Marcos Martins

Marcos Vinicius Martins, widely known as Petcho, was born on February 8, 1997, in Brazil. His path to becoming one of the country's most accomplished competitors began not in a gym, but in a community-based non-profit social project operating in his neighborhood. Designed to keep local children constructively engaged while their parents were at work, the project offered a range of activities from which participants could choose three to pursue. For the young Martins, those early choices — skateboarding, parkour, and theatre — reflected an active, curious mind equally drawn to physical challenge and creative expression.

At the age of 12, in 2009, the same social project introduced Martins to jiu-jitsu. Training under coach Anderson de Oliveira, he took his first steps on the mats and quickly discovered a discipline that resonated with him far more deeply than the others. As his commitment grew, Martins transitioned to a CIA Paulista affiliated gym, coming under the instruction of Fernando Silva — known within the community as "Costela." Silva recognized Martins' rapid development and awarded him his blue belt, marking the first formal milestone in what would become a serious competitive career.

That blue belt represented more than a rank. For Martins, it was a decision point — one he approached with unusual clarity and ambition for a teenager. He resolved that jiu-jitsu would not simply be a hobby, but the foundation of his professional life.

With a competitive career firmly in mind, Marcos Petcho understood that his training environment would need to match his ambitions. He sought out a more tournament-focused program and found it at a Barbosa JJ affiliate gym under coach Diego Martins. The move proved formative, placing him within a structured, competition-oriented system that aligned precisely with the goals he had set for himself.

The next pivotal step came when Martins turned 18 and relocated to São Paulo, the state capital, to train directly under Marco Barbosa, the head coach of Barbosa JJ — commonly known as B9. The move placed his development ahead of the comforts of home, signaling the seriousness with which he approached the sport.

Under the dual mentorship of Diego Martins and Marco Barbosa, Petcho developed into one of Brazil's most decorated colored belt competitors. Years of consistent national and international performance culminated in the defining moment of his pre-black belt career: on December 8, 2018, Marco Barbosa promoted Martins to black belt in a ceremony held with Diego Martins' blessing — a recognition of the sustained excellence Petcho had built across purple and brown belt competition.

Purple Belt: Establishing National and Regional Authority

Marcos Petcho's colored belt career stands as one of the more comprehensive competitive records of his generation, marked by consistent dominance on the national circuit and a steadily expanding international footprint. At purple belt, he claimed the IBJJF Brazilian National title in 2016, complemented by the Brazilian No-Gi National in both 2016 and 2017. He also captured the IBJJF South American title in 2016, establishing himself early as a major force in regional competition.

Brown Belt: Expanding the International Résumé

By the time Petcho transitioned to brown belt, his performances only intensified. He repeated as South American champion in 2017 and 2018, and added the Brazilian No-Gi National title in 2018 to his growing résumé. His reach extended well beyond Brazil's borders during this period. In 2018, he claimed the IBJJF European No-Gi Open title, while UAEJJF Grand Slam victories in Rio de Janeiro in 2017 and Abu Dhabi in 2018 confirmed his standing as a legitimate global contender. A third-place finish at the UAEJJF Grand Slam London in 2018 rounded out an international schedule that few competitors his age had managed.

The World Championship Final

Despite conquering virtually every title available on the national stage, US visa denials during his earlier colored belt years prevented Petcho from competing at the IBJJF World Championships in California — a frustrating obstacle for an athlete who had clearly demonstrated he belonged among the sport's best. That chapter, however, did not end without resolution. Petcho eventually secured a US visa and stepped onto the world stage as a brown belt at the 2019 IBJJF World Championship, navigating one of the most competitive brackets in the sport to reach the final. His silver medal performance was a landmark result, validating what his national and international title run had long suggested: that he was among the elite competitors of his generation.

Immediate Impact at Black Belt

Marcos Petcho's transition into black belt competition with Barbosa JJ was immediate and decisive. In 2019, shortly after receiving his black belt, he claimed gold at both the IBJJF South Brazil Championship and the IBJJF Rio Open — results that signaled an athlete who arrived at the black belt level ready to compete, not merely to adjust.

Sustained Presence at the Top

Petcho competes in the Meio Pesado division at 88.30 kg / 195.0 lbs, a weight class that demands both technical precision and physical intensity. As his black belt career progressed, he continued to perform at the highest levels of domestic competition. In 2021, he reached the final of the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, finishing as runner-up, and also placed second at the Big Deal Pro Grand Prix — results that reflected consistent presence at the top of his division even as the competition at black belt grew increasingly formidable.

The foundation Petcho built across years of colored belt competition — through community gyms in his home region, a decisive move to São Paulo, and international competition on multiple continents — carries forward into his black belt career as a representative of one of Brazil's most prominent competitive teams.