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João Alberto Barreto

João Alberto Barreto, a jiu-jitsu master trained by Hélio Gracie who remained undefeated through the 1950s, went on to referee the first UFC event in 1993.

Biography

João Alberto Barreto — in full, João Alberto de Melo Barreto — was born on May 8, 1935, the sixth of ten sons of Antônio Carlos de Melo Barreto, a friend of Carlos Gracie Sr. who also directed an institute for the deaf. He was schooled at a military boarding school, where he grew strong despite an acute stutter, and in 1950 or 1951, as Hélio Gracie was returning to competition, his father asked Carlos Gracie to take the fifteen-year-old on as a student. It placed him in a direct teaching line running from Mitsuyo Maeda, the judoka who had taught Carlos, through Carlos to Hélio, and on to Barreto himself. The training did not stay theoretical for long. After only three months, Carlos matched Barreto against a veteran Teresópolis fighter known as "Bambambã": their first meeting ended in a draw, and a rematch fifteen days later — barely four months into Barreto's training — ended in his favor. Carlos, occupied with the family's business affairs, then passed him to his brother Hélio, who taught him everything he knew and turned him into one of the most feared students of the 1950s. Barreto is said to have gone a full year fighting every Monday without a single loss, remaining unbeaten for the rest of his competitive career. He went on to become one of the head coaches at the Gracie Academy, and introduced two of his own brothers, Álvaro and Sérgio Barreto, to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. That reputation carried onto Brazilian television. In 1959, Barreto became a fixture of Heróis do Ringue, a live broadcast on TV Continental coordinated by Carlos and Hélio Gracie, working through a line-up of Brazil's toughest challengers and submitting them all. Toward the end of that year, he caught an opponent named José Geraldo — an elite freestyle wrestler from Flamengo — in an armlock. Geraldo chose to resist rather than tap, and the joint gave way on camera, producing a compound fracture in front of the audience. It was the final straw for groups already campaigning against the show, which came under scrutiny from Brazil's Boxing Federation and National Sports Council and was pushed toward point-based rules to avoid being banned outright. It did not survive much longer regardless: the show was canceled and replaced by a wrestling program, Telecatch, Barreto's on-air break marking the end of an era of unregulated television fights. In the 1960s, Barreto and his student Flávio Behring set out to introduce Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the United States, training with and against judo, karate and other styles as they toured some of the country's most prestigious military academies and elite units. Both men were invited to stay on and teach; both chose to return home instead. The partnership lasted: it was Barreto himself who put a red belt on Behring on September 5, 2006. Back in Brazil, Barreto helped build the sport's institutions. In 1967, he joined Hélio Gracie, Hélcio Leal Binda and Oswaldo Fadda in founding the Guanabara Jiu-Jitsu Federation — Brazil's first jiu-jitsu federation — serving as its vice president under Hélio's presidency and helping draft the sport's first competition rules. He held a degree in law, and after Fluminense Football Club's president, Francisco Luiz Cavalcanti da Cunha Horta, invited him in the 1970s to help prepare the club's players mentally, Barreto pursued the subject academically and completed a further degree in psychology. That authority put him in a new arena on November 12, 1993, when he became one of two referees — alongside his teammate Hélio Vigío — at UFC 1: The Beginning. Sherdog's official record credits him with four fights that night: Jason DeLucia vs. Trent Jenkins, Gerard Gordeau vs. Kevin Rosier, Royce Gracie vs. Art Jimmerson, and Gerard Gordeau vs. Teila Tuli. The rules for stopping a fight were not yet written: when Gordeau kicked one of Tuli's teeth out and followed with a right hand, Barreto stepped in and stopped it, prompting an on-camera argument recalled years later by referee Big John McCarthy — Barreto insisting Tuli could no longer continue, Rorion Gracie insisting the fight could not be stopped. Barreto's ties to the sport continued long after that night in the cage. He holds a red belt, listed by one roster of red-belt masters as ninth-degree, and remains affiliated with Barreto Jiu-Jitsu. He lectured at Kyra Gracie's Gracie Kore academy in 2019 and was pictured with Kyra at the academy's inauguration, and was honored at a Brazilian martial-arts event, MAC IV. In a 2020 interview, he recalled being summoned, along with fellow student Carlson Gracie, to Hélio's office, where Hélio and Carlos Gracie announced that Hélio would no longer fight Waldemar Santana and that the two students should settle between themselves who was better prepared to take his place. Barreto submitted Carlson with an armlock.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Heroes, "Joao Alberto Barreto" (fighter biography page)(opens in a new tab)

    • Full legal name Joao Alberto de Melo Barreto; the 6th of 10 sons of Antonio Carlos de Melo Barreto, a friend of Carlos Gracie Sr.; attended a military boarding school; suffered from an acute stutter as a boy. Lineage listed as Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Joao Alberto Barreto.

      Where in the source: "Joao Alberto Barreto was the 6th son of Antonio Carlos de Melo Barreto... studied at a military boarding school where he grew to become incredibly strong and healthy, though he suffered from an acute stutter problem." / "Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Joao Alberto Barreto"

      Accessed:

    • Born close to age 15 in 1950 when his father asked Carlos Gracie (Sr.) to coach him.

      Where in the source: "In 1950, just as Helio Gracie made his return to competition... Mr Carlos Barreto requested Carlos Gracie to coach Joao Alberto. Joao Alberto was close to 15 years of age at the time."

      Accessed:

    • After three months of training, Carlos Gracie matched him against a veteran fighter nicknamed "Bambambã" from Teresópolis; first fight drew, then Barreto won a 15-days-later rematch, all within about 4 months of training.

      Where in the source: "After only three months of training, Carlos arranged for Barreto to fight against a veteran competitor from Teresopolis by the nickname of 'Bambambã'. The fight was declared a draw... with only 15 days to prepare... he did."

      Accessed:

    • Carlos Gracie, too busy with the family business, handed him to his brother Helio Gracie, who taught him everything and made him one of the most feared students of the 1950s; he reportedly went a full year fighting every Monday without a single loss.

      Where in the source: "Helio taught everything he knew to Joao Alberto... It is said that Joao Alberto Barreto went a full year, fighting every Monday without loosing one single fight, remaining unbeaten until the end of his sporting career."

      Accessed:

    • Became one of the head coaches at the Gracie Academy and introduced two of his brothers, Alvaro and Sergio Barreto, to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

      Where in the source: "Joao Alberto became one of the head coaches of the Gracie Academy and also instigated Gracie Jiu Jitsu on to two of his brothers, Alvaro and Sergio Barreto, who followed their brother's footsteps and became masters of the Gracie family trade."

      Accessed:

    • In the late 1960s became Vice President of the first Jiu-Jitsu Federation in Brazil, presided over by his master Helio Gracie; helped write the first draft of BJJ competition rules alongside the Gracie family, Oswaldo Fadda and others.

      Where in the source: "In the late 1960's Joao Alberto became the Vice President of the very first Jiu Jitsu Federation in Brazil; an organization presided by Barreto's master, Helio Gracie."

      Accessed:

    • Invited in the 1970s by Fluminense Football Club's president, Francisco Luiz Cavalcanti da Cunha Horta, to help prepare the players mentally; went on to complete a degree in psychology, in addition to an earlier degree in law.

      Where in the source: "Joao Alberto Barreto was invited by the President of Fluminense Football Club (Francisco Luiz Cavalcanti da Cunha Horta)... Barreto took it upon himself to develop the subject academically and successfully completed his degree as a psychologist (adding it to a degree in law)."

      Accessed:

    • Team/association listed as Barreto Jiu Jitsu / Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

      Where in the source: Infobox line: "Team/Association: Barreto Jiu Jitsu/Gracie Jiu Jitsu"

      Accessed:

  • GracieMag, "João Alberto Barreto" (Academias profile page)(opens in a new tab)

    • Full name Grande mestre João Alberto de Melo Barreto, red belt, born May 8, 1935.

      Where in the source: "Grande mestre João Alberto de Melo Barreto, faixa-vermelha de Jiu-Jitsu, nasceu em 8 de maio de 1935"

      Accessed:

    • For months, the young João Alberto lined up and submitted Brazil's most feared tough guys on the live TV program.

      Where in the source: "Durante meses, o jovem João Alberto enfileirou os mais temidos cascas-grossas do Brasil, finalizando todos"

      Accessed:

    • Graduated in psychology; vice-president of the first Jiu-Jitsu Federation, founded in 1967.

      Where in the source: "Formado em psicologia e vice-presidente da primeira Federação de Jiu-Jitsu, fundada em 1967"

      Accessed:

    • By virtue of his authority and experience, he became established as the first referee of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993.

      Where in the source: "Por sua autoridade e experiência, consagrou-se como o primeiro árbitro do Ultimate Fighting Championship, em 1993"

      Accessed:

    • He is a direct disciple of Helio and Carlos Gracie; GracieMag separately reported him giving a free lecture at Kyra Gracie's Gracie Kore academy in April 2019, and a photo on his own page shows him with Kyra Gracie at the academy's inauguration.

      Where in the source: Lecture article: "Grande mestre João Alberto Barreto, discípulo direto de Helio e Carlos Gracie... em evento gratuito no próximo dia 16 de abril... na Gracie Kore." Photo caption on this page: "João Alberto com Kyra na inauguração da academia Gracie Kore, no Rio."

      Accessed:

  • Blog Alta Performance, "O Grão-Mestre João Alberto Barreto, ícone dos Gracies, na década de 50, fala sobre Mentalidade Campeã", by Carlos Eduardo Loddo, 12 November 2020(opens in a new tab)

    • Alternate/earlier discovery account: in 1951 Carlos Gracie noticed the teenage Barreto's physique at the home of his father, Dr. Antônio Carlos de Mello Barreto (director of an institute for the deaf), after a jiu-jitsu exhibition where Helio Gracie easily beat a challenger named Landulfo Caribé; Barreto trained under Carlos, beat fellow student Carlos Trota, then was 'taken over' by Helio Gracie after drawing then beating Helio's own champion student, known as "o japonês de Teresópolis", in Teresópolis.

      Where in the source: Heading "Início no Jiu-Jitsu": "Em 1951, o jovem João Alberto foi descoberto pelo genial Carlos Gracie, ao solicitar ao Diretor do Instituto de Surdos e Mudos... que cedesse o ginásio para uma luta de jiu-jitsu e um desafiante baiano, Landulfo Caribé."

      Accessed:

    • On the live TV program "Heróis do Ringue" (launched 1959 by TV Continental, coordinated by Carlos and Helio Gracie), toward the end of that year João Alberto caught opponent José Geraldo — an elite Flamengo freestyle-wrestling athlete — in an armlock; Geraldo chose to resist rather than tap, resulting in a compound fracture on camera, which became the final straw for protesting groups. The show was then scrutinized by the Boxing Federation and the National Sports Council and had to adopt point-based rules to avoid being banned.

      Where in the source: Heading "Combates Televisionados": "João Alberto pega o oponente José Geraldo, atleta da elite da luta livre do Flamengo, numa chave-de-braço, e este resolveu resistir, em vez de 'bater', ocorrendo então uma fratura exposta, diante das câmeras, que foi a gota-d'água, para os grupos que protestavam."

      Accessed:

    • In the 1960s, traveling with his student and Gracie Academy colleague Flávio Behring, João Alberto Barreto set out to introduce Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the United States. They trained at various institutions, facing judo, karate and other practitioners, and were invited to demonstrate Brazilian jiu-jitsu for the first time in the US at some of the country's most prestigious military academies and elite units; both were invited to stay and teach there but chose to return to Brazil.

      Where in the source: Heading "Jiu-Jitsu Gracie chega aos EUA": "Nos anos 1960, em viagem com o seu aluno e colega de Academia Gracie Flávio Behring, o Mestre João Alberto Barreto resolveu desbravar os Estados Unidos... percorrendo algumas das academias militares e tropas de elite mais prestigiosas do país, e recebendo convite para viverem lá."

      Accessed:

  • Brasil em Folhas, "Morre Grande Mestre de jiu-jitsu Álvaro Barreto aos 84 anos", 31 August 2026(opens in a new tab)

    • In 1967, João Alberto Barreto took part in creating the Guanabara Jiu-Jitsu Federation together with Hélio Gracie, Hélcio Leal Binda and Oswaldo Fadda.

      Where in the source: "In 1967, he integrated the creation of the Guanabara Jiu-Jitsu Federation alongside Hélio Gracie, João Alberto Barreto, Hélcio Leal Binda and Oswaldo Fadda."

      Accessed:

  • Wikipedia, "Vale Tudo", citing Sherdog.com "Vale Tudo: A Rich, Storied & Complex Past"(opens in a new tab)

    • General, independent corroboration (citing Sherdog.com) of the same core event: during Heróis do Ringue, João Alberto Barreto caught an opponent in an armbar; when the man refused to submit, Barreto broke his arm on air, and the show was consequently cancelled and replaced by a wrestling show, Telecatch.

      Where in the source: "Barreto caught his opponent in an armbar and the man refused to submit. Barreto broke the man's arm." / "Consequently, the show was canceled and soon replaced by a professional wrestling show called Telecatch."

      Accessed:

  • Wikipedia, "Flavio Behring"(opens in a new tab)

    • Flavio Behring trained under both Helio Gracie and João Alberto Barreto, and received his red belt from his former coach Joao Alberto Barreto on 5 September 2006.

      Where in the source: "while continuing to study under both Helio Gracie and João Alberto Barreto." / "On 5 September 2006 Behring received his red belt from his former coach Joao Alberto Barreto."

      Accessed:

  • Sherdog.com, referee profile "Joao Alberto Barreto"(opens in a new tab)

    • Sherdog's official record credits Joao Alberto Barreto with refereeing exactly 4 fights, all at UFC 1 - The Beginning (12 November 1993): Jason DeLucia vs. Trent Jenkins (submission), Gerard Gordeau vs. Kevin Rosier (TKO/corner stoppage), Royce Gracie vs. Art Jimmerson (submission), and Gerard Gordeau vs. Teila Tuli (TKO via head kick).

      Where in the source: Referee page for "Joao Alberto Barreto": fight log listing exactly these 4 bouts, all dated 11/12/1993, event "UFC 1 - The Beginning".

      Accessed:

  • ESPN, "What it takes to be an MMA referee"(opens in a new tab)

    • According to referee Big John McCarthy, during the Gordeau vs. Tuli fight at UFC 1, Barreto stopped the fight (after Gordeau kicked Tuli's tooth out and followed with a right hand), which sparked an on-camera argument with Rorion Gracie because the event technically had no rule permitting a stoppage.

      Where in the source: "Barreto comes in and stops it and you'll notice there's this argument between Rorion Gracie and Barreto, and basically Barreto is saying this guy can't fight and Rorion is saying you can't stop it," (Big John McCarthy, recounting the moment)

      Accessed:

  • Muito Mais Ação Jiu Jitsu, "Faixa Vermelha de Jiu Jitsu: Quem São os Grandes Mestres da Arte Suave", December 2014(opens in a new tab)

    • João Alberto Barreto is listed among the red belt 9th-degree (9º grau) masters of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

      Where in the source: Article "Faixa Vermelha de Jiu Jitsu: Quem São os Grandes Mestres da Arte Suave", roster section listing red-belt 9º-grau masters, including "João Alberto Barreto" alongside his brothers Álvaro Barreto and Sergio Barreto and dozens of other named 9th-degree masters.

      Accessed:

  • Portal do Vale Tudo (PVT), "Em noite de homenagem a João Alberto Barreto, MAC IV define final do GP dos galos"(opens in a new tab)

    • João Alberto Barreto was honored at a MAC (martial arts) event card, recognized as a legend of jiu-jitsu and vale-tudo.

      Where in the source: Headline: "Em noite de homenagem a João Alberto Barreto, MAC IV define final do GP dos galos; veja resultados" ("On a night honoring João Alberto Barreto, MAC IV decides the bantamweight GP final").

      Accessed:

  • Portal do Vale Tudo (PVT), "João Alberto Barreto relembra treino em que venceu Carlson e palavras de Hélio em despedida de Rolls", 12 February 2020(opens in a new tab)

    • In a first-hand interview, João Alberto Barreto recalled that Helio and Carlos Gracie once pitted him against Carlson Gracie in the gym to decide who was better prepared to face Waldemar Santana, and that he won by armlock; he also recalled Helio Gracie's angry, grief-masking words to him on the day of Rolls Gracie's funeral.

      Where in the source: "Dentro do escritório do Hélio, ele e o Carlos chamaram o Carlson e eu e anunciaram que o Hélio não deveria mais lutar contra o Waldemar... Eu finalizei o Carlson na chave de braço" / "No dia do enterro do Rolls, o Hélio falou para mim: 'estou com raiva do meu sobrinho'..."

      Accessed:

Research

Genealogy and source research: Josh Simon, simonbjj.com(opens in a new tab)

Lineage

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Trained under

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