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Sergio Penha

b. 1959

American martial artist

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About Sergio Penha

Born 1959. Sergio Penha is an American mixed martial arts fighter.

Sérgio Luiz da Penha (born August 20, 1959) is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and instructor. He is most known for an epic fight against Rickson Gracie in the 1980s. Sergio has coached well-known MMA fighters in Las Vegas such as Steve Cantwell, Anthony and Chidi Njokuani and the late Stephan Bonnar. He has received one of the highest honors in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by obtaining his eighth degree red and white belt.

Penha is notable for being one of a very small number of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners skilled enough to completely bypass the rank of brown belt, moving straight from purple to black belt.

Some sources claim that Penha may have been responsible for training Kazushi Sakuraba in Brazilian jiu-jitsu during his course of victories over various members of the renowned Gracie family. In an interview, Penha confirmed he had taught Sakuraba at the Takada Dojo, although he clarified it had been only 15 days in December 2001, long after Sakuraba had achieved his wins over the Gracie family. He also revealed the Takada Dojo fighters had been interested to learn "not secret methods and strategies specifically for beating jiu-jitsu," but "just basic techniques."

Instructor lineage Kano Jigoro → Tomita Tsunejiro → Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie → Reyson Gracie → Osvaldo Alves → Sergio Penha

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality

People in Sergio Penha's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Sergio Penha's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Sergio Penha?

American martial artist

When was Sergio Penha born?

Sergio Penha was born on 20 August 1959.

What is Sergio Penha's occupation?

Sergio Penha is a mixed martial arts fighter.

What nationality is Sergio Penha?

Sergio Penha is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Sergio Penha

· Wikidata: Q7454358

· DBpedia: Sérgio Penha

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sergio Penha. https://biography.guide/sergio-penha/

MLA: "Sergio Penha." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sergio-penha/.

Chicago: "Sergio Penha." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sergio-penha/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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