João Gabriel Rocha

João Gabriel Rocha is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), a rank he earned from Rafael “Formiga” Barbosa and Leandro Escobar. Before reaching the black belt division (on January 2013), João Gabriel Rocha was already regarded as one of the top brown belts in the world, after winning every important competition on the BJJ calendar. Well known for his successful battle with cancer during the start of his black belt career, Rocha has since become one of the top contenders of the ultra-heavyweight division.

João Gabriel Rocha Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: João Gabriel de Oliveira e Silva Rocha

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie >Carlson Gracie > Crézio de Souza > André Almeida > Rafael Barbosa / Leandro Escobar > João Gabriel Rocha

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2018 / 2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals (2020**)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2013)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2019)
• 1st Place UAEJJF King Of Mats, MSK (2019)
• 2nd Place ADCC World Championship (2013)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2018/2015/2012)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2017*)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2012 / 2011** brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2012 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Juvenile Championship (2008 blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF South American Championship (2011 brown)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2012 / 2011** brown, 2010 / 2009 purple)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Juvenile (2008 blue)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2009 purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship Juvenile 2nd Place (2008* blue)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship 2nd Place (2010 brown)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian National Championship 2nd Place (2012 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Technique: Well Rounded

Weight Division: Pesadissimo (over 100kg/221lbs)

Team/Association: Soul Fighters

João Gabriel Rocha Biography

João Gabriel Rocha was born on the 11th of July, 1991 in Jacarepaguá, though he moved as an infant to the Tijuca burg in Rio de Janeiro. João Gabriel started training as a toddler, more precisely, when he was two years and 8 months old. His Jiu-Jitsu initiation came through a Summer camp for toddlers which included Jiu-Jitsu in its activities, the instructor was none other than the man who would become responsible for the refereeing of the IBJJF (Jiu Jitsu’s most important governing body), Mr. Alvaro Mansur. At the time, João Gabriel’s parents noticed that young Rocha enjoyed BJJ so they enrolled him in an academy where he could train regularly.

Training Jiu-Jitsu seemed to be João Gabriel’s calling, and he never stopped practicing BJJ since the beginning. João earned all his junior belts training with Marcos Carvalho, and from the green belt onward his tuition was handed to Leandro Escobar and Rafael Barbosa. With the support of his family, João Gabriel Rocha managed to leave his university studies midway to dedicate himself fully to competition, reaping the benefits of that choice with consecutive wins at the world’s biggest competitions.

At the start of 2013 João Gabriel had the opportunity to compete in the Copa Podio, a professional BJJ event that starred the top talent in Jiu Jitsu’s heavyweight division. Competing as a brown belt (one of the two brown belts carefully selected to be part of the tournament), João Gabriel won two of his 5 fights, proving that he belonged in the black belt circuit. As a result, João Rocha was handed his black belt on that same day, the 13th of January.

Early in 2014 João Gabriel Rocha was diagnosed with cancer and had to stay away from competitions while recovering from his illness. He returned to training in November of that year, set to make a comeback to the sport.

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(banner picture taken by: William Burkhardt of BJJ Pix)

João Gabriel vs Thiago Silva WJJPC Rio Qualifier 2011

João Gabriel vs Antonio Borges

João Gabriel Rocha Highlight