Rubens Charles
A capoeira master who became a featherweight king
- Born
- December 24, 1979, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
- Nationality
Brazil- Height
- 163 cm (5′4″)
- Style
- De La Riva attacker
- Weight
- Featherweight, ADCC -66 kg
- Active
- 2005–2017
- Status
- Retired · age 46
The record
BJJ Heroes record in major events, 2005-2017: wins by 63 submissions, 41 on points, 5 on advantages, 6 by referee decision; 2 of 21 losses by submission.
5× IBJJF World Champion, 3× ADCC
The story
ubens Charles earned the nickname Cobrinha, 'little snake', during some 14 years of capoeira, and did not try jiu-jitsu until he was 21. Spotted by Fernando 'Terere' Augusto, he later joined Alliance and won four straight featherweight world titles from 2006 to 2009. Then came Rafael Mendes, whose rivalry with Cobrinha filled world and ADCC finals for years; Mendes won most of their meetings, but Cobrinha took ADCC gold at 66 kg in 2013, 2015 and 2017. In 2017, at 37, he won the European, Pan American and Brazilian titles, a fifth world title and ADCC in a single season, then stepped away from competition to focus on his academy and his son Kennedy's career. He also won four IBJJF No-Gi World titles.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- IBJJF World champion (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017; featherweight)
- ADCC champion (2013, 2015, 2017; -66 kg)
- IBJJF No-Gi World champion (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012)
- Won the Europeans, Pans, Brazilian Nationals, Worlds and ADCC in 2017
- ADCC Hall of Fame (inaugural class)
- IBJJF Hall of Fame
Defining matches
- 2006WINvs Marcio Feitosa (8-0 on points, first IBJJF World final)
- 2010LOSSvs Rafael Mendes (advantage, IBJJF Worlds final)
- 2013WINvs Rafael Mendes (referee decision, ADCC -66 kg final)
- 2017WINvs Leo Saggioro (advantage, fifth IBJJF World title)
- 2017WINvs AJ Agazarm (3-0 on points, third ADCC title)
Drill Cobrinha's De La Riva guard: hook the lead leg from the outside, control the sleeve and the far ankle, and use the off-balance to sweep or come up on the back when the opponent steps away.
