Nabil Aziz

Nabil Lelis Abdel Aziz was born on August 15, 1977, in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas — a sprawling state defined by the Amazon Rainforest and the dark waters of the Negro River in northwestern Brazil. Though not a dedicated athlete in his early years, Aziz developed into a naturally large and physically imposing young man by his mid-teens, a build he put to use in the informal fight gatherings he and his friends regularly organized.

These King of the Hill-style contests served as an unstructured proving ground, but one opponent consistently got the better of him: a local boy named Antônio 'Bodo' Pereira, who trained at the well-known HBJ academy. Pereira's technical edge turned him into something of a nemesis for the untrained Aziz, and it was precisely this recurring frustration that planted the seed of a lifelong martial arts journey. Determined to shift the dynamic, Aziz secretly enrolled in jiu-jitsu at the age of 15 in 1993 — setting in motion a path that would eventually see him become one of the most respected figures in Amazonian grappling.

Aziz's formal introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came through Paulo 'Ameba' Barros at Barraco Jiu-Jitsu, where he absorbed the foundational principles of the art. His development took a decisive turn when Omar Salum — a legendary figure within the Manaus BJJ community — assumed his instruction and went on to award every subsequent belt in Aziz's progression, from blue belt through to black belt.

By 2001, as a purple belt, Aziz had already begun transitioning into a coaching role, assisting with classes at Salum's gym and building early experience on the instructional side of the sport. His commitment deepened in the years that followed, and in December 2003 — still holding the rank of brown belt — he opened his own training space while maintaining formal affiliation with Salum's organization. The arrangement reflected both his growing independence as a coach and the enduring respect he held for his instructor. That partnership continued until September 2015, when Omar Salum relocated to the United States, closing a formative chapter in Aziz's career.

Following Omar Salum's departure to the United States in September 2015, Aziz took the decisive step of establishing his own independent association, Nabil JJ, channeling more than two decades of competitive and instructional experience into building an organization rooted in the Amazonas region.

Under his guidance, Nabil JJ grew into one of the most respected grappling academies in Manaus and across the broader Amazonas state. Aziz earned a reputation as one of the region's most prolific developers of competitive talent, building a roster of high-caliber athletes that includes Diego 'Pato' Oliveira, Hygor Brito, Alex Sodré, Diego Sodré, Pedro 'Bolo' Silva, Ronaldo Silva, and Gabriel Mendes, among others. The honorific title 'Mestre Nabil' — by which he is widely known throughout the Amazonian BJJ community — speaks to the depth of respect he has earned through a sustained commitment to athlete development and to advancing the sport in one of Brazil's most geographically distinctive regions.

Throughout his competitive career, Nabil Aziz has competed in the Pesadíssimo division — the super-heavyweight category for athletes over 100.5 kg (222 lbs) — and his regional record reflects an exceptional level of longevity and consistency at the top of the standings.

Aziz captured the FJJAM Amazonas State Championship on five occasions, claiming gold in 2005, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2018 — a span of over thirteen years that underscores his sustained dominance on the regional circuit. He also demonstrated versatility across formats, adding the FJJAM Amazonas State No-Gi Championship to his record in 2018, the same year as his fifth gi state title, and twice claimed the FJJE Amazonas State Championship, in 2010 and 2014.

Aziz's performances extended beyond regional competition as well. At the 2014 IBJJF Manaus International Open, he claimed the gold medal in his division, and followed that result with a silver medal at the 2015 IBJJF Manaus International Open — results that affirm his standing as one of the foremost super-heavyweight competitors to emerge from the Amazonas region.