Natasha Quiza

Natasha Quiza was born on February 14, 1986, in Miami, Florida, into a family deeply rooted in Cuban culture. Long before she stepped onto a mat, she channeled her passion for movement and discipline through competitive dance — a pursuit she embraced with the same dedication that would later define her martial arts career. Dance was far more than a hobby; it was a formative pillar of her identity, shaping the body awareness, rhythm, and competitive mindset she would carry directly into jiu-jitsu.

In her early 20s, Quiza's athletic curiosity drew her toward martial arts, and she found an immediate affinity with muay Thai. Training under Eduardo "Ferrino" Silva, she set her sights on competitive striking, with ambitions that extended toward mixed martial arts. Though aware of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu during this period, she felt no particular draw toward grappling — a fact that makes her eventual trajectory all the more compelling.

Quiza's introduction to jiu-jitsu came not through deliberate pursuit, but through the natural convergence of circumstances at her training gym. When BJJ was added to the curriculum, the local grappling coach began attending the same muay Thai classes she frequented, creating an organic bridge between the two disciplines. At 22 years old, with a striking foundation already in place, she agreed to try her first jiu-jitsu lesson — a decision that would redirect the course of her athletic life.

The connection was immediate. Within one month of beginning her grappling training, Quiza stepped onto the competition stage for the first time at the De La Riva Cup, demonstrating the competitive drive that had defined her long before she ever tried the sport. Rather than discouraging her with the steep learning curve typical of early competition, the experience deepened her fascination. The technical complexity, the problem-solving dimension, and the raw competitive nature of jiu-jitsu captivated her in a way that made a return to the mats not just likely, but inevitable.

From the very first chapter of her grappling career, Natasha Quiza found her home within the Fight Sports ecosystem. Her first instructor was Denis Mitchel — known as "Deninho" — with Roberto Abreu serving as the overseeing authority of her development. This stable, structured environment within a respected team gave Quiza the foundation she needed to grow at a remarkable pace.

The Fight Sports community also brought something far beyond athletic development into her life. Through the team's inner circle, she met Igor Almeida, a black belt competitor who would become both her husband and her long-term professional partner, intertwining the personal and athletic dimensions of her journey.

A Black Belt Earned on the Podium

Quiza's progression through the belt ranks was notably swift. She earned her black belt in just six years of training — a timeline that reflects both her natural aptitude and her relentless competitive investment in the sport. The promotion itself carried genuine ceremony and significance: standing on the podium of the 2016 IBJJF World Masters Championship, Quiza received her black belt from both Igor Almeida and Roberto Abreu — the very coaches who had shaped her journey. It was a rare convergence of competitive achievement and personal milestone, conducted in front of the world's top masters-level competitors.

Natasha Quiza's competitive record spans multiple belt levels and reflects a consistency that few athletes sustain across such a long arc of development.

Blue and Brown Belt Highlights

At blue belt, Quiza delivered some of her most emphatic early results — winning gold at the 2013 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship and the 2012 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, establishing herself as one of the most dangerous competitors in her division. A silver medal at the 2013 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship confirmed that her results were no accident. At brown belt, her competitive output remained impressive, with the gold medal at the 2016 IBJJF World Masters Championship standing as one of the most symbolically meaningful results of her career — representing both the peak of one chapter and the opening of the next.

Black Belt Excellence in the Masters Division

Her transition into black belt competition produced continued excellence, particularly in the masters division. In 2020, Quiza claimed gold at the IBJJF World Masters Championship, reinforcing her status as one of the premier masters competitors in her weight class. She also earned a bronze medal at the 2020 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the black belt level. Quiza competes in the Peso Médio division (69kg/152.5lbs), representing the United States.

Beyond her personal athletic accomplishments, Natasha Quiza has built a lasting contribution to the martial arts community in South Florida through the Palm Beach Gardens Martial Arts Academy, which she co-owns alongside Igor Almeida in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The academy operates under the PBGMA/Fight Sports banner, preserving its connection to the broader team lineage that shaped Quiza's own development.

A Youth Program Built on Experience

What distinguishes the academy most clearly is the quality of its youth curriculum. Palm Beach Gardens Martial Arts has earned recognition as one of the most respected kids' BJJ programs in the Florida area — a reputation built through structured, thoughtful instruction tailored to young athletes. Quiza's background as a competitive dancer and her years as a dedicated competitor inform a coaching philosophy that prioritizes discipline, physical coordination, and the developmental needs of children.

Together, she and Igor Almeida have created a space where the next generation of grapplers in the Palm Beach area can develop under qualified, experienced instruction — a direct continuation of the values instilled in Quiza throughout her years inside the Fight Sports family.