João Mendes, often referenced as João “Bisnaga”, is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under André Galvão, being also one of the main representatives of the Atos Jiu Jitsu Academy in this sport/martial art’s international competitive circuit. Bisnaga is also one of the top grapplers of the featherweight division (70,00 kg / 154.5 lbs), a status conquered after several important wins in the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) tour.
João Mendes Jiu Jitsu
Full Name: João Pedro Bueno Mendes
Nickname: “Bisnaga” is a Portuguese term for a Water Gun or an Ointment Tube, although it is also used colloquially to represent a “momma’s boy” of sorts, in João’s case, the name is a reference to the latter. Back in 2017, in an interview to BJJ Heroes, João explained the event that led to his nickname – “The first day when my dad dropped me at the [BJJ] academy, in the spur of the moment he told the coach ‘take good care of my Bisnaga’. I tried to deny the nickname on the spot, but was too quiet in my attempt and everyone started calling me this from then on”.
Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > C. Gracie > R. Gracie > Osvaldo Alves > Luis Dagmar > André Galvão> João Mendes
Main Achievements:
- IBJJF Floripa Open Champion (2018)
- IBJJF Curitiba Spring Open Champion (2018)
- UAEJJF Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro 2nd Place (2018)
- IBJJF European Open 3rd Place (2019)
Main Achievements:
- IBJJF World Champion (2016 purple)
- IBJJF Juvenile World Champion (2013**/2014**)
- IBJJF Juvenile Pans Champion (2014**)
- CBJJ Juvenile Brazilian National Champion (2013**/2014)
- IBJJF Sul Brasileiro Champion (2015 purple)
- IBJJF San Diego Open Champion (2017 brown)
- IBJJF Las Vegas Open Champion (2017 brown)
- UAEJJF Curitiba Pro Champion (2016 purple)
- IBJJF World Championship 2nd Place (2017 brown)
- IBJJF Pans Championship 2nd Place (2018 brown)
- IBJJF World Championship 3rd Place (2018 brown)
- CBJJ Brazilian National Championship 3rd Place (2015 blue)
* Absolute
** Weight and absolute
Favorite Position/Technique: Omoplata, Open Guard
Weight Division: Peso Pena (70,00 kg / 154.5 lbs)
Team/Association: Atos Jiu Jitsu
João Mendes Biography
João Pedro Mendes was born on July 21, 1997 in Curitiba, the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Paraná.
Growing up in the metropolitan area of Curitiba (Colombo), João was not tuned on to sports, rather the contrary. He was also small for his age and shy in nature, traits that pressed his parents to enroll young Mendes in jiu jitsu classes as a child, hoping a combat sport/martial art would help overcome any physical and mental limitations he had.
Although seemingly harsh, the competition focused environment found in jiu jitsu did indeed bring out the best in João Pedro, who went on to win his first Brazilian National title as an orange belt (junior) in 2011, a podium placement he would revisit repeatedly throughout his career.
Although living in a more remote area of Brazil, one not often identified with this sport, and training in a small gym, Mendes was able to break through these barriers and become one of the most promising athletes of his generation. Much of this evolution can be pinned to Alexandre Nunes, commonly referenced as Bokão. Nunes was Bisnaga’s first instructor and figure of tremendous importance in his life on the mats, standing by João’s side for most of his colored belt career.
In 2016 Bisnaga decided to do the IBJJF World Championship training camp in San Diego, California, at the Atos team headquarters with coaches André and Angélica Galvão. João’s work rate and talent earned him an invitation to return to the team, then becoming part of the academy’s workgroup.
After two years training alongside the Galvão’s, on June 8, 2018 João Pedro Mendes was promoted to black belt by André Galvão.
Joao Mendes Grappling Record
-
BY POINTS
16 (52%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
6 (19%) -
BY SUBMISSION
6 (19%) -
BY DECISION
3 (10%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY DQ
0 (0%)
6 SUBMISSIONS WINS
-
BY POINTS
5 (36%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
2 (14%) -
BY SUBMISSION
6 (43%) -
BY DECISION
1 (7%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY DQ
0 (0%)
6 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES
Joao Mendes Fight History
ID | Opponent | W/L | Method | Competition | Weight | Stage | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17951 | Hiago GeorgeHiago George | L | Points | Rio BJJ Pro | 70KG | SF | 2018 |
18178 | Isaque PaivaIsaque Paiva | L | Armbar | Grand Slam RJ | 69KG | F | 2018 |
18789 | Isaac DoederleinIsaac Doederlein | L | Pts: 2x2, Adv | European Open | 70KG | SF | 2019 |
19454 | Isaac DoederleinIsaac Doederlein | L | Armlock | Pan American | 70KG | 4F | 2019 |
20310 | Kennedy MacielKennedy Maciel | L | Pts: 2x0 | San Diego Open | 70KG | SF | 2019 |
20457 | Matheus GabrielMatheus Gabriel | L | Pts: 6x4 | World Champ. | 70KG | R2 | 2019 |
20786 | Kennedy MacielKennedy Maciel | L | Points | American Nats | 70KG | SF | 2019 |
21275 | Israel SousaIsrael Sousa | L | Referee Decision | Las Vegas Open | 70KG | SF | 2019 |
21503 | Eric PhanEric Phan | L | Armbar | Grand Slam LA | 69KG | R1 | 2019 |
22213 | Connor Donaldson | L | Armlock | Long Beach Open | 76KG | 4F | 2019 |
22292 | Lucas ValenteLucas Valente | L | Choke from back | SJJIF Worlds | 76KG | F | 2019 |
23759 | Kennedy MacielKennedy Maciel | L | Pts: 2x1 | Grand Slam MIA | 69KG | 4F | 2020 |
23892 | Richar NogueiraRichar Nogueira | L | Pts: 0x0, Adv | Pan American | 70KG | 4F | 2020 |
24415 | Davi Oliveira | L | RNC | Grand Slam RJ | 69KG | 8F | 2020 |
17086 | Carlos Alberto | W | Pts: 40x0 | Floripa W. Open | 76KG | 4F | 2018 |
17091 | Rafael MansurRafael Mansur | W | Adv | Floripa W. Open | 76KG | SF | 2018 |
17092 | Luciano Bernert | W | Triangle | Floripa W. Open | 76KG | F | 2018 |
17821 | Higor Paterra | W | Submission | Curitiba Sp. Open | 70KG | 4F | 2018 |
17822 | Andrey Adam | W | Triangle | Curitiba Sp. Open | 70KG | SF | 2018 |
17824 | Gabriel MarangoniGabriel Marangoni | W | Adv | Curitiba Sp. Open | 70KG | F | 2018 |
17949 | Tiago BarrosTiago Barros | W | Points | Rio BJJ Pro | 70KG | 4F | 2018 |
18167 | Gabriel Vilella | W | Pts: 0x0, Adv | Grand Slam RJ | 69KG | R1 | 2018 |
18173 | Victor Moraes | W | Pts: 4x4, Adv | Grand Slam RJ | 69KG | 4F | 2018 |
18177 | Rafael MansurRafael Mansur | W | Referee Decision | Grand Slam RJ | 69KG | SF | 2018 |
18788 | Gabriel MarangoniGabriel Marangoni | W | Pts: 4x4, Adv | European Open | 70KG | 4F | 2019 |
19033 | Jacob Sandoval | W | N/A | OC Open | 70KG | SF | 2019 |
19034 | Spencer Nogawa | W | Pts: 22x0 | OC Open | 70KG | F | 2019 |
19444 | Hiroaki Otsuka | W | Pts: 8x0 | Pan American | 70KG | 8F | 2019 |
19845 | Jose Leon | W | Pts: 45x0 | San Jose Open | 70KG | SF | 2019 |
19847 | Cole FransonCole Franson | W | Pts: 4x4, Adv | San Jose Open | 70KG | F | 2019 |
20306 | Geoff Villareal | W | Armbar | San Diego Open | 70KG | 4F | 2019 |
20450 | Hiroaki Otsuka | W | Pts: 13x0 | World Champ. | 70KG | R1 | 2019 |
20784 | G. Villareal | W | Cross choke | American Nats | 70KG | 4F | 2019 |
20987 | Esdras Bezerra | W | Points | Fresno Open | 70KG | F | 2019 |
21269 | Joshua Prestley | W | Choke from back | Las Vegas Open | 70KG | R1 | 2019 |
21271 | Eric PhanEric Phan | W | Pts: 4x2 | Las Vegas Open | 70KG | 4F | 2019 |
21598 | Edward Kang | W | Referee Decision | F2W 126 | 70KG | SPF | 2019 |
22289 | Gabriel Revoredo | W | Points | SJJIF Worlds | 76KG | 4F | 2019 |
22291 | Kauan BarbozaKauan Barboza | W | Points | SJJIF Worlds | 76KG | SF | 2019 |
22611 | Cole FransonCole Franson | W | Referee Decision | F2W 133 | 70KG | SPF | 2019 |
23756 | Danilo MoreiraDanilo Moreira | W | Pts: 3x0 | Grand Slam MIA | 69KG | R1 | 2020 |
23765 | Raphael Cadena | W | Pts: 4x0 | Grand Slam MIA | 69KG | RPC | 2020 |
23766 | Giovanni Carvalho | W | Pts: 2x1 | Grand Slam MIA | 69KG | 3RD | 2020 |
23887 | Thiago AbudThiago Abud | W | Pts: 6x4 | Pan American | 70KG | 8F | 2020 |
24408 | Everton Freitas | W | Pts: 9x3 | Grand Slam RJ | 69KG | R1 | 2020 |
Joao Pedro Mendes 2017 Highlight