Carlos Vieira Holanda “Esquisito”

Carlos Vieira Holanda, also known as “Esquisito” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Master Faustino Neto, and another important fighter to come out of the BJJ hive that is Manaus in Brazil, the birth place of several important fighters such as Ronaldo Souza, Ary Farias, Saulo Ribeiro and many others. In 2010 “Esquisito” was crowned Pan American champion in a very controversial fight against Caio Terra.

Carlos Vieira Holanda in Detail

Full Name: Carlos Vieira Holanda

Nickname: “Esquisito” means “weird” in Portuguese. It was given to Carlos after he spent a weekend with a cousin who had the nickname. Because Carlos was a small kid and was always with his cousin, people started calling him “esquisito”, though Mr Holanda prefers to be called by Carlos.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Osvaldo Alves > Faustino Neto “Pina” > Carlos Holanda

Main Achievements:

• 2x Pan American Champion (2010, 2008)
• 3x Brazilian National Champion (2003 – closed bracket w/ team mate, 2004, 2006)
• European Open Champion (2012)
• Rio Open Champion (2009)
• World Silver Medallist (2003 brown)
• Brazilian National Silver Medallist (2007)
• 3x World Bronze Medallist (2007, 2006, 2004)
• 7x Amazonas State Champion

Weight Division: Pluma (64kg-141lbs)

Favourite position: Guard

Team/Association: Checkmat (formerly Oswaldo Alves/Gracie Barra)

Carlos Holanda “Esquisito” Biography

Carlos Holanda Vieira was born in Manaus, State of Amazonas – Brazil. He entered Faustino Neto, AKA “Pina” BJJ academy in 2000, joining one of the toughest gyms in the state with fighters such as Bibiano Fernandes and Dawglish Sousa.

He quickly established himself as one of the best competitors there, and started training more in Rio de Janeiro at both the Gracie Barra gym and the Osvaldo Alves academy (Pina’s master). Osvaldo was a big influence in the evolution of “Esquisito” putting tremendous belief in him, a belief that gradually converted into titles.

In 2009 Carlos Holanda joined a different team, Checkmat. He had been good friends with Lucas Leite for a while (who is one of Checkmat’s main athletes) and decided to join the team. The change was beneficial for Vieira Holanda as he went on to ad another trophy to his curriculum almost immediately, the prestigious Rio Open.

In 2009, Esquisito was also one of the loudest voices against the 50-50 guard, heavily criticising the use of it and Guilherme Mendes (one of his biggest rivals in the Pluma weight division).