Erick Raposo

Erick Raposo was born on April 30, 1985, in Jacarepaguá, one of Rio de Janeiro's largest and most vibrant suburbs. His martial arts journey began at six years old, when he joined a local judo club drawn by the appeal of combat sport. The discipline required to sustain progress at that age proved elusive, however, and Raposo gradually stepped away from the Japanese throwing art.

The competitive fire never faded. In 1999, as a teenager, Raposo discovered his true calling in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From his very first session on the mats, he trained under Judson Borges, whose guidance would prove foundational to everything that followed.

Under Judson Borges, Raposo advanced steadily through the colored belt ranks, building the technical base that would define his competitive identity. By 2010, having reached brown belt, he made a deliberate decision to pursue jiu-jitsu as a full-time competitive endeavor — a commitment that led him to Soul Fighters, one of Rio de Janeiro's most formidable professional squads.

The training environment at Soul Fighters was exceptional in its depth of talent. Raposo shared the mats with athletes including Augusto Mendes, Rafael Formiga, Leandro Tatu Escobar, Joao Gabriel Rocha, and Marcus Antelante — a roster that demanded consistent elevation from every member. That high-pressure atmosphere accelerated Raposo's development in ways that training in isolation never could.

The results followed quickly. In July 2011, standing on the podium as brown belt champion at the IBJJF Rio International Open, Raposo received his black belt promotion — a moment that crystallized both his competitive achievement and his readiness for the sport's highest rank. The promotion was conducted by Judson Borges, Bruno Tanque, and Leandro Escobar, the three figures most central to his jiu-jitsu upbringing.

Building a Podium Record at the Elite Level

Raposo's black belt career opened with a consistent run of podium finishes on the IBJJF circuit. Competing in the peso leve (light) division at 76 kg / 168 lbs, he earned bronze medals at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2012 and 2014, along with third-place finishes at the IBJJF South American Championship and IBJJF Rio BJJ Pro in 2014. These results established him as a durable presence among Brazil's elite competitors.

The year 2015 marked the peak of his adult division career. Raposo claimed gold at the IBJJF Brasilia Open in both Gi and No-Gi formats — a double victory that demonstrated his technical versatility across both disciplines. That same year, he reached the final of the CBJJ Brazilian Team Nationals, contributing to a silver medal team result.

Masters Division Excellence

As Raposo transitioned into the Masters divisions, his competitive output reached a new level of consistency. In 2023, he captured gold at the IBJJF Masters World Championship in the Master 2 division, then added the No-Gi World Championship title in the same category — a remarkable double that placed him among the most decorated Masters competitors of his generation.

His Pan Championship record across Masters categories reflects the same pattern of sustained excellence, with gold medals spanning the Master 1 and Master 2 divisions in Gi and No-Gi between 2020 and 2023. Multiple IBJJF American Nationals titles in the Masters divisions in 2018, 2022, and 2023 further underscore the breadth and longevity of his competitive commitment on the American circuit.

Raposo's transition from competitor to coach and academy builder began in 2016, when he accepted an invitation to lead a jiu-jitsu program in Biloxi, Mississippi — his first step onto American soil. He spent approximately two years there, laying the groundwork for a longer-term investment in the sport's growth in the United States.

After leaving Biloxi, Raposo relocated to Louisiana, eventually settling in Slidell in 2022. In 2023, he officially established Raposo BJJ Academy, creating a dedicated training environment rooted in the competitive values he had built throughout his career. Alongside the academy, he founded the INICIO Jiu-Jitsu Association — a franchise and organizational structure designed to extend his vision for the sport beyond a single gym.

The opening of Raposo BJJ Academy in 2023 represents the culmination of a journey that began on the mats of Jacarepaguá — from a teenager rediscovering his passion for martial arts, through the high-pressure training rooms of Soul Fighters in Rio de Janeiro, to the role of independent gym owner, competitor, and coach in Louisiana.