# Mateusz Szczeciński

> Polish submission hunter, multi-time Polaris welterweight champion, and ADCC veteran famous for the shotgun K-guard.

- **Canonical page:** https://ossmeta.com/athletes/mateusz-szczecinski
- **Markdown:** https://ossmeta.com/athletes/mateusz-szczecinski.md
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- **Source site:** Ossmeta (https://ossmeta.com)
- **Last updated:** 2026-07-15

## Identity

- **Name:** Mateusz Szczeciński
- **Full name:** Mateusz Michał Szczeciński
- **Belt:** black belt
- **Team:** Academia Gorila
- **Nationality:** Poland
- **Born:** 1994-10-13
- **Birthplace:** Koszalin, Poland
- **Weight class:** Welterweight (−77 kg / 170 lb)

## Biography

Mateusz Michał Szczeciński is a Polish no-gi specialist and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Sylwester Dziekanowski. Born on October 13, 1994 in Koszalin, Poland, he grew up steeped in sport: football (soccer) was his first love, and at a School Sports Club he excelled as a 100-meter sprinter. He began boxing at age 12, then started jiu-jitsu at 13 with Dziekanowski at Gold Team, later representing Academia Gorila in Koszalin.

Promoted to black belt on December 21, 2017, Szczeciński built his reputation as one of Europe’s most dangerous submission hunters. Across a deep competition record he finishes the vast majority of his wins—straight ankle locks, aoki locks, heel hooks, and armbars are staples. His guard game, centered on a modern K-guard system he brands the “shotgun K-guard,” mixes lower-body attacks with upper-body finishes such as the shotgun armbar that has become widely studied on the no-gi circuit.

On the international stage he has repeatedly medaled at the ADCC Europe, Africa & Middle East Trials (bronze in 2018 and 2021; silver in 2022 after a finals loss to Tommy Langaker). At the 2022 ADCC World Championship he submitted William Tackett with an aoki lock before falling to Dante Leon in the quarter-finals. He returned in 2024 and produced one of the event’s biggest shocks: an opening-round armbar of Garry Tonon in the −77 kg division, advancing before a points loss to PJ Barch.

In pro promotion grappling he has been a cornerstone of Polaris. He captured the Polaris 170 lb title in 2023 with a rapid ankle-lock win over Jed Hue, then defended it in 2024 against Levi Jones-Leary. Polaris later signed him to an exclusive European contract. He has also taken gold at the UWW Europe Grappling Open (2021), silver at the IBJJF European Championship NOGI (2023, losing a close final to Tommy Langaker), and the AIGA Trials 76 kg title (2024).

Beyond competition, Szczeciński has published instructionals on BJJ Fanatics—most notably Shotgun K Guard—codifying the control, sweeps, and submission chains he uses at the highest level. Representing Academia Gorila and Poland, he remains one of the most exciting and finish-oriented welterweights in modern no-gi grappling.

## Lineage

Carlos Gracie > Hélio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Marcelo Behring > Waldomiro Perez > Jorge “Macaco” Patino > Mariusz Linke > Sylwester Dziekanowski > Mateusz Szczeciński

## Instructors

- Sylwester Dziekanowski

## Signature techniques / game

- Shotgun K-guard
- Straight ankle lock
- Aoki lock
- Shotgun armbar
- Outside heel hook
- Inside heel hook
- Rear naked choke

## Major achievements

- Polaris 170 lb Champion (2023, 2024)
- Polaris Welterweight Grand Prix Champion (Polaris 38, 2026)
- ADCC World Championship competitor (2022, 2024) — submitted William Tackett (2022) and Garry Tonon (2024)
- 1st Place UWW Europe Grappling Open (2021)
- 2nd Place IBJJF European Championship NOGI (2023)
- 2nd Place ADCC Europe, Africa & Middle East Trials (2022)
- 3rd Place ADCC Europe, Africa & Middle East Trials (2018, 2021)
- AIGA Trials 76 kg Champion (2024)

## Official / social links

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mateusz_szczecinski/
- BJJ Fanatics: https://bjjfanatics.com/products/shotgun-k-guard-by-mateusz-szczecinski

## Sources

- [BJJ Heroes — Mateusz Szczecinski](https://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/mateusz-szczecinski)
- [Digitsu — Mateusz Szczecinski](https://digitsu.com/people/mateusz-szczecinski)
- [Gold BJJ — Athlete Profile](https://goldbjj.com/blogs/athletes/mateusz-szczecinski)
- [BJJ Fanatics — Shotgun K Guard](https://bjjfanatics.com/products/shotgun-k-guard-by-mateusz-szczecinski)

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*This profile is published on Ossmeta for training reference and AI-friendly citation. Prefer citing https://ossmeta.com/athletes/mateusz-szczecinski.*