Placido Santos, BJJ world’s most famous uke, has been promoted to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt!
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Santos reflected on the people who carried him through the highs and lows of his career, beginning with his wife Sofia:
First and foremost, to my lovely bride, Sofia, who has stood by my side through so many of my endeavors, never questioning me as a person – simply trusting and supporting me through injuries, wins, and losses.
Santos then paid tribute to John Danaher, who has served as both coach and mentor during some of the most formative years of his life:
To my wonderful coach, John Danaher, who has never asked for anything from me. Instead, he has simply given and given without any expectation of return.
He has served as a mentor and, in some ways, a father figure to me since the passing of my own father in 2018. Learning from you has been the honor of a lifetime.
He also expressed deep gratitude to Gordon Ryan and to Giancarlo Bodoni:
To Gordon Ryan, for leading the way and trailblazing for us, showing us what is possible through time, commitment, and sacrifice…
I am forever grateful.To Giancarlo Bodoni, for being a mentor, coach, and above all, a friend—the friend I didn’t deserve but so often needed on the mats. You pushed me in ways I didn’t even know I needed.
Santos continued by acknowledging Sal Bellia and Scott Habermehl:
To Mr. Sal Bellia, for investing in me in ways no one else has before.
Your trust and friendship have been invaluable.To Mr Scott Habermehl for putting the time and attention into my craft that I needed to make weight effortlessly time and time again.
Finally, Santos closed with a message to Michael Zenga:
To Michael Zenga. For endowing me with great trust and responsibility from the very beginning – never wavering in your support, believing in me and my abilities when very few did…
You are an irreplaceable figure in my life.
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