Joao Alberto Barreto

Joao Alberto de Melo Barreto was born on May 8, 1935 in Rio de Janeiro. He began training in 1950 under Carlos Gracie, partly to overcome a persistent stutter. In April 1960, on the live TV show 'Herois do Ringue,' he fought luta livre practitioner Soares Vinagre. When Vinagre refused to submit to an Americana lock, Barreto broke his arm on live television. The public outcry caused the show's cancellation and vale tudo was banned from Brazilian TV — a pivotal moment in the sport's history. In 1963, with Flavio Behring, he conducted the first formal BJJ demonstrations in America at the FBI and Naval Academy at Annapolis. In 1993, he was invited to referee at UFC 1 in Denver. He holds degrees in Law and Psychology and a 9th degree red belt.