João Paulo Neto

João Paulo Neto (also sometimes referenced as Joao Goncalves) is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Mário Reis and Moacir Mendes Júnior, as well as a former representative of the Alliance Academy in this sport’s international competitive circuit, later changing his allegiance to the Atos shield. Widely regarded as one of the top featherweights of his generation, Neto earned his reputation while competing in the lower belt ranks of the sport by conquering medals at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World, Brazilian Nationals, Pan American, and Abu Dhabi Federation (AJP / UAEJJF) Grand Slam Championships.

João Paulo Neto Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: João Paulo Gonçalves Neto

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Álvaro Barreto > Sylvio Behring > Mário Reis (> Moacir Mendes Júnior) > João Paulo Neto

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place UAEJJF Grand Slam – Rio de Janeiro (2017)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Bento Gonçalves Pro (2017)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2019)
• 2nd Place IBJJF South Brazil Championship (2019**)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2017 brown)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2013 blue)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Brazil National Pro (2016 brown, 2015 purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2015 purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2015 purple, 2014 blue)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2015 purple)
• 2nd Place UAEJJF Grand Slam – Rio de Janeiro (2016 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2017 brown)
• 3rd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2017 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: DLR Guard

Weight Division: Peso Pena (70,00 kg / 154.5 lbs)

Team/Association: Alliance

João Paulo Neto Biography

João Paulo Neto was born on May 4, 1995, in Porto Alegre – South Brazil, though most of his infancy was spent in Canoas, a borough of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro.

It was in Canoas that João Paulo was initiated in martial arts, through judo at the age of 11. Highly dedicated to the Japanese art of throwing, training, and competing regularly Neto climbed the ranks quickly and reached the level of brown belt by the age of 13.

Around that same age (13) João Neto was a victim of a street mugging in which he was physically assaulted. This altercation changed his training mindset as he looked for a more self-defense-oriented discipline, finding what he was looking for in jiu-jitsu.

A well-known black belt in both jiu-jitsu and judo, Moacir Mendes was Neto’s first instructor, one that stood by João through every belt. Given that João’s family was from Porto Alegre, he visited the popular city regularly and even as a white belt he took advantage of this situation by training regularly at Mário Reis‘ PA Alliance Academy.

João Paulo Neto realized jiu-jitsu was his calling in life early on and as a blue belt became fully focussed on this sport/martial art, training and competing as his full-time occupation while adding a job as an instructor at Mário Reis’ academy after being promoted to brown belt.

2017 was an incredibly competitive year for João Paulo, who conquered medals in the top 3 International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation tournaments (Brazilian Nationals, Pan American, and World Championships). These tremendous achievements earned Neto his black belt from the hands of coaches Moacir and Reis on July 2 that year.

On May 2023, Neto represented the Atos Academy at the IBJJF World Championships, thus announcing his removal from the Alliance squad, a team he represented for 15 years.