Tag: jiu-jitsu

Name:	Roberto Abreu
Other Names:	Roberto de Abreu Filho
Date of Birth:	December 20th, 1980
Place of Birth:	Campo Grande, Brazil
Nickname:	Cyborg
Sport:	BJJ
Academy:	Fight Sports HQ
Team:	Fight Sports Miami
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	222 lb (101 kg; 15.9 st)
Weight Class:	Ultra-Heavyweight
Championships:	6x IBJJF No-Gi Champion, ADCC Champion, Masters World Champion

Roberto Cyborg Abreu has been one of the most successful heavyweight grapplers over the last two decades. He has done it in his long career and even into his 40s, Cyborg shows no signs of slowing down.

Here is everything you need to know about Roberto Cyborg Abreu. Detailing his journey to becoming a multi time world champion and forming one of the world’s best BJJ teams.

Roberto Abreu’s Entry Into Jiu Jitsu

Roberto Areu grew up in the Brazilian state of Mata Grosso do Sul. He was introduced to the art of Jiu Jitsu when was in his early teens.

A friend of Roberto challenged him to a play fight and being the bigger kid, he gladly accepted. But Abreu would be in for a surprise as his smaller friend would submit him multiple times in a few minutes.

Abreu couldn’t believe it and he asked his friend how he did it and they said Jiu Jitsu. This led Roberto to joining his friends academy that was owned by Carlson Gracie black belt Claudionor Cardoso.

Just two weeks into his training, Roberto would compete in his first BJJ tournament and win. This feeling of victory would be contagious for Roberto Cyborg Abreu and would lead him to a 20+ year career.

Roberto Abreu’s Severe Car Accident 

In 2000, when Cyborg was just a blue belt, he was in a near fatal car accident that would severely injure him. Leaving his left arm shattered, which took over 300 stitches, and various bolts to put back together. To this day, Abreu still has glass in his arm.

The doctor told Roberto that he would probably never use his arm again, let alone practice Jiu Jitsu. But Roberto would prove that doctor wrong and rehab to get back on the mat.

Just four months after the accident, Roberto took 2nd place at the Brazilian nationals. Due to his resilience, Abreu would be given the nickname Cyborg.

Roberto Abreu’s Early Travels

After his accident, Roberto Cyborg Abreu would dedicate his life to learning and competing in BJJ competitions. He would often travel to Rio de Janeiro and train in bigger Jiu Jitsu academies.

During his travels, he developed a strong bond with Francisco Albuquerque, who owned Nova Geracao. Their friendship was so good that Abreu would open his own school as a purple belt that was an affiliated school.

Cyborg Abreu would only stay as a purple and brown belt for a total of nearly 20 months. His obsession with Jiu Jitsu would lead to him winning nearly every Brazilian championship at these levels.

Albuquerque would then award Cyborg with his black belt on December 20th, 2004.

Roberto Cyborg Abreu’s No-Gi World Championships

Roberto is most known for his prowess in No-Gi, where he has won most of his world titles. Here is a breakdown of his 6 IBJJF No-Gi World Championships.

No-Gi Worlds 2010

2010 was the year that Abreu started his reign of terror within No-Gi Jiu Jitsu. In that year’s No-Gi World Championship, Abreu would earn his first and only double gold at worlds.

He smashed through the competition in Cyborg fashion with takedowns and relentless pressure. Beating top grapplers like Lucas Leite, JT Torres, and Fabricio Camoes.

No-Gi Worlds 2011-2012

In the 2011 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds, Abreu would successfully repeat as No-Gi world champion. Beating both of his opponents by submission with an armbar and his patented reverse triangle.

Then in 2012, Abreu would repeat as No-Gi world champion for the third year in a row. Easily beating his opponents without getting a point scored on him.

No-Gi Worlds 2017 & 2021

After his win in 2012, Abreu would come up short at No-Gi Worlds for the next four years. Roberto would end his four year drought in 2017.

But it wouldn’t be an easy fight to earn his fifth No-Gi world title. He would have a battle with tough grappler Joao Rocha, where neither grappler would score on the other. Abreu would edge out Rocha by earning an advantage in the last second to win his fifth world title.

Then after this win, Abreu would go another three years without winning a No-Gi world title. Roberto Cyborg Abreu would end the drought by dominating at the 2021 No-Gi World Championships.

Not getting a single point scored on him and beating top grapplers like Victor Hugo.

Cyborg’s Career in ADCC 

Where Cyborg really made a name for himself was at the 2013 ADCC Championship. He came up short in his previous two appearances losing both to Fabricio Werdum, but 2013 was his year.

Early on, it looked like Cyborg Abreu would win the 99+ kg division. Unfortunately, Roberto would lose to friend Marcus Almeida in the semis and have to settle for another third place medal.

But he would come back with vengeance in the absolute division. Roberto would place through his bracket beating Garry Tonon, Kamil Huminski, and Keenan Cornelius to meet Buchecha in the finals.

This time, Roberto Cyborg Abreu was ready for his friend and had the match of his career. Beating the seemingly unstoppable Buchecha 10-0, which no other grappler had accomplished.

Earning his only ADCC title, which is the highmark of Cyborg’s career.

Roberto Abreu Wins Masters World

During Abreu’s career, he would win numerous world titles in No-Gi. But a world title in the Gi had also evaded Roberto his entire career as a competitor.

This was until 2018, when Cyborg ended the drought and won the Masters BJJ World Championship. The only major world title that Roberto Cyborg Abreu has one in the Gi during his long and storied grappling career.

The Formation of Cyborg’s Fight Sports

Aside from being one of the top grapplers for the last two decades, Roberto Cyborg Abreu also formed a world class BJJ affiliation. Here is the story of how Abreu would found Fight Sports Club.

The Avengers

In 2010, while living in the US, Abreu would make his first attempt at creating a BJJ superteam. He would join forces with Rodrigo Cavaca and Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida. 

They would form a team that was known as “the Avengers.” For about a year, this coalition of young BJJ athletes looked like an unbeatable force.

During the year that the three were a team, they would all win world championships. Abreu and Buchecha would both win No-Gi world titles and Cavaca would win the 2010 IBJJF Championship.

Unfortunately, the three would go their separate ways as Buchecha and Cavaca would return home to Sao Paulo.

Abreu and Wagner Rocha Form Fight Sports

After the Avengers team disbanded, Abreu would continue to train with longtime friend and UFC vet Wagner Rocha. The team would join together to form their own BJJ team in Miami, Florida.

They would call their academy Fight Sports club. Thanks to the success of both grapplers, Fight Sports would become a full blown affiliation.

Rocha would open his own Fight Sports academy shortly after and black belts under both men would also create affiliate schools. Fight Sports has now become one of the top BJJ affiliations in Florida. 

Today, there are numerous Fight Sports affiliate Jiu Jitsu schools within the US and Brazil.

Fight Sports’ Young Stars

Abreu’s Fight Sports has been able to hone the talents of numerous young grapplers in recent years. The affiliation has produced three of the youngest and most talented rising stars in the sport of Jiu Jitsu.

Mica Galvao, Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis and Fabricio “Hokage” Andrey. All of which have won world championships before the age of 25 and will win many more in the future.

Roberto Cyborg Abreu’s Grappling Style

Robero Cyborg Abreu is a beast of a man and one of the most impressive athletes to compete in grappling. His takedown ability is that of a national level collegiate wrestler, as well as his takedown defense.

This impressive wrestling ability, conditioning, and speed of a lightweight has led Cyborg to winning numerous world championships.

Abreu is also incredibly well versed off of his back. He is known for inventing his patented tornado guard. A powerful variation of half guard that various sweeps have been developed from.

Having this well rounded grappling game is what helped Cyborg become a multi time champion in Jiu Jitsu.

What’s Next For Roberto Cyborg Abreu

Roberto Cyborg Abreu has accomplished every possible thing he can as an athlete and coach in Jiu Jitsu. He has won every major championship and helped form one of the top BJJ affiliations in the world.

But even though Roberto Abreu has accomplished all of this, he is not slowing down. At 42, Cyborg is still one of the world’s best grapplers and will look to continue vying for world titles.

The BJJ coral belt is one of the most prestigious ranks in all of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It takes years of hard work and dedication to reach this rank that only a handful of practitioners have achieved.

Here is everything you need to know about the BJJ coral belt. We’ll answer commonly asked questions about the BJJ coral belt and list some of the famous athletes that hold the rank.

What is the BJJ Coral Belt?

The BJJ coral belt is actually a group of belts that make up the 7th and 8th black belt ranks. They are some of the most prestigious ranks other than the 9th degree red belt.

It takes at least over thirty years of training as a black belt to achieve these ranks. Very few BJJ instructors have reached these ranks, which makes it an honor to achieve these prestigious belts.

7th Rank Coral Belt 

The BJJ 7th rank Coral belt is the first of two coral belts that are in the martial art. This belt is a mix of black and white stripes that is similar to the color pattern of a coral snake. Hence, why the 7th degree rank is referred to as the coral belt.

As a black belt, you are considered an expert at most facets of Jiu Jitsu. But to reach the coral belt, you will have to demonstrate a lifetime dedication to Jiu Jitsu as a teacher.

The minimum requirement to become a 7th rank coral belt in BJJ is to be black belt for 31 years. Not only a black belt, but an instructor that has been teaching Jiu Jitsu for over three decades.

8th Rank Coral Belt 

In 2013, the IBJJF would add a second coral belt after the 7th degree rank. The 8th degree BJJ coral belt is a white and red striped belt.

The minimum qualification for the 8th rank coral belt is to be a teacher of Jiu Jitsu for 38+ years. Seven more than the requirement for the 7th rank coral belt.

It is incredibly rare to see a BJJ practitioner reach the 8th rank coral belt rank. Combined with the years at the colored belts, you would have to be a BJJ practitioner for nearly 50 years.

This is why most of the Jiu Jitsu practitioners that have received the honor are well into their 50s or 60s. Most in BJJ will never achieve the coral belt ranks in their lifetime.

Are There Higher Ranks Than Coral Belt in BJJ?

After the coral belt, there is the ninth degree red belt that is the rarest rank to hold in all of Jiu Jitsu. Only a little over 50 practitioners have earned this rank in the history of Jiu Jitsu.

It is the highest rank that a BJJ practitioner can achieve. There is also the 10th rank BJJ red belt, but there’s are reserved for the creators and pioneers of Jiu Jitsu. 

Only seven people have held the 10th degree master rank. Carlos Gracie Sr, Helio Gracie, Gastao Gracie, George Gracie, Oswaldo Gracie, and Luiz Franca Filho. Oswaldo Fadda was also awarded the 10th degree rank, but earned it posthumously. 

List of Coral Belt Recipients

There have been less than a hundred coral belts that have been awarded in the history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Here is a short list of some of the famous recipients of the coral belt and short bios on each one.

Royce Gracie

The MMA pioneer and first UFC champion and son of co-creator Helio Gracie. Royce is currently a 7th degree coral belt in BJJ and will likely reach the red belt in his lifetime.

Crolin Gracie 

Crolin Gracie, the son of Carlos Gracie was one of the best in the family right alongside Rickson Gracie. An illness would keep him from competing and becoming more known to the world. As of now, Crolin holds the 8th degree red and white coral belt in BJJ.

Renzo Gracie 

The MMA and BJJ legend Renzo Gracie is one of the most known and popular members of the Gracie family. Renzo currently holds the rank of 7th degree coral belt in BJJ.

Royler Gracie

Royler Gracie was one the all time best BJJ competitors in the history of the sport. As of now, Royler is a 8th degree coral belt in BJJ.

Rillion Gracie

Rillion Gracie is the youngest son of Carlos Sr and a former BJJ champion. The BJJ coral belt is considered one of the best guard players within the Gracie family.

Carlos Gracie Jr 

Carlos Gracie Jr is an 8th degree red and white coral belt in BJJ. He is most known for founding Gracie Barra, the IBJJF, and Jiu-Jitsu Magazine.

Rolker Gracie

Rolker is the son of Helio Gracie who is currently an 8th degree red and white coral belt. He is most known as being one of the head members of the Gracie Humaita affiliation.

Marcio Stambowsky

Marcio Stambowsky is one of the few grapplers in the world to be awarded a black belt from Rolls Gracie. Stambowsky currently holds the rank of 8th degree red and white coral belt in Jiu Jitsu.

Fabio Santos

Fabio Santos is another one of the few black belts under the legendary Rolls Gracie. Santos is currently an 8th degree coral belt. 

Yvone Duarte 

Yvone Duarte is the very first female BJJ practitioner to ever earn the rank of BJJ coral belt. She was also one of the very first female BJJ black belts in the martial art under Osvaldo Alves.

Sergio Penha 

Sergio Penha is another legendary figure in the history of BJJ who is a black belt under Osvaldo Alves. He is currently a 7th degree coral belt in BJJ, while also a black belt in Judo.

Mauricio Gomes 

Maurcio Gomes is an 8th degree white and red coral belt that is a Rolls Gracie black belt. He is the father of Roger Gracie, who is considered one of the best grapplers of all time.

Murilo Bustamante 

Murilo Bustamante is a former UFC champion and black belt under Carlson Gracie Sr. Bustamante currently holds the 7th degree BJJ coral belt.

Carlos Machado

Carlos Machado is one of the four legendary Machado brothers that helped grow BJJ in the US. He is a Carlos Gracie Jr black belt and a BJJ coral belt. 

Jean Jacques Machado

Jean Jacques Machado is a multi time BJJ champion that is currently a 7th degree coral belt in BJJ. He has taught numerous famous students like Eddie Bravo and Joe Rogan. 

Rigan Machado 

Rigan Machado is an 8th degree red and white belt in BJJ. On top of helping grow BJJ with his brothers, Rigan is known for teaching numerous celebrities at his school in Hollywood.

Roger Machado

Roger Machado is the second oldest of the four Machado brothers that’s currently a 7th degree coral belt in BJJ. Along with being a master in BJJ, Roger is also an expert in yoga.

John Machado 

John is the youngest of the Machado brothers and is currently a 7th degree coral belt in BJJ. He is also known for having a part-time career in acting like his brother Carlos.

Pedro Sauer 

Pedro Sauer is a black belt under the legend Rickson Gracie, who is also his friend and mentor. Sauer is currently an 8th degree coral belt in Jiu Jitsu with his own academy and affiliation.

Sylvio Behring 

Sylvio Behring is the son of 9th degree red belt Flavio Behring, who is himself an 8th degree coral belt. Behring is known as one of the top athletes of his era and helped spread BJJ across central Brazil.

Ricardo De La Riva 

The legend Ricardo De La Riva is a BJJ coral belt and earned his black belt from Carlson Gracie Sr. He is, of course, known for creating the widely popular De La Riva guard that everyone now uses.

Fabio Gurgel 

Fabio Gurgel is a 7th degree coral belt under 8th degree coral belt Romero Cavalcanti. Gurgel is most known for being one of the leader of the Alliance Jiu Jitsu affiliation

Romero Cavalcanti

Romero Cavalcanti is the founder of Alliance Jiu Jitsu, who earned his black belt from Rolls Gracie. He is currently an 8th degree coral belt, who will likely become a red belt in the near future.

Joe Moreira 

Joe Moreira was one of the first non Gracie BJJ black belts to move to the US and begin teaching. He is currently an 8th degree red and white coral belt.

Paulo Caruso

Paulo Caruso is an Osvaldo Alves black belt that is a BJJ coral belt. He is also known for being a coach of numerous Olympians in Judo.

Carlos Rollyson

Carlos Rollyson is a coral belt that earned his black belt from Carlson Gracie Sr. He currently teaches at his own school in southern Florida.

Cosmo Dias 

Cosmo Dias is a black belt under Nonato Machado, who is also a coral belt. He is one of the senior instructors of the Nova Uniao affiliation.

Ricardo Calvacanti 

Ricardo Calvacanti is a former BJJ champion and black belt under Carlson Gracie Sr, who is a 7th degree coral belt.

Sergio “Malibu” Jardim 

Sergio “Malibu” as he is known is a Rickson Gracie black belt that was a BJJ champion during the 1980s and 1990s. He’s currently a 7th degree coral belt that helped grow the Alliance affiliation.

Marcio Dos Santos

Marcio Dos Santos is an Osvaldo Alves black belt that was one of the top competitors during the 1980s. Also one of the many students under Alves that have earned the coral belt rank.

Marcel Gonclaves is one of the most reviled figures in the history of BJJ. The sexual assault case involving an underage student sent shockwaves through the BJJ community and started a saga of events.

Here is what you need to know about the case of Marcel Goncalves and everything that followed afterwards. From the initial rape and the backlash the Fight Sports received for housing the rapist.

Who is Marcel Goncalves?

For those of you that don’t know, Marcel Goncalves is a black belt under multi time BJJ champion Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu. Goncalves is actually one of the very first Fight Sports black belts under Abreu.

Marcel won the 2010 No-Gi Pans Championship as a brown belt and then received his black belt. He also fought in MMA and earned a record of 4-3.

Before the rape, Marcel taught Jiu Jitsu at a Fight Sports affiliate school that was located in Naples, Florida.

The Sexual Assault Case

In 2018, Marcel Goncalves was arrested for allegations of having a sexual relationship with a minor. The minor in question was a long time student of Goncalves that he had taught since she was in her early teens.

This started with the victim in question telling a friend that she was having a sexual relationship with Marcel. After telling her friend, the friend then told the victim’s father, who then called the police. 

Gonclaves was then confronted by police at his academy, where he would immediately confess to the crimes. He would repeat over and over, “I’m sick. I’m sick. I don’t know what is wrong with me.”

Cyborg Abreu’s Statements on Marcel Goncalves’ Case

After the arrest of his black belt student, Cyborg Abreu released the following statement on Goncalves’ arrest.

“Sexual assault can never be tolerated. This week we learned of horrifying news about an individual who used to represent Fight Sports at one of our affiliate gyms. The actions of this individual do not reflect what I stand for and he will be held responsible for his actions. My heart breaks for the victim and her family. They know they have my full support. I ask that everyone give the victim and her family space and privacy, as they are going through something no one should ever have to experience.”

The Aftermath

Unfortunately, this would not be the end of the Marcel Goncalves saga. There would be more chapters to this story involving Gonclaves and other members of Fight Sport.

Marcel Goncalves Still Training At Fight Sport Gyms

Atfer the rape and on going trial, it would come to light that Fight Sports had not cut ties with Goncalves. There would be several reports of Gonclaves still training at Fight Sport schools.

Even allegedly working at Wagner Rocha’s Fight Sport affiliate school, which Rocha adamantly denied.

Marcel Goncalves’ Fight with Tex Johnson

It was proven by Tex Johnson that Fight Sport never cut ties with Goncalves after an incident between the two. An incident that took place in 2021, which was three years after the arrest and during the trial.

In an Instagram post, Tex Johnson, would show a damaged eye he received from Goncalves during a training session. Johnson was visiting Wagner Rocha’s school, where Goncalves was still training after Fight Sports reps said he was no longer affiliated.

The two would train together, when Goncalves would intentionally poke Johson in the eye. They would get into an altercation and were separated.

After the incident, Rocha would get heat for allowing Goncalves to train at his gym during his sexual assault case. Rocha in a statement said that he kicked both Goncalves and Johnson out of the gym.

Johnson claimed that he had no knowledge of the ongoing sexual assault case against Gonclaves. He also claimed to have seen Goncalves training at Rocha’s school multiple times before their altercation.

Keith Rummel

The story of Marcel Goncalves would continue to enter shady ground as former Fight Sports affiliated owner Keith Rummel came forward. Rummel would make some startling accusations against Cyborg and Fight Sports after the Goncalves saga began.

Goncalves was actually a BJJ instructor at the Fight Sports affiliate school owned by Rummels in Naple, Florida. Keith Rummels was also present for the arrest of Goncalves at his school in 2018.

After the arrest, Rummel would have a meeting with Fight Sports head, Cyborg Abreu. During their meeting, Rummel would agree, but then Abreu would ask him to give Goncalves $35,000 as a buyout.

Keith Rummel would refuse to give the money and his partnership with Fight Sport would end there. When asked about the buyout, Abreu confirmed the rumors.

Cyborg would add that the money was for Goncalves’ wife and child along with expenses for his lawyer.

Mo Jassim and Other Assault Accusation With Fight Sports

ADCC director Mo Jassim has been credited with not letting the Marcel Goncalves story get swept under the rug. He has been very adamant about holding Gonclaves and Fight Sports responsible.

Thanks to Jassim, there have been multiple other sexual assault incidents involving members of Fight Sports that have surfaced. Two of which involved Fight Sport black belt Rodrigo Da Costa Oliveira.

The first accusation against Oliveira came from former Fight Sports competitor Mandy Schneider. Mandy claims that Oliveira assaulted her while the two were away at a tournament alone together in a hotel.

Another anonymous blue belt student, also claimed Oliveira raped her in Bonito, Brazil during a Jiu Jitsu camp.

Jassim also started an Instagram account called BJJ Truth. A page dedicate to exposing sexual assault allegations against BJJ instructors. Since the Marcel Gonclaves fiasco, there have now been multiple claims made against various instructors.

Marcel Goncalves Pleads Insanity

Thanks to Covid and Goncalves’ lawyers pushing the dates, his case would start in December of 2021. Almost three years after his initial arrest.

During the initial hearing, Marcel Goncalves’ lawyers make it known that Gonclaves was going to plead insanity. Claiming that Goncalves had suffered brain damage from MMA and BJJ competitions.

Statement from the court documents here: “The Defendant, MARCEL GONCALVES, by and through the undersigned attorney, files this “NOTICE OF INTENT TO RELY ON INSANITY DEFENSE” pursuant to Rule 3.216 of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure. Defendant intends to rely on the defense of insanity at the trial of this matter and offers the below statement of in support. Defendant expects to establish that the Defendant was legally insane at the time of the charged offense, and specifically suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).”

Marcel Goncalves Flees Country

In 2021, Mo Jassim would post on BJJ Truth that Goncalves had allegedly fled the US and missed his court date. Claiming that he fled Brazil through Mexico.

An international warrant was put out for Goncalves, but if he is in Brazil, the country does not have extradition laws.

February 2023 Trial Targeted

Judge Jose Rodriguez, who is presiding over Marcel Gonclave’s case has set an initial trial date for February 20, 2023. The date for discovery prior to the initial trial date is January 19, 2023.

This trial date is not set in stone as the parties are only to be ready for trial by that date. The trial may start after that initial date.

Will There be Justice For Marcel Goncalves’ Victim?

This whole fiasco with Marcel Goncalves and Fight Sports actions afterwards have left a stain on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It has been five years since his arrest and justice has still not been served.

Fight Sports has attempted to make amends by stripping Goncalves of his black belt. Also starting a committee comprised of law enforcement officials to look into future allegations of sexual assault.

But truthfully, the whole BJJ community would like to see justice for Goncalves’ victim and have this whole incident go away. Hopefully this trial ends within the year to finally put this whole fiasco to rest.