Jose Inacio dos Santos

Jose Inacio dos Santos was born on January 8, 1998, in Lençóis Paulista, a small municipality in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil. From an early age, Santos gravitated toward physical discipline, beginning swimming at age 3 and maintaining the practice until he was 6. While those early years were shaped by time in the pool, it was his father's deep passion for martial arts that ultimately redirected his athletic path.

Encouraged by his father, Santos stepped onto the mats for the first time at age 6 at André Andrade's school, training under the coach widely known as Rabiola. That introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu proved formative, and Santos remained under Rabiola's guidance through his orange belt. He subsequently transitioned to Ricardo Pereira, whose mentorship drew Santos into São Paulo's renowned competitive grappling circuit — one of the most demanding regional scenes in Brazil — and planted the seeds of serious competitive ambition.

Santos's journey through the belt ranks reflects steady progression across multiple influential coaches and environments. His foundational years under André Andrade (Rabiola) carried him from white belt through orange belt, building the technical base that would support his later development. Under Ricardo Pereira's guidance, Santos immersed himself in competitive jiu-jitsu, using São Paulo state's celebrated grappling circuit as a proving ground.

At purple belt, Santos began training with Diego Ramos of SAS, a move that marked a significant step in both his technical evolution and competitive output. Ramos awarded Santos his brown belt, recognizing his growth within the SAS environment. A defining result from this period came in 2017, when Santos earned 3rd Place at the IBJJF Pan Championship at brown belt — a performance that affirmed his credentials on a major international stage.

Shortly after receiving his brown belt, Ramos relocated to the United States, and Santos — then 19 years old — followed. Based in Syracuse, NY, Santos continued his development while teaching at a local academy, and in 2018 Ramos awarded him his black belt, completing a journey that had begun on the mats of a small city in the Brazilian interior.

Santos's relationship with North American jiu-jitsu predates his eventual relocation. In 2013, he traveled to the United States with his father as a blue belt, competing in several tournaments and capturing gold medals. The experience reshaped his perspective on the sport — witnessing jiu-jitsu's rapid growth in North America and recognizing the emerging opportunities to build a professional career within it. From that point forward, competing and teaching abroad became a concrete ambition.

That ambition materialized when Santos followed Diego Ramos to Syracuse, NY, taking up a teaching position at a local academy and earning his black belt there in 2018. He set his sights on the international competition circuit, but those plans were significantly disrupted by a series of serious heart complications requiring three separate surgeries, the most recent of which took place in December 2021. The health setbacks forced a prolonged absence from competition and placed considerable strain on his professional life. In January 2022, Santos was let go from his position at the academy. Faced with the need to support himself while recovering, he took work on a construction site — a period that tested his resilience and ultimately reinforced his determination to return to the sport.

After years marked by medical adversity and professional instability, Santos returned to full competition in 2023, channeling those experiences into a sharpened competitive drive. The comeback proved immediate and impactful. At the 2023 IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship, he reached the final of his division and earned a silver medal — a strong signal that his abilities at the highest level remained fully intact. His performances across the year earned him a ranking of #10 among IBJJF No-Gi athletes in 2023, reflecting consistent excellence throughout the season.

The upward trajectory continued into 2024. Santos secured 1st Place at the ADCC Brasil BH Trials, a major milestone in his pursuit of international competitive success that placed him firmly on the ADCC circuit radar. Competing in the super-heavyweight division — Pesadíssimo, for athletes over 100.5 kg (222 lbs) — Santos has established himself as a formidable presence in one of the most physically demanding weight categories in the sport.

Santos's time in the United States also cultivated a serious engagement with strength sports. Influenced by friends within the American fitness community, he began training with weights and eventually transitioned into competitive powerlifting on an occasional basis. The pursuit reflects both personal passion and a practical complement to his super-heavyweight jiu-jitsu career, with strength development playing a meaningful role in his overall athletic profile.

As of May 2024, Santos's powerlifting personal records stand as a testament to his commitment to the discipline: a squat of 524.7 lb (238 kg), a bench press of 407.8 lb (185 kg), and a deadlift of 639.3 lb (290 kg). These numbers place him at a competitive level within the sport and underscore the physical foundation that drives his work on the mats.