Athlete Spotlight | Matheus Diniz

Matheus, welcome to Progress. It's an honour to have you with us, ADCC World Champion, and now a Progress Athlete. Let's get into it. How would you describe your style of jiu-jitsu, and has it changed much over the years?

I’m always trying to be ahead of my opponent, even from the very first grip. That’s what makes the difference for me. It doesn’t matter if I’m on top or on the bottom; I want to be one step ahead at all times. I think about it from the moment we first touch. Whether it’s a collar tie, a cross-collar grip, or a regular grip, that first contact sets the tone. Being ahead gives me the best chance to score points, catch the submission, and win the match.

Who inspired you most when you were coming up in jiu-jitsu?

When I started jiu-jitsu, two people always excited me to watch: Marcelo Garcia and Romulo Barral. What made it even more special is that Marcelo and I are from the same town, and Romulo was from the same state, very close to where I grew up. They were both huge inspirations for me.

What does it actually feel like when you’re on the mat training?

When I’m on the mat, I feel completely free. I forget about everything outside. Even though teaching and training is my job, I put so much passion into it that I literally forget I’m working. If I’m tired, energy comes from somewhere. I always feel happy and energised when I train, and I try to stay positive whether I’m in a bad position or a good one.

When you’re competing, how much of what you do is instinct versus thinking through positions?

It’s mostly about feeling for me. Even when I learn a technique, it’s not mechanical. It’s about how the situation feels. Two people can do the same position slightly differently because they feel it differently; maybe one person is a little taller or shorter, so they adapt. When people ask me about my game plan before a competition, I tell them: I’m going to touch my opponent, feel my opponent, and then I decide what I’m going to do.

Let’s talk about the big one. Winning ADCC. What did that moment mean to you?

ADCC is the most prestigious grappling tournament in the world. When I won, it honestly wasn’t a huge surprise. Not to sound arrogant, but I was so focused. I was doing everything right: training hard, visualising the title, staying locked in mentally and physically. I was very happy, but I was also already looking forward to the next chapter. I’m always looking for new challenges. That’s what keeps me motivated. Winning the title was the biggest moment of my career, and I’m looking to do it again.

You’ve been away from competition for two years. How do you keep the fire going and stay motivated to come back?

My students give me so much motivation. They all have families, they all have jobs, and they still come in after a long day to train and compete. I don’t know if I could do that. Watching them and having them ask me when I’m going to compete again, even the kids in class, that reignited something. I’ve never stopped training; I’ve always stayed in shape to work with my students. When the ADCC invitation came, I saw it as a sign. I didn’t hesitate.

When that invitation landed, did you have to think about it or was it an instant yes?

I didn’t think twice. I’d been wanting to come back to competing and feeling that fire again. The invitation just confirmed it. I said yes straight away.

Last one. Progress has a saying: ‘No Struggle, No Progress.’ What does that mean to you personally?

I came from a small town in Brazil where there wasn’t much jiu-jitsu. The highest belt around was a blue belt, and it took a lot of effort just to get to the gym. When I was 15, I moved to another town to train, away from my family, living at the academy, sleeping on the mats. It was a lot of struggle.

But I think that’s exactly it: when you’re struggling, you want more. You don’t want to stay where you are, so you work harder and focus more on your goals. Struggle is what keeps you motivated and what keeps pushing you to be better than where you are right now.

That’s everything Matheus. It’s been an absolute pleasure. We’re honoured to have you flying the Progress flag and can’t wait to watch you compete again. Best of luck from everyone in the community!