Josef Manuel

Josef Manuel Junior was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, where his connection to combat sports took root at an unusually early age. Lacing up his first pair of boxing gloves around the age of four or five, he built a foundation of martial instinct that would shape the trajectory of his life.

His introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came not through a gym, but through a television screen. Watching Royce Gracie dismantle opponents from across the martial arts spectrum in the early editions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Josef witnessed the raw effectiveness of BJJ in a way that left a permanent mark. Those broadcasts ignited a fascination with the art that would eventually define his career. Formal training, however, was not immediately within reach — a reflection of BJJ's limited presence in the United States during the late 1990s. The gap between first seeing the art and actually practicing it only sharpened his hunger when the opportunity finally arrived.

First Steps and the Birth of "Zé Cobra"

In 2001, Josef Manuel stepped onto the BJJ mats for the first time under Mário Lemos, a former student of the Gracie Academy in Humaitá. The relationship proved formative — Lemos not only introduced Josef to the fundamentals of the art but bestowed upon him the nickname "Zé Cobra," a war name that has followed him throughout his career.

The Move to Nova Uniao and Black Belt Promotion

In 2005, Josef made a pivotal transition, aligning himself with Robson Moura and the Nova Uniao / Robson Moura Nova Uniao (RMNU) association. The move opened a new chapter in his development, one defined by sharper technical refinement and competitive ambition. In February 2009, Robson Moura awarded Josef his black belt — the culmination of roughly eight years of dedicated training spanning two distinct and influential instructor relationships.

Josef has continued to grow within the sport long after that promotion, earning the rank of 4th-degree black belt — a milestone that reflects his longevity on the mats and his sustained contributions to the art as both a competitor and instructor.

Establishing Credibility at the Highest Level

At the black belt level, Josef Manuel built a competition record defined by consistent performances at IBJJF events, with his most significant results coming in the Masters division. In 2009 — the same year he received his black belt — he captured gold at the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship in the Masters division, making an immediate statement of competitive readiness at the sport's highest level.

A Prolific Run on the Open Circuit

He reinforced that result with an international victory in 2010, winning the IBJJF European Open at black belt Masters and proving his 2009 title was no anomaly. The 2011 season proved to be his most prolific on the open circuit. He earned a bronze medal at the IBJJF World Championship, one of the most prestigious and competitive events in the sport. That same year, he claimed gold at the IBJJF Montreal International Open in his weight class and added an absolute bronze at the same event, a silver medal at the IBJJF New York International Open, a bronze at the IBJJF Boston International Open, and a silver at the Long Island Pride Championship at open weight.

Over the course of his career, Josef's weight division history shifted across multiple categories — competing as Pena (Featherweight) early on before transitioning to the Pluma and Galo divisions as his career progressed.

From Competitor to Community Builder

Josef Manuel's influence on the sport extends well beyond the competition mat. He is the founder and Chief Instructor of Chokelab Academy — also known as Team Chokelab — located in Harrison, New Jersey. Originally established under the name Cutting Edge – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, the school was rebranded to Chokelab, an identity that has since become the defining platform through which he develops practitioners of all levels.

Expanding BJJ Beyond Sport

Shortly after receiving his black belt in February 2009, Josef was recruited to train soldiers from the United States Army — a testament to the practical self-defense credibility of his instruction. He was also offered the opportunity to train Federal Agents and Local Law Enforcement Officials, extending his BJJ curriculum into professional defensive applications well beyond the sport competition circuit.

Through Chokelab Academy, Josef Manuel has built a community rooted in the same values that guided his own development — technical rigor, consistent training, and a deep respect for the art that first captured his imagination through a television screen in Newark decades earlier.