Paulo Gabriel Martins da Costa, commonly known as Paulo Gabriel, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Letícia Ribeiro
and Fabrício Camões (Morango), who worked extensively with Severino Soares “Dida” (RIP), and is one of the top representatives
of the Gracie Humaita Association in the sport / martial art’s international circuit. Paulo Gabriel first gained
notoriety while competing in the colored belt divisions of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF)
circuit, where he conquered important medals.
Paulo Gabriel Martins Biography Paulo Gabriel Martins was born on March 13, 1996, in São Paulo, Brazil, where he grew up,
raised in a well-known children’s shelter named DICA (Desenvolvimento Integral da Criança e do Adolescente). Capoeira,
swimming, and judo were all activities he practiced as a child, but the first sport Paulo became passionate about
was jiu-jitsu, a martial art he started at the age of 13. At the time the young teenager was already a big mixed
martial arts (MMA) fan and loved to watch the grappling aspect of cage-fighting. When one of the workers at the shelter,
Mr. Ricardo Ferreira, started teaching at DICA, and although the program had a number of children enlisted, Paulo
Gabriel quickly stood out from the group for his dedication. When coach Ferreira moved to a different town, Martins
joined a well-known, local jiu-jitsu team, where he met Severino Soares (Mestre Dida), the academy’s instructor and
a figure of great importance in Paulo Gabriel’s upbringing. Master Dida took Paulo Gabriel under his wing and pushed
him to pursue an athlete’s lifestyle, a path which Paulo Gabriel could have easily swayed from, given his life’s
circumstances. Dida graded the young talent from white to purple belt. It was at this belt rank that Martins was
invited by Caio Terra to become part of his pro-team in California, United States of America, an offer accepted by
the São Paulo native. Paulo Gabriel’s stay with Caio Terra was short-lived as soon after he arrived, his girlfriend,
Gabi McComb, also moved to the USA to coach at the Gracie Humaita Academy in South Bay. The commute between the two
gyms was not a feasible endeavor and Paulo decided to move closer to McComb. He then joined the GH team, led by Letícia
Ribeiro and Fabrício Camões. Once at the Gracie Humaitá, Gabriel continued on the path of success, earning two IBJJF
Pan American titles (gi and nogi) before his black belt promotion, on June 9, 2018. Paulo was awarded his black belt
on the same day as his partner, Gabrielle McComb.