Leo “Negão” Da Silva

Leo was my first real BJJ teacher, and the guy I got my purple belt from. While doesn´t live in Sweden anymore, and I now have five friends in my city alone who have gotten their black belts, I still consider Leo Negão my main BJJ teacher.

Leo started training with Murillo Bustamante, from whom he got his purple belt. At that time he was recruited to the Alliance team by Fabio Gurgel to help open up the first serious BJJ academy in Sao Paolo. There Negão was one of three teachers under Fabio Gurgel, together with Leo Vieira and Terere. Other notable students at the academy at the time were Marcelo Garcia and Demian Maia.Leo moved to Sweden in 2000 to teach at the Malmö BJJ academy. These days he is mainly teaching out of Italy .While competing in Brazil he has faced most of the big names, and he always gave them a war. With a competitive career like his, it is hard to keep track of all the competitions he has medalled in. Here are a few that can found through the CBJJ website.

BJJ World Championships

• 1997 - Purple Belt Silver Medal in Super-Pesado
• 1998 - Purple Belt Bronze Medal in Absoluto

BJJ Brazilian National Championships

• 1998 - Purple Belt Silver Medal in Pesado

BJJ Brazilian National Team Championships

• 1998 - Purple Belt Silver Medal in Pesada
• 2000 - Black Belt Silver Medal in Pesada

ADCC Brazilian Trials

• 2000 - Winner Alliance team tryouts -87 kg

… and a ton of smaller shows like the Rio championships and the Paulistas, the Sao Paolo championships.

Leo competing at the 2000 ADCC Brazilian Trials against now Pride superstar Paolo Filho.