Marcio Cruz “Pe de Pano”
Address
Lutz, Florida, United States
Phone
About Us
Marcio Cruz was born on the 24th of April, 1978 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Martial arts became a part of Cruz’ life when he was 12, during a short-lived experience with karate. Later in his life, while living at his grandfathers’ house as a teenager, Márcio was introduced to Jiu-Jitsu. Although he loved the sport from the get-go, once he left his grandparents’ home, he could not find another BJJ gym close by, as such he joined a Judo class.
It was in 1996 that 17-year-old Marcio managed to return to jiu-jitsu. Although often seen as an older age to make it at a professional level in this sport, Cruz placed all his efforts on his training and he reaped the rewards of his labor.
All that work combined with the raw talent running through Marcio’s veins, helped him achieve success very fast winning his first major title, the Pan American Championship in 1999 as a blue belt, followed by a World Championship in the same year this time in the Purple Belt Division. His incredible colored belt career did not stop here as the Team GB athlete went on to win the Brazilian National Championship as a brown belt at the end of that year, making this path to black belt one of the fastest recorded at the time (Marcio Cruz received his black belt in 2001).
In 2001 Marcio Cruz won the World Championships at his weight and the absolute divisions, submitting everyone on his path, being given his black belt there and then by “Carlinhos” Gracie.
Marcio Cruz has never been known to be a man that keeps his thoughts to himself. Cocky and somewhat arrogant he is one of those fighters you either love or hate and his antics against Jeff Monson, Terere and many others are well documented and have been the subject of heated forum discussions throughout the internet. Although his attitude might have been questioned by some, no one can deny he is one of the most gifted fighters the BJJ world has ever produced. Even though he may not look like the stereotypical fighter with the cauliflower ears, broad back, and tattoos, his deceiving physique and his guard is game have made him a true master of the art and a delight to watch by any BJJ lover.
