# Marcos Tinoco ("Lekinho")

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## Overview

**Name:** Marcos Tinoco

**Nickname:** Lekinho


## Bio

Marcos Tinoco was born on the 18th of December, 1988, in Araruama – state of Rio de Janeiro. Marcos started his jiu-jitsu training at the age of 16 under Master Juarez Soares’ guidance, himself a former student of  Monir Salomao , a legendary coach who graded  GFTeam ‘s  Julio Cesar  and world champion  Marcos Barreto .

At Araruama Jiu-Jitsu, the team founded by Juarez Soares, Marcos Silva Tinoco found a tournament driven team, led by one of the top coaches in the region. Being raised in such a tenacious environment, Marcos soon became a tough competitor himself, winning a substantial amount of tournaments, local and statewide.

Always trying to improve on previous goals, Marcos started seeking tougher tournaments to compete in. With the help of his teammates André de Freitas and Bruno Lima, Tinoco managed to get the funding and the visa permit that allowed him to travel to the US, where he participated in the Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship (purple belt). Shortly after the tournament, Tinoco accepted an offer that allowed him to stay in America and work as a coach, the offer was made by his friend Eder Perciliano.

During the World Pro Championship of 2012 in Abu Dhabi, Marcos met a girl (Hana) that would later become his wife. Hana worked for a  Marcelo Garcia  affiliate gym (MBJJ in Memphis) and pushed for Marcos Silva to go and train with Marcelo Garcia. After a few training sessions at the MG headquarters in New York, Marcos decided to stay, switching teams with the full consent of his former instructor Soares in 2013.

With the help of Marcelo Garcia and the support of the team, Tinoco’s jiu-jitsu blossomed, earning him important titles such as the world title in 2014. This fantastic year would lead to his black belt, awarded on the 19th of January, 2015 by Marcelo Garcia, on the same day as Jonathan Satava, another great competitor from the MG camp.

Marcos Tinoco @ European Open

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**Last Updated:** March 21, 2026

**Data Source:** BJJ.Space (https://bjj.space/people/marcos-tinoco-29cfb9e2551d)