Rogério Poggio

Rogério Poggio was born on September 21, 1971, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — stepping onto the mats for the first time at age 13 in 1984, drawn in by the cultural force of the Gracie family and the growing prominence of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu across the city. For young practitioners in Rio de Janeiro at the time, BJJ was more than a martial art; it was a defining pursuit, and Poggio embraced it fully.

His foundational development came under Totila Jordan, widely known as Pitoco, who served as his long-term master and primary influence through every stage of his growth as a practitioner and coach. Poggio also trained alongside Romero Cavalcanti, known as Jacaré, a significant figure in BJJ's broader history whose influence reached some of the art's most accomplished competitors. Complementing his BJJ education, Poggio pursued Judo with enough dedication to earn a brown belt — a well-rounded grappling foundation that would sharpen both his competitive instincts and his approach to teaching.

Master Totila Jordan awarded Poggio his black belt on September 21, 1995 — his 24th birthday — after more than a decade of dedicated training. The date carried personal weight, and the promotion marked the beginning of a new chapter: Poggio transitioned from student to leader, taking on a formative role within Rio de Janeiro's martial arts community.

Shortly after earning his black belt, Poggio became one of the founding members of Infight, establishing the team's base in Barra da Tijuca. Infight built a reputation as a serious development platform, producing numerous accomplished black belts over the years. Poggio personally guided several students to black belt rank, carrying forward the lineage of Master Pitoco and contributing to a competitive and pedagogical tradition that now spans multiple generations of practitioners.

Building a Record at the Highest Level

Competing in the Peso Leve division at 76kg/167lbs, Poggio constructed a distinguished record across nearly a decade of elite Masters competition. His consistency across domestic and international events established him as one of the most reliable performers at the Masters level in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The centerpiece of his competitive career arrived in 2004, when he claimed the World Championship title in the Masters division — the IBJJF calendar's most prestigious stage. The years surrounding that title reflected the depth of his success: a Brazilian National Championship in the Masters division in 2003, and a South American Championship in 2005 further confirmed that his performances represented sustained excellence rather than a single peak. A silver medal at the 2002 Brazilian National Championship in the Masters division offered early evidence of the championship-caliber game he was developing.

International Masters & Seniors Consistency

At the International Masters & Seniors level, Poggio remained a fixture on the podium across multiple editions of the event. Silver medals in both 2008 and 2010, alongside a bronze in 2005, demonstrated his continued competitive relevance well into his mid-career years and underscored the durability of his technical game within the Peso Leve division.

Bringing BJJ into Rio's Schools

Beyond competition, Rogério Poggio's most enduring contributions to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lie in education and community development. He played an instrumental role in introducing BJJ to schools across Rio de Janeiro, building structured programs that brought children between the ages of three and ten onto the mats — a grassroots initiative that positioned the art as an accessible and formative activity for youth at the earliest stages of development.

The Cidade de Deus Project

This work reflects a broader philosophy within Infight that pairs elite black belt production with meaningful outreach. The team runs a social project in the Cidade de Deus — the City of God — one of Rio de Janeiro's most well-known favelas, using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a vehicle for youth development, discipline, and community engagement. In communities where access to structured athletic programs carries significant social impact, the project represents a sustained commitment to extending the benefits of martial arts training beyond the competitive circuit.

Poggio's dual focus — developing high-level practitioners through Infight while building pathways for children and underserved communities — defines his legacy as a black belt, coach, and founding member of one of Rio de Janeiro's most notable BJJ institutions.