Larissa Campos

Larissa Campos Carvalho was born on October 24, 1994, in Brazil, with no background in martial arts or competitive sports. Her path to jiu-jitsu began not through a conventional introduction to the sport, but through a personal connection that would fundamentally reshape the course of her life. In May 2013, Larissa met Thiago de Guimarães, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who had made history by introducing BJJ to Réunion Island in 2000—a remote French territory off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. The two formed a deep bond quickly, and by August 2013, Larissa made the defining decision to leave Brazil and relocate to Réunion Island to be with him.

One month after arriving on the island, Larissa stepped onto the mats for the first time. Despite having no prior athletic foundation, she discovered an immediate and profound passion for the art. Réunion Island, though geographically isolated from the traditional centers of BJJ in Brazil, the United States, and Europe, had grown into a meaningful hub for the sport through Guimarães's pioneering efforts over more than a decade. Within this unique and unlikely setting, Larissa Campos would begin one of the most rapid and decorated ascents in the history of women's jiu-jitsu.

Training under Thiago de Guimarães at Gracie Reunion Academy, Larissa demonstrated exceptional dedication and a natural aptitude for the sport from the outset. Her progression through the belt ranks was remarkably swift for a competitor who arrived with no prior martial arts experience. The trust she earned from her coach and partner became evident early—while still a blue belt, Larissa took on the responsibility of running her own classes, coaching women and children at the academy. This dual role as student and instructor reflected both her technical ability and her leadership on and off the mats.

Colored Belt Titles and Competitive Dominance

On the competitive front, Campos built an extraordinary record throughout her colored belt years. She captured gold at the IBJJF European Open in 2015 and 2016 at blue belt, then continued her winning ways at purple belt with victories at the IBJJF British Nationals, the IBJJF Rome Open, the IBJJF Spanish National No-Gi, and a first-place finish at the IBJJF World Championship in 2017. Her momentum carried seamlessly into brown belt, where she claimed gold at the 2018 IBJJF World Championship, along with multiple titles at the IBJJF London Winter Open and London Fall Open that same year.

In December 2018, Thiago de Guimarães awarded Larissa her black belt—completing her journey from white to black in just 5 years and 3 months. That compressed timeline stands as a testament to both her natural talent and her relentless work ethic.

Larissa Campos's transition to black belt competition proved seamless. She established herself quickly among the top light-featherweight competitors in the world in the Peso Pluma division (53.50 kg / 118.0 lbs). Representing Gracie Reunion Academy, she made an immediate impact on the IBJJF black belt circuit in Europe, finishing as runner-up at the IBJJF European Championship in both 2019 and 2020. At the 2020 edition, she extended her podium presence with a 3rd place finish in the Absolute division—a result that underscored her versatility and competitiveness beyond her weight class.

Building a Global Résumé

In 2019, Campos added a 3rd place finish at the IBJJF Pan American Championship to her black belt résumé. In 2021, she reached the podium at the IBJJF World Championship with a 3rd place finish—one of the most prestigious stages in the sport—and also claimed 3rd place at the IBJJF South American Championship that same year. Her competitive reach extended further when she joined AOJ (Art of Jiu-Jitsu) after relocating from Réunion Island. The move broadened her competitive platform and kept her at the forefront of the division, as demonstrated by her 2nd place finish at the IBJJF American Nationals in 2022—evidence of sustained elite-level performance well into her black belt career.

Larissa Campos's impact on Brazilian jiu-jitsu extends well beyond her own competitive achievements. Beginning as a blue belt, she took on the responsibility of leading classes for women and children at Gracie Reunion Academy—placing herself at the center of grassroots BJJ development in one of the sport's most geographically isolated communities. That Thiago de Guimarães entrusted her with this role so early in her development speaks to the qualities she displayed as both a practitioner and a leader.

Her work on the island contributed meaningfully to expanding jiu-jitsu access for women and children—groups often underrepresented in the sport's traditional training environments. Larissa's identity as both a high-level competitor and a grassroots instructor reflects the broader ethos of jiu-jitsu as a transformative practice, not merely a competitive pursuit. Her journey from a newcomer with no athletic background to a black belt world-level competitor and coach on a remote island off the coast of Africa illustrates the truly global reach of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the human stories that continue to shape its growth beyond the sport's traditional strongholds.