Master Geraldo Flôres is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu red belt (9th degree) from the Oswaldo Fadda lineage, who was graded as a black belt by Master Aderbal Batista and is regarded as one of the main developers of Jiu Jitsu in the northern area of Rio de Janeiro. Flôres has also been involved in the development of BJJ figures such as Wendell Alexander, Sergio Bastos and Ignácio Santos Silva.
Geraldo Flôres Jiu Jitsu
Full Name: Geraldo Flôres
Nickname: N/A
Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Luis Franca > Oswaldo Fadda > Aderbal Batista > Geraldo Flôres
Main Achievements: N/A
Favorite Position/Technique: N/A
Weight Division: N/A
Team/Association: N/A
Geraldo Flôres Biography
Geraldo Flôres started practising Jiu Jitsu in the early 1960’s, seeking martial arts as a way to channel his frustrations and angst. At the time he was playing football (soccer) and was having some problems controlling his temperament on the pitch, he was advised by a team colleague to try Jiu Jitsu to which he agreed, he was 16 years old at the time.
His first Jiu Jitsu coach was a Japanese Master from the Budokan school whom Geraldo could not remember the name when interviewed for this piece. The experience with the Japanese was short-lived as the master had entered Brazil illegally and was deported back to Japan. Geraldo, at this point , was already sold to the benefits that Jiu Jitsu could bring to his life and decided to continue his training seeking Heleno de Freitas to be his coach (a student of Oswaldo Fadda), and later Aderbal Batista.
When asked about how the Jiu Jitsu classes was run back in the 1960’s, Master Geraldo Flores described them as being as long as 3 hour sessions, in his own words:
They were comprehensive and assisted in the formation of character and personality of the individual. Classes were initiated with stretches and were followed by: calisthenics, breakfalls, takedown techniques, ground fighting drills and rolls. Also a segment of self defense and light wrestling/nogi. At the end of the training we would do five minutes of stretching and relaxation lying. At least twice a month we gathered and studied Jiu-Jitsu history, those who came before us. The classes lasted three hours and were held four times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday).
Contrary to what some studies mention, Geraldo Flores was not a pupil of Master Rezende by the end of the 1970’s. Flores and Rezende both worked for the same company (Standard Electric Company) at the same time, the company had its own leisure center (named GRESE) for it’s employees and Rezende taught at this place for years, Flores, however, was not one of his students.
Geraldo Flôres received his black belt in 1970 from Aderbal Batista, the black belt exam was conducted by Masters Oswaldo Fadda, Aderbal and Ivan Batista as well as Master Ovídio. The exam was separated in different segments such as conducting a class for adults and children, self defence, ukemis, takedowns, ground techniques and No Gi.
Master Geraldo went on to promote Jiu Jitsu through his academy in the NorthWest area of the state of Rio de Janeiro, away from the busy and glamorous city center and South Side of Rio, having produced several black belts of his own, being regarded as one of the top coaches the Fadda lineage has produced.
Big thank you note to T. Lee and Sergio Bastos who performed the interview with Master Flores.
