# Josef Manuel ("Zé Cobra")

> Black Belt | United States

## Overview

**Name:** Josef Manuel

**Nickname:** Zé Cobra

**Belt Rank:** Black Belt

**Nationality:** United States

**Gender:** Male


## Bio

A product of Newark’s Southside, Josef Manuel entered the mats through Mario Lemos, a Rickson and Royler Gracie lineage black belt from the old Gracie Academy in Humaitá. Lemos’s joking reference to raising snakes gave Manuel his “Zé Cobra” moniker. In 2005 he moved to train under 5x world champion Robson Moura at Nova União, earning his black belt from Moura in February 2009. Beyond competition, Manuel’s career included training United States Army soldiers and later instructing federal agents and local law enforcement.
## Gym Affiliations

- **247 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu** (Morris Plains, United States) — Instructor

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**Last Updated:** September 23, 2026

**Data Source:** bjj.space (https://bjj.space/people/josef-manuel)