Rod moved to Perth, Australia in 2005 from Brazil but it wasn’t in Brazil that his journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu started. Rod started training in March of 2010, he competed in the following month and has not stopped since.
His first international competition experience was in 2012 when he participated in a training camp at Lloyd Irvin’s Jiu Jitsu school in Camp Springs, Maryland in preparation for his first World Competition as a Blue Belt. This was Rod’s first experience with a professional approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training for competition which left him inspired to turn that passion into a career.
In 2014, Rod went back to the USA to compete in the IBJJF World Jiu Jitsu Championships, winning a bronze Medal and becoming the first male Australian purple belt medallist at the most prestigious competition in the world. He lost a decision in the quarter finals of the 2015 World Championship but came back stronger in 2016, placing 2nd in the Brown Belt division and again breaking the record as the best result achieved by an Australian at the time by becoming the vice-champion. Rodrigo’s dedication in improving himself and discipline in training lead him to be one of the most successful Australian competitors. In the following years (2017 and 2018), Rod continued his international career winning Medals in many prestigious competitions around the world, including Abu Dhabi World Pro, Brazilian nationals and Pan Ams Nogi, ACB Worlds among many others.
His first international competition experience was in 2012 when he participated in a training camp at Lloyd Irvin’s Jiu Jitsu school in Camp Springs, Maryland in preparation for his first World Competition as a Blue Belt. This was Rod’s first experience with a professional approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training for competition which left him inspired to turn that passion into a career.
In 2014, Rod went back to the USA to compete in the IBJJF World Jiu Jitsu Championships, winning a bronze Medal and becoming the first male Australian purple belt medallist at the most prestigious competition in the world. He lost a decision in the quarter finals of the 2015 World Championship but came back stronger in 2016, placing 2nd in the Brown Belt division and again breaking the record as the best result achieved by an Australian at the time by becoming the vice-champion. Rodrigo’s dedication in improving himself and discipline in training lead him to be one of the most successful Australian competitors. In the following years (2017 and 2018), Rod continued his international career winning Medals in many prestigious competitions around the world, including Abu Dhabi World Pro, Brazilian nationals and Pan Ams Nogi, ACB Worlds among many others.
Rodrigo was awarded his Black Belt in June of 2019 under Felipe Pena (Preguiça) one of the best Jiu Jitsu fighters in the world and Rod’s coach since he moved back to brazil to continue his professional Jiu Jitsu career.
An injury in the beginning of 2019 saw Rodrigo out of action for around 4 months. During this time, he focused on his recovery and continued to coach and support his team members. After his recovery he started training hard again in preparation for his first major comp as a Black Belt (Brazilian NoGi Nationals) where he took double bronze in the lightweight division and in the Open Weight division.
After the good run at Brazilian Nationals at black belt and another unfortunate injury Rod started focusing on his other dream – opening up a Jiu Jitsu Academy using all his experience gained in the last 10 years of training and competing both nationally and internationally, having fought in all continents in countries like the USA, Brazil, South Africa, UAE, Japan, London, Portugal and Australia and others.
Rod’s current goals are to make Costa Academy a place where both serious competitors and hobbyists will get the full benefit of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, helping people gain better discipline, focus, improving on troubleshooting skills, confidence, learning proper techniques that will help in a real life self-defence situation which are all skills that translate well into the world outside of the Academy. On a personal note, Rod wishes to maintain world class training with his students and colleagues around the world and keep competing at the highest of level.
https://www.instagram.com/costaacademy/
An injury in the beginning of 2019 saw Rodrigo out of action for around 4 months. During this time, he focused on his recovery and continued to coach and support his team members. After his recovery he started training hard again in preparation for his first major comp as a Black Belt (Brazilian NoGi Nationals) where he took double bronze in the lightweight division and in the Open Weight division.
After the good run at Brazilian Nationals at black belt and another unfortunate injury Rod started focusing on his other dream – opening up a Jiu Jitsu Academy using all his experience gained in the last 10 years of training and competing both nationally and internationally, having fought in all continents in countries like the USA, Brazil, South Africa, UAE, Japan, London, Portugal and Australia and others.
Rod’s current goals are to make Costa Academy a place where both serious competitors and hobbyists will get the full benefit of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, helping people gain better discipline, focus, improving on troubleshooting skills, confidence, learning proper techniques that will help in a real life self-defence situation which are all skills that translate well into the world outside of the Academy. On a personal note, Rod wishes to maintain world class training with his students and colleagues around the world and keep competing at the highest of level.
https://www.instagram.com/costaacademy/