Rodnei Barbosa

Rodnei Barbosa, commonly known as “Roy”, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under the prestigious Paulo Rezende, a coach known for having developed grapplers such as Marcelo Garcia, Reinaldo Ribeiro, Rodrigo Ranieri, Matheus Diniz, and many others. Coming from one of the most successful lineages in the sport, Barbosa earned his place in the sport with wins at the World (no-gi), South American and Brazilian National Championships as well as New York, Rio and London International Opens.

Rodnei Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Rodnei Barbosa Gabriel Junior

Nickname: “Roy” which is short for Rodnei. Barbosa trained at a Paulo Rezende affiliate gym up until 2013 when he moved to Rezende’s main academy. Coach Paulo had difficulty pronouncing Rodnei, so he started calling him Roy.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Fernando “Pinduka” > Leonardo Castello Branco > Paulo Rezende > Rodnei Barbosa

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2019)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2017/2016)
• 1st Place IBJJF South American Championship (2017)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2018 / 2019)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2019)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2024)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Championship NOGI (2019)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2019)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2016)
• 2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2023)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2021 / 2024)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2023)

Main Achievements (Coloured Belts):

• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2015 brown, 2014 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2015 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF South American Championship (2014 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rio International Open (2014 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF London Winter International Open(2015 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Summer International Open (2015 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2015 brown)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2014 purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Rio Fall International Open (2015 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2016)

Favorite Position/Technique: Deep Half Guard

Weight Division: Peso Galo (57kg/125lbs)

Team/Association: Zenith BJJ

Rodnei Barbosa Biography

Rodnei Barbosa was born on January 14, 1995, in Formiga – Minas Gerais, Brazil. The same town where well-known grapplers such as Marcelo Garcia, Rodrigo Ranieri, Matheus Diniz came from.

Martial arts appeared in Rodnei’s life at the age of 6, through capoeira, a style he practiced for 1 year. Due to Barbosa’s parents’ dire economic situation, he had to leave his capoeira days on standby. He returned to martial arts when he was 9 years old, through a social project led by Lourenço Nascimento at the town’s university where he first learned about jiu-jitsu.

Under Lourenço Nascimento’s guidance, Rodnei went through the belt system up until 2013 when Rodnei decided to make of jiu-jitsu his career, choosing to move away from Formiga and joining Paulo Rezende‘s headquarters academy in Poço de Caldas – MG, a gym to which Lourenço Nascimento was affiliated to. At Rezende’s gym, Rodnei joined Rezende’s famous fighter house. A place where coach “Paulao” shelters the team’s pro-athletes, providing them a roof, food and training. A place that has produced several talented athletes such as the aforementioned Reinaldo Ribeiro, Marcelo Garcia, Matheus Diniz and many more.

On the 24th of November, 2015. Rodney Barbosa was awarded his black belt from the hands of the prestigious coach Paulo Rezende, becoming Paulao’s 234th black belt.

Rodnei Barbosa vs Raphael Rachid

Rodnei Barbosa vs Douglas Josué