Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida-The New ‘Face’ Of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
In the wonderful world of Brazilian Jiu jitsu, there are certain feats that are hard to imagine. When a specific event occurs, it all but solidifies that person as a force to be reckoned with.
One such instance is winning double-gold at the same event. For some, this is nothing short of a fantasy that they wish could one day come true. For Marcus Almeida, this is just another feather in his already impressive cap.
The young man—just 23 years old—has reached such levels in grappling that most experienced vets can only hope to obtain. At the 2012 World Championships, Almeida would go on to win gold in his weight class (100kg) and the open weight division.
Two gold medals in one event? Not too shabby – esp. at the Worlds… With countless other accolades to his name, Almeida is nothing short of a sure-fire superstar in the making.
From Sao Vicente to The Winners Circle
As every great grappler, Marcus comes from humble beginnings. Born in Sao Vicente—a section of Sao Paulo—Almeida began his endeavor into the world of sports in a different manner compared to many BJJ stars.
A fan of soccer, Almeida had dreams of being the next great Brazilian soccer star. However, Marcus will be first to admit that he wasn’t that talented when it came to kicking things. His next step was to take it to the water and try his hand at surfing.
At 14 years old, Marcus would attend his sisters’ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class, and just like that, he was hooked. It didn’t take long before Almeida began making a name for himself. After a successful run in 2010, Marcus headed for the United States. The release of his anticipated “Total Control” Buchecha DVD set (review on BJJLegends) put him on the map even more than he already was after winning the World Championships.
Moving with Thiago Arago, Marcus went on to see some good success before heading back to Brazil for a year. After a return to America in 2012, Almeida began to assert himself as one of the future-premier Black Belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The Resume Speaks For Itself
The success of Marcus Almeida is undeniable. I would say “the future is bright”, yet that would be underselling what Marcus has done already! Not only is his future bright, his present is rather blinding as well.
His accolades are impressive. Just to name a few:
- World Champion (6x)
- World NoGi Champion (6x)
- World Cup Champion (4x)
- Pan American Champion
- Brazilian National Champion (3x)
Stay updated on his Wikipedia page, I’m sure they’ll be more big wins up there soon. Those are just a few. Not to mention, his double-gold as I previously stated.
The man they call Buchecha—“cheek” or “face”—has already carved out his niche in the BJJ world. With a talent level that never seems to stop rising, Almeida is clearly built for big, big things. With youth on his side, evident talent and an impressive list of accomplishments, Marcus Almeida isn’t your typical 23 year old black belt.
Dan Faggella
May 21, 2013
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