A professional MMA fighter, Jiu Jitsu black belt and Capoeira Master, Delson Heleno, also known as Pe de Chumbo is part of the elite grapplers of the world, having been a former Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World and Pan American champion at the black belt level. He is a student of Adilson Lima from the city of Teresopolis.
The creator of the Baratoplata technique, Rafael Freitas (AKA Barata) is also an accomplished Jiu Jitsu black belt, having competed and won in some of the most respected tournaments in the BJJ international circuit. Barata is also the coach of Gracie Barra New Mexico.
One of the founding members of the Brazilian Top Team academy, Bebeo Duarte is also a highly decorated black belt in Jiu Jitsu, having won important tournaments such as the Mundial (World BJJ Championships) and the Pan American. This Carlson Gracie black belt is also a manager for many important MMA fighters, such as Alexandre “Cacareco”.
Cassio Werneck was one of the top Brazilian Jiu Jitsu middle-weights at the turn of the century. A black belt under Ricardo Reis, Cassio Werneck fought a true who is who of BJJ, such as Terere, Marcelo Garcia, Marcel Louzado and many others having managed to win some of the most important tournaments in the world, [...]
Marcos Barreto made history as the very first world Brazilian Jiu Jitsu champion in the “Galo” weight division, back in 1996. A black belt under another historical figure in Monir Salomão (from the Oswaldo Fadda lineage), Barreto – aka “Juruna” – abandoned competitive Jiu Jitsu almost completely after his master’s death. Marcos Barreto in Detail [...]
Tiago Alves is one of the most famous BJJ practitioners from the Barbosa Jiu Jitsu Team. A black belt in both Jiu Jitsu and Kung Fu Alves excelled in the “Arte Suave” having achieved many important titles in the black belt division, such as Brazilian National Champion (with and without the Gi), Pan American Champion and even South American champion.
South Africa’s very first BJJ black belt World champion, Penny Thomas has become one of the most feared competitors in Jiu Jitsu’s women’s division. The black belt under Luis Herédia has won against the “who is who” of the elite fighters in her division, having achieved gold medals at most important tournaments such as the [...]
Jonatas Gurgel, also known as “Tagarela” is one of the top Jiu Jitsu fighters in the famous American Top Team (ATT). With an amazing grappling record in which you can add up World Cup, Pan American and Brazilian National BJJ titles, “Tagarela”, (who is an instructor at the ATT academy) has also added an MMA [...]
Fabiana Borges is one of the top black belts in the women’s Jiu Jitsu division today. The two time Pan American Champion and six time Brazilian National Champion was one of the first successful exports from a social project run by Professor Fábiano Gáudio that brings BJJ to some of the impoverished regions of Rio [...]
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” (who fights for the Checkmat Academy) was crowned Pan American champion, defeating Caio Terra to reach his gold medal.
The 1997 pluma BJJ black belt World Champion, Joao Roque went on to have a fruitful MMA professional career, fighting in shows such as the Shooto Japan, UFC, Deep and VTJ. Roque is also one of the first African native BJJ black belts in the world.
A historical figure in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Leticia Ribeiro has collected medals in world grappling events for years on end, being considered one of the top 10 best female fighters of all time having been distinguished with a mention in the IBJJF Hall of Fame. Leticia Ribeiro is also the leader of one of the best female BJJ teams, the Gracie Humaitá, an organization teeming with talent, such as Penny Thomas, Bia Mesquita, Mackenzie Dern amongst many others.
He is the son of Gracie Barra founder Carlinhos Gracie and member of the famous Gracie family. Kayron is also one of the brightest stars in Jiu Jitsu’s middleweight division, with many important wins at black belt level, since obtaining his black belt in 2009.
An amazing grappler “Soca” has conquered numerous BJJ and submission wrestling competitions including the prestigious ADCC tournament (considered to be the elite grappling trophy), the Pan American BJJ Championship and the “Brasileiro”.
A Jorge Pereira black belt, Guigo is a World and Pan American Champion from Rio de Janeiro. Today he lives in Sao Paulo where he leads his own BJJ team.
3x BJJ World Champion and 5 BJJ World silver medals. This impressive resume defines this amazing competitor from Gracie Barra, today the head coach of GB America.
One of the greatest ambassadors of Jiu Jitsu in Brazil and throughout the World, Kyra is an example of success in a sport ruled by men. She is also the first female BJJ black belt from the Gracie family to compete (and win) at the highest level.
“Gigi” is often considered an unsung hero in Jiu Jitsu’s history. A former world champion in the sport, he has also produced some of the most important competitors of our days and formed one of the biggest teams on the planet.
With a fantastic list of achievements, this natural born competitor was one of Sao Paulo’s start jiu jitsu practitioners. Today living in the United States where first came to compete in MMA’s IFL, he teaches in California at the Gracie Morumbi headquarters.
One of the most important figures of the Nova Uniao team, Wendell is the co-founder of Nova Uniao and has formed fantastic competitors such as Bruno Bastos, Leonardo Santos amongst many others.
