Born in Rio de Janeiro in the late 1970s, it wasn't until Marcio "Pe de Pano" Cruz was in his late teens when he started his BJJ journey.
He has said the first time he took a real jiu jitsu class he felt a connection to the mat and that it was the best day of his life. Marcio knew right then and there that he would become a world champion and he would make Jiu Jitsu his life's work.
Starting BJJ as late in life as he did, Marcio knew he had to make up for a lost time. He began training as much as possible, becoming one of those guys we often hear about, the first one on the mat and the last to leave. Early on, he set his goals on becoming a world champion. He began constantly competing and consistently winning. The list of BJJ legends Marcio has not just competed against but beat is incredible, making Marcio a legend in his own right.
Within the first four years of Marcio's journey, not only did he beat past and future legends, he also earned his black belt. He did this not only by training harder than just about anyone but by having the mindset that he could not be beaten and fighting anyone, anywhere. He became a six-time IBJJF Mundials World Champion, five-time IBJJF Brazilian Nationals Champion, eight-time IBJJF Pan-American Champion, 2003 ADCC World Champion, and two-time Abu Dhabi World Jiu Jitsu Legends Champion.
Marcio then moved on to MMA and although he didn't have a very lengthy MMA career, once again he fought and beat some of the best in the world.
Now living in Tampa Florida, Pe de Pano (Sugarfoot in English), is sharing his incredible Jiu Jitsu knowledge with his family and students at his own academy, Marcio Cruz Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
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