BJJ Red Belts

Grand Master Joao Alberto Barreto (9th degree red belt in BJJ) is a legendary figure for Jiu Jitsu world wide. Graduated by Helio Gracie himself, Joao Alberto became one of the top competitors of the Gracie Academy in the 1950’s being unbeaten in Vale Tudo matches (the early MMA). Barreto was also part of the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a referee in the early stages of the famous organization.

Father to two of BJJ’s biggest stars in the 1980’s, Flavio Behring was also of great contribute to the growth of the sport in Sao Paulo. A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Red Belt in Jiu Jitsu, Flavio Behring has trained Jiu Jitsu since 1947 and became one of the Gracie Academy’s top students in the 1960’s.

Gastão Gracie Filho was a red belt in BJJ and the brother of Carlos, Oswaldo, George and Helio Gracie, all of which form the founding members of the Gracie Jiu Jitsu style. He moved to Sao Paulo where he helped further develop the sport there in the 1930’s.

Oswaldo Gracie was one of the founding members of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, whom together with brothers Carlos, Gastao, George and Helio, transformed the landscape of martial arts forever in Brazil. Oswaldo is often seen as the better fighter of the original 5 brothers, he went on to promote Gracie Jiu Jitsu in the state of Minas Gerais.

A living encyclopedia of Jiu Jitsu, Paqueta is famous for being Carlson Gracie’s best friend and for having the greatest catalogue of Jiu Jitsu and MMA tapes in Brazil. A fantastic character from the BJJ World that everyone should know.

George Gracie was the most important Gracie fighter in the 1930’s. The true family champion he held the Gracie Jiu Jitsu flag high for many years, competing throughout 3 decades.

Oswaldo Fadda (15th of January 1921 until 1st of April 2005) was one of the greatest figures in Jiu Jitsu History. Not comming from a Gracie lineage, Fadda reached the “nono grau” (9th Dan) – Red Belt in BJJ, the greatest honour a non Gracie can ever achieve, he was also the first instructor to take Jiu Jitsu to the poor(er) comunities living in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro were only the rich practiced the sport.

Here is a chance to meet one of the most legendary figures in the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The Red Belt from Reyson Gracie is a top instructor in the sport today and was one of the biggest figures of the 1960s as a competitor.

Armando Wridt is one of the 7 people to have received a red belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from the hands of the late Helio Gracie.

Considered by many Brazilian Jiu Jitsu figures such as Ricardo Arona, Demian Maia, Paulo Filho (and many others) as the greatest BJJ practitioner of all time, Rickson Gracie, is the son of Helio Gracie. Through several “Vale-Tudo” fights in his native Brazil and in Japan, Rickson Gracie helped put his family’s trade (Gracie Jiu Jitsu/BJJ) on the map as a legitimate and well known fighting style.

Helio Gracie is arguably the most important figure in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. One of the first Gracie Jiu Jitsu representative in the 1930’s and 1940’s he is also the father and master of many fighters who carried the name of BJJ to Martial Arts main stream in the early 1990’s, such as Royler, Rickson and Royce Gracie. His lineage and legacy is one of the strongest in Jiu Jitsu and he is seen as one of the fathers of the Brazilian grappling art.

Carlos Gracie was the founder of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, the ruling figure of the Gracie family as well as a successful entrepreneur. He reached the “Decimo Grau” 10th Dan in Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (AKA BJJ/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) a degree only given to the founders of the gentle art.

Carlson Gracie was one of the most important figures in jiu jitsu, and still is considered today to be one of the best representatives of the sport both as a competitor and as coach through his Carlson Gracie Academy. His legacy will live for many years to come, as many of the world’s premiere BJJ teams came generated from his lineage, teams such as Nova Uniao, American Top Team (ATT), Brazilian Top Team (BTT), Nova Geração and many others.