Thais Loureiro

Born on March 17, 1997, in Brazil, Thaís Loureiro discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 14 in her hometown — a decision that would shape the entire trajectory of her life. Her introduction to the sport came through Leonardo Lyra of the MJJ Team, and from her very first sessions on the mats, she felt an immediate and deep connection to the art. What began as a sporting curiosity quickly evolved into a defining passion.

That passion extended well beyond competition and into her academic ambitions. Inspired by the physical demands and culture of jiu-jitsu, Loureiro chose to pursue a degree in nutrition — a field that deepens understanding of athletic performance and recovery. Her academic dedication earned her a place at the Universidade Federal de Espírito Santo (UFES), one of Brazil's most respected public universities. In 2017, she relocated to the state capital, Vitória, to begin her studies — a move that simultaneously opened the next chapter of her competitive career.

Upon settling in Vitória, Thaís Loureiro wasted little time finding a competitive home. She joined the Centro de Formação Esportivo Domo — known as CTE Domo — under the guidance of coach Wilson Ulhôa. As an affiliate of the internationally renowned Atos Jiu-Jitsu organization, CTE Domo gave Loureiro the high-level training environment she needed to grow as a competitor, and she integrated into the squad's competition team with remarkable speed.

Competing at roosterweight, Loureiro steadily built a reputation as one of the division's most promising rising talents on the colored belt circuit. Her performances across the IBJJF and AJP platforms validated that reputation with consistent results. In 2017, she claimed silver at the Brazilian Nationals as a purple belt. The following year, she returned to the national stage to take gold at the Brazilian Nationals NOGI as a purple belt, while also earning a third-place finish at the 2018 AJP Grand Slam Rio at the same rank. By 2019, competing as a brown belt, she reached the top of the podium at the Brazilian Nationals and added a bronze medal at the Brazilian Nationals NOGI — rounding out a colored belt career that demonstrated both durability and competitive range across gi and no-gi formats.

As Thaís Loureiro's competitive profile grew, so did her commitment to developing others. In 2020, she joined the coaching staff at CTE Domo, stepping into the dual role of competitor and instructor. She simultaneously took on teaching responsibilities at the Além dos Tatames Academy, broadening her experience across different training environments and student profiles.

In parallel with her practical coaching work, Loureiro pursued formal methodological education by studying the Emotional Intelligence on the Mat (EIM) method — a specialized protocol developed by Ariane Guarnier that integrates jiu-jitsu instruction with emotional intelligence frameworks. This training equipped Loureiro with tools that go beyond technical drilling, informing a coaching philosophy centered on the holistic development of practitioners.

On November 2, 2021, the sum of Loureiro's competitive achievements, coaching contributions, and personal growth was formally recognized when Wilson Ulhôa and Christofer Biude promoted her to the rank of black belt. The promotion acknowledged not only her results as an athlete but also the maturity and knowledge she demonstrated as an instructor and student of the art.

Following her black belt promotion, Thaís Loureiro carried her roosterweight credentials — Peso Galo, at 48.50 kg / 107.0 lbs — onto the international stage, representing Peru under the Mekka Jiu-Jitsu Academy / Atos Jiu-Jitsu banner.

Her debut season as a black belt immediately validated her elite standing. At the 2022 IBJJF European Open, Loureiro claimed gold, announcing her arrival at the top tier of the division. She backed that result with a silver medal at the 2022 AJP South America Team Cup, demonstrating her effectiveness in team competition formats as well. In 2023, she returned to the European Open podium twice — earning silver at both the 2023 IBJJF European Open and the 2023 IBJJF European Open No-Gi — evidence of her sustained elite-level performance across gi and no-gi disciplines.

The 2024 season further cemented her standing, with a gold medal at the IBJJF Pan Championship NOGI and a bronze at the IBJJF Pan Championship in the gi, confirming her versatility at the sport's most competitive events. In 2025, Loureiro added another gold medal at the 2025 IBJJF European Open, reaffirming her position as a sustained force in the roosterweight division at the black belt level.

In the period following her black belt promotion, Thaís Loureiro relocated to Lima, Peru, together with her boyfriend and fellow practitioner Daniel Nakamura. The move marked a significant expansion of her professional footprint. In Lima, she completed the nutrition degree she had begun at UFES, fulfilling an academic goal that had been intertwined with her jiu-jitsu journey from its earliest stages.

At the Mekka Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Loureiro serves as both a jiu-jitsu instructor and a practicing nutritionist, applying her dual expertise to athlete development in an integrated manner. Her background in nutrition science informs her coaching approach, giving her the ability to address performance and recovery alongside the technical and tactical elements of the sport.

Beyond jiu-jitsu and nutrition, Loureiro also holds a Level 1 CrossFit instructor certification, reflecting a broad commitment to fitness and physical education that extends across disciplines. Through her presence at Mekka Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Thaís Loureiro has become an influential figure in Peru's growing BJJ community — contributing to its development as both a competitor representing the country on the international stage and as an educator shaping the next generation of practitioners.