Cobrinha – Rubens Charles – BJJ Black Belt Legend

If you were to create a list of all time grapplers, Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles would definitely be on there. He is arguably the greatest lightweight BJJ competitor to overly live and honestly one of the weightier overall.

Here is everything you need to know well-nigh the unconfined Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles. Detailing his journey through Jiu Jitsu and how he became one of the workaday athletes of all time.

Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles Entry Into Jiu Jitsu

Rubens Charles grew up in the Brazilian municipality of Sao Carlos within the state of Sao Paulo. At first, Charles played football(soccer) like a normal Brazilian kid, until he discovered Capoeira.

He became incredibly passionate well-nigh the dancing/fighting art and trained everyday. Stuff part of a group tabbed “Grupo dos Jangadeiros” ran by Capoeira Master Antonio Zacaria.

Charles would practice Capoeira everyday for fourteen years and would sooner wilt a master at the fighting art.

Jiu Jitsu wouldn’t come into Rubens’ radar until he was introduced to the grappling art by a friend. His friend invited Charles to the academy’s inauguration and to take a self-ruling class.

At the class, Rubens Charles discovered that his grappling worthiness as a martial versifier was incredibly lacking. A purple whup would write-up him for the entirety of the class.

After the harsh lesson, Rubens decided that he wanted to dedicate his time to learning Jiu Jitsu. He would uncork taking classes under Mauro Pacifico, who owned a school closer to his home.

During his transition to BJJ, Charles would train everyday, multiple times per week.

Cobrinha Begins Training Under Fernando Terere

At his first state Jiu Jitsu championship in Sao Paulo, Rubens Charles would perform well. But he would come up short losing in the finals to a student of BJJ unconfined Fernando Terere.

After the loss, Professor Terere would invite Cobrinha to come to Sao Paulo and train with him. With the clearance of his Professor Mauro, Charles would move to Sao Paulo to train under Terere.

It was a nonflexible life sleeping on the mats Team TT, but Rubens learned a lot in those four months. He would train everyday with the likes of Andre Galvao, Lucas Lepri, Leandro Martins, Eduardo Telles, and Terere himself.

After the period of training with Team TT, Terere would ribbon Charles with his woebegone belt.

Rubens ”Cobrinha” Charles Joins Alliance

In 2007, without winning his first world title, Cobrinha found himself without an academy. Team TT would shut lanugo due to the long history of mental illness and drug vituperate that Terere suffered from.

To earn money and have places to train, Rubens Charles would uncork holding seminars. One in particular was held in the municipality of Atlanta at Jacare Romero’s Jiu Jitsu academy. Co-founder of Alliance and master of Alliance leader Fabio Gurgel.

Romero was so impressed with Cobrinha’s skills that he offered him a teaching position at his academy. Cobrinha would take the position and while training with Jacare, he would wilt one of the weightier grapplers ever.

Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles Grappling Career

Cobrinha had one of the most storied grappling careers of all time. Winning all of the major championships multiple times. Here is a timeline of his championship wins and how he earned them.

IBJJF Championships(2006-2009)

In 2006, Charles would make his initial woebegone whup debut at the 2006 IBJJF World Championship. He had a rough training zany due to Terere’s problems, but had an wondrous performance.

Cobrinha would submit all but his last opponent in Marcio Feitosa, who he would write-up 8-0. Securing his first world title in dominant fashion.

Charles would come when in 2006 to repeat as champion, while representing Alliance for the first time. Yet then vibration all, but one opponent by submission and securing his 2nd world title by submitting Mario Reis.

In 2008, Cobrinha would once then show that he was the premiere lightweight grappler in the world. Submitting three of his four opponents to win his third world title in the Gi.

Then in 2009, Cobrinha would prove once then that he was one of the weightier grapplers in the world. Going through his toughest test to win his fourth world title in a row.

World No-Gi Championships (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012)

After losing in the opening round of the 2006 ADCC Trials, Charles realized that he needed to modernize his No-Gi skills. The loss would fuel him to train nonflexible and develop his No-Gi game.

The work would pay off as Charles would moreover win the No-Gi World Championship in 2007. The same year that he won his second world title in the Gi.

In 2008, Cobrinha would repeat as No-Gi world champion, the same year he won his third Gi world title. Easily vibration his first two opponents and vibration Jeff Glover in a when and along war in the finals.

Cobinha would not compete at No-Gi Worlds then until three years later in 2011. He would win his third No-Go world title in two nonflexible fought victories versus Renan Borges and Justin Radar.

Then in his last visitation at No-Gi Worlds 2012, Charles would once then come out on top. Winning the fourth No-Gi world title of his career.

ADCC Championships (2013, 2015)

Towards the end of Charles’ professional grappling career, he would turn his sustentation to conquering the ADCC. By 2013, this was the only major grappling title that Cobrinha had yet to win.

After two attempts in 2009 and 2007, Charles would successfully win his first ADCC title on his third attempt. Vibration Rafael Mendes in the finals, who had bested him in the previous ADCC tournament.

Two years later, Cobrinha would come when to struggle to retain as champion. It would be flipside successful outing for Charles as he would earn his second ADCC title in four nonflexible fought victories.

Cobrinha Charles’ Final Year of Competition

In 2017, without having one of the greatest grappling careers in the history of Jiu Jitsu, Cobrinha would signify his retirement. This year would be his final year of competition and he wanted to go out with a bang.

He competed in the European Open, Pan American, Brasileiro, IBJJF World Championship, and ADCC 2017.

European Open/Pan American/Brasileiro

The first event of Cobrinha’s retirement tour would be at the European Open. There, he would dominate his four opponents to win his second European Open title.

Pan American would be his next stop, where Charles would earn the fourth Pan title of his career. Easily dispatching his competitions.

Then his third stop would be in Brazil at the Brazilian Nationals. This would be his one and only visitation at the Brasileiro, where he would add flipside title to his collection.

IBJJF Worlds 2017 & ADCC 2017

The last two stops of Cobrinha’s retirement tour would be at the IBJJF World and the 2017 ADCC Tournament. His last IBJJF Worlds visitation would be one of Charle’s toughest tests.

All of his four matches were battles with razor thin decisions. Winning two matches by wholesomeness and two by referee visualization to earn his fifth and final IBJJF World Championship.

Then Charles would make the final stop of his career at ADCC 2017. At the tournament, he would prove for the last time that he is the greatest lightweight competitor of all time.

Beating all four of his competitors, including Paulo Miyao and AJ Agzaram in the semis and finals. The whole prod stood to their feet to cheer on Cobrinha and thank him for all he had washed-up for the sport.

Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles Grappling Style

Cobrinha Rubens Charles is known for his impressive baby-sit game, which includes stuff an expert at DLR guard. But overall, Charles has one of the most rounded grappling styles of all time.

He ripened an impressive wrestling game and mixed it with his incredible wastefulness from years of Capoeira training.

In his 139 BJJ matches, Cobrinha only tasted defeat 21 times. An incredible feat that shows just how unconfined he was.

The Legacy of Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles

Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles has seen and washed-up it all in the sport of Jiu Jitsu. He won every major title multiple times, but on top of this, Charles is an incredible producer for the sport.

Since retiring, Cobrinha now runs his own academy, where he has thousands of students. Including coaching his son Kennedy Maciel, who is a world matriculation grappler just like his father.