Interview with Professor Lucas Nabuco
Lucas Nabuco
For those who don’t know you yet, can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background?
My name is Lucas, I’m from Brasilia,Brazil. I started jiu jitsu when I was 16 years old. As a regular kid in Brazil I started practicing martial arts when I was a kid with capoeira. After a few years I had my first contact with Muay-Thai and 2 years later I had my first class in Jiu-Jitsu and like most of the people I loved since that I never stopped.
Can you tell us about your first introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? What motivated you to step onto the mats for the first time?
I have two brothers who are black belts, so since I’m a kid I knew what jiu jitsu was, but I only had my first contact with jiu jitsu when I was 16 years old. My friend invited me to have a trial with him, my motivation definitely was being inspired by my brother also for self defense.
Who were your biggest influences in Jiu-Jitsu, both as a competitor and as an Head instructor at Gracie Barra Greensboro?
My big influences are Roger Gracie, Rickson Gracie, and my brother. As a head instructor I had the pleasure of having an opportunity to be around many head instructors, but definitely the only one who inspired me the most was Jefferson Moura.
What was your experience like in the competitive scene? Were there any matches or tournaments that were particularly defining moments for you?
I compete since I’m white belt , but definitely have two moments for me it was amazing it was compete with Osvaldo Queixinho who is 4x times world champion and also had an opportunity to fight against Megaton who is a coral belt, definitely the moment was really good it was when I was a state champion in Brazil and I won a super fight in USA.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in your journey from white belt to black belt?
The biggest challenge for me was to understand the hard work matters more than the results, sometimes we give our 100% for the tournament but we don’t get the result we expect.
At what point did you realize that you wanted to become an instructor? What was it that made you fall in love with teaching?
When I was purple belt I decided one day I was going to move to USA to live with Jiu jitsu so since that I was focused on learning how to teach and how to be a good instructor.
What led you to bring your Jiu-Jitsu journey to the United States, and what differences have you noticed compared to Brazil?
The opportunities are better here in USA than in Brazil , and the value people give to the sport here.
Every instructor has their own unique approach to teaching. How would you describe your philosophy and style as a professor?
I like to focus on concepts and help the students not only understand the techniques but understand why they are doing that.
Beyond technique, Jiu-Jitsu is about community. How do you foster a strong and welcoming environment for your students at Gracie Barra Greensboro?
Help the students to understand we need each other to grow and we need help each other on our individual goals.
What are your goals for the future, both for Gracie Barra Greensboro and your personal journey in Jiu-Jitsu?
My goal is to continue to use jiu jitsu as a tool to help kids and adults to have more confidence. My second goal is to compete.
Who is Professor Lucas Nabuco outside of Jiu-Jitsu? What do you enjoy doing when you're not on the mats?
I like to go to the gym, do sauna, and play on the computer lol. I also like to travel and know different cultures.
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Check out Coach Jessica's warm up video - so you are ready for your practice!
When people start looking into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), one of the first questions that comes up is, “How much do Jiu Jitsu classes cost?” While that’s a natural question, we believe there’s a better one to ask: “What kind of value will I get from this investment?” At Gracie Barra Greensboro, your membership is more than just access to classes, it’s an invitation to transform your life. You’re not just learning a martial art; you’re building discipline, fitness, confidence, and friendships that can last a lifetime. Each class, each roll, and each moment on the mat helps you grow stronger, mentally, physically, and emotionally. And that’s what makes training here truly priceless.
