Thamara Ferreira - Top Middleweight Female Black Belt

Thamara Ferreira was born in Suzano, São Paulo, Brazil on 26th November 1995. She was a sports kid from her early childhood. In her teens, she started Jiu-Jitsu training and left her studies to pursue Jiu-Jitsu. Now Thamara Ferreira is a first-degree black belt.

Thamara was an athletic child and started her sports career in gymnastics. Her gymnastics coach was Rodrigo Miranda at that time. She used to compete in national and international tournaments. She left gymnastics at 12 and moved to the Brazilian National Campus located in Guarulhos (SP) for a few months.

Thamara rejoined sports in her teens when she started playing football and soccer. She played soccer in the regional team for two years.

After playing football for two years, Thamara left sports to join a college program and pursue legal studies. At that time, she was disconnected from sports and focused on her studies.

At the age of 16, Ferreira again wanted to join sports along with her studies. Her love for sports did not let her away from sports for more time. At that time, she joined free BJJ classes offered by her college to add some activities to her mundane routine.

Ferreira was lucky to have the world-famous BJJ black belt, Marco Barbosa as her first BJJ coach. At the start, Ferreira did not like BJJ. She just liked the competitive aspect of grappling as she was of a highly competitive nature.

After acquiring the blue belt, Ferreira became more familiar with Jiu-Jitsu and developed a passion for the gentle art. To focus on and pursue her Jiu-Jitsu career, Ferreira left her degree and started to give her 100% to Jiu-Jitsu.

Thamara Ferreira joined Cicero Costha Jiu-Jitsu just after her Blue Belt and started her BJJ journey with Projeto Social Lutando Pelo Bem (PSLPB). In her journey with Cicero Costha, she decided to continue Jiu-Jitsu as a career. 

Thamara Ferreira had a maximum of her Jiu-Jitsu journey with Cicero Costha. At the start of 2023, Thamara Ferreira switched her academy and joined Caio Terra Academy. Now she started her BJJ journey with a 4th-degree black belt, Caio Terra. She announced this through her Instagram post.

“Starting today I get to represent Caio Terra Academy. I am aware of my potential, I know I am different. To this day I still don’t feel stoned, and I don’t think I’ve explored my full potential either. I believe this big guy will help me with this. Once again I’m in good hands. Thank you, Caio Terra. Let’s get our year started!”

Thamara Ferreira was promoted to blue belt by her first coach, Marco Barbosa. After receiving her blue belt, she joined Cicero Costha.

Thamara Ferreira received her purple, brown, and black belt from Cicero Costha. In June 2019, she received her black belt.

Thamaar Ferreira is three times European Champion. She received her first European Champion title when she was a brown belt in 2018. Again in 2019, she became European Open Champion as a brown belt. After receiving her black belt in 2019, Thamara Ferreira once again won the European Championship gold medal in the middleweight division.

Thamara Ferreira is two times World Champion as a brown belt. In 2018, she was the No-Gi World Champion while in 2019, she was World Gi Champion.

Thamara Ferreira is eight times UAEJJF Grand Slam gold medalist and two times silver medalist. In 2015, she was the blue belt champion in the UAEJJF Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2017, she was the UAEJJF Grand Slam, London Champion. In 2018 and 2019, she won three Grand Slam Championships as a brown belt. After receiving a black belt in 2019, she was the Grand Slam Champion as a black belt in 2019 and 2020.

Thamar Ferreira who just joined Caio Terra Academy at the start of 2023 just received her first stripe on her belt in March 2023. She received this honor from Caio Terra, her new coach. Ferreira shared this news to her fans through her Instagram post. Her words are

Thamara Ferreira faced Melissa Stricker in the final of the Santa Cruz Open 2022. They started the match in a sitting position and grasped the Gi sleeves of Stricker. Both tried to take down each other by pulling Gi in the first few minutes of the match. After some minutes, Ferreira succeeded in applying for a full guard position.

Stricker tried to escape, but Thamara again secured her position. Stricker again tried to escape, managed to free herself, and gained the top position. She tried to control Ferreira, but Ferreira trapped Stricker’s right arm and leg in her legs and submitted her via the omoplata armbar.

Thamara Ferreira faced Elisabeth Clay in Fight to Win 186. Both competitors were highly energetic. Both started the fight in standing position and holding each other hand and in search of any opportunity to dominate each other. Elisabeth Clay is popular for her style of never missing any opportunity.

A few minutes later, Clay sat on the ground for an open guard but Ferreira pushed her back and trapped her foot. She tried for a toe hold but Clay actively escaped her foot. In the next few minutes, Clay was again in the sitting position. She tried to get any chance to dominate Ferreira while the latter was in a standing position and tried to overcome Clay.

Ferreira got a chance and she took control of Clay’s foot. At the same time, Clay trapped her foot. Both fighters went for a toe hold. But Ferreira twisted herself and submitted Clay with a toe hold.

Thamara Ferreira faced Mayara Custodio in the final of the Santa Cruz Open 2023. Thamara started the fight with her energetic try for a triangle. Custodio resisted her triangle choke but could not escape. Eventually, Thamara had to lose her grip and Custodio escaped from the triangle.

Now Custodio was in the top position and tried to control Thamara. Thamara countered, grasping her Gi lapels. She tried various times to overcome Custodio. A few minutes passed and Thamara applied for full guard. To escape from the full guard, Custodio stood up.

She again secured her top position and tried to control Thamara. Thamara again applied full guard, grasped her lapels, and applied a cross choke. She submitted Custodio with a cross choke and became the Santa Cruz Absolute Weight Champion.

Thamara Ferreira vs Mayara Custodio / Santa Cruz Open 2023

Thamara Ferreira v Melissa Stricker / Santa Cruz Open 2022

Thamara Ferreira v Raquel Canuto / World Championship 2021

Thamara Ferreira v Chloé McNally / Pan Championship 2022

Photo Credit: @onethamara