Braulio Estima
A long-limbed guard that made triangles look easy
- Born
- June 10, 1980, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
- Nationality
Brazil- Height
- 191 cm (6′3″)
- Style
- Triangle-hunting guard player
- Weight
- Medium-heavyweight, Heavyweight, ADCC -88 kg
- Active
- 2004–2018
- Status
- Retired · age 46
The record
BJJ Heroes record in major events, 2004-2018: wins by 37 submissions, 17 on points, 4 on advantages; 5 of 21 losses by submission.
3× IBJJF World Champion (2014 title stripped), 2× ADCC (2009) + 2011 superfight
The story
raulio Estima began judo as a boy in Recife and came back to grappling at 16 through jiu-jitsu, receiving his black belt from Carlos Gracie Jr. in January 2004. That same year he won the medium-heavyweight world title, and he added world titles in 2006 and 2009. His finest weekend came at ADCC 2009 in Barcelona, where he won the under-88 kg division by submitting André Galvão with an inverted triangle, then took the absolute when Xande Ribeiro was injured in the final. Two years later he beat Ronaldo 'Jacaré' Souza in the ADCC superfight. A tall, flexible guard player, he finished 12 of his 37 black-belt submissions with triangles, according to BJJ Heroes. His 2014 world title was stripped after a positive test for a banned stimulant, and he received a two-year suspension.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- IBJJF World champion (2004, 2006, 2009)
- ADCC champion 2009 (-88 kg and absolute)
- ADCC superfight winner 2011
- European champion (2007, 2009, 2011)
- ADCC Hall of Fame (inaugural class, 2021)
Defining matches
- 2006WINvs Delson Heleno (6-4 on points, IBJJF Worlds medium-heavy final)
- 2008LOSSvs André Galvão (choke from the back, IBJJF Worlds medium-heavy final)
- 2009WINvs André Galvão (inverted triangle, ADCC -88 kg final)
- 2009WINvs Xande Ribeiro (injury, ADCC absolute final)
- 2011WINvs Ronaldo Souza (3-0 on points, ADCC superfight)
Drill Braulio's triangle from open guard: control a sleeve, and when the opponent's other arm drifts inside, kick your leg over their shoulder, lock the figure-four and angle off before pulling the head down to finish.
