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Pablo Popovitch
Team Popovitch Founder & BJJ Head Instructor
Confidence comes from the power, skill and discipline to control one’s own space in the universe.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, 4th Degree black belt Pablo Popovitch, exudes confidence as easily as most people exhale their breath. Popovitch has mastered the most exciting, most superior Martial Art known to man. He is confident that anyone who comes in contact with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will take it to heart and soul the same as he.
Pablo Popovitch became involved in BJJ as a precocious 4-year-old. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Popovitch began instruction at Barra Gracie School, where his teachers were the Machado brothers, Rigan, Carlos and Jean Jaques.
“I knew early on that I wanted to be the best,” Popovitch said. “I had my first tournament when I was 8. I defeated Carlinhos Gracie (Reyson Gracie's Son) in the finals. He and I were really good friends, but we were very competitive on the mats.”
“I was always very close to the Gracie family because my father (Jorge Popovitch, 4th-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black belt ) had a great friendship with them. My aunt was married to Crolin Gracie. ”
The Popovitch's moved to Florida in 1995 when Pablo was 15. He continued to study BJJ under Grand Master Carlson Gracie. His training partners were members of the legendary Carlson Gracie Team and members of the current Brazilian top team. While attending high school in Florida, Popovitch was introduced to collegiate-style wrestling. His already accomplished skills at grappling lead to success and several offers from colleges to continue at the highest level of that sport. Popovitch opted instead to continue his devotion to his first love, BJJ.
“I went to FAU to pursue a degree in international business,” Popovitch said. “Where I attended, there was no wrestling program. I still wrestled with college-level guys and competed in open collegiate tournaments, winning a title at the Florida open collegiate state championship.”
That title goes along with many other championships and victories. Of all the titles that I hold my proudest moment came when I competed in the 2009 World Submission Wrestling Championship(ADCC).
The ADCC Championship is the most prestigious sport grappling tournament in the world.
The tournament consists of 5 weight classes with the best grappler's in the world per weight class. Popovitch proved again to be one of the best grappler's in the world by winning the Championship and defeating ADCC North American Qualifier Don Ortega, Olympian Ben Askren, legendary Gracie family member Gregor Gracie and 3 times ADCC World Champion Marcelo Garcia in the finals.
That was the highlight of a career spanning 20 years and more than 300 victories at grappling submission events.
He is also 4X World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, 4 X Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Champion,14-time Grapplers Quest champion and a 10-time North American Grappling Association (N.A.G.A) Superfight champion.
2009 ADCC World Submission Wrestling Champion
“I’ve been competing since I was 6 years old,” Popovitch said. “I’ve won more than 300 matches at grappling submission events.
It is these accomplishments and the pursuit of many more that Popovitch brings to his students at the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Center. His dedication to the discipline transfers to his students and returns to BJJ through those students’ successes, whether the successes be in competition or personal development.
Recent Titles and Awards:
2012
- World Jiu-Jitsu No Gi Championship 84Kg Champion
- Pan American No Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship Absolute -Champion
- Pan American No Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship 84Kg - 3rd Place
- MMA Expo 8 Men Superfight- Champion
2011
- Named "The #1 Grappler in The World" By Fighting fit Magazine
- World Submission Wrestling ADCC Absolute- Finalist
- World Submission Wrestling ADCC 84KG- 3rd Place
2010
- Voted "The Best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Competitor Of The Year" By Gracie Magazine
- World Jiu-Jitsu No Gi Championship Absolute- Champion
- World Jiu-Jitsu No Gi Championship 84Kg- Champion
- Pan American No Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship Absolute -Champion
- Pan American No Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship 84Kg -Champion
- Copa America No Gi Absolute -Champion
- Copa America Gi Absolute -Champion
- Grapplers Quest-UFC Expo Superfight -Champion
- Rock And Rumble 3 MMA -Champion
- Vic 3 Absolute -Champion
- Vic 3 84 Kg -Champion
- Inducted to The Grappling Hall Of Fame
2009
- World Submission Wrestling ADCC 76KG- Champion
- Grapplers Quest Absolute- Champion
- Grapplers Quest Advanced- Champion
- Grapplers Quest Pro Allstar- Champion
- The Dog Pro Fight Jiujitsu Championship- Champion
2008
- 2008 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu 84Kg Champion
2007
- World Jiu-Jitsu Champion
- World Submission Wrestling ADCC 76KG - Finalist
- Grapplers Quest USA Team Trials- Champion
- Atlantic Cup Superfight- Champion
- North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Advanced- Champion
2006
- 2006 North American Grappling Association -N.A.G.A Instructor of The Year
2005
- 2005 World Submission Wrestling ADCC 76KG - Finalist
- 2005 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion
- 2005 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion
2004
- 2004 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion
- 2004 5th Grapplers Quest West Championship- Champion
- 2004 Grapplers Quest Superfight-Champion
- 2004 Texas Submission Championship Pro division-Champion
- 2004 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion
2003
- 2003 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion
- 2003 North American World Submission Wrestling ADCC- Champion
- 2003 Grapplers Quest USA Team Trials Champion
- 2003 Casca Grossa Pro division Champion
- 2003 Music City Grappling Championship Pro Division-Champion
2001
- 2001 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion
- 2001 III Northeast Grappling Tournament Pro division-Champion
- 2001 FFC Grappling Open Pro Division Champion
- 2001 World Extreme Shoot Challenge XI Champion
- 2001 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Advanced- Champion
2000
- 2000 World Extreme Shoot Challenge X Champion
- Florida State Judo Champion
- 10X North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A- Champion
- 14X Grapplers Quest Champion
MMA record:
- 3-0
Awards:
- 2010 Awarded Black Belt Third Degree Certificated by IBJJF & USBJJF
- 2010 Inducted to the N.A.G.A Grappling Hall Of Fame
- 2006 N.A.G.A Instructor Of The Year
- 1999 Awarded Black Belt By Master Jorge Popovitch
Certifications:
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt 3rd Degree Certified by the IBJJF & USBJJF
Career Highlights:
- Defeated Marcelo Garcia
- Romulo Barral
- Defeated Renzo Gracie
- Defeated Flavio Almeida
- Defeated Saulo Ribeiro
- Defeated Andre Galvao
- Defeated Gregor Gracie
- Defeated Murilo Santana
- Defeated Lucas Lepri
- Defeated Jorge "Macaco"Patino
- Defeated Daniel Moraes
- Defeated Tarsis Humphries
- Defeated Caio Terra
- Defeated Marcio Feitosa
- Defeated Lucas Leite
- Defeated Diego Sanchez
- Defeated Jake Shields
- Defeated Kenny Florian
- Defeated Hermez Franca
- Defeated Juan Carnero
- Defeated Marcus Avellan
- Defeated Rob Kahn
- Defeated Daisuke Sugie
- Defeated Eric Dahberg
- Defeated Gary Grate
- Defeated Tyrone Glover
- Defeated Francisco Neto
- Defeated Shawn Willians
- Defeated Sean Sprangler
- Defeated Antonio McKee's
- Defeated Derek Leyrer
- Defeated Efrain Ruiz
- Defeated Anthony Tolone
- Defeated Ben Askren
- Defeated Don Ortega
Highlights Video
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