Rodrigo Cavaca - 4th-Degree BJJ Black Belt

Rodrigo Cavaca is a 4th-degree BJJ black belt under Elcio Figueiredo. He is one of the top super heavyweight (pesadissimo) BJJ fighters of his generation. He has been added to the top BJJ coaches list since the day he started instructing BJJ techniques under the CheckMat banner. Rodrigo Cavaca is credited with the fame of the BJJ technique, straight ankle lock.

Rodrigo Cavaca was born on 27 January 1981 in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.

From a very young age, Rodrigo Cavaca was interested in football. He competed in the Futebol de Salão Club in Santos. He wanted to become a professional football player. He had friends with grappling backgrounds and many of them trained in BJJ, but Cavaca was only focused on football in his teenage life.

When Cavaca turned 19, he decided to try BJJ as his friends always talked about BJJ. Most of his friends were blue belts in BJJ who persuaded Cavaca to join the combat sport. At first, Cavaca was hesitant but when he saw his friends grapple, he took an interest in the gentle art.

Eventually, Cavaca’s friends persuaded him and he joined a BJJ gym.

Rodrigo Cavaca joined a branched academy of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu in Santos. At the academy, Professor Sarruco was his first BJJ instructor. And then he enjoyed BJJ for the sake of its perks and benefits.

Rodrigo Cavaca trained at Alliance Jiu-Jitsu for almost two years, and then he joined Team Integracao Jiu-Jitsu situated in Santos. The main reason was that his previous academy didn’t have many resources and opportunities while Cavaca wanted to explore more about BJJ. There Cavaca got to know about different BJJ personalities and also his instructor, Elcio Figueiredo, who would later award Cavaca with his black belt.

Elcio Figueiredo, a black belt under Carlson Gracie, was one of the instructors of the Team Integracao Jiu-Jitsu. It was Cavaca’s training under Elcio Figueiredo that he won the World Championship in 2008 after becoming a black belt. Elcio Figueiredo has a major role in making Rodrigo Cavaca one of the best black belts. And later, Rodrigo Cavaca was the one who gave the BJJ community world-class practitioners, such as Marcus Almeida Buchecha.

After winning World Championships such as the IBJJF Mundials, Rodrigo Cavaca decided to pursue BJJ professionally. Before that Cavaca wasn’t that serious about BJJ, but his exceptional fighting style granted him big victories which made him change his mind.

And it was Elcio Figueiredo who later awarded Rodrigo Cavaca with his black belt.

After becoming a black belt, Cavaca wanted to compete in the big championships. But the Team Integracao Jiu-Jitsu was too small for him. Cavaca felt that he wasn’t exposed to the potential BJJ tournaments and opportunities. With the aim of becoming a World Champion and topping the IBJJF charters, Cavaca joined the Brasa Team under Professor Leonardo Vieira.

Team Brasa was one of the best teams in Brazil led by none other than Professor Leonardo Vieira. Team Brasa had the world’s best grapplers, Andre Galvao, Demian Maia, Robert Drysdale, Lucas Leite, and many others. The academy was located in Sao Paulo but Cavaca was highly determined to become the best grappler. So he used to travel from Santos to Sao Paulo and train three times a week.

Rodrigo Cavaca represented the Brasa Team internationally for almost two years. In 2008, when Professor Leonardo Vieira decided to establish his own academy named CheckMat Jiu-Jitsu with his brothers, Ricardo and Leandro Vieira, Cavaca decided to follow his master.

After following Professor Leonardo Vieira, Rodrigo Cavaca opened his own CheckMat affiliate academy in Santos as previously it was in Sao Paulo. There Cavaca helped practitioners who had a little exposure to the gentle art. Practitioners benefitted from this decision of Cavaca and many practitioners enrolled in the academy.

In 2013, Rodrigo Cavaca decided to open his academy. Then in October 2013, Rodrigo Cavaca left CheckMat Jiu-Jitsu and founded his academy, Zenith BJJ,  with a jiu-jitsu fellow, Robert Drysdale.

Rodrigo Cavaca has formulated BJJ instructional videos that practitioners all over the world can access and learn BJJ techniques. The video “Wiseman BJJ” contains excessive information about footlockers, closed guard attacks and how to stop the guard, taught by the legendary Rodrigo Cavaca. The “Triangle Masterclass” instructs BJJ submissions, especially the triangle choke.

Rodrigo Cavaca was promoted to blue belt by Sarruco, Cavaca’s very first BJJ instructor.

Cavaca became the Brazilian National Champion twice as a purple and brown belt.

Cavaca secured his position at the IBJJF Mundial Championship twice, first as a purple and second as a brown Belt.

Rodrigo Cavaca was promoted to black belt by Elcio Figueiredo on 28 October 2005.

Rodrigo Cavaca won the first position at the IBJJF European Championship in 2009 and 2010 as a black belt.

Cavaca became the IBJJF World Champion in 2010 as a black belt.

Marcus Almeida Buchecha is a 2nd-degree BJJ black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca. Though he represents the CheckMat BJJ, his training went all under Rodrigo Cavaca. Marcus Almeida Buchecha is a 13 times World Champion. He has won many IBJJF Championships and now is competing in ONE Championship. Marcus Almeida Buchecha was inducted into the IBJJF Hall of Fame in 2014.

Michelle Nicolini is a 3rd-degree BJJ black belt under Robert Drysdale. She is an IBJJF Hall of Famer. Representing CheckMat Jiu-Jitsu, Nicolini has trained extensively under Rodrigo Cavaca.

Roberto Cyborg Abreu is a 4th-degree BJJ black belt under Francisco “Toco” Albuquerque. Cavaca built strong grips on Cyborg’s Gi to prevent him from taking the dominant position. The sleeve and pants grip led Cyborg to the submission that he ultimately lost the match. Cavaca came on top of Cyborg via the guard sweep and caught his leg. Cavaca locked Cyborg’s legs and submitted him via Botinha within four minutes.

Antonio Peinado is a BJJ black belt under Master Fabio Gurgel. The fight between the World Champions started aggressively and Peinado was the one who got the dominant position as he got on top of Cavaca in the very start. Cavaca is a fast paced grappler but Peinado wasn't slow. Leg locks being the favorite technique of Cavaca, he restricted Peinado’s leg and shot for the sleeve grip. Peinado tried to free his leg but Cavaca was successful in applying the submission. Rodrigo Cavaca submitted Antonio Peinado via Botinha within 6 minutes and won the semi final at the 2010 IBJJF World Championship.

Marcio Cruz is a 5th-degree BJJ black belt under Carlos Gracie Junior. Cavaca, known for his fast and aggressive fighting style, attacked Cruz and developed strong grips around his Gi. He then went straight for the triangle choke and secured the submission within 2 minutes in the match.

Rodrigo Cavaca VS Marcio Corleta / World Championship 2009

Rodrigo Cavaca VS Charles Cachoeira / World Championship 2009

Rodrigo Cavaca VS Jay Pages / Pan Championship 2009

Submission #435 - Rodrigo Cavaca vs Leo Santos

Rodrigo Cavaca vs Nivaldo Oliveira - John's Gym Austin, TX

Photo Credit: @rodrigo.cavaca and @impactjj