Endres Barbosa

Main Achievements

Black Belt Accolades:

• 1st Place — CBJJ Brazilian National Championship No-Gi (2018 Champion)
• 1st Place — IBJJF South American Championship (2019 Champion)
• 1st Place — IBJJF Brasilia Open (2018)
• 1st Place — IBJJF San Jose Open (2018)

Colored Belt Accolades:

• 1st Place — IBJJF World Champion (2014 purple belt)
• 3rd Place — IBJJF World Championship (2015 purple belt Bronze Medalist)
• 3rd Place — IBJJF Pan American Championship (2016 brown belt Bronze Medalist)
• 3rd Place — UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro (2013 blue belt Bronze Medalist)

Overview

Endres Barbosa da Silva Mendes, recognized on the international circuit as Endres Barbosa, is an elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt competitor and highly regarded coach representing the world-renowned Checkmat banner. Emerging from the northern coast of Brazil to capture a world title during his colored belt progression, Barbosa seamlessly carried his high-percentage submission framework into the black belt ranks. He solidified his status as an international lightweight threat by claiming major titles at the Brazilian Nationals No-Gi and the IBJJF South American Championships.

Early Life & From Equestrian to Combat Sports

Endres Barbosa was born on October 25, 1993, in the coastal city of João Pessoa, located in the eastern Paraíba region of Brazil. Throughout his childhood, he initially engaged in standard schoolyard soccer before discovering a deep passion for competitive equestrian sports, participating actively in regional horse riding events from age 9 until his mid-teens.

His eventual transition toward martial arts was heavily sparked by his older brother, Esdras Mendes (who would also climb the ranks to become an accomplished BJJ black belt). The siblings frequently studied Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) broadcasts together, mimicking and practicing defensive techniques at home. Inspired by the tactical nature of the sport, Endres retired from horse riding at age 15 to study Muay Thai. Shortly thereafter, Esdras attended an introductory jiu-jitsu class and convinced Endres to join him. By September 2010, the intricate positional physics of the ground game completely won him over, prompting him to dedicate his life entirely to BJJ.

The Checkmat Transition and World Championship Gold

The brothers initiated their formal training under Marcello Viktor at Cascão Jiu-Jitsu, where Endres built his technical baselines and earned the rank of blue belt. Operating as a fiercely driven, active competitor, Barbosa recognized that fulfilling his world-class potential required a specialized, tournament-focused room. This realization led him to transition to the powerhouse Checkmat collective, integrating his home camp into their prominent Paraíba affiliate under the direct leadership of Master Tarcísio Jardim.

Under Jardim’s expert tutelage, Barbosa’s open guard systems blossomed, rapidly establishing him as one of the premier lightweight prospects in South America. His competitive rise peaked at the 2014 IBJJF World Championships, where he put on a masterclass performance to capture the purple belt gold medal. That same year, driven to transmit his expanding knowledge, he formally launched his coaching career, instructing practitioners across all subsequent belt levels. Following an exceptionally consistent run on international podiums, Barbosa was officially promoted to the rank of black belt in July 2017.

Black Belt Dominance and Submission Analytics

Upon stepping into the elite black belt division, Barbosa immediately made waves across South and North America. He demonstrated his versatility across both Gi and No-Gi formats, dominating the brackets to capture gold at the 2018 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals No-Gi and the 2019 IBJJF South American Championship, alongside gold medal performances at major regional opens in Brasilia and San Jose.

On the mats, Barbosa is highly respected for his razor-sharp Open Guard mechanics and a clinical, submission-oriented style that has yielded an impressive 65% pro finishing rate. His strategic finishes are highly systematic, characterized by suffocating chokes from the back configuration (accounting for 31% of his victories) and a devastatingly prompt Botinha straight ankle lock system (accounting for 23% of his finishes). Today, Endres Barbosa continues to represent Checkmat at the highest tiers, balancing active international competition with his lasting dedication to elite technical coaching.