and World Champion. He was born on 19th September 1989 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is a BJJ coach and runs his own academy “Bonsai Academy”  in Japan along with his brothers.

2.1. Robert Started Jiu-Jitsu Under his Father

He started training in MMA in his childhood under his father, Adilson de Souza. His father was a Judo instructor and one of the big names in MMA. He trained his sons for MMA.

2.2. Robert’s All Family is Dedicated to Jiu-Jitsu

Roberto opened his eyes to a family who is dedicated to MMA. He has four other siblings, all are associated with the grappling world. Roberto also trained in Judo and later, diverted to Jiu-Jitsu.

2.3. Won the Title of World Champion

In 2006, Roberto was a World Champion in the middleweight and absolute weight category with Blue Belt. Toshi won many World Championships when the BJJ World Championships were held in Brazil.

2.4. A Break from Jiu-Jitsu for almost Two Years

Unfortunately, Roberto could not partake in BJJ World Championships due to the unavailability of sponsorships when the BJJ World championships were rescheduled to California, USA.

2.5. Relocated to Japan

Roberto decided to go to Japan as his brother Mauricio settled there. Mauricio opened an academy in Japan and was teaching grappling arts. Roberto liked his visit to Japan and started living there.   

2.6. Roberto’s Struggles in Japan

Roberto started living in Japan but did not have any financial support. In the beginning, he did work in factories to make a living along with competing and coaching grappling art.

2.7. Upraise in Japan

After some time, Roberto took flight in his BJJ career in Japan and allocated his time and energies solely to BJJ. He started running the academy with his brother.

In his interview, he stated that people think Jiu-Jitsu cannot be continued in Japan, but rather we (Satoshi brothers) are giving training to many students in our academy. Many of them are world-class athletes. He also won many World Championships while training in Japan.      

2.8. Relationship with Atos

Roberto had a good friendship with Atos since he was a blue belt. He mentioned in an interview that if any competitors from Atos visit Japan, Roberto offers them his house to stay and continue their training.  

2.9. Supportive Brand in BJJ Career

Sponsorship was a big issue for Roberto when he was in Brazil. When he relocated to Japan, the Bull Terrier brand supported him when he was at the purple belt level. According to Roberto Satoshi, the Bull Terrier brand helped Toshi in his journey to success.

2.10. Promoted to Black Belt

Roberto Satoshi was promoted to Black Belt by his father on 1st May 2011. Just after some hours of giving a Black Belt to Roberto, Adilson de Souza passed away due to long-term illness. 

2.11. Roberto Owns Two Nationalities

Roberto Satoshi is a Brazilian BJJ competitor but also has a Japanese ancestor as well. His mother belonged to Japan. In 2007, he left Brazil and relocated to Japan. Now he lives in Shizuoka, a city in Japan.

2.12. Roberto Satoshi’s Historic Fights

Roberto Satoshi Vs Pedro Bessa

This fight was between Roberto Satoshi and Pedro Bessa in the 2012 IBJJF European Championship.

Roberto Satoshi applied a Flying Guard Sweep. Pedro tried his best to escape. Robert Satoshi surprised his fans by submitting Pedro Bessa just in just half a minute with a Flying Armbar. 

Roberto Satoshi Vs. AJ Agazarm

This match was between Roberto Satoshi and AJ Agazarm in the World Championship 2014.

Both fighters showed great spirit from the start of the match. Roberto started by applying a full guard. Agazarm tried to escape and applied a leg lock. Roberto took some time to get himself free. Agazarm again tried to take down Roberto but this time Roberto did not give his control to Agazarm and succeeded in strangling him with the Lapel Choke

At the end of the match, Roberto submitted Agazarm with Choke from the back.

Roberto Satoshi Vs. Lucas Lepri

This match was between Roberto Satoshi and Lucas Lepri in Abu Dhabi World Pro 2012.

This is one of the exciting matches as this match was between two great BJJ competitors. Lepri has been a World Champion since 2006 and Roberto was just promoted to Black Belt a month ago.

At the start of the match, Roberto Satoshi was taken down by Lucas Lepri. But Roberto did not allow him to take control and after a few minutes countered by takedown and Satoshi scored two points. Lepri managed to escape and strangled him from the back. Roberto escaped and again managed to be on top of Lepri. Lepri tried his best to escape and put him down.

Lepri succeeded to sweep him to get two points but did not manage to keep him in that position. Roberto played fabulous and did not allow Lepri to dominate.

At the end of the match, Roberto won by two points.            

3. Roberto Satoshi’s Main Achievements

Years	Events	Weight Division
2006	IBJJF World Championship Open	Absolute
2007	Deep XPG	Featherweight
2007	FPJJ Sao Paulo State Championships	N/A
2008	Rickson Gracie Cup	N/A
2009	IBJJF World Championship	Lightweight
2010	IBJJF World Championship	Lightweight
2010	IBJJF Asia Open	Absolute
2010	Rickson Gracie Cup	Absolute
2011	IBJJF European Open	N/A
2012	IBJJF European Open	Lightweight
2012	UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro	Lightweight
2014	UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro	Lightweight
2015	UAEJJF Grand Slam, TYO	Lightweight
2016	UAEJJF Grand Slam, TYO	Lightweight

3.1. Roberto Satoshi’s Black Belt Achievements

Year	Event	Belt	Position
2012	IBJJF European Open	Black Belt	1st
2012	UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro	Black Belt	1st
2012	IBJJF World Championship	Black Belt	3rd
2014	UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro	Black Belt	1st
2014	IBJJF World Championship	Black Belt	3rd
2015	UAEJJF Grand Slam, TYO	Black Belt	1st
2015	UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro	Black Belt	3rd
2016	UAEJJF Grand Slam, TYO	Black Belt	1st
2016	UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro	Black Belt	2nd
2017	IBJJF World Championship	Black Belt	2nd
2017	UAEJJF Grand Slam, ADB	Black Belt	2nd

3.2. Roberto Satoshi’s Colored Belts Achievements

Year	Event	Belt	Position
2006	IBJJF World Championship	Blue Belt	1st
2007	DEEP XGP	N/A	1st
2007	FPJJ Sao Paulo State Championship	Blue Belt	1st
2008	Rickson Gracie Cup	Purple Belt	1st
2009	IBJJF World Championship	Purple Belt	1st
2010	IBJJF Asia Open	Brown Belt	1st
2010	Rickson Gracie Cup	Brown Belt	1st
2011	IBJJF European Open	Brown Belt	1st

4. Roberto Satoshi’s Professional Record Breakdown

4.1. Professional Record Break

76 Matches	61 Wins	15 Losses
By Submissions	37	2
By Points	21	10
By Advantages	3	1
Due to Injury	0	2

4.2. Roberto Satoshi’s Submission Methods

Method	37 Wins	2 Losses
Triangle	7	0
Bow and Arrow	4	0
Choke	3	0
Clock Choke	2	0
Triangle Armbar	2	0
Darce Choke	1	0
Flying Armbar	1	0
Reverse Triangle	1	0
Choke From Back	6	0
RNC	3	0
Armbar	2	0
Submission	2	0
Triangle/Armbar	1	0
Wristlock	1	1
Estima Lock	1	0
Botinha	0	1

5. Roberto Satoshi’s Fight History

6. Famous Fight Links

Photo credit: @robertosatoshi