Leon Brito

Leon Brito was born on August 26, 1993, in Juiz de Fora, a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A natural athlete, he channeled his competitive drive into football (soccer) throughout his childhood, representing a local club at the youth level. That chapter closed abruptly in October 2008 when an injury sidelined him for over a year — and when the recovery was complete, Brito chose a different path entirely. Rather than returning to the pitch, he stepped onto the mats for the first time, beginning what would become a defining career in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Foundations Under Eduardo Portilho

Brito's early development came under Eduardo Portilho, then a brown belt, who served as his first instructor and introduced him to the technical fundamentals of jiu-jitsu. Under Portilho's guidance, Brito built a solid base and progressed steadily through the early ranks, earning his blue belt before making a pivotal transition to Brazilian Top Team (BTT)'s Juiz de Fora headquarters.

Competitive Growth Under Ricardo Marques

At BTT, Brito came under the coaching of Ricardo Marques, and the move catalyzed a period of accelerated development. His results across the colored belt divisions reflected both technical maturity and competitive consistency. At blue belt, he placed 2nd at the IBJJF Brazilian Nationals in 2012, then returned the following year to claim gold at the same event in 2013 — a run he punctuated with a silver medal at the IBJJF World Championship that same year. He continued to perform on the national stage through purple and brown belt, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the IBJJF Pan Championship in 2018. That year, Ricardo Marques awarded Brito his black belt, recognizing both his technical evolution and the competitive résumé he had built across the divisions.

Brito entered the black belt division without sponsorship, competing on merit alone. That changed in 2021 when he signed his first deal with the Vouk brand — a milestone that reflected his standing as an established competitor at the elite level.

Establishing a Presence at the Elite Level

Brito's black belt career has been defined by methodical, sustained progress through Brazil's most demanding circuits. In 2021, he opened his account on the international stage with a 4th-place finish at the Copa Podio Grand Prix, competing against a high-level field and demonstrating his readiness to contend among the sport's elite. That same year, he reached the final of the IBJJF South American Championship, earning a silver medal that set the stage for what was to follow.

South American Gold and National Podiums

In 2022, Brito returned to the IBJJF South American Championship and claimed the gold medal, completing his progression from runner-up to champion on that stage. The year also brought a 2nd-place finish at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals — one of Brazil's most prestigious domestic tournaments — further cementing his status as a consistent podium presence in the Pesado division. He followed that with a 3rd-place finish at the same event in 2023, affirming his sustained relevance among Brazil's top black belts.

Competing under the banner of Brazilian Top Team (BTT) out of Juiz de Fora, Brito's career arc — from an unsponsored competitor finding his footing at black belt to a nationally recognized gold medalist — stands as a testament to the methodical development fostered within his academy and under the guidance of Ricardo Marques.