Fernando Marques

Fernando Marques — known throughout the BJJ community by his nickname "Boi" — was born on April 11, 1976, in Goiânia, the capital of Goiás, Brazil. Raised in Vila São José, a neighborhood on the city's outskirts, he grew up as the youngest of four siblings and the only boy in the family. His father played a decisive role in shaping his athletic path, strongly encouraging him to pursue contact sports from an early age.

Fernando's martial arts journey began in childhood under Japanese karate master Tiuji Yamagushi, under whom he progressed to brown belt. At nine years old, he broadened his training after befriending local children who practiced boxing and full contact, integrating those disciplines with his existing karate foundation. This multi-disciplinary approach gave Fernando a competitive edge that would serve him well throughout his athletic career. He competed in numerous full contact tournaments and, at just fifteen years of age, reached the final of the amateur division at the Brazilian Nationals of full contact — a remarkable achievement that foreshadowed the elite-level performances to come.

At eighteen, Fernando Boi took his first steps onto the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mat, enrolling at the academy of Frederico Pimentel, one of the pioneers of BJJ in the Goiás region. The decision carried personal weight — his father had practiced jiu-jitsu in his own youth. Much of Fernando's early mat time came through lunchtime classes led by Pimentel's assistant instructor, Rodrigo Abrão, who had not yet earned his black belt but nevertheless became a formative influence on Fernando's development as a grappler.

With competition opportunities scarce in Goiás during those years, Fernando regularly traveled to Brasília to test himself against outside competition. Those trips proved pivotal when he encountered the legendary João Roque, who facilitated an introduction that would alter the trajectory of Fernando's BJJ career. Roque connected him with André Pederneiras, head of Nova Uniao in Rio de Janeiro. Pederneiras opened the doors of his academy to the young grappler from Goiás, and Fernando committed to regular training trips to Rio, immersing himself in the high-level competitive environment that Nova Uniao was renowned for cultivating.

Fernando Boi's belt progression from white through brown took place entirely under Frederico Pimentel in Goiânia — a testament to the foundational instruction he received in his home state. His sustained dedication to training at Nova Uniao, however, and his growing presence within that competitive ecosystem, earned the respect of André Pederneiras, who awarded Fernando Boi his black belt in December 1999.

The arc of Fernando's early BJJ story includes one of the more compelling full-circle moments in the sport's regional history. Rodrigo Abrão — the assistant instructor who guided Fernando through his earliest days on the mat — was eventually promoted to black belt by Fernando Boi himself, years after their initial teacher-student relationship had begun. This reversal of roles speaks to the fluid, deeply personal nature of BJJ lineage and the long-term bonds that define the art, while also positioning Fernando as a bridge between the grassroots development of BJJ in Goiás and the elite competitive tradition of Nova Uniao.

Fernando Boi's credentials were evident even before his black belt promotion. In 1998, competing at purple belt in the Peso Pesado (94kg/207lbs) division, he earned 2nd place at the IBJJF World Championship — a clear signal of his potential on the international stage.

After receiving his black belt in December 1999, Fernando continued to perform at the highest levels of the sport. He earned 3rd place at the 2000 IBJJF World Championship before reaching the pinnacle the following year, claiming 1st place at the 2001 IBJJF World Championship and establishing himself among the elite of his weight class.

Peak Years and Masters Competition

The 2005 season proved particularly productive, showcasing the full range of Fernando's competitive ability. He captured 1st place at the Brazilian National Championship, reached 2nd place at the 2005 IBJJF World Championship, earned 3rd place at the World Cup, and placed 3rd in the Absolute division at the Brazilian Nationals — a result that underscored his effectiveness beyond the confines of his weight category. Fernando extended his competitive longevity into the masters circuit, adding 1st place at the International Masters & Seniors Championship in 2009 and a 1st place title at Copa Dumau in 2008.

Following his accomplishments as a competitor, Fernando Boi channeled his technical knowledge and competitive experience into developing the next generation of BJJ practitioners. Operating within the Nova Uniao network, he established himself as a skilled and dedicated instructor whose students have gone on to make their own marks in the sport.

Among the black belts Fernando has produced are Dimitry Cerewuta Jucá, Dalton Regis Nascimento Castro, Ismael Marmota, Igor Ribeiro Marques, Hélio Damiani, Célio Medeiros, and Fábio Neres — a roster that reflects a consistent ability to develop well-rounded, competition-ready grapplers in the Nova Uniao tradition. His coaching legacy finds its most resonant expression in the story of Rodrigo Abrão, his first mentor on the mats, whom Fernando eventually promoted to black belt — completing a journey that began decades earlier in the lunchtime classes of Frederico Pimentel's academy in Goiânia.