Chico Mendes

Chico Mendes is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the legendary Leo Vieira and a representative of the Checkmat Academy in the United Kingdom. Mendes has Checkmat flag halfway across the world delivering seminars in distant places such as the United States, Singapore, China, Denmark and many other places. Chico Mendes is also an accomplished BJJ competitor with wins in important tournaments such as the World Cup and the European No Gi Championships.

Chico Mendes Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Francisco Ramos Mendes Neto

Nickname: “Chico” which is short for Francisco in Portuguese.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Leonardo Vieira > Chico Mendes

Main Achievements:

• IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2016*)
• IBJJF World No-Gi Silver IBJJF (2015/2016)
• IBJJF World No-Gi Bronze Medalist (2015*)
• JJWL World Champion (2017**/2016)
• IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Champion (2015)
• IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Bronze Medalist (2016)
• IBJJF Pan American Bronze Medalist (2016)
• IBJJF European Silver Medalist (2015/2016/2017**)
• IBJJF European No-gi Champion (2012/2013/2015/2017**)
• IBJJF European No-gi Silver Medalist (2013*)
• IBJJF European No-gi Silver Champion (2015)
• IBJJF Worlds Master Bronze Medalist (2015)
• IBJJF International Master & Seniors Silver Medalist (2010)
• CBJJ Brazilian National Bronze Medalist (2010)
• IBJJF London Open Champion (2012)
• IBJJF London Open Silver Medalist (2014)
• IBJJF London Open No-Gi Champion (2014)
• IBJJF London Open No-Gi Silver Medalist (2013*)
• IBJJF London Open No-Gi Bronze Medalist (2013)
• IBJJF London Fall Open Champion (2015)
• IBJJF London Fall Open Silver Medalist (2015*)
• IBJJF London Fall Open No-Gi Champion (2015**)
• IBJJF London Winter Open Champion (2014/2017**)
• IBJJF London Winter Open Silver Medalist (2014*/2016)
• IBJJF London Winter Open Bronze Medalist (2016)
• IBJJF British National Champion (2015**/2016)
• IBJJF British National Silver Medalist (2017)
• IBJJF British National Bronze Medalist (2016*)
• IBJJF British National No-Gi Champion (2017,2015**)
• IBJJF British National No-Gi Silver Medalist (2016**)
• IBJJF British National No-Gi Bronze Medalist (2017*)
• IBJJF Rome Open Champion (2015**/2017)
• IBJJF Rome Open Silver Medalist (2013)
• IBJJF Rome Open Bronze Medalist (2013*)
• IBJJF Paris Open Champion (2014)
• IBJJF Paris Open No-Gi Champion (2014)
• IBJJF Paris Open No-Gi Bronze Medalist (2014*)
• IBJJF Copenhagen Open Champion (2014**)
• IBJJF Copenhagen Open No-Gi Bronze Medalist (2014)
• IBJJF Madrid Open Champion (2015)
• IBJJF Madrid Open Silver Medalist (2015*)
• IBJJF Madrid Open No-Gi Champion (2015)
• IBJJF Dallas Open Champion (2015)
• IBJJF Dallas Open Silver Medalist (2016)
• IBJJF Dallas Open Bronze Medalist (2015*)
• IBJJF Dallas Open No-Gi Silver Medalist (2015/2016)
• IBJJF Dallas Open No-Gi Bronze Medalist (2016)
• IBJJF Chicago Summer Open Bronze Medalist (2016**)
• IBJJF Chicago Summer Open No-Gi Champion (2016)
• IBJJF Chicago Summer Open No-Gi Silver Medalist (2016*)
• IBJJF Chicago Spring Open Bronze Medalist (2016)
• IBJJF Chicago Spring Open No-Gi Champion (2016)
• IBJJF Chicago Spring Open No-Gi Silver Medalist (2016*)
• IBJJF New York Spring Open Silver Medalist (2016)
• IBJJF New York Spring Open Bronze Medalist (2016*)
• IBJJF New York Spring Open No-Gi Champion (2016)
• IBJJF New York Spring Open No-Gi Silver Medalist (2016*)
• IBJJF San Antonio Spring Open Champion (2016)
• IBJJF San Antonio Spring Open Silver Medalist (2016*)
• IBJJF San Antonio Spring Open No-Gi Silver Medalist (2016**)
• IBJJF Atlanta Summer Open Champion (2016)
• IBJJF Atlanta Summer Open No-Gi Champion (2016**)
• IBJJF Atlanta BJJ Pro Silver Medalist (2016)
• IBJJF Atlanta BJJ Pro Bronze Medalist (2016*)
• IBJJF Spanish National Champion (2017)
• IBJJF Spanish National No-Gi Champion (2017)
• IBJJF Zurich Open Champion  (2017**)
• IBJJF Zurich No-Gi Open Champion  (2017**)
• IBJJF Masters European Silver Championship (2017)
• IBJJF Masters European Bronze Championship (2017*)
• IBJJF Poznan Open Champion (2017**)
• IBJJF Poznan No-Gi Open Champion (2017**)
• IBJJF Munich Open Champion (2017**)
• IBJJF Munich No-Gi Open Champion (2017**)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82kg-181lbs), Peso Pesado (94kg/207lbs)

Favourite Position: Half-Guard from the top.

Team/Association: Checkmat

Chico Mendes Biography

Francisco “Chico” Mendes was born 14th of July, 1980 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He started training Jiu Jitsu in his early teens at Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti academy, though his introduction class was given by Leonardo Vieira (who was a purple belt at the time). At the time the gym had a huge range of talented people giving classes, such as: Jamelão, Jacaré, Franjinha and of course, Leozinho Vieira.

Chico Mendes received all his yellow (in 1994) and blue belts from the Alliance master Romero Cavalcanti and Leo Vieira, and after master Jacaré went to the United States and Leozinho to Sao Paulo, Mendes moved his training to Octavio Couto’s gym (Also known as Ratinho). Training there he achieved both his purple and his brown belt. In 2003/2004 he moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil to be reunited with Leo Vieira.

In December 2004 Chico Mendes was awarded his black belt by Vieira. In the beginning of 2011 after some time travelling and displaying Checkmat’s jiu jitsu in seminars around the world, Chico settled in England, United Kingdom, teaching at Trojan Free Fighters, later establishing the Checkmat Hearquarters of the region in Bristol.

Chico Mendes Related Websites and fan pages:
Checkmat website: www.checkmatbjj.com
Checkmat Fan Page: Facebook
Chico Mendes Fan Page: Facebook
Chico Mendes website: chicomendesbjj.com

Chico Mendes at International Master & Senior (2010)

Chico Mendes at International Master & Senior (2010)

Chico Mendes’ Work in the United Kingdom