Silvio Duran de Barros Saraiva, commonly known as Silvio Duran, is an accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. He trained under Rodrigo Cavaca and Vitor Ribeiro and is one of the main representatives of the Vitor Shaolin Ribeiro Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu NYC academy in the sport’s competitive circuit. Duran is considered a promising figure in the BJJ community.
Early Life and Martial Arts Beginnings
Silvio Duran was born on May 3, 1989, in Santos, Brazil. Duran’s interest in martial arts started at an early age. He began his martial arts journey at the age of three, initially training in judo. He later expanded his skill set by practicing Karate for several years before transitioning to muay Thai at age 14.
Transition to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
After dedicating four years to Thai boxing, Duran was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at age 18 by his close friends Caio Ramos and Rafael Cavaca, as well as his uncle Ricardo Duran. Although Duran was practicing MT then, he also thought of quitting Muay Thai due to his tough schedule. At the time Silvio was studying at a local university while also working part-time and his schedule was not compatible with MT, for this reason, he decided to try BJJ.
Rodrigo Cavaca, a top BJJ fighter in the Super Heavyweight division, was the first grappling coach of Silvio Duran. Rodrigo Cavaca was Silvio’s main instructor from the get-go, though Duran’s busy schedule did not allow him to train in the main class of the gym.
Early Competitive Success
Competition quickly became a big part of Silvio’s evolution in jiu-jitsu, an environment in which he excelled. Duran swiftly emerged as one of Brazil's most promising competitors during his colored belt progression. As a blue belt Duran started being referenced as one of the hottest prospects in Brazil after conquering his first national title.
Maintaining momentum at purple belt, Silvio secured significant victories by winning both gi and no-gi divisions at the Brazilian Nationals. His stock would only rise as a purple belt with important wins at the Brazilian Nationals again, this time with gi and nogi, adding to his list of accolades an important team trophy at the CBJJ Team Nationals.
Move to New York and Training with Vitor Ribeiro
In 2015, Silvio Duran relocated to New York City at the invitation of renowned competitor and instructor Vitor Ribeiro, also known as Shaolin. In 2015 Silvio moved to New York City - USA after an invitation made by Vitor Ribeiro. Ribeiro sought a skilled training partner for his NYC academy, and Duran fit the profile perfectly. Ribeiro, also known as Shaolin, was in need of a training partner at his NYC gym and Duran fit the required profile.
Under Ribeiro's mentorship, Silvio refined his competitive skills and experienced significant growth in his grappling abilities. The relationship between Duran and Shaolin grew, as did Silvio’s jiu-jitsu while competing in the sport’s most competitive circuit (US).
Competitive Achievements
Throughout his black belt career, Silvio Duran has achieved considerable success on the professional grappling circuit. As a top Jiu-Jitsu grappler, Duran earned various titles in a series of tournaments including the American National NoGi Championship, World NoGi Championship, CBJJ Brazilian National Champions, and many more. He captured titles at prestigious events such as KASAI Pro 3 and KASAI Pro 4, showcasing elite-level grappling skills and tactical precision. Additionally, Duran consistently reached podium positions at major IBJJF tournaments, including gold medals at the IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship in 2020 and 2022, and a significant gi title at the IBJJF Pan American Championship in 2021.
Silvio Duran is widely recognized for his aggressive, submission-focused competition style, particularly excelling in lower-body attacks. Duran's signature move, the "botinha" footlock, has become a hallmark of his competitive arsenal. This technique involves precise positioning and leverage to isolate and attack the opponent's foot, often catching opponents off-guard. Duran effectively utilized the "botinha" in professional grappling events, notably securing victories at KASAI Pro 3 and KASAI Pro 4 (2018-2019).
Some of his notable matches include:
- In 2020, Austin Open Championship, Silvio Duran faced Ron Henderson. Duran’s performance in the battle was extremely epic.
- In 2017, the Summer Open Championship was held in which Silvio Duran competed against Felipe Simplicio. Both fighters showcased their exceptional grappling skills.
- In the 2021 Miami Open Championship, Silvio Duran faced Danilo Moreira.
Silvio Duran vs Felipe Simplicio / Boston Summer Open 2017
Notable Matches and Tournaments
Here are some of Silvio Duran's matches and tournaments in recent years:
| Opponent | Result | Event | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Rickel | Win (Toe hold) | San Antonio F. O. | 2016 |
| Andre Luchesi | Win (Points: 4x2) | Long Beach Open | 2016 |
| Wallace Santos | Win (Botinha) | Long Beach Open | 2016 |
| Jordan Gomez | Win (Botinha) | Long Beach Open | 2016 |
| Franciscso Matos | Win (Points: 0x0, Adv) | Atlanta W. Open | 2017 |
| Marcus Wilson | Win (Referee Decision) | San Jose Open | 2017 |
| Nicollas Welker | Win (DQ) | San Jose Open | 2017 |
| Nicollas Welker | Win (Points: 0x0, Adv) | Pan American | 2017 |
| Paulo Silva | Win (Botinha) | Boston Sp. Open | 2017 |
| Thiago Alves | Win (Points: 4x2) | Boston Sp. Open | 2017 |
Founding SD Jiu-Jitsu
In 2023, after years of representing Vitor Ribeiro's NYC team, Silvio Duran founded his own academy, SD Jiu-Jitsu, located in Midtown Manhattan. Transitioning from competitor and representative to academy owner and head instructor, Duran dedicates himself to teaching and mentoring a new generation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners and competitors.
