Lucas Da Silva
Lucas Da Silva is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Alexandre “Soca” Freitas and the founder of Team Savage. His path from competitor to coach and gym owner has been shaped by family, perseverance, and a commitment to building a culture based on honor, respect, and elite technical skill.
A Jiu-Jitsu Journey Built Around Family & Legacy
Lucas's journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu began almost by accident. He originally brought his brother to train at Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro's academy, but the experience eventually became the beginning of Lucas's own lifelong involvement in the sport.
Following the passing of his brother, Sergio "The Savage" Da Silva, Lucas made a promise to his mother that would shape the next chapter of his life. He founded Team Savage to honor Sergio's legacy and fulfill that promise.
What began as a small project in Queens developed into a major local martial arts community. Along the way, Lucas evolved from competitor to instructor while continuing to approach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a lifelong student.
Team Savage was created to honor Sergio Da Silva and fulfill a promise Lucas made to their mother, turning it into something that could serve the Queens martial arts community.
Analytical, Disciplined & Always Learning
Lucas brings an analytical mindset to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His approach combines technical precision with the belief that even experienced practitioners should remain students of the sport and continue refining how they understand each position.
Understand the Problem
Technique becomes more useful when students understand the position, objective, and underlying problem rather than simply memorizing a sequence of movements.
Train With Precision
Lucas's analytical background reinforces a disciplined approach to details, efficiency, and technical decision making in both Gi and No-Gi training.
Remain a Student
Progress does not stop at a particular belt. Lucas's own journey reflects an ongoing commitment to learning, adapting, and evolving alongside the sport.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Gi & No-Gi
Lucas teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu across both Gi and No-Gi formats, helping students develop technical understanding, positional awareness, control, and adaptable grappling skills.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Develop positional control, escapes, transitions, submissions, grips, leverage, and the technical problem-solving skills that define Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Explore Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu →No-Gi Grappling
Build movement, control, submissions, wrestling transitions, positional awareness, and adaptability without relying on traditional Gi grips.
Explore Grappling →Competitor. Coach. Founder. Lifelong Student.
Lucas's career reflects several sides of martial arts—from competing himself, to teaching his first students, to building a gym and continuing to study the evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Competitor
Lucas developed his understanding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through years of training and competition before expanding his role into instruction.
Coach
He transitioned from competing alongside his earliest students into developing others while continuing to refine his own understanding of the sport.
Founder
Through Team Savage, Lucas transformed a deeply personal promise into a martial arts community built around technical development, honor, respect, and shared growth.
Technical Jiu-Jitsu Backed by an Analytical Mindset
Lucas combines a strong Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lineage with academic training that reinforces the analytical and disciplined way he approaches coaching and problem solving.
BJJ Black Belt Under Alexandre “Soca” Freitas
Lucas earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under respected BJJ instructor Alexandre “Soca” Freitas.
Founder of Team Savage
Lucas founded Team Savage in memory of his brother Sergio and built the program around their shared vision of creating a serious martial arts community.
MBA — Mercy University
His business education complements the leadership and organizational experience developed through operating and growing a martial arts academy.
M.S. in Industrial & Systems Science Engineering
Lucas holds a master's degree from Binghamton University, reinforcing the analytical, systems-oriented perspective he brings to teaching and problem solving.
Learn Jiu-Jitsu With Purpose
Train in an environment where technical development, respect, discipline, and continued learning are treated as part of the same process—whether you're stepping onto the mat for the first time or continuing years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training.