Adriano Moraes Reveals Secret Weapon: How Judo and Capoeira Shaped His Elite BJJ Game

The fighting world knows Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes as a Brazilian MMA star with some of the slickest submission skills in the game. But what many fans don’t realize is the unique martial arts cocktail that created his devastating ground game.

In a recent interview, the former ONE Championship flyweight king opened up about how his background in judo and capoeira has given him an edge that most BJJ practitioners simply don’t have.

The Brazilian Triple Threat: BJJ, Judo, and Capoeira

I’ve covered countless fighters who claim to have well-rounded games, but Moraes might be one of the few who truly embodies this blend of disciplines.

“My judo background taught me balance and how to control an opponent’s momentum,” Moraes explained. “When you combine that with capoeira’s fluid movement and BJJ’s submission arsenal, you create something opponents struggle to prepare for.”

The Brazilian star credits his unique movement patterns and unexpected takedown angles to capoeira, Brazil’s dance-like martial art that dates back to the 16th century.

From Orphanage to World Champion

Moraes’ journey is as remarkable as his fighting style. Adopted from a Brazilian orphanage, he found discipline and purpose in martial arts.

“Judo was my first martial art,” Moraes recalled. “It built my foundation of respect and discipline. The throws and balance work in judo gave me advantages when I later transitioned to BJJ. I see positions differently.”

When watching Mikinho compete, you can see the judo influence in his gripping strategy and the way he sets up sweeps from his guard—something many pure BJJ players lack.

The Capoeira Connection

What truly separates Moraes from the pack is how he implements capoeira principles into his ground game.

“Capoeira taught me to be unpredictable,” Moraes said. “In BJJ, everyone expects certain responses to certain positions. But when you add capoeira’s creativity and unorthodox movements, you create split-second openings that traditional BJJ fighters don’t see coming.”

His coaches note that Moraes often executes transitions that leave even advanced training partners confused about how they suddenly ended up in submission danger.

Creating the Hybrid Fighter

Moraes’ training partners often comment on how difficult he is to predict on the ground. While most high-level BJJ practitioners have patterns that can be studied, Moraes constantly varies his attacks and transitions.

“Many fighters today specialize too early,” Moraes explained. “They become one-dimensional. My advice to young fighters is to explore multiple disciplines before narrowing your focus. The connections between arts create your unique style.”

This approach has led to some spectacular finishes in his professional career, with submissions that seem to materialize out of nowhere.

Building Your Own Multi-Disciplinary Game

You don’t need to be a world champion to benefit from Moraes’ approach. Local gyms throughout Florida offer classes in multiple disciplines that can enhance your primary martial art.

If you’re primarily a BJJ practitioner looking to add new dimensions to your game, consider cross-training in judo for better standing transitions or exploring movement arts like capoeira for improved fluidity.

What’s Next for Mikinho?

As Moraes continues his MMA career, he remains committed to evolving his hybrid style. He hinted at incorporating even more elements into his training regimen as he pursues another championship run.

“The martial arts journey never ends,” he said. “I’m always looking for new movements, new concepts that can give me an edge. That’s the beauty of mixing disciplines—the possibilities are endless.”

For fans of technical fighting and submission artistry, Adriano Moraes remains one of the most fascinating fighters to watch. His next appearance in the cage promises to showcase even more of his unique fighting style—a style that proves that sometimes the most effective approaches come from unexpected combinations.

Have you tried incorporating different martial arts into your training? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Interview with Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes