Diego da Costa is a key member of the Brazilian National Jiu jitsu team. He started of his athletic career with Judo, an art which he perfected for 20 years. After earning numerous titles and winning an impressive number of championships, he decided to explore new martial art forms and fighting styles.

 

He decided that jiu jitsu would be a great complement for his extensive background in judo because jiu jitsu is more developed on the floor while judo leans more on standing approaches. Combining both arts would evolve into a strong technique which a smart fighter like him could very much put into a good use.

 

For a born athlete like da Costa, it only took him 15 days of training in Jiu Jitsu at Gracie Barra-PE Brazil to win one of the biggest competitions in Brazil, the "Pernambuco Championship". That was just the beginning of his many victorious Jiu Jistu matches.

 

 

After bagging the top place in the 2009 Pernambuco championship, he joined the same competition in 2010 and won third. Adding to his records is the Pernambuco Championship in 2011 and the Norte-nordeste Championship in 2012 where he won third spot on both competitions. He then fought in the Jiu jitsu World Championships in California this year and made it all the way to the quarter finals.

 

 

Da Costa received training from Jose Olimpio A.K.A Ze Radiola, a world renowned jiu jitsu instructor who has taught the best jiu jitsu fighters in the world. This allowed da Costa to develop and further master his skills. His master, as how da Costa calls Olimpio is his idol when it comes to Jiu Jitsu. Among those he also holds great respect for are Braulio Estima, Rodolfo Vieira, Otavio Souza and Lucas Rocha. He also never forgets to mention the popular UFC champion Jose Aldo when asked about athletes that inspire him. Reading quotes from the great Muhammad Ali is da Costa's source of daily motivation.

 

 

When it comes to training, Diego da Costa dedicates 7 hours each day to complete his routine which includes meditation, running, cardio exercises and then pure jiu jitsu. He then follows it up with Tai- Chi and then Judo in the evenings. He grew up on a healthy diet which he makes sure is maintained to this age. He keeps the same diet during trainings and competitions. This is how he ensures he is keeping his weight where it should be. However he acknowledges the importance of following his sports nutritionist's advise. For him, the right supplements speed up recovery after training. 

 

 

Diego da Costa is aiming to get in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Among his not-so-distance goal is to win the World championship of jiu jitsu. Da Costa is now training hard at the Gracie Barra Academy in preparation to fight in the 2013 North American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.