Lucio Rodrigues, aka "Lagarto", is a 3rd degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is also a fighter and a teacher. He currently lives and coach in London, UK. Lucio was nicknamed "Lagarto" by Marcio Feitosa, as a joke due to Lucio's resemblance to the reptile. People now use it as a comparison with his abilities on the mat and his regeneration capacities after his cancer.
Early life
Rodrigues was born in Rio de Janeiro. His life as Martial Artist started very early, at the age of 5, where he started training with Anselmo Rodrigues. He then joined the Carlos Augusto's academy at the age of 13 where he focused completely on training hard. At the age of 17 years, after receiving his blue belt, Lagarto opened his own academy with a friend and then moved to the Gracie Barra Academy in Barra da Tijuca to train with Carlos Gracie, Jr.. Rodrigues received all his belts, from purple to black, from Carlos Gracie, Jr.. In 2004, after receiving his black belt at the age of 24, Carlos Gracie, Jr. asked Rodrigues to move to Portugal to promote BJJ in Europe. After a period of 6 months Rodrigues moved back to Brazil, where he had his first experience as a MMA fighter in Top Fighter MMA. He won his fight against Roberto Albuquerque in the 1st round by submission.
Overcoming cancer
In 2007, Rodrigues was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system at only 27 years old. He had to undergo a tough chemotherapeutic treatment and doctors told him he would never be able to train or compete again. Despite the doctors opinion, and just a month after the start of his treatment, Rodrigues restarted both training and teaching. Rodrigues believes that his healthy lifestyle has helped him endured the chemotherapy. In 2008, after the end of his treatment, Rodrigues restarted the competition. He successfully competed in both the Rio de Janeiro State Championship and the Jordan Capital Challenge. It is only after winning Gold in both these competitions that Rodrigues revealed to everyone that he had cancer. According to one of his student, Simon McGovern, Rodrigues made them promise to never talk about his cancer to anyone because he did not want to have any sympathy from other competitors.
In 2006, Rodrigues gave a seminar in England where he met John Paul Hartley, who invited him to come and teach in his school. Rodrigues and John Paul then created the Gracie Barra Preston Academy. Rodrigues have now opened numerous Gracie Barra Academies with the objective of preparing students to become future instructors to open their own school or become Gracie Barra affiliates.
