Pedro Ramalho

Pedro Ramalho, commonly known as “Paquito” is a Portuguese, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Manoel Neto and a representative of team Focus in the sport/martial art’s international circuit. Referenced as one of Europe’s Hottest Prospects by BJJ Heroes in 2015, Paquito quickly became established himself as one of the best lightweight (76,00 kg / 168.0 lbs) competitors of his generation, a reputation earned through his repeated success on the mats.

Pedro Ramalho Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Pedro Alves Douteiro Cranfield Ramalho

Nickname: “Paquito” is a nickname attributed to Pedro when he first started training by his coach Manoel Neto. The label started as a joke, referring to Pedro as a lookalike for the female backstage dancers (called Paquitas) of a popular Kids Tv program named “O Show da Xuxa”.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > R. Gracie > Nonato Machado > Kleber Repolho > Manoel Neto > Paquito

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF Madrid Open (2017)
• 1st Place FPJJB Portuguese National Open (2017*/2019**)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2020)
• 3rd Place UAEJJF Grand Slam – London (2019)

Main Achievements (Coloured Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2015 purple)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro (2015 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2016 brown, 2015 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF Juvenile European Open (2011 blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF Spanish National Open (2016 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Madrid International Open (2016 brown)
• 2nd Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro (2015* purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2017 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2013 blue)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Open Guard

Weight Division: Peso Leve (76,00 kg / 168.0 lbs)

Team/Association: Focus Academy

Pedro Paquito Biography

Pedro Ramalho was born on April 22, 1994, in Porto, a coastal city in northwest Portugal where he grew up.

During his early teens, Ramalho had a few friends who practiced jiu-jitsu and regularly challenged him to get started in this martial art. Pedro, however, showed no interest in grappling and jokingly labeled it a “men hugging men activity” (as he described it in an interview to BJJ Heroes 12/2017).

Ramalho was eventually convinced to give jiu-jitsu a try, and at the age of 15 finally accepted the challenge to participate in his first BJJ class. Paquito felt a connection with the sport/martial art from very early in his learning process, and with only a couple of weeks of training, he decided to compete (against his instructor’s advice), resulting in his first, first-round loss by submission.

The defeat did not cause a dent in his desire to test himself in battle again, in fact, it took Pedro a few tries before he had his hand raised: “The first time I submitted anyone in class I must’ve been 5 months deep into my training. In competition I lost about 5 tournaments in the first round before I won” – Paquito to Jiu-Jitsu Portugal (May 21, 2015).

With the stream of positive results Paquito became even more and more embedded in the sport’s competitive scene, and from soon decided to dedicate all his spare time to training, juggling between his studies (a masters in engineering) and regular 3 training sessions per day.

Pedro Ramalho’s first and only coach from white to black belt was Manoel Neto, founder of Team Focus – one of the most successful academies in Europe in terms of talent production and competition results. It was Neto who graded Paquito to black belt on June 6, 2017 – shortly after the IBJJF World Championship.

Pedro Ramalho Highlight