Augusto Mendes

He was the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Black Belt World (IBJJF World) 70 kg champion (2013), International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Nogi (IBJJF World No-Gi) 73.5 kg champion in 2012 and 2015 and UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion in 2011 and 2013. Mendes was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He started training Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) in 1997 in Kioto gym in Tijuca when he was introduced by his brother, Bruno Tank who was a BJJ protectionist. He trained under Alvaro and Krauss Monsor who was the student of 9th degree black belt master Francisco Mansor. At fourteen, training three times a day, he competed four months later, winning a bronze medal in the Rio State Championships and in the same year he took home the silver medal in the Brazilian Championship. He started teaching BJJ two years later and continue to win many regional, international and world medals, notably IBJJF World 70 kg champion in 2013, IBJJF World No-Gi 73.5 kg champion in 2012 and 2015 and UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion (in 2011 and 2013. Medes and his brother Bruno Mendes open their BJJ gym, Renovacao BJJ, in 2005 and started transitioned to MMA training. Two years later, together with Rafael Barbosa, Leandro Escobar and his brother Bruno Mendes they founded Soul Fighters gym in 2008.