Vinicius Garcia

Born on July 6, 1991, in the state of Goiás, Brazil, Vinicius Garcia discovered jiu-jitsu through a deep passion for mixed martial arts. As a teenager, he found himself drawn not to the striking exchanges of MMA, but to the intricate groundwork beneath them — the technical chess match of grappling that rewards patience, leverage, and creativity. That fascination drove him to act. In 2008, at just 16 years old, Garcia stepped onto the mats for the first time under the guidance of Ricardo Favorito in the city of Pires do Rio. Training in a smaller-city environment, Garcia developed his foundational understanding of the art with focused, deliberate intent — a grounding that would serve him well as his competitive ambitions grew.

Garcia's trajectory shifted decisively when he relocated to Goiânia, the state capital of Goiás, to train under Rodrigo Castro at Atrium Jiu Jitsu Academy. One of the highest-ranked coaches in the region, Castro provided the structured, high-level environment Garcia needed to refine his game through the blue, purple, and brown belt stages. Consistent competition results at Brazil's premier events marked each phase of his progression, building a medal record that reflected both technical development and competitive resilience.

As Garcia advanced through the ranks, his role within Atrium expanded naturally from student to instructor. By brown belt, he was leading regular classes at the academy and teaching at additional venues across the region — a dual commitment that deepened his understanding of the art while shaping the next generation of grapplers in Goiás. On December 9, 2015, Rodrigo Castro awarded Garcia his black belt, recognizing not only the extensive medal tally he had accumulated but also the dedication he had shown as a coach and representative of the academy. Garcia stands as one of the most accomplished competitors Goiás has produced.

The relationship between Vinicius Garcia and NS Brotherhood began with a workshop visit to Goiânia by Leandro Lo, the head coach of New School Brotherhood. Impressed by the standard of instruction Rodrigo Castro maintained at Atrium Jiu Jitsu, Lo invited the academy into affiliation with NS Brotherhood — a development that elevated the local jiu-jitsu scene and opened new doors for Garcia personally. The affiliation granted Garcia access to NSB training camps ahead of major competitions, placing him within one of the world's most competitive training environments at precisely the moments that matter most. Garcia competes representing NS Brotherhood and Atrium Jiu Jitsu in the Meio-Pesado division, with a competition weight of 88.30 kg (195 lbs).

Garcia built his competitive reputation methodically across multiple belt levels, performing consistently at the most demanding IBJJF events held in Brazil.

Blue and Purple Belt Results

His early potential surfaced as a blue belt when he claimed gold at the IBJJF Rio International Open in 2012 — a result that foreshadowed what was to come. Through the purple belt stage, Garcia reached the podium at the IBJJF Brasília International Open in both 2012 and 2013, and added a third-place finish at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2013, one of the most fiercely contested domestic tournaments in the country.

Brown and Black Belt Milestones

At brown belt, Garcia secured another runner-up result at the IBJJF Brasília International Open in 2015, maintaining the competitive consistency that defined his progression. His black belt campaign produced some of the strongest performances of his career. In 2016, he captured gold at the IBJJF Brasília International Open and reached the final at both the IBJJF São Paulo International Open and the IBJJF Belo Horizonte International Open — a body of work within a single competitive year that demonstrated his capacity to perform at a high level across multiple major events.

Breaking onto the International Stage

Garcia extended his reach beyond Brazil's borders in 2017, earning a third-place finish at the 2017 IBJJF European Open. The result affirmed his standing as a competitor capable of contending at the highest international level, and underscored the impact that NSB affiliation and access to elite training had on his development as a black belt.