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Theodoro Canal: Record, Net Worth, Weight, Age & More!

Posted by Benjamin Strusnik on

Who Is Theodoro Canal?

Theodoro Canal is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach renowned for his exceptional skill and dominance in the featherweight division. He’s won hardware major tournaments, such as the Pan American Championships, the Brazilian Nationals, and the Rio Open. He’s affiliated with Grappling Fight Team (GFT) under master Julio Cesar, from whom he received his black belt. Throughout his career, Canal terrorized the featherweight divisions and even claimed absolute gold in the Master bracket with one of his last tournament wins before retiring in 2012 as the Pan Am Champion. 

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Who Is Theodoro Canal?

Theodoro Canal is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach renowned for his exceptional skill and dominance in the featherweight division. He’s won hardware major tournaments, such as the Pan American Championships, the Brazilian Nationals, and the Rio Open. He’s affiliated with Grappling Fight Team (GFT) under master Julio Cesar, from whom he received his black belt. Throughout his career, Canal terrorized the featherweight divisions and even claimed absolute gold in the Master bracket with one of his last tournament wins before retiring in 2012 as the Pan Am Champion. 

What this article covers: 

Theodoro Canal, born on April 22, 1981, in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo, started out on his journey in the world of jiu jitsu at a very young age. In 1980s brazil, training at seven was not only commonplace but perhaps even a little late! Encouraged by his mother, who saw the sport as an avenue for physical fitness and social interaction, Theodoro took his first steps under the guidance of Master Maeda. 

Everything About Half Guard by Theodoro Canal

As the years passed and circumstances changed, Theodoro found himself moving homes at the age of 14, prompting a transition to Agnaldo Goes' jiu-jitsu school in his new city. During this time, he built the skills needed to succeed as an international competitor and continued to nurture his championship spirit.

A pivotal moment in Theodoro's jiu-jitsu odyssey arrived when he relocated to the capital city of Rio de Janeiro. Immersing himself in the early, growing jiu-jitsu scene, he joined forces with Nigue and Vinicius Amaral, representatives of the Carlson Gracie Team. For a remarkable four years, Theodoro sported the colors of the Carlson Gracie Team, competing under their banner to many IBJJF medals during his time as an active competitor.

During this transformative period,Theodoro was granted a scholarship from Gama Filho University, a locally known institution for Physical Education studies. The university boasted an exceptional jiu jitsu team, ranked among the country's finest. Eager to seize this opportunity, Theodoro began training under the tutelage of the revered Master Julio Cesar, joining the ranks of GFT (Grapple Fight Team). 

It was during this time, while already a purple belt, that Theodoro Canal honed his skills and expertise, progressing to the esteemed ranks of brown and eventually black belt in 2003, bestowed upon him by the hands of Master Cesar. Throughout his time training, he competed actively on some of the world’s largest stages.

As a black belt, Theodoro Canal emerged as a formidable force in the competitive circuit, securing his place among the upper echelons of jiu jitsu. His relentless pursuit of excellence shot him to the forefront of major tournaments such as the Mundial, Pan Ams, World Cup, and many others. Theodoro's indomitable spirit and unwavering determination cemented his status as one of the most formidable competitors in the world of jiu-jitsu.

In 2011, he competed in the Pan Am Masters and achieved the unthinkable, winning gold in both his weight and in the absolute division, as a featherweight! This achievement was pretty stellar on it’s own but things got crazier the following year. In 2012, Canal returned to the adult division and retired as the Pan American gold medalist.

Since that time, Theodoro has been honing his craft as an instructor. He’s worked with us here at BJJ Fanatics to offer you “Everything About Half Guard”. In it, you’ll get tips from a fourth degree black belt and the head coach of GFT Recreio that help you round your game with tips to improve your half guard. Whether you need to hold down the local gym rat or learn to crawl your way to deep half guard on your way out of bottom positions, Canal has you covered with top level tips. Check out his work in our story now!

The Coyote Half Guard by Lucas Leite

How Old Is Theodoro Canal? 

Theodoro Canal was born in Espirito Santo,Brazil, on April 22nd, 1981. That makes him roughly 42 years old at the time of writing in 2023. He’s been grappling for well over 30 years at this point! 

Theodoro Canal Family

Theodoro focuses on the sport when interviewed, preferring to discuss the merits of judo or jiu jitsu over personal details about himself or his family. He never left his home in Brazil. He is currently the head coach of the GFT affiliate gym in Recreio.

How Much is Theodoro Canal Worth?

Theodoro Canal’s net worth is not public information, but he is a successful coach of some of the best BJJ athletes in the world. He also owns and operates his own academy, GFT Recreio, and produces instructional content for online distribution.

How Tall is Theodoro Canal?

Theodoro Canal’s height isn’t known. Height is not typically disclosed in public for grappling tournaments. The focus is more on an athlete's weight class and belt level.

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How Much Does Theodoro Canal Weigh? 

Theodoro Canal completed most frequently at featherweight, which is 70 kg or about 155 pounds under IBJJF rules.

Theodoro Canal Fight List

Theodoro Canal has been an active competitor in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from a young age, participating in numerous gi and no-gi competitions. He left the adult brackets for the masters division of the Pan Ams around 2011 but returned again to become the champion of the adult division before retiring in 2012. Instead of a full, match by match breakdown, let's take a look at his best achievements as a BJJ competitor:

  • 2005 Brazilian National Bronze Medallist
  • 2007 Pan American Bronze Medallist
  • 2008 Brazilian Teams Champion
  • 2008 World Bronze Medallist
  • 2008 Brazilian National Bronze Medallist
  • 2009 Brazilian Teams Champion
  • 2009 Brazilian National Silver Medallist
  • 2010 World Cup Champion (CBJJO)
  • 2010 Pan American Bronze Medallist
  • 2010 Rio Open Silver Medallist
  • 2011 Internacional Masters &Seniors Champion
  • 2011 Rio Open Champion (closed final with team mate)
  • 2011 Brazilian National Nogi Silver Medallist
  • 2011 Pan American Champion (weight &open weight - Master)
  • 2012 Pan American Champion

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Theodoro Canal's Best Fight of All Time

Theodoro Canal's best tournament victory of all time came in 2011, when he won double gold at the Pan American Championships. After storming his way through the featherweight division and earning his first medal, Canal lined up with some giants to challenge the open weight category and, impressively, he won! This double gold was surely a motivating factor in Theodoro Canal’s return to the adult division to claim his championship in 2012.

Who Did Theodoro Canal Lose To?

Theodoro Canal competes against the very best in the jiu jitsu world at an international level. As a result, he’s certainly taken some losses to accompany his many medals and wins in the sport. When he signed up for worlds in 1999, viewers had no way of knowing how special the matchup would be. Canal faced off against another legend of the sport, Reinaldo Ribeiro. Ribeiro is in the conversation for greatest of all time when it comes to featherweight, so losing to fellow rising star only served to fuel Theodoro’s fire and set him up for future victories.

Theodoro Canal Record

Theodoro Canal's professional grappling competition record remains elusive and undocumented. His extensive involvement in competitions speaks for itself, and a significant portion of his matches occurred prior to the advent of online record keeping. While the available results showcase remarkable achievements, the precise number of his victories and losses is unknown.

Theodoro Canal Injuries

Theodoro Canal hasn’t been public with any injuries. He competed frequently throughout his lengthy career, taking a few years off before returning to take home gold in the 2012 Pan American Championships.

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Is Theodoro Canal Retired?

Theodoro retired from competition in 2012. After a brief, one year stint in the Masters I division, Canal jumped back down to the adult bracket to become the Pan American Champion. He’s also devoted his time to running his GFT school in Brazil as the head coach and owner. Finally, Canal has teamed up with BJJ Fanatics to create some great content.

Not many instructors have a fourth degree black belt in BJJ, as you had to be around in the early days, and in the homeland of Brazil, to have achieved this rank by 2023. Canal’s “Everything About Half Guard” is a Fanatics exclusive and contains some high level tips and tricks that you won't find anywhere else.

Canal uses his thirty years of grappling experience in order to meticulously break down every aspect of the half guard, leaving no stone unturned. From fundamental concepts to advanced techniques, this video equips both beginners and experienced practitioners with a wealth of knowledge and strategies to excel in the half guard game. 

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best. Order your copy of "Everything About Half Guard" by Theodoro Canal from BJJ Fanatics today and revolutionize your half guard with the introduction of new setups, sweeps, and submissions.

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