# Luiz Panza

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## Overview

**Name:** Luiz Panza

**Date of Birth:** February 02, 1990 (age 36)


## Bio

A former Shotokan karate black belt and teenage MMA hopeful turned away by his mother after a street fight, Luiz Panza started Jiu-Jitsu in 2007 under Edilberto da Ponte of A.O.A. before moving to Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu, where he received his black belt on December 17, 2012. He abandoned a dual career as a model and banker to compete full-time, stacking an impressive medal tally in his first black belt year. In 2014 he relocated to the United States to join Checkmat under Leozinho Vieira, and after the birth of his first child in 2018 he opened Academia Panza Jiu-Jitsu (Checkmat Rolling Hills) in California in 2019.

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**Last Updated:** September 24, 2026

**Data Source:** bjj.space (https://bjj.space/people/luiz-panza)