Yara Soares

Yara Soares was born on November 7, 1995, in Guarapari, a coastal town in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. She comes from a long line of athletes — particularly long-distance runners — and it was through athletics that she first engaged with competitive sport, earning her first podium shortly after her eighth birthday. The discipline and competitive drive forged through those early years proved foundational to everything that followed.

For several years, Soares also competed in handball at a respectable level, further developing the work ethic and team-oriented mindset that would later serve her in combat sports. At 18, however, she confronted a difficult reality: even for a capable player, handball offered little financial future. Combined with a growing fatigue from the dynamics of team sports, that recognition pushed her toward something more individual and more demanding.

In April 2014, Soares stepped onto the mats for the first time, joining her first jiu-jitsu class under coach Tony Bergamo. The transition was immediate and decisive. Within her very first month of training, she entered competition — and in doing so, discovered a passion for grappling that would define the next chapter of her life.

Building the Foundation at Striker Academy

Having experienced the rush of competition almost from day one, Soares quickly identified the need for a more competition-focused training environment. She found it at the renowned Striker Academy, under the direction of coach Thiago Oliveira — the same gym that had produced elite female competitor Fernanda Mazzelli. Under Oliveira's guidance, Soares earned her blue belt and spent approximately 18 months sharpening her game, developing the technical base and competitive instincts that would carry her to the next level.

The Move to São Paulo Under Guigo

Her development did not go unnoticed. Luiz Guilherme — widely known as Guigo — a former IBJJF World Champion and highly regarded coach, offered Soares a scholarship to relocate to São Paulo and train under his direction. The opportunity was compelling: Guigo's reputation as both athlete and instructor was well established, and São Paulo stands as the Mecca of BJJ competition in Brazil. Soares accepted without hesitation.

Under Guigo's guidance, she became one of the most prominent names on the colored belt competitive circuit. A pivotal element of her development during this period was Luiz Guilherme's coalition with Lloyd Irvin, which allowed Soares to train and compete in the United States under Team Lloyd Irvin's banner. The exposure to high-level international competition accelerated her growth considerably.

Purple to Brown: A Breakout Season

The results spoke for themselves. In early 2019, Soares claimed double gold at the Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a purple belt — a performance compelling enough for Guigo to request her brown belt promotion. In March 2019, Lloyd Irvin formally promoted her to brown belt, marking not just a rank change but the beginning of one of the most productive stretches of her competitive career. Two months later, she captured gold at the IBJJF World Championship as a brown belt, then added victories at the São Paulo BJJ Pro and the São Paulo Open to an already remarkable year.

Black Belt Promotion and IBJJF Eligibility

In December 2019, Soares received her black belt — an accelerated promotion that fell outside the minimum timeframe requirements established by the IBJJF for belt advancement. As a direct consequence, she was temporarily barred from competing in IBJJF-sanctioned events during the early months of her black belt career. It was a bureaucratic obstacle, but one that did little to slow her trajectory.

Dominating the AJP Circuit

Unable to compete on the IBJJF circuit in the immediate aftermath of her black belt promotion, Soares directed her competitive energy toward the AJP (Abu Dhabi Pro) circuit — and thrived. In 2020, she reached the podium at AJP Grand Slam events in Rio de Janeiro, Abu Dhabi, and London, demonstrating that her elite-level performance translated seamlessly to the black belt division.

A Career-Defining Year in 2021

The year 2021 marked the full flowering of her black belt career. Soares swept through the competitive calendar with remarkable consistency, claiming gold at the 2021 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the AJP South American Continental Pro, the AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro, the AJP Grand Slam Miami, and the AJP Grand Slam Abu Dhabi. She also reached the podium at the IBJJF World Championship that same year, affirming her standing among the very best competitors in the super-pesado division — the weight class for athletes over 79 kg (175 lbs).

Also in 2021, Soares made a significant career decision, parting ways with her previous camp and joining Dream Art Project, one of the most prominent and competitive pro jiu-jitsu teams in the world. The move signaled both her ambition and her commitment to continuing to evolve within an environment built for elite-level performance.

Sustained Excellence at the Highest Level

Soares maintained her presence at the top of the sport in the years that followed. In 2024, she reached the podium at the IBJJF World Championship and the IBJJF European Championship, and placed at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals — results that underscore the durability of her competitive career. From her first jiu-jitsu class in April 2014 to consistent black belt podium finishes on the world stage, Yara Soares's ascent through the sport stands as one of the more remarkable in Brazilian women's grappling.