At just 22 years old, black belt Maria Luiza is quickly establishing herself as one of the most promising young stars in jiu-jitsu. Fresh off her second major title win at the 2025 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Florida, Maria’s story is fueled by her deep love for the sport and the people who helped guide her along the way.

“I started at 9 years old, influenced by my stepfather,” Maria shared. “It was a major turning point in my life. I was never good at or even liked playing sports. But in jiu-jitsu, I found a passion and a sport that would change my life." At 15, Maria joined Projeto Almeida JJ, a community-based program in Brazil that shaped her outlook and gave her the foundation to pursue jiu-jitsu professionally.

“I started at Projeto Almeida JJ when I was 15 years old. That’s where my perspective on life changed. I found a career in jiu-jitsu and was able to turn it into a profession. From the beginning, I had great inspirations, like my professor Caio Almeida… Bia Basílio, Leo Lara, and Cleber Clandestino… who also came from a social project. They’re big champions, have seen the world through sport, and have made jiu-jitsu their career."

Her rise through the colored belt ranks was not without its challenges. though Maria didn't find instant success, her resilience and steady progress were essential for her career.

"Competing as a colored belt was a huge process of growth. Those belts are like building blocks for the athlete I wanted to become as a black belt. During my time as a colored belt, I didn’t win any IBJJF Grand Slam events, which I really aspired to. But I kept improving and fixing my mistakes, because I knew the main goal was to win as a black belt."

In 2023, Maria reached a milestone that had long been in her sights. "Being promoted to black belt was always a dream. I believe it’s the goal for everyone who practices jiu-jitsu. For a competitor, the black belt also means entering the highest level. I see it as the beginning of the journey. That’s what I trained my whole life for. I felt fulfilled and ready to live my dreams."

That dream began to materialize in her first year as a black belt, when she captured her first Brazilian National title, an achievement that solidified her belief in her path. "Winning my first Brazilian title as a black belt was an indescribable feeling. Winning an IBJJF Grand Slam event is very challenging, and achieving that in my first year as a black belt really pushed me forward and showed me I was on the right path."

At the 2025 Pans, Maria added another major title to her resume. Her performance in Florida was a clear demonstration of the confidence and technical maturity she’s developed.

"At Pans, I had three matches against really tough girls. I was very confident because I’ve been preparing for years to face high level opponents. I was able to finish the first two matches starting from guard passing attacks. The final was a tightly contested match against Cassia, who is an excellent athlete. I believe my composure and technical control made the difference. I started the match losing, but with 30 seconds left, I managed to turn the score around and take the lead. Right after that, I suffered a strong arm attack, but I resisted and managed to come out with the victory.

That moment meant a lot to me. I’ve been slowly earning my place through hard work. I believe this was my biggest achievement so far, a huge dream come true."