7th Degree Coral Belt IBJJF & CBJJ | Head Referee at @fjjrio_oficial | Founder of @strikejiujitsu | Walk of Fame at the City of Martial Arts
MUZIO DE ANGELIS
A life dedicated to the gentle art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
About
BIOGRAPHY
Muzio De Angelis was born on April 25, 1972, in Rio de Janeiro, into a family deeply connected to the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Son of Pierino De Angelis, a pioneer of the sport in Brazil, Muzio grew up immersed in mat culture, among stories of Maeda and the tradition that shaped generations of fighters.
He received his black belt on December 1, 1994, from master Roberto Traven — one of the greatest names of the new generation of Rio Jiu-Jitsu. Since then, he has built a career that combines elite competition, international refereeing, and dedication to teaching.
Today a 7th-degree coral belt, Muzio De Angelis is a world reference as head referee of FJJRIO and IBJJF credentialed official, as well as founder of Strike Jiu-Jitsu, where he trains athletes and instructors with the same rigor he applied to his own journey.
Birth
04/25/1972 — Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Black Belt
12/01/1994 — Roberto Traven
Achievements
LEGACY
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Competition Medals
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Black Belts Trained
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Events Refereed
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Coral Belt Degree
Competitor
Over 100 medals across a career ended at the top, with gold at the International de Masters in 2008.
Referee
Considered by many to be the #1 referee in the world. Head of Refereeing at FJJRIO and IBJJF rules instructor in dozens of countries.
Instructor
Has trained over 60 black belts. Founder of Strike Jiu-Jitsu in Ipanema, opened in April 2021.
Journey
TIMELINE
Five decades shaping Brazilian and world Jiu-Jitsu
Birth
Muzio De Angelis is born on April 25th in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in a family already shaped by Jiu-Jitsu.
The Beginning
And that’s how I began my journey in Jiu-Jitsu. In this photo, I was five years old and training with my father at the Rubem Ribeiro Academy in Copacabana (across from Confeitaria Colombo).
Black Belt
Receives his black belt on December 1st from Roberto Traven, at age 22.
IBJJF Referee
Begins his career as an official IBJJF and CBJJ referee, quickly becoming a world reference.
Retirement with Gold
Ends his competitive career with a gold medal at the International de Masters in Tijuca. Over 100 medals accumulated.
Head Referee FJJRIO
Takes over as Head Referee of the Rio de Janeiro Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
Return to competition
He returned to competition after a long hiatus and secured the top spot on the podium at the FJJ-Rio Carioca Championship.
Strike Jiu-Jitsu
Founder of Strike Jiu-Jitsu in Ipanema, which opened in April 2021.
Coral Belt — 7th Degree
Receives the coral belt, becoming one of the few Brazilians to reach this historic rank.
Tradition
LINEAGE
Technical Jiu-Jitsu lineage: the line of masters and teachers who formed Muzio De Angelis — from Carlos and Helio Gracie to Romero Cavalcanti, Roberto Traven and beyond.
Carlos Gracie
10th-Degree Red Belt
Grandmaster. He was the first Brazilian to learn the martial art from the Japanese master Mitsuyo Maeda (Count Koma) and dedicated his life to adapting, teaching, and expanding the discipline in the country.
Hélio Gracie
10th-Degree Red Belt
He was one of the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, alongside his brother Carlos Gracie. Physically slight of build, he adapted Japanese Judo and Jiu-Jitsu techniques into a system based on leverage and efficiency rather than strength. He popularized the art in Brazil through public challenges and is considered, together with Carlos, the patriarch of modern Jiu-Jitsu, representing one of the most influential lineages in global BJJ.
Rolls Gracie
Black Belt
He promoted only six black belts. He was the number one of the Gracie family. He died at the age of 31 in a hang-gliding accident in Visconde de Mauá (RJ).
Romero "Alligator" Cavalcanti
8th-Degree Red and White Belt
He is one of six men awarded a black belt in jiu-jitsu by Rolls Gracie.
Roberto Traven
7th-Degree Coral Belt
He is a former ADCC absolute champion, an IBJJF world champion, and a UFC veteran. Traven is widely considered one of the most influential figures in the global BJJ community, known both for his competitive achievements and his legacy as a coach.
Muzio de Angelis
7th-Degree Coral Belt
He is a 7th-degree coral belt and one of the most respected and influential figures in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, recognized both for his competitive career and for his role as a referee and mentor to black belts. He is a long-standing leader of the Brasa team and is considered by many to be the world's premier Jiu-Jitsu referee, having conducted dozens of IBJJF rules seminars in Brazil and abroad.
Memories
GALLERY
Testimonials
QUOTES
“Muzio represents the purest essence of Jiu-Jitsu: impeccable technique, absolute respect, and dedication to the sport.”
“As a referee, he is a world reference. His fight reading and impartiality raise the standard of any event.”
“At Strike Jiu-Jitsu, we learn that the mat is a school of life. Muzio transmits this in every training session.”
“Heir to a historic lineage, Muzio honors Pierino De Angelis and the entire tradition of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.”
Authority on the Mat
REFEREEING
Head Referee FJJRIO — Leads the refereeing team of the Rio de Janeiro Jiu-Jitsu Federation at state and national championships, ensuring technical standards and impartiality.
IBJJF Reference — Credentialed by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, refereeing world-level events and serving as a reference in rules and procedures.
Refereeing Courses — Teaches training and refresher courses for referees, sharing decades of experience and elevating the technical level of Brazilian refereeing.
