Black Belt Spotlight: Leo D’avila

Leo D’avila is an Atos team member, competitor, coach and IBJJF referee.

Leonardo Henrique D’avila Correa, known only as Leo D’avila. is 5’ 8” and 195 pounds. In the last two years he’s has medaled 27 times in IBJJF sanctioned tournaments in weight classes ranging from Medium Heavy, to Heavy to Super Heavy to Ultra Heavy. He in an elite group of competitors who regularly get on the podium, gi and no gi.

He was born in 1985 in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro. Leo just turned 29 today. (Happy Birthday!) He graduated from university with degrees in Physical Education and Sports Science. Leo received the black belt when he was only 20. While living in Brazil he competed and won many competitions like the State Rio de Janeiro Championship (seven times) and the Brazilian National Championship (two times.)

He is now training in San Diego at the home of Atos headquarters and Andre Galvao.

As an Atos black belt, he has taught 30 seminars in 13 different countries (Europe, Americas, Asia and Africa) including a seminar for the US Navy at Naval Base San Diego.  He has traveled to Sweden many times to teach a seminars  and twice the UFC fighters Gustafson Alexander and Nicholas Musoke attended.

In 2013, he was Cris Cyborg’s Jiu-Jitsu coach for her title fight at Invicta FC 6 against Marloes Coenen. Cyborg won. He also cornered Andre Galvao in the 2012 IBJJF Pro League and at the first two Metamoris (vs Ryron Gracie and Rafael Lovato.) At Metamoris 3 he cornered the athletes from Atos; Keenan Cornelius and the Mendes Brothers.

But you probably recognize him as a referee at IBJJF events. He’s at a lot of them.

As for the rest of 2014 Leo plans to keep competing and getting better until he can say he’s ranked number one in the world. Then in the a few years maybe try his hand at MMA, at least once.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leodavilabjjpage
Instagram: http://instagram.com/leodavilabjj#
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leo_davila

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