Early Black Belt Success
Victor Costa's black belt career has been defined by sustained international competitiveness across gi and no-gi formats, spanning more than a decade of high-level performance. His impact was immediate. In 2005, he claimed the Scandinavian Open Championship at black belt and reached the final of the 2005 European Open Championship absolute division — a strong signal of his arrival as a serious international contender.
The following year, Victor took gold at the 2006 European Open Championship, underscoring the quality of his preparation and the effectiveness of his game at the highest level of gi competition. He returned to the European Open podium in 2009, earning a silver medal that demonstrated his sustained competitiveness years after his initial black belt breakthrough.
Expanding Into No-Gi Competition
2010 represented a particularly productive stretch in Victor's career, as he broadened his competitive focus to the no-gi arena. He claimed the Pan American No-Gi Championship title and added the Brazilian No-Gi National Championship in the absolute division, while also earning a silver medal at the Brazilian No-Gi Nationals — a remarkable accumulation of results within a single calendar year across both weight and absolute categories.
Masters-Level Longevity
Victor continued competing into the 2010s with consistent results. In 2011, he won the São Paulo State Championship and added a bronze medal in the absolute division at the same event. In 2012, competing at the Masters level, he earned bronze medals in both the weight and absolute divisions at the Pan American Championship — a result that reflected the longevity and durability of his competitive career. Across gi and no-gi, domestic and international stages, Victor Costa established himself as a reliable presence at the top of the super-heavyweight division throughout his black belt years.