At 42 years old, Rafael Lovato Jr. just made history — again.
By winning the final missing title at the Brazilian No-Gi Nationals, he became the first athlete ever to win every major IBJJF/CBJJ championship in both Gi and No-Gi.
But for Lovato, this moment wasn’t just about adding another gold medal to the shelf.
It was about completing a story decades in the making — one driven by perseverance, purpose, and a fire that refuses to fade.
In this exclusive interview, Rafael opens up about what this achievement truly means, how he continues to evolve as a competitor, coach, and father, and why he believes the best is still yet to come.
BJJEE: Rafael, first off, congratulations. You’ve just become the first athlete ever to win every major IBJJF/CBJJ title in both Gi and No-Gi. What does this moment mean to you personally?
Rafael: It means a lot. It’s hard to put into words just exactly what it means, but it’s an accumulation of so much hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance.
It’s extra special because of the age I’m at. I got these last three titles from 41 to 42 years old. I had all the reasons to stop, slow down, and be content. But I’ve just never stopped pushing. I’m always looking at the story – how can I write the next best chapter? That’s helped me get through a lot of hardships.
When I couldn’t fight MMA anymore and came back to Jiu-Jitsu, I had some tough losses. I was about to be 40 and trying to make another run. I didn’t need to, but I found the fire to keep going, go for more history, and keep cementing my legacy.
I was inspired by the idea of writing a beautiful chapter. I didn’t win ADCC, but I was the oldest guy to ever make it to the finals. The IBJJF recognized me for my Gi Grand Slam that I did back in ‘07. After ADCC, I realized no one had won everything in Gi and No-Gi, so I set out to win the last No-Gi titles I didn’t have.
It all came together. Competing in Rome, then at Pans with my team in Texas, and finally going back to Brazil – where I used to live and made so much history – for the final title. It just felt like destiny. Everything felt like it was something I was meant to do.
To make history again this late in my career, after basically two decades, was very, very special.
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BJJEE: You’ve been competing for over two decades. How did this particular championship feel, compared to some of your earlier titles – especially considering you have said this would be your last competition in the adult division?
Rafael: Extra special, because Rio means so much to me. I competed in my first world championships there in 1999. I was barely 16, still technically a green belt. I even shared a picture from that year – me on the beach in my green belt – and put it side by side with one from now, 26 years later.
Brazil is where I really fell in love with Jiu-Jitsu. That’s where I set my first life goal: to become a black belt world champion. Being there at the first Worlds, seeing all the legends, feeling the energy, it inspired me. I wanted to be one of those guys. I wanted to do it in Brazil.
The Worlds moved to the U.S. in ‘07, the year I won, but I’ve always gone back to Brazil to compete. I won the Brasileiro that year because the Worlds moved, and I really wanted to win in Brazil. Later, I became the first non-Brazilian to win the Brazilian absolute, a major IBJJF black belt absolute.
So it just felt like destiny to complete history in Brazil. I wasn’t the first gringo to win the Brasileiro No-Gi – maybe the third – but for that to be the final title I needed, it made it extra special.
The body’s definitely taken a lot of wear and tear, but technically I feel better than ever. I had tough matches, but I believed my experience, technique, and physical ability would carry me. I pushed the pace, and in my closest match, I was down an advantage in the final 45 seconds. My cardio, composure, and mindset helped me push through and take the back at the end to win.
Having it be in Brazil made it even more meaningful. That’s why I held up the t-shirt that said “Obrigado Brazil” – to show my love for all the memories, lessons, and moments I’ve had there.
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BJJEE: Your journey has been defined not just by gold medals but by longevity. At an age when most competitors retire, you’re still performing at the highest level. What do you credit for your ability to stay elite this long?
Rafael: What’s differentiated me is my ability to find new purpose and keep the fire burning. We all feel our bodies more in our 30s and 40s. A lot of people say they retire because their body can’t take it anymore, or they’ve had injuries. But I think it’s more that, mentally, they lose the fire.
Once you’ve achieved what you set out to do – or even more – you get satisfied. You’re not that hungry young kid anymore. You’ve got other responsibilities – business, family – pulling your attention.
I’ve had all that since I was 25. I’ve run my school since then, after my dad had a heart attack. I’ve had surgeries, injuries, the whole brain condition from MMA. All reasons to stop. But I love the challenge. I love being on a mission. I love the process even more than winning.
Just finding new ways to write a beautiful chapter – being the oldest guy out there and still performing, beating the young guys—that keeps the fire alive. That’s the hardest part, and I’ve excelled at that.
I’ve gotten smarter. I know how to take care of myself. I know what I need to feel, how I need to prepare, what level I need to be at. I’ve refined all that just as much as my technique.
It feels good to break barriers – not just making history, but doing it as the oldest guy out there. It used to be about showing what’s possible as a gringo from the middle of nowhere without access to world-class Jiu-Jitsu. Now I stand for something else: even with business, family, injuries, and age – you can still surpass what you think is possible if you keep going.
BJJEE: You’ve recently launched the “Lovato Performance & Longevity Secrets” – can you tell us how your philosophy of performance and health has evolved, especially after the health scare that briefly halted your MMA career?
Rafael: That product is really special to me – Lovato’s Secrets for Performance and Longevity. At the end of the day, I just want to help people continue doing what they love and doing it at the highest level possible.
I feel like I’ve really dialed in on the best routine, the best mindset – how to train, the strategies, the technique, the positions, just the way to continue doing this, or even starting late. How to take care of yourself. How to train properly. That’s kind of like my new calling.
I love and respect all the master competitors out there – guys who are older and successful but still looking for another challenge. They want to continue learning, compete, and bring themselves into Jiu-Jitsu. I just want to give back and share everything I do to help them be successful, live the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle, and do the best they can.
That’s why I created the product. Nowadays, when I travel to teach, that’s a big part of what I deliver – outside of the technique, giving people an inside look at my mindset and my process and how I do it.
Everything has to be in the right place – what you’re doing on the mats and off the mats, inside the gym, how you prepare your body, how you recover, eating, your diet, your mental well-being, your mindset, how you approach every day. It all has to be in alignment—especially when you’re older.
When you’re younger, you can get away with a lot – you can eat bad, not sleep, go out, and still recover. But when you’re older, that doesn’t work the same way.
I don’t think there’s a lot of material out there really describing how to do it when you get older. That’s why I created that – to help people in their 40s-plus and share what I’m doing.
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BJJEE: Many people look at Jiu-Jitsu as a young person’s game. Do you think the sport is finally waking up to the idea that progress can be lifelong?
Rafael: There’s definitely a way. I think you can have your best years even well past what most people would say is your prime. I don’t think there really is a prime.
The “last round, best round” mindset – I like to share and inspire people with that. We’re always getting better. If you keep working hard, stay consistent, have the right mindset, and do everything right, the best is always yet to come.
Jiu-Jitsu does a good job of letting you know it’s a lifetime of learning. The art is continually evolving. A black belt is a white belt who never quit. We should always embody a white belt mindset.
Recently I did a wrestling competition for the first time. That was another way to help my overall Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts ability improve. A different goal, a different challenge – another way to learn about myself.
But the sport has definitely become younger and younger. Now it’s not unheard of to be world-class and not even be 20 yet. Sixteen, seventeen-year-olds are beating world-class black belts. That never happened when I was coming up.
There are a few outliers – myself, Vagner Rocha, Cyborg. All three of us were in our 40s and made the finals at ADCC. I hope people can see that it can still be done.
But you have to start doing the right things early – otherwise the wear and tear will catch up with you in your 30s. Technically, too, you have to prepare your game so that when you’re up against faster, younger, more explosive opponents, you can slow the game down.
My game has allowed me to be successful because I put pressure, make younger guys tired, and put them in positions where they can’t explode. It becomes a slower, more technical game – and that’s where the older person can prevail.
You have to think long-term right away – am I doing everything properly for my body and my technique to keep myself in the game as long as possible?
BJJEE: You’re also a full-time coach and mentor. How do you balance being a competitor, teacher, entrepreneur, and family man without burning out?
Rafael: I do have a lot on my plate. I’ve kind of always had a lot on my plate. I’ve been running my school since I was 25. Business has always been something I’ve had to juggle with training and competition.
I’ve been teaching since I was very young – even before the school was mine – to help my father. Since I was like 15. At the end of the day, I think all of it makes you better. It gives you more purpose.
If you can just focus on yourself, that’s awesome, especially when you’re younger – you should be focused on yourself. But there’s always more time in the day. You can’t train 16 hours a day. There’s physical training, recovery, but there’s still more time.
Are you utilizing your time properly? What else can you do? Teaching is something everyone should be doing. Once you’re a purple belt especially, you should be looking to teach. It makes you better. You can selfishly help others with the purpose of making yourself better.
As you make everyone else around you better, naturally, they’re going to make you better.
Teaching is part of the martial arts way. Running a business, too. You should have an entrepreneur mindset. We all have a clock on our competition career.
You should open your eyes to how you can capitalize – whether it’s building products or building a brand. Learning marketing, networking, and taking advantage of the opportunities while you’re climbing the ranks is very important.
I love running my school. I love being a teacher and coach. I love seeing my guys level up and achieve their goals. I feel a deep purpose in that – carrying on what my father started. They inspire me and give me more purpose to show up and be the best example I can be.
Family – yes, it’s hard. It takes energy. But once again, it’s a bigger purpose. Now I’m setting the best example I can not just for my students but for my kids. I want them to feel proud, to see what their father has done. It gives them strength and inspiration.
Balancing it all can be difficult, but as you do it, you get better. You understand how to make a good schedule. You understand what time you have, what’s most important, how to be present for each thing.
When it’s time to train, I think about training. When I’m home, I’m with my family. When I’m teaching, I focus on giving the best class I can.
If it’s just you, you don’t learn how to do all these things. You’re missing out on developing more skills and having a fuller life – with more purpose.
If I wasn’t doing all of these other things, I wouldn’t feel as happy. I love it all. I want to be a teacher, a businessman, a family man. It’s my goal to check all those boxes off every day. If I didn’t do one of those things, I’d be missing out.
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BJJEE: You’ve become a mentor to thousands through your OKC academy, online academy, and seminars… How do you guide students through the noise of modern Jiu-Jitsu into finding their own path?
Rafael: It’s tough because it’s beautiful – the growth of the sport and the access people have now. There’s so much out there for students to see and learn from: different styles, techniques, games.
But that’s where I come in. That’s part of my goal. Being a teacher is being a guide. You share your knowledge and how you’ve put everything together for yourself, but at the end of the day, we’re all different. We all have different body types, different goals, different personalities.
My job is to help you understand how to find your way and make it beautiful. There is a lot of distraction, but that’s my duty: to help you stay focused and give you exactly what you need.
To put it all together – connect your skills, connect your techniques, connect your physical ability with your technical ability. Connect your mind to your body. Help you be the best version of you.
That’s a skill of its own as a coach – to help people understand that. So I try to have people be as focused as they can, to come in with their intention – what they need, what they should be focused on, according to where they’re at and what they’re working towards.
It’s something we have to talk about all the time. It’s not just delivering the technique. It’s giving them the sense of direction they need.
BJJEE: The Timeless approach – does that reflect your mindset off the mat as well? What does “timeless” mean to you, beyond Jiu-Jitsu?
Rafael: Yeah, so the Timeless approach – the mindset of Timeless Jiu-Jitsu – at the end of it, it just means doing what you love forever. Jiu-Jitsu forever.
Inside of that are kind of the categories of being a forever student, a forever teacher, and a forever fighter.
Being a forever student means always being a white belt – always looking to learn. Coming in with the mindset that I can still get better, I can learn from anybody. There is no end to learning.
That’s also true in life. We can never stop learning how to live life to the fullest. As life changes – becoming a father, different roles in career, aging – we must have a student mindset to absorb the knowledge that’s around us. Learn from life. Learn from others.
So many people have come into my life through Jiu-Jitsu and have become mentors to me – for business, family, or just going all in on their passion. People who have built something I can look at and say, “I want to know more about how you did that,” and then apply it to my own life.
Teaching, of course, is about giving back. Helping the next generation be better. And as you teach, it makes your technique better. You understand things on a deeper level.
You also learn to communicate – what do you have to say about your journey, your process? Why do you do the technique this way versus that way? What’s your why?
As you teach and communicate these things, you get better at expressing your why. It makes more sense to you and to everyone around you. You become a better communicator. You have more to give – on and off the mats.
Then there’s being a forever fighter. That means challenging yourself. You can’t get too comfortable. Always look for the next challenge. Keep pushing, keep going. There’s still more you can do, no matter where you’re at.
It’s about getting out of your comfort zone. That’s what it comes down to.
All of that works together. When you challenge yourself, you learn and grow. Then you have more to give back as a teacher. And you become a better student too.
Competition can give you more than months of training. One breakthrough moment can change everything – and that can’t happen in a regular training room. That experience shows you what you need, who you are.
So when you prepare for something, you become a better student. And all of that gives you more to offer to others.
It’s all life. Never stop doing those three things. Just do it forever. That’s the Timeless lifestyle.
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BJJEE: Are there any personal or professional goals still burning inside you – or have you entered a new phase of contribution and legacy-building?
Rafael: Oh yeah, 100%. There are definitely still many goals burning inside of me.
There’s one thing I’ve been working on… Well, I don’t even want to mention it because I’ve already mentioned it before and it’s not done yet. I’ll talk about it when it’s done.
But yes – there are new projects and projects that are already started that I want to continue to grow.
I want to continue building my association, which has grown tremendously over these two decades. We’re around 40 schools across North America and Europe now, inside the Lovato Jiu-Jitsu Association.
A lot of it is just still doing what I do – helping my school grow, pushing out more great students, competitors, and black belts. Helping them. None of that really changes. But I still have the same fire to do more and do better.
The new projects will help me reach outside the martial arts world and reach a bigger audience, make a bigger impact.
Everything comes down to making as big of an impact as possible. That’s why I try to put as much of this out there as I can manage, with everything else I have to do and balance.
The Timeless platform – TimelessJiuJitsu.com – I want to keep putting that out there. I think most people start Jiu-Jitsu later in life. There are tons of kids now, but those kids have parents, and maybe the parents are just starting now.
Maybe when their kids are teenagers, the parents are in their 30s, 40s, or older. I want them to have the physical and technical ability to train with their kids, to live that life together.
That’s something in my personal life that’s given me a new sense of mission. I started my family later in life. When my son and daughter are teenagers, I’ll be in my 50s. I’ve got to be ready for my son to try to kill me when he’s 15 and I’m 50. I want to be ready for that.
The sense of purpose just keeps growing. I want to put everything I can out there – the content, the platforms, the accessibility. Help people see that it’s there, that it can help them. That’s the work now.
But yes, I do have more professional goals. And personal goals, that never changes. Especially being a father. Kids are always changing and evolving. There’s much more for me to learn and do there.
And at the end of it all, yes, I have created a legacy, following in my father’s footsteps. I want to continue to build it. So that one day, if my son wants to live Jiu-Jitsu for his life, I can pass on the little Lovato empire to him.
BJJEE: You’ve trained and taught all over the world. How has your worldview shifted through Jiu-Jitsu? What has the art taught you about life that you might not have learned otherwise?
Rafael: Traveling, getting to teach, compete, and train all over the world – man, it’s done so much for me.
I’m from Oklahoma. Nowadays, it’s a pretty big city, but when I was growing up, it had more of a small-town vibe. A lot of kids I knew had never even been on a plane.
A lot of the Jiu-Jitsu guys, the kids who traveled with me to compete, it was their first time ever flying.
I got to leave the country, go to Brazil, when I was just barely 16. It was a huge eye-opener – learning about culture, about how people live in other places.
It makes you appreciate your upbringing, the things you might take for granted. That happened to me for sure. I’ve learned so much about the world and different ways of life.
You can take something someone does in another culture, bring it home, and improve your own life because of it – whether it’s culture, language, food.
Traveling and connecting with people all over the world, that’s one of the best parts of my job.
Jiu-Jitsu is so beautiful in the way it brings people together from different cultures, walks of life.
My best friends – my brothers – are from the Amazon: Saulo and Xande Ribeiro. They changed my life. I’m from Oklahoma. There’s no other way we’d have connected if not for Jiu-Jitsu.
Your best friend can come from a completely different place, live a completely different life – and now you’re forever connected.
When we’re on the mats, we’re all one. No matter where we’re from or what language we speak, we all just love Jiu-Jitsu. We’re all the same. We’re just learning, having fun, trying to get better, doing what we love.
You stop looking at people with prejudice or preconceived ideas. Jiu-Jitsu changes that.
Someone you’d never talk to if you passed them on the street – you roll with them, and now you realize, “Oh, this is a cool guy.” You get into things you never knew about. It helps you open up.
It teaches you how to talk to anybody. Be open-minded. That’s one of the most beautiful things about Jiu-Jitsu.
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