Hygor Brito

Hygor Brito da Silva was born on February 10, 1996, in Manaus, Brazil, and discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 13 through friends already immersed in the sport. That social introduction to the mats would prove far more than a passing influence — it set the course for a serious competitive career. Hygor began his formal training under Othon Sevalho, founder of Academia Clube Sevalho, who guided him through the junior belt system with a steady, formative hand.

Brito progressed through BJJ's teen belt structure with growing confidence and consistency. His path, however, was not without disruption: upon reaching blue belt, the club closed for an extended period, forcing him to seek training elsewhere. Rather than stepping away from the sport, that transition opened the door to the next defining chapter of his development.

Following the closure of Academia Clube Sevalho, Hygor Brito sought out Nabil Abdel Aziz, a coach whose technical lineage traces back to the legendary Omar Salum. That connection to a storied BJJ tradition furnished Brito with both the technical grounding and competitive mindset needed to evolve as a serious athlete. Under Master Nabil's guidance, he continued sharpening his game while navigating the colored belt divisions of the Manaus local circuit.

Competing regularly in his home region, Brito built a reputation as one of the most promising young competitors in the area — and backed it with results. In 2014, at the blue belt level, he claimed gold at the 2014 IBJJF Manaus Open and earned a 3rd place finish at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, a performance that signaled his potential extended well beyond the Amazon region.

Determined to make jiu-jitsu his profession, Hygor Brito made a defining life decision in 2016, relocating from Manaus to São Paulo to join Cicero Costha – PSLPB — the Projeto Social Lutando Pelo Bem academy led by Cicero Costha. The move was also driven by personal ties: his close friend Diego Oliveira, known within the community as "Pato," was already training within the same environment.

The shift proved transformative. Elevated training partners and one of the sport's most demanding regional competitive circuits accelerated Brito's development considerably, turning a state-level prospect into a nationally recognized force. His brown belt campaign in 2017 served as a statement year: Brito swept the division, winning the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, the IBJJF São Paulo Open, and the IBJJF São Paulo BJJ Pro — a rare trifecta that announced his readiness for the sport's highest level.

On December 12, 2017, Nabil Abdel Aziz promoted Hygor Brito to black belt, formally recognizing a journey that had taken him from a curious 13-year-old in Manaus to one of Brazil's most accomplished competitors.

Hygor Brito competes in the Meio Pesado division (88.30 kg / 163.5 lbs) representing Brazil, and he wasted little time establishing his credentials at the black belt level. In 2018, he claimed gold at the IBJJF South American Championship in his weight class — a significant early statement on the international stage. That same year, he advanced to the absolute final of the same tournament, finishing runner-up and demonstrating that his game translates well beyond his natural division. Brito also made an impression in the no-gi format, reaching the absolute final of the ACBJJ European Open No-Gi in 2018, again finishing as runner-up.

The momentum carried into 2020, when Brito earned a 3rd place finish at the AJP Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro against a deep international field. His commitment to high-level competition extended into 2023, when he returned to the IBJJF South American Championship and once again reached the absolute final, finishing 2nd, while also claiming a 2nd place result in the weight division at the IBJJF South Brazil Championship that same year. Across every stage of his black belt career, Brito has remained a consistent and formidable presence on the international circuit.