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João Assis

João Assis is an ADCC champion and founder of Electric Jiu Jitsu, teaching in Huntington Beach and developing instructors beyond his school.

Last updated: 20 September 2026

Biography

João Assis is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor and the founder of Electric Jiu Jitsu in Huntington Beach, California. An ADCC champion with Checkmat, he has worked with professional fighters, developed a school for a wider public and graded instructors who now teach elsewhere. From Porto Alegre to Leonardo Vieira Born in Porto Alegre in 1983, Assis began jiu-jitsu at seventeen with Luis Brito, looking for self-defense. After reaching purple belt, he moved to São Paulo to train under Leonardo Vieira. Vieira subsequently awarded him brown belt and, in 2009, black belt. His competition results during those earlier ranks included the adult men's purple-belt heavyweight title at the 2007 IBJJF Worlds in the gi, representing Brasa Brazil. At the 2009 Pans, he won the adult men's brown-belt open class and took heavyweight silver for Check Mat Bjj. By June 2010, Assis was teaching at Team Quest and working with Dan Henderson. In a Graciemag interview, he credited the team with practical help establishing his life in the United States. He said wrestling had improved his takedowns and his defense against them, while regular Checkmat half-guard training prepared him to pass that position. He also explained his emphasis on MMA at the time partly through the need to support his family. Competition and a new school Assis won the men's adult black-belt super-heavyweight division at the 2010 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds for Check Mat Bjj. The following year brought silver in the men's under-99-kilogram division at ADCC. He opened Electric Jiu Jitsu in summer 2012. According to the school's history, it first hosted Checkmat competition practice and private lessons, then added classes for the public. Assis was also a regular training partner of Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, who named him in a January 2013 interview about training in California. Ahead of the 2013 ADCC, Assis trained wrestling with Jacob Harman alongside Buchecha, Romulo Barral and Otavio Sousa. At the championship, he won the men's under-99-kilogram title. The contemporary account of his final against Dean Lister describes him escaping leg-lock and triangle attacks before winning on points. He won the adult men's black-belt super-heavyweight No-Gi Worlds titles again in 2014 and 2015, representing CheckMat. He also returned to the ADCC podium in 2015 with under-99-kilogram bronze. Together with his 2010 title, the original IBJJF results document three adult black-belt No-Gi world titles in that weight division. Teaching beyond the competition team Electric's public teaching programme now serves both beginners and experienced practitioners. The academy describes gi and no-gi as connected parts of its training: work in the traditional uniform sits alongside practice without it. Its stated approach uses movement, timing, decisions and repeated technique practice. For adults beginning at the school, three foundational lessons precede entry into group classes. The youth programme's parent guide emphasizes effort and perseverance, with winning and losing only part of how children are assessed. Assis's teaching also appears in the work of other instructors. Greg Anderson received his black belt from Assis in 2014 and leads Electric North in Washington. That academy explicitly credits Assis's approach as the model for its structured curriculum and demanding practice. In a separate interview, Alexandre “Xandão” Neves named Assis as his teacher and the person who awarded his black belt in 2015. Electric's 2026 summer-camp programme lists Assis as a fourth-degree black belt with Checkmat. The school advertised a children's camp combining judo and wrestling with gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu. Electric remains his school in Huntington Beach, and its published lineage places Leonardo Vieira before him.

Sources for this profile

BJJ Heroes, Assis biography.(opens in a new tab)
- He began jiu-jitsu at seventeen with Luis Brito, seeking self-defence.
  Where in the source: Biography; first training paragraph.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- After reaching purple belt with Brito, he moved to São Paulo to train under Leonardo Vieira.
  Where in the source: Biography; move to São Paulo.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- Vieira awarded him brown belt and then black belt in 2009.
  Where in the source: Biography; grading paragraph.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- Assis was born in Porto Alegre in 1983.
  Where in the source: Joao Assis Biography; opening.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Organiser's original championship results.(opens in a new tab)
- He won the 2007 Worlds adult male purple-belt heavyweight division for Brasa Brazil.
  Where in the source: Adult / Purple / Male / Heavy.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Organiser's original championship results.(opens in a new tab)
- At the 2009 Pans he won adult male brown-belt open class and placed second at heavyweight for Check Mat Bjj.
  Where in the source: Adult / Brown / Male; Heavy and Open Class.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Graciemag, 2010-06-02.(opens in a new tab)
- By June 2010, Assis was teaching at Team Quest and working with Dan Henderson.
  Where in the source: Introduction.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- He credited Team Quest with practical help establishing his life in the United States.
  Where in the source: Team Quest.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- Wrestling practice improved both his takedowns and his ability to resist them.
  Where in the source: Wrestling.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- He described regular Checkmat half-guard training as preparation for passing that position.
  Where in the source: Half guard.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- In 2010 he explained his MMA emphasis partly through the need to support his family.
  Where in the source: Closing answer.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Organiser's original championship results.(opens in a new tab)
- Assis won the 2010 No-Gi Worlds adult male black-belt super-heavyweight title for Check Mat Bjj.
  Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Super Heavy.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Organiser's original championship results.(opens in a new tab)
- He earned the men's under-99kg silver medal at ADCC 2011.
  Where in the source: -99kg; Silver; Joao Assis.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Electric Jiu Jitsu, school history and parent guide.(opens in a new tab)
- Assis opened Electric Jiu Jitsu in summer 2012.
  Where in the source: OUR STORY.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- Electric initially hosted Checkmat competition practice and private lessons before adding public classes.
  Where in the source: OUR STORY; development after opening.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- Its youth programme emphasises perseverance and effort rather than judging children only by winning or losing.
  Where in the source: TEACHING PHILOSOPHY.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Graciemag, Marcus Almeida interview, January 24, 2013.(opens in a new tab)
- Buchecha named Assis among his regular California training partners in January 2013.
  Where in the source: Question about training partners.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Graciemag, report on Jacob Harman's training group, October 24, 2013.(opens in a new tab)
- Before ADCC 2013, Assis trained wrestling with Jacob Harman alongside Buchecha, Romulo Barral and Otavio Sousa.
  Where in the source: Report; three-month preparation block.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Organiser's original championship results.(opens in a new tab)
- He won the men's under-99kg title at ADCC 2013.
  Where in the source: -99kg; Gold; Joao Assis.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Graciemag, Beijing event report, October 20, 2013.(opens in a new tab)
- In the 2013 final he escaped Lister's leg-lock and triangle attacks before winning on points.
  Where in the source: Paragraph on the under-99kg final.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Organiser's original championship results.(opens in a new tab)
- He won adult male black-belt super-heavyweight gold at the 2014 No-Gi Worlds for CheckMat.
  Where in the source: Male / Adult / Black / Super Heavy (215.00lb).
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Organiser's original championship results.(opens in a new tab)
- He won adult male black-belt super-heavyweight gold at the 2015 No-Gi Worlds for CheckMat.
  Where in the source: Male / Adult / Black / Super Heavy (215.00lb).
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Organiser's original championship results.(opens in a new tab)
- He took men's under-99kg bronze at ADCC 2015.
  Where in the source: -99kg; Bronze; Joao Assis.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Electric Jiu Jitsu, official school website.(opens in a new tab)
- Electric's current website identifies Assis as its professor in Huntington Beach, with Leonardo Vieira preceding him in its lineage.
  Where in the source: MEET THE PROFESSOR; school address.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- Electric presents gi and no-gi as integrated training, using movement, timing, decisions and repeated technique practice.
  Where in the source: THE SCHOOL.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Electric Jiu Jitsu, adult programme.(opens in a new tab)
- Electric's adult introduction uses three foundational lessons before students join group classes.
  Where in the source: HOW ELECTRIC JIU JITSU PROGRAM WORKS.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Electric North, academy history and coaches.(opens in a new tab)
- Greg Anderson received his black belt from Assis in 2014 and leads Electric North in Washington.
  Where in the source: Coaches; Greg Anderson.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- Electric North explicitly models its structured curriculum and demanding practice on Assis's approach.
  Where in the source: Our Story; introductory paragraphs.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Graciemag, Alexandre Neves interview, July 21, 2021.(opens in a new tab)
- Alexandre 'Xandão' Neves credits Assis with teaching him and awarding his black belt in 2015.
  Where in the source: Question about black-belt graduation.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Electric, 2026 camp.(opens in a new tab)
- Electric's June 2026 camp programme lists Assis as a fourth-degree black belt.
  Where in the source: Assis; roster.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- Assis is listed as a black belt on Electric's 2026 instructor roster.
  Where in the source: Assis; roster.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- The 2026 programme places Assis on the Checkmat team.
  Where in the source: Assis; roster.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
- Electric advertised a 2026 children's camp combining judo and wrestling with gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu.
  Where in the source: Schedule.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
Graciemag, dated birthday report, July 11, 2014.(opens in a new tab)
- A report dated July 11, 2014 marked Assis's thirty-first birthday.
  Where in the source: Opening sentence.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20
ADCC, official 2013 competitor roster.(opens in a new tab)
- ADCC's official 2013 roster lists Assis as representing Brazil.
  Where in the source: MALE; -98.9 kg; entry 14.
  Accessed: 2026-09-20

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
Year	Event	Result	Division
2015	ADCC 2015Source: adcombat.com-99 kgNo-giVerified	3rd place	-99 kgNo-giVerified
2013	ADCC 2013Source: adcombat.com-99 kgNo-giVerified	1st place	-99 kgNo-giVerified
2011	ADCC 2011Source: adcombat.com-99 kgNo-giVerified	2nd place	-99 kgNo-giVerified

Lineage

View in lineage tree

Trained under

Leonardo Vieira Source: bjjheroes.com