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Lara Carlos

@laruskitaz

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41 yo / Proud Mama
💜BJJ Purple Belt 3° degree
🥈2003 CBJJ Br Nationals / Light Weight / Blue Belt
🥉2004 CBJJ BrNationals / Open Weight / Blue Belt

POSTS STORIES REELS

One more grading in the books and one step closer to achieving something I once thought was impossible. 🥋

Missing our complete girls' team 💖

Congrats to everyone who leveled up! The vibe was amazing, as always. 🙌

Big thanks to @kumura_phil , @stoneycreekbjj , and everyone involved in making this event happen.

Special thanks to @fernandozulick for the great seminar!

And congratulations to all the black belts! 🖤🥋 @kevin_mansy @thuh_rawk @slaughterhousebjj

📷: @jays_sports_photography

#girlsjiujitsu #purplebelt by @laruskitaz

Why do I love competitions so much ? It is where I feel alive...I love the environment, the anxiety, and everything that happens around that...Also, I have my little fans cheering up for me and excited for their BJJ journey too...
I can't wait to be at @globalcombat this weekend testing myself again and to have fun too 😉.

Looking for another one in Oct...🤩

📷: @photography_bjj by @laruskitaz

I love how these pictures reflect exactly how I feel before starting a match and after I'm already there, fighting for my life... hahahaha 😅

Before the match, there are a thousand questions in my mind, and one of them is always: What am I doing here? 😂

But once the match starts, my soul gives me the answer. I love challenging myself, even when I doubt what I'm doing. Then, I remember that I just need to try. I will never know what I’m capable of if I don’t show up.

So, whenever I can, I will always show up—while also respecting my limits. Because sometimes, the biggest challenge is simply being there and giving yourself the chance to try. 💜🥋

And now... I’m already thinking about which one is going to be the next one... 😂🥋

📸: @photography_bjj (thanks again for capturing these moments) by @laruskitaz

Another @greatlakesopen in the books, but not with the result I was aiming for. However, I’m truly thankful to be healthy enough to keep doing what I love. (My body is completely sore today… hahahahaha 😂)

Every time there is an opportunity to fight, I will try my best to be there — and once again, I was there. Not at my best level, but always putting my jiu-jitsu to the test.

There is a huge support network that helps me be there on the mats, and this time was no different.

Thank you, Vianna, once again. Aaren, thank you for being there, and @chandlerjiujitsu for being in my corner. ❤️

📸 @photography_bjj — I am in love with these photos!

🥣 @mi.nutribjj — I’m getting stronger every day.

💪🏾 @drjesstdc — you saved me once again, but this time with the craziest lower-back pain ever! 😂

🥋 @flawlesskimonos — I love my black gi.

🥷🏾 @stoneycreekbjj — thank you, everybody! ❤️

It was also so nice to see everybody. 🥰

Not the result I wanted, but another opportunity to fight, learn, and keep putting my jiu-jitsu to the test. On to the next one. 🥋💥 by @laruskitaz

Why do I still compete when I don't have to?

I've always dreamed of being an athlete. I did ballet, played volleyball, and loved every physical activity at school. But I only found the sport that truly captured my heart at 16 years old.

I was fortunate to compete for the first time as a white belt after spending four months recovering from one of the toughest injuries of my life. I came back with a victory—and, more importantly, with the certainty that Jiu-Jitsu was the path I wanted to follow.

From that day on, I was hooked.

My blue belt journey was, by far, the hardest. I had every reason to quit, especially after being put to sleep in front of a crowd... 😂 But I made myself a promise: that would never happen again.

I trained harder than ever, and at my next competition I earned second place at the Brazilian Nationals in 2003. And at the beginning of 2004, I got my only double gold so far in the first phase of Rio de Janeiro provincial competition.

After being away from competition for so long, my passion for Jiu-Jitsu brought me back. I'm so grateful I listened to that feeling.

Competing reminds me that every improvement is the result of the work I put in on the mat. It's also the best way to test my Jiu-Jitsu, learn from my mistakes, and keep growing. In addition, I love the adrenaline before every match. 🫨

Resilience is the key. 🤍💙💜🥋

I don't compete because I have to. I compete because it reminds me of who I am and what I can achieve.

🥋: @flawlesskimonos by @laruskitaz

June 2026 was a month to remember.

We had a special visit, spent a couple of hours in Toronto during FWC26, and enjoyed some well-deserved time off.

Soccer is one of my passions, and these days my heart is divided between Brazil 🇧🇷 and Canada 🇨🇦. It was a privilege to experience a little bit of the tournament and be part of the incredible atmosphere. It is amazing to see people from all over the world in one place.

I had hoped to work with the Organizing Committee, as I did at Rio 2016, but this time I was there as a spectator. Different perspective, same passion—and memories I'll always keep.

Thank you, June. ⚽❤️ by @laruskitaz

POV: Trying to film training without a tripod. 🙄😂

The video will be better next time, but the training doesn't stop.

Tournament prep is on... I can't wait to get back on the mats! 🥋🔥

@stoneycreekbjj by @laruskitaz

I’m very grateful that I did my first competition as a juvenile white belt at 17 years old. It happened after a major shoulder injury and 4 months of recovery (broke my clavicle in half), and I told myself that the result would decide if I was going to continue training BJJ or not. You already know the outcome, right?! 😁

The blue belt journey was very challenging. I lost many times before I started winning again. In one of those losses, I ended up blacking out in front of the audience 😴. It was one of the worst feelings ever, but I transformed that moment into motivation to train even harder.

That hard work paid off. In 2003, I became the second best blue belt lightweight in Brazil, and at the beginning of 2004, I won my first double gold at the first stage of the RJ Regionals. I still remember how happy I was that day because I could finally see all the sacrifices paying off.

Now, as a master athlete, I still take competitions very seriously, but they’ve also become an amazing opportunity to connect with people from the BJJ community. Your opponent is always helping you to improve, whether you win or lose.

My journey is even more challenging now, but I am 100% proud of my comeback after 15 years away from competitions — while also being a mom of three little ones. My one and only regret was being away for so long.

I’m just getting started… 💜

📸: @afmediatoronto / @rodrigopons_photos

Post inspired by @elly.walton
@stanforcreators

#bjjmoms #bjjmastersgirls #bjjpurplebelt #postitmessy by @laruskitaz

My happy place ☺️💕
Ontario Open International 2026
Thanks for the tough matches @theriaultjiujitsu
I can't wait to step on the mats again.

Thanks for this amazing photo @rodrigopons_photos

🥋: with my first black gi from @flawlesskimonos

☢️: representing my gym @stoneycreekbjj

🥗: @mi.nutribjj helping with my nutrition support

💪🏾: @drjesstdc helping to heal my injuries

🏃🏾‍♂️: @drericabalcombe helping to put my body in balance by @laruskitaz

Ontario Open International 2026
🥈 Female Master +30 heavy weight
🥈 Female Master Open Weight
5th place on the Female Master Rank

Made my mark at Ontario Open International 2026! Despite the challenges, I'm extremely happy with my progress and results. Can't wait to come back stronger.

Thanks @kevin_mansy, @scottjutrasbjj, and @kerstibjj for the guidance. Loved meeting new people and connecting with fellow competitors. Cheers to the champions!

Appreciate the support from @stoneycreekbjj, friends, family and to Vianna (support network). Special thanks to @drjesstdc for the care and @mi.nutribjj for the nutrition support to keep bringing my best version.

Let's go for the next challenge ! by @laruskitaz

Today marks a huge milestone for me—one year ago, I made the decision to step back onto the mats after a long break.

In my heart, I always knew I’d return. This past year has been an incredible journey, not just in training, but in connecting with so many amazing people in the BJJ community. ❤️

Grateful for all my teammates and coaches at @stoneycreekbjj.

A big thank you to my family and friends who support me and make it possible for me to train as much as I can.

And this is only the beginning. Much more to come 🙏🏾❤️ by @laruskitaz

I don't remember the year (I believe it was 2003), but it was my first Worlds when it used to take place in RJ. Unfortunately, I lost the first match.

My first and only Gi sponsored by @atamakimonos, when they used to be very close to my place in RJ too. 😁

One day I will be back to the Worlds 💖

#bluebelt💙 #bluebeltbjj by @laruskitaz