Jose Steve

Born in Belgium, Jose Steve Nduazulu-Ndilu is one of the most exciting up-and-comers in the international jiu-jitsu circuit, with his ice-cold competitive demeanor, impassable guard and dangerous submission hunting skills.   

Jose Steve was not a natural athlete in the traditional sports, and stumbled through several until he found the gentle art in 2013. “I always tried to be good at sports, but I was just terrible. I played football, terrible. Tried basketball, still terrible. Gave swimming a shot, even worse. And then, finally, I found my love in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.”

Flash forward eight years, and Jose Steve found himself on the top of the podium at the IBJJF World Championships as a blue belt in the middleweight division. That’s when he says his jiu-jitsu career – and his hunger for the podium – really began. “That moment sparked something in me. More importantly, it was when I realized that despite the strong Brazilian dominance in this sport, it is truly accessible to everyone.” Even though that was many years ago, he still counts it as one of the highlights of his career, and since then he has proved to himself and others that it was not just pure luck. 

From blue to brown, Jose Steve has amassed an extraordinary number of championship wins, thanks largely to his champion mindset. For him, it’s all about discipline and dedication. “That’s what really separates someone who does the sport as a hobby from someone who wants to be the best. A champion has that structure he knows he needs to train, he knows he needs to do everything necessary to become a champion. Meanwhile, the average guy will do the bare minimum while thinking he’s doing everything. A champion knows how to get back up, accept defeat, and come back even better.”

Some of Jose’s top accomplishments include: 

  • 1st – IBJJF Worlds 2021 (Blue Belt)
  • 1st – IBJJF Europeans 2022 (Purple Belt)
  • 2nd – IBJJF Worlds 2022 (Purple Belt)
  • 1st – CBJJ Brasileiro 2024 (Purple Belt)
  • 1st – CBJJ Brasileiro 2025 (Brown Belt)
  • 1st – IBJJF Worlds 2025 (Brown Belt)

Jose's Favorites Products:

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Did You Know?

Favorite Match: Leandro Lo vs Meregali (Worlds 2017)

Person of Inspiration: Leandro Lo 

Hometown:  Brussels - Belgium 

Started Jiu-Jitsu in: 2013

Current Team: CENS ACADEMY x Dream Art

Training Routine: 2 BJJ training sessions per day + 2 to 3 strength training sessions per week

Favorite Post-Competition Meal: Every morning on competition day, I eat pancakes and 3 eggs 😂 that’s really my pre-competition meal.

Pre-Fight Ritual: You know 😅. That’s how I enter before every fight.

Greatest Victory So Far: José Steve x Pablo Oliveira / Final of the 2025 World IBJJF

Dream in Jiu-Jitsu: To be a black belt world champ 🥇

If I weren’t an athlete, I’d be...: Probably one of the best students at my university and very soon a legal expert.

Quote that represents me: Cold on the outside. Fire on the inside.

Favorite Kingz Gi: The One V2 (black), even more comfortable than pajamas 

One piece of advice for beginners: Consistency and discipline are the key to be a successful athlete!

As if being a high-level athlete wasn’t hard enough, when he’s not on the mat, Jose Steve is studying. Incredibly, he is close to finishing a law degree. And just this May, he already completed one of his two goals: become a brown belt world champion and graduate law school.