Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles: 4th-Degree BJJ Black Belt

Rubens Charles or Cobrinha is a name that echoes among the great fighters of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Cobrinha's name is synonymous with the best attacking style, quickness, and efficient guard passer on the mat. He earned an impressive list of accolades, including 13 World Championships and the title of "Best BJJ Fighter of 2009" awarded by the Brazilian Press. His unique style of Jiu-Jitsu, combined with his fierce determination and deep technical approach, made him a prestigious place among the elite competitors of martial arts.

Cobrinha's life journey began in Londrina, Brazil on December 24th, 1979. During his early childhood, Cobrinha’s family moved to Sao Carlos, a Brazilian municipality. At an early age, he used to play soccer which was a popular game in Brazil.

 While residing in Sao Carlos, Rubens was introduced to Capoeira, a Brazilian national martial art that combines dance and acrobatics. He found this fighting art an interesting one and decided to learn its methods and techniques.

Cobrinha’s passion and keen interest encouraged him to train and learn capoeira's exciting techniques. To accomplish his passion, he joined the “Grupo dos Jangadeiros” club, where he got the chance to learn under the guidance of Master Antonio Zacaria. After the struggle of 14 years, he became a master of capoeira’s techniques and movements.

Cobrinha's love for capoeira was replaced by BJJ, a martial art that his friend introduced. Rubens Charles’s friend invited him to attend the trial class of Jiu-Jitsu in his newly opened gym. Intrigued by a class in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Cobrinha decided to explore all the aspects of this exciting martial art.

Besides having an interest in grappling techniques, his struggle in grappling urged him to enroll in Jiu-Jitsu classes. At the age of 21, he began training with BJJ Black Belt Mauro Pacífico, committing himself to the same intense training schedule he followed with capoeira, training twice a day, seven days a week.

Cobrinha's grappling career took a turning point when he lost the final at a state championship in Sao Paulo. He lost the match to the student of the legendary Fernando Terere. Being a great instructor, Terere recognized a proficient grappler deep down Rubens Charles who just lacked a teacher to polish his grappling skills. 

So, Professor Fernando Terere invited Cobrinha to move to Sao Paulo and train with his team, "TT” TT team was the trio of Fernando Terere, Andre Galvao, Eduardo Telles. After getting approval from his Master Mauro Pacífico, Cobrinha moved to Sao Paulo and spent four months under the guidance of the “TT” team including Fernando Terere, Andre Galvao, Leandro Martins, Eduardo Telles, and Lucas Lepri.

Cobrinha gave it 100% to excel in the grappling world. His hard work and dedication paid off when he earned his Black Belt from Fernando Terere in 2005, Just five years after he started training in BJJ.

His remarkable achievement and dedicated approach on the mat became the source of his worldwide recognition. He competed in the five world championships after receiving his black belt and emerged victorious in 3 competitions. He continued his legacy by winning the Pro Jiu-Jitsu X tournament in Japan.

Rubens Charles faced a series of challenges due to the dissolution of the “TT Team” after coming back to Japan. However, Terere proved himself as a proficient grappler by helping Ruben Charles to prepare for the 2006 Mundial. Rubens pushed himself harder than ever, determined to emerge victorious.

He gracefully won the 2006 World Championship by submitting every single opponent he faced. He proved his sheer determination and ultimately emerged as a true champion, inspiring all those who watched him compete.

Fernando Terere, the head coach of the Cobrinha left the BJJ coaching because of schizophrenic disorder. Eventually, these issues became too much for Terere to handle, and he left the world of BJJ behind and moved to the town of Natal in the North-East of Brazil to focus on his health.

But before he left, Terere had one final piece of advice for his brilliant student. He recommended that Charles must continue his training under the guidance of Master Fabio Gurgel, one of Terere's former instructors and a renowned figure in the world of BJJ. The mentorship of the legendary Fabio Gurgel began a new chapter in Charles’s grappling career. Master Fabio, the “General” is well known in BJJ as a Co-Founder of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu.

Under Gurgel's coaching, Charles continued to grow and develop as a proficient fighter, honing his skills and perfecting his technique. Gurgel's mentorship proved to be exactly what Charles needed the most to uplift his skills and he quickly established himself as one of the top contemporary fighters in the BJJ world.

In 2007, Cobrinha traveled to the United States to compete in the Pan American Championship. However, fate had decided to reward him with more accolades.

Cobrinha gave a seminar at Jacare's academy (Alliance Martial Arts Center) in Atlanta, and Jacare was blown away by the young fighter's talent and techniques. Jacare offered Cobrinha to join his academy, a rare opportunity for any aspiring BJJ fighter.

Cobrinha accepted the offer and joined Jacare Romero's academy, where he continued to train and develop his skills.

He also proved his extraordinary grappling skills by winning the title of No-Gi Champion in 2007, and 2008. His mastery of the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was on full display as he dominated opponents on the biggest stages of the grappling art, showcasing his unique blend of excellent skills, techniques, and utmost precision.

He won the World Championship thrice in a row from 2007 to 2009, earning him the title of "Best BJJ Fighter of 2009" by the Brazilian Press. His technical prowess, agility, and quickness on the mat were legendary, making him a force to be reckoned with in the grappling combat sport.

Cobrinha's passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu continues to drive him forward. After getting trained under the Co-Founder of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu, Fabio Gurgel, he joined the Alliance Jiu-Jitsu  as a BJJ instructor. He proved himself as a dedicated teacher, committed to sharing his knowledge and expertise with the next generation.

In 2011, he opened a gym “Cobrinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Fitness” in Los Angeles, which serves as the headquarters of his global network of affiliates. Cobrinha has trained and mentored many students from South Korea to the Philippines, helping them to achieve their martial art’s life goals of becoming world champions. Cobrinha believed that mastering the basics is key to becoming a successful grappler, and he worked tirelessly to instill this belief in his students.

Cobrinha's teaching style is characterized by acute precision. He understood that BJJ is a complex and subtle grappling sport, subsequently, he used to take the time to break down techniques and strategies to make them accessible to his students.

In addition to his teaching, Cobrinha also served as a global ambassador for BJJ. Through his gym and his affiliates, he has helped to spread the art of BJJ to different corners of the world, sharing its benefits with his distinctive perspective of life experiences.

In the latter part of his professional BJJ coaching and fighting career, Rubens Charles set his sight on a coveted title that had eluded him for years - the ADCC Championship. Having made two unsuccessful attempts in 2007 and 2009, Charles was determined to clinch the title in 2013. This was the only major grappling championship that he had yet to conquer, and he was eager to add it to his impressive list of accomplishments.

In the finals of the 2013 ADCC tournament, Charles faced his old rival, Rafael Mendes in a rematch. Mendes had beaten Charles in the previous ADCC tournament, and many were curious to see if Charles could turn the tables around this time. In a hard-fought battle, Charles emerged victorious, finally securing his first ADCC title.

Undeterred by the challenges he faced, Charles returned to the ADCC stage two years later to defend his title. It was a grueling test of his abilities, as he fought through four tough matches to earn his second ADCC Championship Title. Charles had proven himself to be a formidable force in the world of grappling, and his mastery of the art had earned him a place among the BJJ's elite competitors.

In the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, only a few have been able to achieve all the titles of " Super Grand Slam". In 2017, Cobrinha took things to a whole new level by becoming the first-ever BJJ fighter to achieve the "Super Grand Slam."  He won all four major IBJJF tournaments and the ADCC World Championships in the same year.

After winning the Super Grand Slam 2017, Rubens Charles announced his retirement from the mat. In his final year of competition, he embarked on a retirement tour, competing in several major events to cap off his illustrious career.

Charles kicked off his retirement tour with a dominant performance at the European Open, where he secured his second European Open title by defeating all four of his opponents.

He then went on to the Pan American tournament, where he earned his fourth Pan title with ease, subduing his competitors in impressive fashion.

Finally, Charles made his one and only appearance at the Brasileiro, where he added yet another title to his impressive collection before officially retiring from competitive grappling.

With these victories, Charles had cemented his legacy as one of the greatest Jiu-Jitsu practitioners of all time.

Rubens is renowned for his exceptional guard game, particularly his expertise in the De La Riva (DLR) guard. However, his impressive grappling style goes beyond just his guard game making him one of the most well-rounded competitors in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Cobrinha's grappling skills were honed through years of Capoeira training, which gave him an unparalleled balance, confidence, and agility. He also developed a formidable wrestling and grappling game, which he seamlessly integrated with his martial art skills.

Over the course of his 144 BJJ matches, Cobrinha was defeated only 2 times by submission, an incredible testament to his exceptional abilities as a grappler. His style was not just technically sound, but also adaptive, allowing him to adjust to different opponents and situations.

ADCC Hall of FameRubens Charles has been the tenth member of the prestigious ADCC Hall of Fame. This coveted honor was announced on January 24, 2022.

Rubens Charles is a true inspiration in the martial arts community. His dedication to the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and his commitment to excellence serves as a model for aspiring upcoming BJJ fighters and mentors around the world.

Beyond his personal accomplishments, Cobrinha's passion for BJJ extends to his students, whom he has trained to become world champions, including Michael Langhi, Fabricio Werdum, and Sergio Moraes, among many others. His legacy as a competitor is impressive, but Cobrinha's impact as a BJJ instructor and sport’s ambassador is equally profound.

The 2010 IBJJF World Championship was an event that would go down in history as one of the most epic bouts between elite grapplers. One such showdown was between Rubens Charles and Mario Reis, two icons of the BJJ.

As the match began, Rubens wasted no time in controlling Mario's leg, attempting a leg lock. But Mario was quick to defend and retaliate, countering Rubens' move by grabbing his lapel, perhaps aiming for a lapel guard. Yet, Rubens' defensive skills were too strong, and he managed to break free.

The battle continued, with Mario maintaining his dominant position by applying a close guard. However, Rubens was determined to pass his guard, and he did just that, freeing himself from the powerful guard attempt of his opponent. This proved to be a turning point, and Rubens seized the opportunity, submitting Mario with a back choke.

This was an exciting bout between two elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, Rubens Charles, and Gianni Grippo, at the European Championship 2017. The match began with an impressive takedown by Grippo, putting Rubens Charles on the defense early on. Grippo attempted to control Charles and maintained his dominant position, but Charles quickly countered by gaining control from the mount and scored 2 points.

Despite this setback, Grippo refused to back down and continued to put pressure on Charles with his powerful half-guard. Grippo maintained this position for some time, but Charles remained composed and focused. He then executed a perfect Ezekiel choke, effectively turning the game in his favor and securing the title by points at the end of the match. This match was a powerful display of the dedication and enthusiasm of both grapplers. However, Rubens Charles emerged victorious in the end.

The 2009 IBJJF World Championship hosted an enthralling quarterfinal round of the featherweight division, where two of the elite grapplers, Cobrinha and Wellington Dias (Megaton), faced off. Megaton now holds a 7-Degree Coral Belt in Jiu-Jitsu as well as a 4th-degree black belt in Judo.

The match was a display of their exceptional grappling skills, as they both tried to dominate and secure a spot in the next round.

Rubens won the match by points, which was a testament to his strong grip and mastery of grappling techniques. Cobrinha's victory was a reflection of his dedication and skill as one of the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors of all time.

Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles VS Bruno Frazatto / World Championship 2008

Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles VS Rafael Lovato Jr. / Pan Championship 2009

Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles VS Theodoro Canal / World Championship 2010

Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles VS Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes / Pan Championship 2013

Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles v Robson Barbosa / World Championship 2014

Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles VS Osvaldo "Queixinho" Moizinho / Pan Championship 2017

Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles vs Leonardo Saggioro / World Championship 2017

Photo Credit: @cobrinhacharles