By BJJ Heroes on April 25th, 2011

Bianca Andrade (Gracie Barra)

Bianca Andrade (left) with Luana Alzuguir

Bianca Andrade Barreto is a former professional athlete in Bodyboarding that converted into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, becoming one of the best female competitors the world has ever seen, with numerous important titles such as Brazilian National champion and World champion on several occasions, having defeated some of the best fighters in her division, such as Fabiana Borges, Michele Tavares and Leticia Ribeiro.

Bianca Andrade in Detail

Full Name: Bianca Andrade Barreto

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Pedro Hemeterio > Francisco Hemeterio > Banni Cavalcanti > Diojone Farias > Bianca Andrade

Main Achievements:

4x World Champion (2010, 2009, 2008, 2005);
2x World Nogi Champion (2008, 2007);
6x Brazilian Champion (2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005 absolute, 2002);
World Silver Medallist (2006);
2x Brazilian Silver Medallist (2003 absolute, 2000 brown absolute);
World Bronze Medallist (2007)

Weight Division: Featherweight (58kg-129lbs)

Favourite Position/Technique: Armbar

Team/Association: Gracie Barra

Bianca Andrade Barreto Biography

Bianca Barreto was born in the state of Alagoas, Northeast of Brazil on 1973. Growing up near the beach side, she soon started practicing body board, becoming a sponsored athlete as a teen. Although she loved the Bodyboarding life, a series of bad results in championships left her distraught with the sport, as she felt the jury’s were ill intentioned.

She started looking for another sport to practice, and found it in Jiu Jitsu. She immediately fell in love with the sport and her competitive success was almost instant. Picking up training with Diojone Farias a black belt under Banni Cavalcanti – a famous BJJ personality in the Northeast of Brazil, Bianca gained notoriety by winning her first big medal in 2000 reaching Gold at the “Brasileiro”.

Bianca continued establishing herself as one of the top female competitors for many years, even as she went in her late 30’s. One of her finest moments came in 2009 as she finished her opponent Sayaka Shioda in the Mundial Final within a few seconds. Possibly the fastest submission ever recorded in a final of a World Competition at black belt.

Bianca Andrade vs Sayaka Shioda (World Championship Final 2010)