Margot Ciccarelli

Biography

Margot Ciccarelli is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, coach, and professional grappler widely recognized for her creative guard work, fluid movement, and technical approach to modern grappling. Born in London, England, Ciccarelli developed a unique style influenced by her background in movement arts, including Wushu, Wing Chun, hip hop dance, and circus performance. She received her black belt in May 2021 under Murilo Santana and has become one of the most respected lightweight competitors and instructors in modern jiu-jitsu.

Ciccarelli’s competitive career spans both gi and no-gi competition, with notable success at major international tournaments. In no-gi grappling, she captured gold at the European ADCC Trials in 2024 in the -55kg division, earning qualification to the ADCC World Championships. Known for her high-level tactical awareness, Ciccarelli’s competition style emphasizes precision guard retention, dynamic back-taking sequences, and creative transitions between berimbolo, crab-ride, and De La Riva systems.

Throughout her career, Ciccarelli has trained across multiple continents, contributing to her reputation as a “nomadic” grappler and instructor. After spending several years as a key member of Unity Jiu-Jitsu in New York under Murilo Santana, she later relocated to California to represent Art of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ) under Guilherme Mendes. Beyond competition, she is widely respected as a teacher of modern guard concepts, blending movement-based training principles with technical jiu-jitsu systems.

Personal

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

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