Felipe Linhares

Felipe Linhares Arruda was born on January 10, 1991, in São Paulo, Brazil, and grew up in the city's Eastern district. His early years were defined by health challenges that would ultimately redirect his life's trajectory: as a child, he battled obesity and asthma severe enough that his doctors prescribed regular physical activity as part of his treatment. That medical directive became the unlikely catalyst for a lifelong commitment to sport and martial arts.

His athletic path began at age 8 with swimming — a discipline that addressed his cardiovascular needs while instilling the foundations of physical consistency. By age 11, he had gravitated toward martial arts, taking up kung fu and beginning to develop the coordination, body awareness, and competitive instincts that would later translate directly to the grappling mats. At 14, Linhares took his first steps onto the BJJ mat, training under Luiz Pereira at Equipe Colisão Jiu-Jitsu in São Paulo. That formative environment introduced him to the sport that would come to define his career.

Building the Foundation

Linhares' progression through the belt ranks reflects a deliberate, competition-driven approach to development. After his foundational years under Luiz Pereira at Equipe Colisão Jiu-Jitsu, he sought a more demanding competitive environment, relocating to the Casquinha academy under Luciano Nucci. The move proved pivotal — sharpening his technical game and preparing him for the demands of high-level competition.

His growth extended beyond the mat as well. At purple belt, Linhares stepped into an assistant instructor role, an early signal of the leadership qualities and technical depth he had developed. In 2012, he gained his first taste of international competition, traveling to the United States to compete in the IBJJF Pan American and World Championships.

Joining Alliance and Earning the Black Belt

The next phase of his development brought Linhares into the Alliance Jiu Jitsu framework, where elite coaching from Rubens Charles (Cobrinha) and Luciano Nucci elevated his game further. In 2018, he began training directly under Lucas Lepri, one of the sport's most decorated lightweights at the featherweight level. That same year, in June 2018, Lepri awarded Linhares his black belt — a recognition of years of disciplined training, competitive achievement, and personal growth. Linhares competes in the Peso Pena division (70 kg / 154.5 lbs), representing Brazil and Alliance Jiu Jitsu on the international stage.

Dominant at Brown Belt

Felipe Linhares Arruda established himself as one of the most consistent brown belt competitors on the IBJJF circuit through a multi-year run of strong results. He captured gold at the IBJJF São Paulo Open in both 2015 and 2017, demonstrating the kind of domestic consistency that separates contenders from champions. The 2016 season further deepened his résumé, adding a silver medal at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals and third-place finishes at both the IBJJF Pan Championship and the IBJJF South American Championship. The high point of his colored belt career arrived in 2017, when he earned a third-place finish at the IBJJF World Championship at brown belt — a result achieved against the deepest field in the sport.

Immediate Impact at Black Belt

The transition to black belt in June 2018 produced immediate results on the IBJJF Open circuit. Within months of receiving his black belt, Linhares claimed gold at the 2018 IBJJF Charlotte Open and the 2018 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open, confirming that his brown belt consistency was no accident. He capped his debut black belt season with a third-place finish at the 2018 IBJJF Washington D.C. Summer Open, establishing himself as a legitimate competitive force at the sport's highest level from the outset.