Profile
About Carlos Lemos Jr.
From Rio de Janeiro to the World Stage: A Life Shaped by Jiu-Jitsu
In the path of life, some people walk toward greatness—others are born with it in their DNA. Professor Carlos Lemos Jr., affectionately known as Escorrega (Portuguese for “slippery”), is one of those rare individuals whose journey through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has left an enduring legacy across continents, generations, and the mats of thousands of students worldwide.
Early Life and the Spark of Martial Arts
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Carlos Lemos Jr. was raised in a family that valued discipline, purpose, and passion. The son of Carlos Lemos (Senior) and Tulla Lemos, he was introduced to martial arts at the remarkable age of three through Tae Kwon Do. By the age of ten, he transitioned to Judo, a sport in which he quickly demonstrated natural ability and competitive excellence.
While his childhood was filled with traditional martial arts training, Lemos also had a deep love for surfing—and many who knew him believed he had the potential to pursue surfing professionally. However, destiny had something far more transformative in store: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
A Humble Beginning Fueled by Rivalry—and Transformed by Purpose
Carlos Lemos’s journey into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu started, quite unexpectedly, from a place of youthful emotion. At just 14, driven by a desire to surpass the new boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend (a BJJ practitioner), Carlos walked into his first Jiu-Jitsu class with a goal of revenge. But what he found on those mats would change the course of his life forever.
“Within a couple of months, I realized that Jiu-Jitsu wasn’t about beating someone or revenge. It was about mutual welfare, brotherhood, duty, honor, and friendship. I made the best friends of my life through it… I found the family I had always been looking for.”
That experience would serve as the foundation for what would become a lifelong mission to spread the art and philosophy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu around the world.
Training with Legends and Rising Through the Ranks
Carlos Lemos Jr. had the unique privilege of beginning his Jiu-Jitsu journey under three legends of the sport:
Roberto “Gordo” Correa, known as the creator of the half-guard game
Alexandre “Soca” Carneiro, world champion and technician
Renzo Gracie, one of the most influential members of the Gracie family
Lemos was promoted to blue belt by Professor Gordo and quickly gained respect for his dedication and attention to detail. He soon became an assistant coach at Gordo’s gym—one of the earliest Gracie Barra schools in Rio de Janeiro.
When Gordo moved to São Paulo, Carlos began training under Master Carlos Gracie Jr., the founder of Gracie Barra. It was under Master Gracie’s mentorship that Lemos would be promoted from blue belt to black belt, receiving each rank within the original Gracie Barra school in Brazil.
The Mission in Europe: Spreading the Gospel of Gracie Barra
In 2004, Master Carlos Gracie Jr. entrusted Lemos with a major task: to bring Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracie Barra ethos to Europe. As a loyal student and skilled teacher, Lemos embraced the opportunity.
He traveled across the continent, establishing schools and mentoring students in countries where Jiu-Jitsu was still in its early growth stages. Thanks to his efforts, the Gracie Barra flag now proudly flies in places like:
Sweden: Promoting and graduating black belts like Niclas Gustafsson and Peter Berglund
United Kingdom: Supporting the growth of leaders like Salvadore Pace
Italy: Mentoring Federico Tisi, founder of Tribe Jiu-Jitsu
Finland: Guiding brown belts Markku Tapiola, Joni Iman, and Jukka Lemola
Japan: Supporting representative Ryo Ominami
Mexico: Mentoring Gibran Alvares, now a key figure in Cancun and Playa del Carmen
Through these instructors and their students, Carlos Lemos Jr.’s influence continues to ripple across the globe.