Tragic death for a legend of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: 33-year-old Leandro Lo, eight-time world champion in three categories of this martial art, was killed by an off-duty police officer who shot him in the head.
It happened during a party at an exclusive club in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where the fighter was staying. According to witnesses, Lo was with friends at Clube Sirio when a guest who appeared drunk had an argument with him and grabbed a bottle from the bar counter to use as a weapon.
The Brazilian fighter pinned him down with one of his holds, but as soon as he was freed, the man pulled out his gun and shot Lo, hitting him in the forehead. The Brazilian champion died shortly after in hospital, while his killer managed to escape.
Lo was supposed to compete in the Jiu Jitsu Championships in the United States next weekend. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art that focuses on ground fighting, where fighters can engage in long, drawn-out fights to gain a dominant position or perform a series of moves that will ultimately result in the opponent's submission.
It should not be confused with its Japanese predecessor Jujutsu but is rather similar to Grappling, a fighting style that takes place standing and on the ground and is aimed at subduing the opponent without the use of percussion.
Article published on 8 August 2022 - 08:57
