Adam Wardzinski

Biography

Adam Wardzinski is a Polish Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Alan do Nascimento ("Finfou") of Checkmat and is widely regarded as the most successful European male competitor in the history of the sport. Known by the nickname “Megatron,” he competes primarily in the heavyweight and super heavyweight divisions.

Wardzinski reached historic heights in 2025 when he became the first European male athlete to complete the IBJJF Grand Slam, winning gold at the European, Pan, Brazilian National, and World Championships in a single season. This achievement cemented his status as one of the greatest gi competitors of his generation.

His resume also includes multiple IBJJF World Championship titles (2024 and 2025), numerous IBJJF European Championships, and a first place finish at the 2018 European ADCC Trials, demonstrating his high-level ability in both gi and no-gi formats.

Wardzinski’s technical style is known for its refined, old-school approach built around the butterfly guard and a powerful pressure passing system. He is widely credited with revitalizing the use of the butterfly guard at the elite level, utilizing grips such as the over-the-shoulder belt grip to generate sweeping and transitional attacks.

His submission arsenal focuses largely on control-based finishes, including the rear naked choke and the arm-in ezekiel choke from back and mount positions. Beyond competition, Wardzinski is a respected instructor and a top-selling creator of jiu-jitsu instructional content.

Personal

* Legend status is reserved for retired athletes with outstanding achievements and a lasting impact on the sport.

Rankings