Mathias Luna

Born on February 21, 1995, in Recife, the capital of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil, Jose Mathias Luna spent his formative years in one of the country's most vibrant cultural centers before his family relocated to Natal, the coastal capital of Rio Grande do Norte, when he was 8 years old. It was there, at the age of 16, that a neighbor's influence introduced him to jiu-jitsu — a moment that would reshape the trajectory of his life entirely.

His early development unfolded under coaches Fábio Rodrigues and Júlio e Rodrigo Salustino, who instilled the technical discipline he would carry throughout his career. Alongside him in this journey was his twin brother Matheus Luna, who took up the sport during the same period. Together, they would go on to forge one of the most distinctive sibling partnerships in Brazilian competitive jiu-jitsu.

A defining chapter in Mathias Luna's development came through his time at the Barreto Brothers' Academy, where he honed the competitive edge that would come to define his career. This experience prepared him for his alignment with Checkmat, one of the most decorated teams in global BJJ.

On August 24, 2019, Mathias Luna received his black belt from Lucas Leite and Ricardo Feliciano, two prominent figures within the Checkmat organization, formally cementing his place among the sport's elite. At the black belt level, he competes in the Meio Pesado division at 88.30 kg (195.0 lbs), a weight class renowned for its depth of international talent.

Few stories in modern competitive jiu-jitsu carry the narrative weight of the parallel rise of Mathias and Matheus Luna. Training and competing together from the earliest stages of their development, the twins ascended through the ranks in tandem, both reaching the top of jiu-jitsu's competitive standings at purple belt — a rare and remarkable achievement at that level.

Their shared dominance manifested in a string of parallel colored belt titles, with both brothers collecting gold medals at major international events throughout their progression. The Luna name became a distinctive identity within the competitive BJJ community, and the blend of rivalry and camaraderie between them served as a constant source of motivation. As they advanced toward black belt, each brother's achievements reinforced the other's reputation, establishing them as among the most gifted competitors of their generation.

Blue Belt

Mathias Luna's colored belt career stands as one of the most decorated pre-black belt records in contemporary jiu-jitsu. His ascent began at blue belt, where he captured gold at the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro in 2015 and followed with the IBJJF World Championship title in 2016 — results that announced him as a serious international competitor from the outset.

Purple Belt

At purple belt, Luna's dominance became even more pronounced. He claimed the IBJJF World Championship in 2018, the SJJIF World Championship in 2017, and the IBJJF European Open in 2018, while also winning the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro in both 2017 and 2018. Additional titles at the ROYAL III Invitational and ACBJJ American Nationals, alongside a bronze medal at the 2017 IBJJF World Championship, illustrated both the breadth of his competition schedule and his consistency across multiple formats and organizations.

Brown Belt

Transitioning to brown belt, Luna continued to perform at an elite standard. He secured gold at the 2019 IBJJF World Championship No-Gi, demonstrating his effectiveness in both gi and no-gi formats. Podium appearances at the UAEJJF Grand Slam Los Angeles and the Abu Dhabi Pro further confirmed that his level never wavered as he approached the threshold of black belt.

Mathias Luna entered the black belt ranks without any drop in competitive output. In 2021, he captured gold at the IBJJF American Nationals — a strong opening statement that signaled his readiness to compete among the sport's elite. He reinforced that result in 2023 by winning the IBJJF American Nationals a second time, confirming sustained performance across multiple seasons.

Between those two titles, Luna reached the podium at the 2022 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, one of the most prestigious events on the annual IBJJF calendar, earning a third-place finish. His 2023 campaign was further distinguished by a podium appearance in the absolute division at the IBJJF American Nationals, highlighting his ability to compete effectively outside his own weight class. Taken together, his black belt record reflects an athlete who successfully bridged the gap between an exceptional colored belt career and sustained elite performance at the sport's highest level.