Gabriel Procopio da Fonseca

Gabriel Procópio da Fonseca, known by the nickname "Timbó," was born on April 16, 1989, in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Growing up in one of the state's largest cities, Gabriel established himself as a natural athlete early on, competing across futsal, handball, basketball, and football. That multi-sport background built the physical foundation and competitive mindset that would serve him well on the mats.

At age 12, Gabriel faced a defining choice: jiu-jitsu or judo. He chose jiu-jitsu — not simply for the sport's appeal, but for its self-defense philosophy and practical real-world applications. That reasoned decision, made at such a young age, reflects a clarity of purpose that would define his long-term commitment to the art as both practitioner and coach.

From White Belt to Black Belt

Gabriel developed exclusively under the guidance of Ricardo Marques, who guided him from white belt through to black belt promotion. Training under a single instructor from start to black belt is a notable mark of loyalty and consistency in a sport where athletes frequently change affiliations — a testament to the depth of their student-teacher relationship.

Colored Belt Achievements

Gabriel's colored belt record charts a clear upward trajectory. In 2009, competing as a purple belt, he claimed gold at the IBJJF World Championship NoGi — a result that signaled his potential at the sport's highest levels. As a brown belt, he continued to build his résumé on the national stage: a bronze at the IBJJF Rio Open in 2010, followed by a 3rd Place NoGi finish at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals that same year, then a 1st Place NoGi and 3rd Place Gi double at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2011.

It was that brown belt performance at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals that served as the direct catalyst for his promotion. Ricardo Marques awarded Gabriel his black belt in December 2012 — the culmination of a decade of dedicated training and a competitive record that had earned him recognition on the national stage.

First Steps Abroad

Gabriel's transition into coaching began through a combination of circumstance and opportunity. In 2015, during a university strike in Brazil, he traveled to Fresno, California, to work at Dethrone Basecamp Academy — the gym founded by UFC veteran Josh Koscheck. That initial stint abroad provided his first meaningful exposure to the American BJJ coaching landscape and planted the seeds for a full-time career in the United States.

Committing to Full-Time Coaching

After completing his university degree in Brazil in 2017, Gabriel returned to the US and committed fully to coaching at Dethrone Basecamp. Over two years, he refined his approach as an instructor, drawing on both his competitive experience and the cross-cultural perspective he had begun developing two years prior.

Brazilian Top Team Florida

In 2019, Gabriel assumed responsibility for the BJJ program at Brazilian Top Team (BTT) in Juno Beach, Florida. Stewardship of a program under one of the most historically significant team brands in the sport marked a major step in his coaching career, establishing his base of operations in one of South Florida's most competitive BJJ communities. His trajectory from decorated competitor to trusted instructor reflects an evolution shaped equally by his Brazilian roots and the opportunities that emerged through his international path.

Masters World Championship

Even while running a full-time coaching program, Gabriel remained a competitive force on the IBJJF circuit. His most prestigious black belt result came in 2019, when he earned 2nd Place at the IBJJF Masters World Championship — the pinnacle of masters-level competition within the IBJJF structure.

Dominant Run on the Open Circuit

That same year proved his most prolific on the tournament circuit. Competing in the Masters 1 division, Gabriel claimed gold at the IBJJF Miami Fall Open, the IBJJF Miami Spring Open, the IBJJF Orlando Summer Open in both Gi and NoGi formats, and the IBJJF Miami Winter Open in 2020. He also captured gold at the IBJJF Boston Spring Open and the IBJJF Long Beach Open in 2018, and added a silver medal at the IBJJF American Nationals NoGi in 2017 to his black belt record.

Early Black Belt Competitiveness

Gabriel's competitiveness at black belt was evident from the start. A silver at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals NoGi in 2013 and a 2nd Place finish at the IBJJF Rio Winter Open in 2016 demonstrated his podium presence well before his US-based run. Taken together, his black belt record paints the picture of a practitioner who never allowed the demands of coaching to diminish his own standards as an athlete — consistently reaching podiums across both open and masters divisions well into his 30s.