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Wilson Mattos

Wilson Mattos carried Oswaldo Fadda's lineage into a team and teaching practice that keeps traditional and sport jiu-jitsu side by side.

Biography

Wilson Mattos is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu teacher from Padre Miguel, Rio de Janeiro, who trained directly under Oswaldo Fadda and later built Equipe Mestre Wilson. Known to his students as Shihan, he has made the breadth of that older training tradition central to his own teaching. Mattos recalled in a 2021 interview that he began jiu-jitsu at age five, on April 22, 1956, after a neighborhood baker asked his mother's permission to take him to an academy. Fadda awarded him his black belt in 1970. According to BJJ Heroes, Mattos then began coaching in Realengo and developed the group that became Equipe Mestre Wilson. Multiple profiles describe Mattos as a ninth-degree red belt. A 2020 profile also describes him teaching seminars in Brazil and abroad while maintaining an academy in Padre Miguel. His contribution is not only the team he built, but the range he chose to preserve within it. Mattos said in the 2021 interview that the older curriculum combined throws, self-defense, and no-gi practice. He also described his academy as making room for traditional and sport jiu-jitsu, keeping those approaches side by side within the same teaching practice.

Sources for this profile

  • André Vianna, JIUJITSUBJJ, December 10, 2020.(opens in a new tab)

    • A 2020 profile identifies Wilson Mattos as a grand master from Rio de Janeiro, known to his students as Shihan and trained directly by Oswaldo Fadda.

      Where in the source: Opening identity and teacher paragraphs — “Aluno direto”; nickname in the November visit account.

      Accessed:

    • The profile says Mattos was born on 14 April 1951 in Padre Miguel, Rio de Janeiro.

      Where in the source: Opening birth paragraph — “Nascido em”.

      Accessed:

    • The 2020 profile describes Mattos teaching seminars in Brazil and abroad and maintaining an academy in Padre Miguel.

      Where in the source: Travel/teaching paragraphs and “Endereço da academia” section.

      Accessed:

  • Lance!, April 9, 2021 (report of a TATAME interview).(opens in a new tab)

    • In a 2021 interview, Mattos says he began jiu-jitsu at age five on 22 April 1956 after a neighborhood baker asked his mother's permission to take him to an academy.

      Where in the source: First interview answer about beginning training — “Meu início”.

      Accessed:

    • Mattos says the older curriculum joined throws, self-defence and no-gi practice, while his own academy makes room for both traditional and sport jiu-jitsu.

      Where in the source: Final interview answer — “Há espaço”; preceding answer lists the older curriculum.

      Accessed:

    • The 2021 profile describes Mattos as a ninth-degree red belt and an Oswaldo Fadda black belt.

      Where in the source: Article deck and introductory paragraph — “faixa-vermelha 9º grau”.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Heroes, Master Wilson Mattos, current public biography.(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Heroes says Oswaldo Fadda awarded Mattos his black belt in 1970, after which Mattos began coaching in Realengo and built the team that became Equipe Mestre Wilson.

      Where in the source: “Wilson Mattos Biography” — black-belt test paragraph followed by the coaching paragraph mentioning “Realengo”.

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes says the CBJJE recognized Mattos' ninth degree in 2009 and that he received the red belt and grand-master title from the federation's president.

      Where in the source: Biography paragraph beginning “In 2009” about the CBJJE ceremony.

      Accessed:

Lineage

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