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Rafael Mendes

“Rafa”

Source: bjjheroes.com

Rafael Mendes Godoy is a six-time IBJJF World Champion and co-founder of the Art of Jiu-Jitsu academy in Costa Mesa, California.

Biography

Rafael Mendes Godoy, a Brazilian third-degree black belt under Ramon Lemos and six-time IBJJF featherweight World Champion, began jiu-jitsu alongside his brother Guilherme in Rio Claro with their older cousin Thiago Mendes as their first teacher. Born there on June 20, 1989, Rafael later co-founded the Art of Jiu-Jitsu academy in Costa Mesa, California, with Guilherme. The brothers later trained with Ramon Lemos in Rio Claro. In a 2014 account, they described him as a father figure during their youth. In a 2012 interview, they identified Thiago as their year-round strength and conditioning trainer. Ramon awarded Rafael his black belt in late 2008; Lemos's own black-belt lineage runs through André Pederneiras, Carlson Gracie, and Carlos Gracie. Mendes's main competitive rival was Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles Maciel. The two met in tournament finals again and again over the years that followed, in a rivalry documented match-by-match across 14 dated bouts between 2008 and 2015. Both of his ADCC World Championship titles, in 2009 and 2011, came against Charles in the final. At black belt, Mendes won six IBJJF World Championship titles — 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016. His fifth title made him the first black-belt featherweight to reach five World titles, moving past the four-title mark Royler Gracie reached in 1999 and Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles Maciel matched in 2009. He added a sixth the following year. He also won the IBJJF Pan American Championship in 2012 and 2013, the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2010, and the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro in 2009 and 2010 — the 2010 final against his own brother, Guilherme. He is credited with IBJJF European Open titles in 2009, 2010, and 2014, though only the 2010 and 2014 wins are confirmed by finals in his fight record. In 2022, the IBJJF inducted him into its Hall of Fame, listed there as a 3rd-degree black belt and six-time World Champion. With help from their longtime sponsor, RVCA founder Pat Tenore, Rafael and Guilherme founded the Art of Jiu-Jitsu academy in Costa Mesa, California, in July 2012 — years before Rafael himself stepped away from competition. He went on to win IBJJF World titles in 2014, 2015, and 2016 after the school opened, before retiring from competition in his mid-20s to focus on his family and his coaching work there.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Heroes, "Rafael Mendes" fighter profile(opens in a new tab)

    • Rafael Mendes' full name is Rafael Mendes Godoy; his nickname, "Rafa," is short for Rafael.

      Where in the source: Rafael Mendes: Rafael Mendes Godoy Nickname: “Rafa” which is short for Rafael.

      Accessed:

    • Rafael Mendes was born on June 20, 1989, in Rio Claro, a city in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

      Where in the source: Rafael was born on the 20th of June, 1989 in Rio Claro, a city in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

      Accessed:

    • Rafael Mendes' black-belt lineage runs Carlos Gracie, Carlson Gracie, Andre Pederneiras, Ramon Lemos, Rafael Mendes.

      Where in the source: Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Andre Pederneiras > Ramon Lemos > Rafael Mendes

      Accessed:

    • Rafael and his brother Guilherme began training through an older cousin, Thiago Mendes, a purple belt under Leonardo Santos, who after a few months took them to train at the academy headquarters with Santos and Ramon Lemos; the brothers' parents separated around this time, and the boys have said their coach Ramon Lemos filled much of that void, teaching them values as well as technique.

      Where in the source: started their jiu-jitsu training through an older cousin named Thiago Mendes ... their coach Ramon Lemos filled most of that void, teaching them not only grappling but the moral values with which they built their characters.

      Accessed:

    • Ramon Lemos awarded Rafael Mendes his black belt in late 2008.

      Where in the source: Ramon Lemos awarded Rafael his black belt in late 2008, the young Mendes did not shy away from the task at hand

      Accessed:

    • Rafael Mendes won the IBJJF Pan American Championship in 2012 and 2013.

      Where in the source: Rubens Charles W Armbar Pan American 70 KG F 2012 ... Rubens Charles W Referee Decision Pan American 70KG F 2013

      Accessed:

    • Rafael Mendes won the ADCC World Championship in 2009 and 2011, both times defeating his career-long rival Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles Maciel in the final.

      Where in the source: 1st Place ADCC World Championship (2009 / 2011) ... Rubens Charles W Points ADCC 66KG F 2009 ... Rubens Charles W Pen ADCC 66KG F 2011

      Accessed:

    • Rafael Mendes won the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (World Pro) in 2009 and 2010, the 2010 final against his own brother Guilherme Mendes.

      Where in the source: 1st Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2010 / 2009) ... Guilherme Mendes W Pts: 4x2 World Pro. 65KG F 2010 ... Rubens Charles W Points World Pro. 65KG F 2009

      Accessed:

    • Rafael Mendes won the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2010.

      Where in the source: 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2010) ... Rubens Charles W Pts: 4x2 Brasileiro 70 KG F 2010

      Accessed:

    • Rafael Mendes is credited with IBJJF European Open titles in 2009, 2010, and 2014; the 2010 and 2014 wins are confirmed by finals in the fight-history table, but the table carries no 2009 European Open bout of any kind.

      Where in the source: 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2014 / 2010 / 2009) ... Wellington Dias W Armbar European 70KG SF 2010 ... Renan Borges W Pts: 2x0 European 70KG F 2010 ... Gianni Grippo W Pts: 5x0 European 70KG SF 2014 ... Paulo Miyao W Pts: 3x0 European 70KG F 2014

      Accessed:

    • After a career widely regarded as making him the best grappler of his generation, Rafael Mendes chose to retire from competition while still in his mid-20s to focus on his family and his coaching work at the Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy.

      Where in the source: After a truly remarkable career where he broke records and became widely recognized as the best grappler of his generation, Rafael Mendes chose to retire to focus on his family and his work as a coach at the Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Costa Mesa, California. Mendes was still in his mid-20s when he made that decision, having not reached his full physical maturity.

      Accessed:

  • Wikipedia, "Rafael Mendes"(opens in a new tab)

    • Rafael Mendes holds a 3rd-degree black belt under Ramon Lemos.

      Where in the source: Rank: 3rd Degree Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Ramon Lemos

      Accessed:

    • Rafael Mendes and Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles Maciel were career-long rivals who met in finals many times; their matches, tracked match-by-match from a December 2008 loss through a May 2015 World Championship final, are documented as one of the sport's defining rivalries.

      Where in the source: Rafael Mendes' primary rival throughout his career has been multiple-time world champion Rubens Charles Maciel who is better known as "Cobrinha." They have met in the finals many times.

      Accessed:

    • In July 2012, Rafael Mendes and his brother Guilherme Mendes founded the Art of Jiu-Jitsu academy in Costa Mesa, California, with the help of their longtime sponsor and RVCA founder Pat Tenore.

      Where in the source: In July 2012, with the help of their long time sponsor and RVCA founder, Pat Tenore, Rafael Mendes and fellow champion and brother, Guilherme Mendes opened up The Art of Jiu Jitsu Academy in Costa Mesa, California.

      Accessed:

  • Elite Sports, "All You Need To Know About IBJJF Hall Of Fame Award"(opens in a new tab)

    • Rafael Mendes was inducted into the IBJJF Hall of Fame in 2022, listed there as a 3rd-degree black belt and six-time World Champion.

      Where in the source: Rafael Mendes 3rd Degree Black Belt 2022 6 x World Champion

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1996, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Royler Gracie placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 1996 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / FEATHER ... 1 Royler Gracie

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1997, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Royler Gracie placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 1997 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / FEATHER ... 1 Royler Gracie

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1998, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • ROYLER GRACIE placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 1998 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / FEATHER ... 1 ROYLER GRACIE

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1999, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Royler Gracie placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 1999 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / FEATHER ... 1 Royler Gracie

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2006, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Rubens Charles placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 2006 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / FEATHER ... 1 Rubens Charles

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2007, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Rubens Charles placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 2007 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / FEATHER ... 1 Rubens Charles

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2008, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Rubens Charles Maciel placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 2008 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / FEATHER ... 1 Rubens Charles Maciel

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2009, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • rubens charles placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 2009 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / FEATHER ... 1 rubens charles

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Rafael Mendes placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 2010 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / FEATHER ... 1 Rafael Mendes

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2011, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Rafael Mendes placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 2011 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / FEATHER ... 1 Rafael Mendes

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2012, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Rafael Mendes placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 2012 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / BLACK / FEATHER ... 1 Rafael Mendes

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2014, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Rafael Mendes placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 2014 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / BLACK / FEATHER ... 1 Rafael Mendes

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2015, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Rafael Mendes placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 2015 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / BLACK / FEATHER ... 1 Rafael Mendes

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2016, official results(opens in a new tab)

    • Rafael Mendes placed first in the adult male black-belt featherweight division of the 2016 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / BLACK / FEATHER ... 1 Rafael Mendes

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag, “Enquete: quem para você foi o maior peso-pena da história dos Mundiais de Jiu-Jitsu?”, 18 May 2015(opens in a new tab)

    • Before the 2015 IBJJF Worlds, Royler Gracie (1996-1999), Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles (2006-2009), and Rafael Mendes (2010-2012, 2014) were each credited with four featherweight World Championship gold medals.

      Where in the source: Enquete: quem para você ... quatro ouros cada ... Royler Gracie (1996/97/98/99) ... Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” (2006/07/08/09) ... Rafael Mendes (2010/11/12/14)

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag, “Rafael Mendes e o berimbolo insano em Cobrinha”, 4 June 2015(opens in a new tab)

    • After the 2015 IBJJF Worlds, Graciemag reported Rafael Mendes as the first featherweight athlete to win a fifth World Championship; Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles was his opponent in the final.

      Where in the source: Rafael Mendes e o berimbolo insano ... primeiro lutador pentacampeão dos penas ... final da categoria ... Rubens Cobrinha por 6 a 0

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag, “Training Program: Get creative to win, with the Mendes brothers” (first published 2009; online 25 May 2019)(opens in a new tab)

    • A contemporary Graciemag feature described Rafael and Guilherme Mendes as natives of Rio Claro who began jiu-jitsu as children with their older cousin Thiago Mendes, and later trained under Ramon Lemos. It identified Thiago as an Atos conditioning coach.

      Where in the source: Training Program: Get creative to win, with the Mendes brothers — “natives of Rio Claro” ... “elder cousin Thiago Mendes” ... “Ramon Lemos showed up in town”

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Eastern Europe, interview with Guilherme and Rafael Mendes, 8 March 2012(opens in a new tab)

    • In a March 2012 interview, Rafael and Guilherme Mendes called Ramon Lemos their professor in Rio Claro and identified Thiago Mendes as their cousin and year-round strength and conditioning trainer.

      Where in the source: Guilherme & Rafael Mendes give us an insight ... — “love Ramon as our professor” ... “Thiago Mendes (he is our cousin)”

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag, “In light of Kids Worlds team success, Mendes bros reflect on own youth in Jiu-Jitsu”, 22 July 2014(opens in a new tab)

    • In their own account published in 2014, Rafael and Guilherme Mendes said their parents separated around the time they started jiu-jitsu and that they came to view their professor Ramon Lemos as a father figure. They recalled planning their future with him at the academy as children.

      Where in the source: In light of Kids Worlds team success ... — “Professor Ramon [Lemos] as a father figure”

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, “IBJJF 2022 Year In Review” (2022)(opens in a new tab)

    • The IBJJF reported that Rafael Mendes was inducted into its Hall of Fame at the 2022 World Championships.

      Where in the source: IBJJF 2022 Year In Review — “At the 2022 IBJJF World Championships” ... “Rafael Mendes”

      Accessed:

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
YearEventResultDivision
2016IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-70 kgGiVerified1st place-70 kgGiVerified
2015IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-70 kgGiVerified1st place-70 kgGiVerified
2014IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-70 kgGiVerified1st place-70 kgGiVerified
2013ADCC 2013Source: adcombat.com-66 kgNo-giVerified2nd place-66 kgNo-giVerified
2012IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-70 kgGiVerified1st place-70 kgGiVerified
2011ADCC 2011Source: adcombat.com-66 kgNo-giVerified1st place-66 kgNo-giVerified
2011IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-70 kgGiVerified1st place-70 kgGiVerified
2010IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-70 kgGiVerified1st place-70 kgGiVerified
2009ADCC 2009Source: adcombat.com-66 kgNo-giVerified1st place-66 kgNo-giVerified

Lineage

View in lineage tree

Trained under

Students1