Matheus Gonzaga

Matheus Gonzaga is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Daniel Gazoni and a representative of the Atos Academy, formerly with the Alliance Academy (Bernardo Faria branch) and Master Julio César Pereira‘s GF Team. Matheus became widely recognized as one of the rising stars of BJJ while competing in the lower belt divisions of the sport where he conquered an International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (IBJJF) world title and several Rio de Janeiro state championships, a status he would solidify as a black belt.

Matheus Gonzaga Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Matheus Evangelista Gonzaga

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: C. Gracie > C. Gracie > Crezio de Souza > João Amaral > Daniel Gazoni > Matheus Gonzaga

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF Boston Summer Open (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Spring Open (2018)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Boston Spring Open (2018)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship NoGi (2018)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2015 purple)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals NoGi Juvenile (2011 blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rio Open (2012 blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rio BJJ Pro (2015** brown)
• 1st Place FJJR Rio State Juvenile Championship (2006/2007/2008/2009/2010/2012)
• 1st Place IBJJF Miami Spring Open (2016 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Spring Open (2015 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Spring No-Gi Open (2015 purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2014 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2014 purple)

Favorite Position/Technique: Well Rounded

Weight Division: Peso Pluma (64,00 kg / 141.5 lbs)

Team/Association: Alliance

Merchandise: Matheus Gonzaga Lightweight Guard

Matheus Gonzaga Biography

Matheus Gonzaga was born on January 25, 1995, in Teresópolis a Brazilian municipality located inside the state of Rio de Janeiro – more specifically on the mountainous region known as Região Serrana.

Growing up Matheus showed interest in martial arts, most of which derived from his father’s own curiosity for combat sports – a former blue belt in jiu-jitsu forged by the world-famous Academia Serrana of Teresópolis. The dad would sometimes clear the living room floor and show Gonzaga and his brother Marcos Paulo a few grappling moves fueling even further their curiosity for this sport.

During his pre-teens, Matheus started suffering from bullying at school, and as the abuse escalated so did the urgency in Gonzaga learning how to protect himself. In May 2005, after yet another difficult episode at school both the Gonzaga brothers were signed on to jiu-jitsu classes with professor Geremias Maia.

Gonzaga’s training soon shifted to the Nova Barra (NB) academy with coach “Tio Beto” – Alberto Rezende. He remained with NB throughout his junior belts and into his blue belt rank, a time when he joined the Academia Pitbull, also in Teresópolis. A gym founded by Master Adilson Bitta where Matheus earned his purple belt.

Although there were plenty of tough rolls at Academia Pitbull, most students there were training part-time and the team lacked the competition focus Matheus aspired. After an invitation made by Rodolfo Vieira at a local tournament, Gonzaga decided to try a class at GF Team‘s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. He immediately felt the group had the desired professional training environment Gonzaga had hoped for and decided to ask team leader Julio Cesar Pereira permission to join the squad.

It was at GFT that Matheus’ talent started to shine, earning his purple belt world title there and subsequent brown belt. Understanding that he had the potential to reach the pinnacle of jiu jitsu’s sporting world, Gonzaga decided to try and move to the United States where the toughest grappling circuit is located. This, however, did not go according to the plan at first as the lack of sponsorships kept the young athlete away from the mats for almost one year.

Settling on the East Coast (Boston), Gonzaga did not find the quality of training he required to pursue his competition needs at the local GFT affiliate. For this reason he decided to join the BTT gym led by Daniel Gazoni, where he returned to the tournament scene. Gazoni was also the man who promoted Matheus and brother Marcos Paulo to black belt on December 2, 2017.

After his time under Gazoni’s tutelage, Matheus trained under the instruction of Bernardo Faria at the legendary half-guar player’s Massachusetts academy. He would later, in 2019, move to San Diego, California to learn from another big name of the sport, Mr. André Galvão at his Atos Headquarters gym.

Cover photo by Garcia Junior (Favela Jiu Jitsu).

Matheus Gonzaga Cross Choke Instructional

Matheus Gonzaga Spider Guard Pass instructional