Roberto Correa
Roberto Correa, known as Gordo, developed the half guard as a purple belt and won middleweight at the first IBJJF World Championship in 1996.
Biography
Sources for this profile
On The Mat, Paul Schreiner, 2007-08-01 (via Internet Archive, capture 2024-07-14)(opens in a new tab)
Gordo received his black belt from Carlos Gracie Jr. in 1993.
Where in the source: OTM: Carlos Gracie Jr. gave you your black belt? > "Gordo: Yes, in 1993."
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Gordo grew up in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, where he had known the Gracie brothers Ralph, Ryan and Daniel since childhood; he attended kindergarten with Ralph Gracie.
Where in the source: OTM: Going back a bit, how did you get started with jiu jitsu in the first place? > "I have been friends with Ralph, Ryan and Daniel (Gracie), since I was young. I went to kindergarden with Ralph and I was friends with them from the beach and just growing up in Barra."
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- Conflicting accounts
Gordo took his first jiu-jitsu class as a teenager in the mid-1980s, after being invited to train by Rigan Machado, who at the time taught the white belts at Carlos "Carlinhos" Gracie Jr.'s school.
Where in the source: OTM: Going back a bit, how did you get started with jiu jitsu in the first place? > "In 1985 I started to train. I was invited by Rigan who at that time was teaching the white belts at Carlinhos' school. I went to the school to train one day and I never looked back."
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Gordo developed the half guard out of injury: as a purple belt he hurt his knee badly and came back to training too early, so he kept the injured knee on the mat and defended with the other leg alone, and built the position from there.
Where in the source: OTM: You are known for your half guard ... can you explain why did you start playing the half guard and developing this position? > "I had a serious knee injury - I was still a purple belt at the time - and I returned to training too soon. So just in order to train, I kept my injured knee on the ground and defended just with my other leg. From there I began to develop the position."
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Gordo argued that the half guard had shifted from a purely defensive last resort to an offensive position, and that the half guard being used in tournaments by 2007 was very different from what he had started doing 15 to 20 years earlier.
Where in the source: OTM: “... is the half guard good jiu jitsu?” > “I think that before the half guard used to be a very defensive position but now more options have been developed so that the position can be used to sweep and attack aggressively.”
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Gordo is credited with revolutionizing the jiu-jitsu competition game through his introduction of the half guard.
Where in the source: introduction > "He is credited with revolutionizing the bjj competition game with the introduction of the half guard and has produced a stable of exceptional jiu jitsu athletes to continue his legacy."
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Gordo had been teaching at his own academy since roughly 1992, initially on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Where in the source: OTM: There have been many rumors regarding the Gracie Barra Combat Team > "I have been teaching at my own academy for the past 15 years. I have always taught Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Now I have my own space where I teach every day, twice a day."
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In 2007 Gordo opened a dedicated Gordo Jiu Jitsu Academy in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, together with his friend Rommel Cardozo, wanting a space devoted only to martial arts rather than the back of a health club or apartment complex.
Where in the source: OTM: Tell us a little about the new academy. > "together with my friend Rommel Cardozo, we found a good space and opened the new academy"; introduction > "a new Gordo Jiu Jitsu Academy opening in Barra da Tijuca"
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As of 2007 Gordo was coaching the Gracie Barra Combat Team.
Where in the source: OTM: There have been many rumors regarding the Gracie Barra Combat Team > "For me the situation has not changed. I am continuing to coach the team and teach jiu jitsu."
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Asked in 2007 which of his athletes to watch, Gordo named Braga Neto, Anderson, Vitinho, Braudinho and Faquir, along with Rafael dos Anjos, Pé de Chumbo and Fabrício Monteiro.
Where in the source: OTM: What athletes from Gordo Jiu Jitsu should we be keeping an eye on in the future? > "Braga Neto, Anderson, Vitinho, Braudinho, Faquir..."; "Raphael dos Anjos, Pe de Chumbo, Fabricio Monteiro..." (page renders the names without diacritics and spells the first name 'Raphael')
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Gordo named Minotauro as the best half guard player in MMA, Marcelinho in submission grappling and Celsinho in the gi.
Where in the source: OTM: Who are the best half guard players today? > "Minotauro for MMA, Marcelinho in Submission, and Celsinho has very efficient technique from this position with the kimono."
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On the half guard in MMA, Gordo's assessment was two-sided: he called the position dangerous, because it is very different from what people are used to in sport jiu-jitsu and submission wrestling, but said that it is also very efficient, and that fighters such as Minotauro had developed an effective half guard for vale tudo by adapting it properly to deal with strikes.
Where in the source: OTM: “What do you think of the half guard in MMA?” > “For MMA, I think the position is dangerous - it is very different from what people are accustomed to in jiu jitsu sport and submission wrestling. That said, the position is also very efficient.”
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Gordo trained with Rickson Gracie once, around 1994, when he was a new black belt, and named Rickson the greatest of all time.
Where in the source: OTM: Have you ever trained with Rickson? > "I trained with him once, 13 years ago when I was a new black belt. Rickson is excellent, his game is very tight, he never gives any space for his opponent."; OTM: Who is the greatest of all time? > "Gordo: Rickson."
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Gordo underwent an ACL reconstruction on his knee in February 2007 and planned to return to training that September.
Where in the source: OTM: Do you have any plans to return to competition? > "I had an ACL reconstruction performed on my knee in February, and I will return to training in September so maybe I'll compete again next year."
Accessed:
Graciemag, Marcelo Dunlop, 2024-02-20(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag describes Gordo as a black belt of Carlos Gracie Jr.
Where in the source: body > "O faixa-preta de Carlos Gracie Jr"
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Graciemag describes the 1996 world title as the greatest title of Gordo's career.
Where in the source: body > "vencera todos os grandes torneios da epoca - como a durissima divisao absoluto no Brasileiro, em 1997, e o seu maior titulo, o ouro no 1o Mundial, em 1996"
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Gordo won the open weight division at the Brazilian Nationals in 1997.
Where in the source: body > "como a durissima divisao absoluto no Brasileiro, em 1997"
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The 2003 Pan title was Gordo's fourth Pan championship at black belt.
Where in the source: body > "buscava o tetracampeonato na faixa-preta, sem contar a prata de 1998"
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In the heavyweight semi-final of the April 2003 Pan Championship, Gordo spent roughly five minutes trapped in a triangle choke by Rener Gracie, survived it, and went on to pass the guard late in the match.
Where in the source: headline "O dia em que Roberto Gordo resistiu 5 minutos num 'triangulo Gracie'" > "semifinal do Pan de Jiu-Jitsu da IBJJF, em abril de 2003"
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Gordo was 31 years old when he competed at the 2003 Pan Championship.
Where in the source: body > "Aos 31 anos"
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Gordo holds a coral belt.
Where in the source: body > "Hoje faixa-coral, Roberto 'Gordo' Correa"
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IBJJF official results archive, 1996 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
Gordo won the black belt middleweight division at the first IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 1996, competing for Gracie Barra and beating Eduardo Conceição in the final.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Middle > "1 Roberto Correa Gracie Barra" / "2 Eduardo Conceicao Alliance" (page renders the name without diacritics)
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IBJJF official results archive, 1997 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
At the 1997 IBJJF World Championship Gordo placed second in the black belt medium-heavy division, behind his Gracie Barra team-mate Roberto Magalhães.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy > "1 Roberto Magalhaes Gracie Barra" / "2 Roberto Correa Gracie Barra" (page renders names without diacritics)
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The federation’s own 1997 World Championship results place him second in the adult black belt medium heavy division, behind his Gracie Barra team-mate Roberto Magalhães.
Where in the source: Category block “Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy”: “1 Roberto Magalhaes (Gracie Barra) · 2 Roberto Correa (Gracie Barra) · 3 Anderson Xavier (Alliance) · 3 Roberto da Silva (Ws LeãoDourado)”.
Accessed:
IBJJF official results archive, 2001 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
At the 2001 IBJJF World Championship Gordo took third place in the black belt medium-heavy division.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy > "3 Roberto Correa Gracie Barra"
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IBJJF official results archive, 1996 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
Gordo won a black belt division at the 1996 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship and took second in the black belt open class at the same event.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Super Heavy > "1 Roberto Correa Gracie Barra"; Adult / Black / Male / Open Class > "1 Regan Machado Machado Redondo / 2 Roberto Correa Barra Gracie"
Accessed:
IBJJF official results archive, 1997 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
Gordo won a black belt division at the 1997 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Super Heavy > "1 Roberto Correa Gracie Barra"
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A team registered as Gordo Jiu-Jitsu was already competing at the Pan Championship by 1997.
Where in the source: Adult / Blue / Male / Light Feather > "3 Daniel Bznover Gordo Jiu-Jitu" (team name misspelled on the page; the "Brazilian Freestyle" on the line above is the other third-place finisher's team, not a section)
Accessed:
IBJJF official results archive, 1998 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
Gordo took second place in the black belt medium-heavy division at the 1998 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy > "1 Roberto Magalhaes Gracie Barra / 2 Roberto Correa Gracie Barra"
Accessed:
IBJJF official results archive, 2001 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
Gordo won the black belt medium-heavy division at the 2001 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy > "1 Roberto Correa Gracie Barra / 2 Gustavo Muggiati"
Accessed:
IBJJF official results archive, 2003 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
Gordo won the black belt heavyweight division at the 2003 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship, beating Fábio Leopoldo to the title.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Heavy > "1 Roberto Correa Gracie Barra / 2 Fabio Leopoldo" (page renders the name without diacritics)
Accessed:
Gordo Jiu Jitsu Academy (official academy site), undated(opens in a new tab)
Roberto "Gordo" Correa's full name is Roberto Correa de Lima.
Where in the source: biography > "Known worldwide as Gordo, Roberto Correa de Lima has been teaching Jiu-Jitsu for over 30 years"
Accessed:
- Conflicting accounts
Gordo's own academy dates his start to 1986, at the age of 15, and credits his close friend Ralph Gracie with drawing him into the sport.
Where in the source: biography > "Raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Gordo started training Jiu-Jitsu in 1986, at the age of 15, influenced by his close friend Ralph Gracie."
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Gordo spent two years coaching the United Arab Emirates national team.
Where in the source: biography > "with academies all over the world, and two years training the UAE national team"
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Gordo is a 6th degree black belt, and in 2024, after 30 years as a black belt, he received his coral belt from Renzo Gracie in a ceremony at the Gordo Jiu Jitsu Academy in Weston, Florida.
Where in the source: coral belt > "After 30 years of pacticing Jiu Jitsu as a Black Belt, Gordo earned his Coral Belt from Renzo Gracie. The ceremony was held at Gordo Jiu Jitsu Academy Weston."; biography > "is now a 6th degree blackbelt"
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Gordo teaches at the Gordo Jiu Jitsu Academy at 1637 Bonaventure Boulevard, Weston, Florida.
Where in the source: contact us > "1637 Bonaventure Boulevard, Weston, FL 33326, USA"
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- Conflicting accounts
His own academy’s site lists a larger record than the federation does: world champion in 1996 and in 1997, five-time Pan American champion in 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2003, and two-time Pan American silver medallist in 1996 and 1997. It also says he began training in 1986 at the age of fifteen, influenced by his close friend Ralph Gracie.
Where in the source: Section “achievements”: “world champion 1996 · world champion 1997 · 5x pan american champion 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003 · 2x pan american silver medallist 1996, 1997”. Biography: “Gordo started training Jiu-Jitsu in 1986, at the age of 15, influenced by his close friend Ralph Gracie.”
Accessed:
BJJ Heroes, “Roberto ‘Gordo’ Correa”, undated(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes lists one world title, in 1996, with second place in 1997; four Pan titles in 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2003; and Pan silver in 1996 in the absolute and in 1998 in a final closed with a team-mate. It puts his first class in 1985 at the Tijuca academy then led by Jean Jacques Machado.
Where in the source: Infobox “Main Achievements”: “1st Place IBJJF World Championship (1996) · 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (1996, 1997, 2001, 2003) · 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (1997) · 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (1996*, 1998***)”, with “* Absolute” and “*** Closed final with teammate”.
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Competition results
| Year | Event | Result | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-82 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -82 kgGiVerified |