Claudio Calasans
Encyclopedia
Cláudio Calsans Camargo Jr or Juninho for his friends , (born 1984 ) is a Brazil
ian Judo
and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
competitor. Calasans is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu
and Judo black belt (3rd Dan) that fights for the Atos JJ team.
100 Kilometres from Sao Paulo
, Brazil. He is the son of Judo personality Calasans Camargo, the youngest Brazilian Judoka to have ever received his coral belt (white and red – received when he was 38 years old), and his uncle (who is his father’s identical twin) is also a black belt in Judo.
Being part of a family with such a strong judo background, it was only natural that Claudio also picked up the Japanese martial art, and so, when Calasans Junior reached the age of 3, he began his tuition and family tradition. Being a strong Judo competitor since he was but a child, he felt the need to train some Jiu Jitsu when he reached 15 years of age in order to improve his Newaza (ground work), as chokes and armlocks are allowed in Judo from that age onwards. In the beginning he used his new found BJJ skills in Judo competitions, but slowly the Jiu Jitsu “bug” grew in him and he started practicing and competing mainly in the Brazilian Style.
His Jiu Jitsu tuition took place at a [Sao Jose dos Campos] academy called “Liga Jiu Jitsu”, and he trained there from his Blue Belt to his Black Belt, a belt which was awarded to him in the end of 2006 by the hands of his long time master Erivaldo Junior.
Being a very strong competitor, Calasans also joined the Wrestling team in his gym, he was very successful at that discipline also, winning a spot with the Brazilian National Wrestling Team.
After receiving his Black Belt, Claudio’s dream of becoming a professional Jiu Jitsu fighter was getting faded as he was teaching classes at his gym and didn’t have time to train full time. when the Atos Team was formed by a good old friend of Calasans by the name of André Galvão
(another big name in Jiu Jitsu), Claudio asked Galvão if he could be part of his team and was immediately accepted. So was forged a strong alliance with the team from Rio Claro, and Claudio now spends most of his time before big competitions preparing in the Southern Brazilian town, training with great names of the modern Jiu Jitsu like : Ramon Lemos (Founder of Atos JJ) , Rafael Mendes and Guilherme Mendes, Gilbert Burns (Durinho) , Ary Farias, etc.
Having fought most of his life as a lightweight, on the 2009 World Cup Claudio decided to try his luck at the absolute division. In order to do that he went through a rigorous weight lifting program, and that is the reason he now fights in middleweight. This new program bore fruit almost immediately as he got to the semi finals of the World Cup Open Weight Division, unfortunately on the other side of the bracket was a man by the name Roger Gracie
, a man who many believe to be the best BJJ fighter to have ever competed. Claudio’s end was no different than the others who fought Roger that year as he was submitted from the mount.
In 2010 at the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup
, came the prize Calasans so vehemently fought for, winning the competition in both the Middleweight and the Absolute divisions. Also in 2010 he won the silver medal in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
only being stopped by Marcelo Garcia
one of the best grapplers in the world.
In January,2011 at the European Championship (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
, Calasans won the Gold Medal at Middleweight and Silver Medal in the Absolute division.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
competitor. Calasans is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
and Judo black belt (3rd Dan) that fights for the Atos JJ team.
Biography
Claudio Calasans was born in 1984 in a town called São José dos CamposSão José dos Campos
São José dos Campos is a municipality and a major city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil and one of the most important industrial and research centers in Latin America. It is located in the Paraíba Valley, between the two most active production and consumption regions in the country, São Paulo ...
100 Kilometres from Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil. He is the son of Judo personality Calasans Camargo, the youngest Brazilian Judoka to have ever received his coral belt (white and red – received when he was 38 years old), and his uncle (who is his father’s identical twin) is also a black belt in Judo.
Being part of a family with such a strong judo background, it was only natural that Claudio also picked up the Japanese martial art, and so, when Calasans Junior reached the age of 3, he began his tuition and family tradition. Being a strong Judo competitor since he was but a child, he felt the need to train some Jiu Jitsu when he reached 15 years of age in order to improve his Newaza (ground work), as chokes and armlocks are allowed in Judo from that age onwards. In the beginning he used his new found BJJ skills in Judo competitions, but slowly the Jiu Jitsu “bug” grew in him and he started practicing and competing mainly in the Brazilian Style.
His Jiu Jitsu tuition took place at a [Sao Jose dos Campos] academy called “Liga Jiu Jitsu”, and he trained there from his Blue Belt to his Black Belt, a belt which was awarded to him in the end of 2006 by the hands of his long time master Erivaldo Junior.
Being a very strong competitor, Calasans also joined the Wrestling team in his gym, he was very successful at that discipline also, winning a spot with the Brazilian National Wrestling Team.
After receiving his Black Belt, Claudio’s dream of becoming a professional Jiu Jitsu fighter was getting faded as he was teaching classes at his gym and didn’t have time to train full time. when the Atos Team was formed by a good old friend of Calasans by the name of André Galvão
André Galvão
André Luis Galvão is a Brazilian grappler and professional mixed martial artist. He has won the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship and IBJJF Pan American Championships multiple times and has also taken third place in the 2007 ADCC World Championship at both -77 kg and openweight...
(another big name in Jiu Jitsu), Claudio asked Galvão if he could be part of his team and was immediately accepted. So was forged a strong alliance with the team from Rio Claro, and Claudio now spends most of his time before big competitions preparing in the Southern Brazilian town, training with great names of the modern Jiu Jitsu like : Ramon Lemos (Founder of Atos JJ) , Rafael Mendes and Guilherme Mendes, Gilbert Burns (Durinho) , Ary Farias, etc.
Having fought most of his life as a lightweight, on the 2009 World Cup Claudio decided to try his luck at the absolute division. In order to do that he went through a rigorous weight lifting program, and that is the reason he now fights in middleweight. This new program bore fruit almost immediately as he got to the semi finals of the World Cup Open Weight Division, unfortunately on the other side of the bracket was a man by the name Roger Gracie
Roger Gracie
Roger Gracie Gomes is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. Roger was awarded his black belt by his cousin Renzo Gracie at the behest of Carlos Gracie, Jr. whilst training in New York in 2003. He is currently a second degree black belt...
, a man who many believe to be the best BJJ fighter to have ever competed. Claudio’s end was no different than the others who fought Roger that year as he was submitted from the mount.
In 2010 at the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup
World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup
The tournament is being promoted as the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu event in the world. Supported personally by his Highness the Supreme Prince and Commander In Chief of the United Arab Emirates National Army, H. H. Sheik Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the inaugural 2009 tournament had the prize...
, came the prize Calasans so vehemently fought for, winning the competition in both the Middleweight and the Absolute divisions. Also in 2010 he won the silver medal in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
The World Jiu-Jitsu Championship is the most prestigious Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in the world. They are hosted annually by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. The first Mundial tournament to be held outside of Brazil was in 2007 at the California State University in Long...
only being stopped by Marcelo Garcia
Marcelo Garcia
Marcelo "Marcelinho" Garcia is a Brazilian grappler and jiu-jitsu competitor. Considered by many to be one of the best pound for pound no gi and gi submission grapplers in the world , Garcia is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Fabio Gurgel of Team Alliance.-Biography:Garcia has five world...
one of the best grapplers in the world.
In January,2011 at the European Championship (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
European Championship (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
The European Championship is the most prestigious and largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament held in Europe by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.This championship has been held since 2004 in January, in Lisbon, Portugal.-See also:...
, Calasans won the Gold Medal at Middleweight and Silver Medal in the Absolute division.