Lucas Costa Santana

If you ask Lucas a quick question after class, don't be surprised if you're still talking twenty minutes later, it's almost expected. Whether you're talking Jiu Jitsu, family, travel or life in general, he loves getting to know the people who walk through the doors.

Lucas started training in 1999 and received his black belt in 2010. Along the way, he earned the nickname "The Encyclopedia of Jiu Jitsu" thanks to his incredible memory for techniques, positions and matches. He has an incredible ability to remember the smallest details and loves breaking down complex positions into simple, practical concepts that anyone can understand.

Originally from Aracaju, Brazil, Lucas is a proud husband, father of three, lifelong jiu jitsu competitor, surfer and more recently an amateur fisherman.

Ask Lucas what he's most proud of, though, and it probably won't be the medals. It's seeing people discover they're capable of more than they thought, whether that's stepping onto the competition mats for the first time, helping a shy child find their confidence, or watching someone leave class standing a little taller than when they walked in.

The Journey

1999

Started Training

Lucas began his Jiu Jitsu journey in Aracaju, Brazil, the start of what would become a lifelong obsession with the art.

2010

Awarded Black Belt

Eleven years of training earned Lucas his black belt, and the beginning of the next chapter, competing and coaching at a serious level.

REPLACE WITH YEAR

Founded Legacy Sunshine Coast

REPLACE WITH THE STORY of founding the Sunshine Coast academy, what the early days looked like, and how it's grown since.

Today

Still Competing, Still Coaching

Now in his 40s, Lucas is still chasing the biggest titles in the sport, from the World and European Championships to the Abu Dhabi Pro, while coaching the next generation at Legacy.

On The Competition Mats

REPLACE WITH LUCAS'S FULL COMPETITION HISTORY: specific tournaments entered, weight divisions, notable results and placings across the World Championships, European Championships, Abu Dhabi Pro, and any other major events. Include medals or podium finishes where relevant, and any titles held.

He believes the best coaches never stop learning, and leads by example, challenging himself every day to improve both on and off the mats.

Coach To Three World Champions.

What makes those achievements remarkable isn't that they became World Champions, it's that they weren't elite athletes. They were everyday people with jobs, families and busy lives who committed to turning up, learning and trusting the process. Lucas has now held his black belt for 16 of his 27 years training, a depth of experience that shapes everything about how classes are taught at Legacy, from the smallest technical detail to the way the whole academy is run.

The Encyclopedia Of Jiu Jitsu

The Journey