Checkmat BJJ

Max Lindblad is a Swedish born jiu jitsu black belt under Kent Hammarström and one of the top European grappling competitors, having conquered important titles such as the IBJJF European Open, UAEJJF World Pro and Abu Dhabi Grand Slam.

Ricardo Feliciano, commonly known as Pantcho is a jiu jitsu black belt under Leo Vieira, and a Checkmat team representative in competitive jiu jitsu, while being also Team Quest’s grappling head coach.

Samantha Cook is a British born Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Marco Canha, and one of the top Checkmat BJJ team representatives in the sport/martial art’s international circuit.

Monique Ricardo is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Eddie Ricardo, as well as a pro bikini athlete and International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB) competitor. In the sport of jiu jitsu Ricardo conquered several important titles, particularly in the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) circuit, such as World No-Gi, European Open No-Gi

Gilson Nunes, commonly known as “Nenem”, is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Ronaldo “Raspinha” Cruz and Paulo Ivano, being also one of the top featherweight athletes of his generation.

Adam Wardziński is a Brazilian jiu jitsu under Alan “Finfou”, who is widely regarded as one of the top medium heavyweight competitors in the sport of grappling. Adam Wardziński is also one of the first big names to emerge from Poland in the sport of BJJ.

Arnaldo Maidana is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Gilberto Gabas, being also one of the most exciting talents of his generation. Maidana made a name for himself in the brown belt division of the sport, conquering important medals in the World Championship (gi/no-gi) and Brazilian Nationals implementing an eye pleasing grappling style with which he submitted some of the sport’s hottest prospects such as Felipe Pena (3x) and Vitor Silverio (2x), a style that carried on to his black belt campaigns.

Karen Antunes is a jiu jitsu black belt under Mayko Araújo, being also one of the top athletes in the sport’s female lightweight class. Antunes paved her way to the big leagues of the sport in the lower belt divisions, where she conquered 3 IBJJF world titles among many other important placements. However, it was her performance at the prestigious Five Super League tournament on August 2015

João Pedro “Somalia” is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Jonathas “Monteirinho” Couto and Eduardo “Jamelão” Conceição of Checkmat academy. Somalia burst into the grappling scene after winning two world titles at brown belt, later becoming a Pan American champion on his first year as a black belt, cementing his name as one of the top grapplers of his generation.

Gabriel Rollo is one of the top lightweights in the Brazilian jiu jitsu lightweight division of his generation, having medalled in important grappling tournaments such as the South American, World, Pan American Championships as well as the European Open. Learn more about this Checkmat black belt here.

Thiago Sá Fortes is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Ricardo Vieira, and a top level competitor in the IBJJF tournament circuit, representing the Checkmat academy.

Janni Larsson is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the illustrious instructor Shimon Mochizuki of the Arte Suave Academy (Checkmat affiliate) in Copenhagen, Denmark. A native of Sweden, Larsson is one of the most accomplished European black belts, and the first Swedish black belt world champion (2014).

Jackson Sousa is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Rico Vieira, competitor off of the Fightzone academy in Rio de Janeiro – Checkmat Academy headquarters, and who is another child of Vieira’s social project at the Cantagalo’s slums.

Thibaut Olivier is one of three French brothers (Maxime, Rodolphe and Thibaut) who are amongst the top Brazilian jiu jitsu competitors in Europe. Thibaut Olivier has represented France all around the world, medaling in many important tournaments. The Olivier brothers have also founded The Gokudo academy, a leading BJJ academy in France.

Luiz Ribeiro, also known as “Manxinha” or “Manxa” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Ricardo Vieira from the Checkmat academy. Luiz Ribeiro is also the founder and owner of London Fight Factory, one of the main Jiu Jitsu academies in London, England, where he has helped the development of the sport in the country.

Gabrielzinho Moraes is a historical figure in BJJ having won the world jiu jitsu championship in the blue belt division in 2003 and in the black belt division in 2004, being the only competitor ever to have won the world championship in blue and black belt consecutively.

Rodolphe Olivier is a French grappler who holds the rank of black belt in jiu jitsu, a belt awarded by Ricardo Vieira. Rodolphe and his three brothers (all BJJ black belts) have represented France all around the world, conquering important medals. They have also founded one of the top academies in France, the Gokudo.

A spectacular jiu jitsu fighter from Checkmat and one of the most accurate finishers modern day jiu jitsu, Renato Cardoso received his black belt in 2012 by the hands of Rodrigo Cavaca and hit the ground running that year winning both a world title (CBJJE) and a Sao Paulo International Open only a few weeks after receiving the well deserved black belt.

Igor Rodrigues, also known as “Baixinho”, is a jiu jitsu lack belt under Marcos Chuck who trains and competes for the Checkmat academy in Rio de Janeiro. Originally from the region of Buzios, Igor became a Capoeira master before turning to BJJ. His biggest achievements to this date in grappling have been his titles at the Brazilian nationals.

An accomplished Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt with numerous medals in some of the most prestigious grappling tournaments in the world, Victor Costa is also the founder of Koral Fight Co. a jiu jitsu brand of kimonos and fightwear.