“Rafinha” Dallinha (Revolution Team)

Rafael Dallinha also known as Rafinha by the Jiu Jitsu community is one of the best brown belts in the American BJJ scene. This Brazilian has been training and competing in the States for a while and his prize collection stand is looking smaller by the day.

 

Rafael Dallinha in Detail

Nickname: Rafinha is a friendly way of saying Rafael in Portuguese.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Rodrigo Medeiros > Rafael Dallinha

Main Achievements in BJJ/Grappling:

• 2009 US Open Champion,
• 4x American National Champion (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008),
• South American Champion (2001),
• 2007 Carlson Gracie Memorial Champion;
• Pan American Silver Medallist (2010).

Weight Division: Peso Leve (76kg)

Favourite Technique/Position: Rafinha likes to play open Guard and his favourite submission is the triangle.

Team/Association is BJJ Revolution Team/ Carlson Gracie.

Rafael Dallinha Biography

Rafinha was born on 1983 in Florianopolis, Brazil; his first approach to grappling came through when he was 9 years of age, in the form of Judo, a sport which he practiced until he obtained his purple belt in Jiu Jitsu.

Jiu Jitsu came up when Rafael was 16 and all his friends trained Jiu Jitsu in an academy nearby his house, and Rafael would always pass by to see them. After a while he started taking regular classes and hasn’t stopped since.

His training started with Murilo Rupp a Black Belt under the legendary Murilo Bustamante. He stayed with Mr Rupp until he got his Purple Belt. Shortly after receiving his Purple Belt (in 2004), Dallinha moved to the United States of America and started training with Rodrigo Medeiros, a Carlson Gracie Black Belt.

In 2007 Rafael moved to Tucson, USA and spent a year training and instructing at the Tucson Brazilian Jiu Jitsu School with BJJ Black Belt, Demetrius Ramos, a period in which Rafael also taught the local Border Patrol Team.

After a year in Tucson Rafael returned to San Diego, were he joined Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Revolution Team. Rafinha is an excellent coach and competitor, and holds currently a 4 stripe Brown Belt by Rodrigo Medeiros.

Rafinha’s (Blue gi) in Ralf Gracie’s Tournament

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