Saulo Ribeiro

Saulo Ribeiro is a judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Royler Gracie, being widely regarded as one of the greatest grapplers to have ever competed in the sport. A 5-time world champion, Saulo is also a record holder of world titles in different weight classes (4) as well as a 2x ADCC champion – arguably the most important no-gi tournament in the world. Saulo and his younger brother Alexandre Ribeiro founded Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu, one of the most respected associations in this martial art.

Saulo Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Saulo Mendonca Ribeiro Filho

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Royler Gracie > Saulo Ribeiro

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place ADCC World Championship (2000 / 2003)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (1997 / 1998 / 1999 / 2000 / 2002)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2008)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Masters Championship (2014 Master 2, 2015/2016** Master 3)
• 1st Place IBJJF Masters & Seniors Championship (2012**/2013** Senior 1)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (1998**)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Weight Division: Peso Médio, Meio Pesado & Pesado

Favorite Technique: Kouchi Gari (Throw) and Choke from the Mount Position.

Team/Association: Gracie Humaita and Ribeiro Jiu-jitsu Association

Saulo Ribeiro Biography

Saulo Ribeiro was born on July 2, 1974, in Manaus, Brazil. He started training Jiu-Jitsu when he was 15 years old as a way to complement his Judo game with submissions, his first instructor was Fabio Monteiro in the Academia Monteiro.

In December 1991 Saulo Ribeiro moved away from his home town to pursue his academic career in Rio de Janeiro, where he joined the Gracie Humaitá academy, being coached by Royler Gracie, the man who would award Saulo his black belt 4 years later (on the 27th of November 1995), shortly after Saulo won his first Brazilian national title in the lightweight brown belt division. Saulo also tried his luck in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in 1996, with two more sporadic occasions (in 2000 and 2002) obtaining a 2-1 record (2 wins by submission) fighting against seasoned veterans. These, however, were seen as ‘tests’ as his focus remained with grappling.

On the year of 2007 the Ribeiro brothers joined forces with their Master, Royler Gracie, and founded the University of Jiu-Jitsu a space where they shared their knowledge of jiu-jitsu and the “Bushido” way, a more traditional view of the martial arts way of life focussing not only on the technical aspect of the sport but also the values that are the foundation of most martial arts, such as attitude, discipline, honor, and respect.

Today, Saulo Ribeiro is considered one of the best coaches in the grappling scene with academies spread throughout the world and over 2000 students training under the Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Association, plus over 100 students in the University of Jiu Jitsu camp. He has also formed and graduated over 30 Black Belts.

In August 2015, Saulo Ribeiro received the 5th degree on his black belt from the hands of Robson Gracie, president of Rio de Janeiro’s BJJ federation (FJJRio).

Please note this is not a complete record of Saulo Ribeiro’s jiu-jitsu matches, these are relating solely to his adult black belt career, and only in the most significant tournaments.

Picture taken by William Burkhardt of BJJPix.

Saulo Ribeiro vs. Edson Diniz

Saulo Ribeiro Highlight