Diego Bispo

Diego Bispo was born on March 30, 1983, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and relocated to Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, at the age of six. Growing up in the suburbs of Rio, his early athletic passion was basketball, a sport he pursued with genuine dedication throughout his youth. His introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came at 19 years old — relatively late compared to many future competitors — after accompanying friends to BJJ tournaments and witnessing the art firsthand. That experience proved to be a defining turning point, igniting a passion that would ultimately shape his athletic identity.

That Bispo went on to become one of the most decorated Masters competitors on the IBJJF circuit, despite beginning as a young adult rather than a child, speaks to the depth of his commitment and the quality of his development once he embraced the sport.

Bispo's path through the belt ranks reflects a thoughtful, deliberate approach to his growth as a martial artist. He began training at Associação Caxiense de Jiu-Jitsu in Duque de Caxias under instructor Claudio Marculino, building his foundational understanding close to home. He then transitioned to Strauch Academy in Gavea, where he trained under Victor Leite — widely known as Maninho — progressing through the colored belt ranks all the way to brown belt under Leite's guidance.

The Carlson Gracie Chapter

Upon reaching brown belt, Bispo made the significant move to the prestigious Carlson Gracie Academy, coming under the instruction of black belt Alan Moraes. This chapter proved particularly fruitful on the competition circuit. In 2014, competing as a brown belt, he captured gold at the CBJJF Brazilian Nationals and claimed first place at the IBJJF International Masters & Seniors Championship — results that validated his elite competitive potential. Later that same year, Alan Moraes awarded Bispo his black belt, marking the culmination of a journey through some of Rio de Janeiro's most respected academies.

Following his black belt promotion in 2014, Bispo made a major life change, relocating from Brazil to Virginia Beach, Virginia. By 2015, he had established his own BJJ gym there, positioning himself not only as a competitor but as a coach and instructor within the local martial arts community. The academy became his operational base for continued elite-level participation in IBJJF Masters events.

In 2016, Bispo joined Ares Jiu-Jitsu, a move that reinforced his ongoing connection with Alan Moraes, the instructor who had guided his development and awarded him his black belt. Representing the United States in international competition while remaining rooted in his Brazilian BJJ lineage, Bispo embodies the cross-cultural athletic identity that has become a hallmark of top Masters competitors. His Virginia Beach academy serves as a hub where he balances high-level competition with the cultivation of the next generation of grapplers.

Diego Bispo's black belt competition record establishes him as one of the most consistently successful Masters competitors of his generation at the IBJJF level. Competing in the Peso Pena division at 70 kg (154.5 lbs), he has demonstrated sustained excellence across both the Master 1 and Master 2 age categories, as well as across gi and no-gi formats.

Championship Titles and Sustained Excellence

His most prominent stretch of dominance came at the IBJJF World Masters Championship, where he claimed back-to-back gold medals in the Master 1 division in 2017 and 2018. In 2016, he added the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship title in the Master 1 division, underscoring his versatility regardless of format. Transitioning into the Master 2 division, Bispo showed no signs of decline — in 2019, he captured gold at the 2019 IBJJF European Open in the Master 2 category, adding an international title on European soil to an already substantial résumé.

Beyond his gold medals, Bispo's consistency across the full IBJJF calendar — including multiple podium finishes at the World Masters Championship, Pan Championship, Pan No-Gi Championship, European Open, and World No-Gi Championship — reflects an athlete who has built a complete, durable competitive game capable of performing at the highest level year after year.