Jose Olimpio Jr.

Full Name: José Olímpio da Rocha

Nickname: “Zé Radiola” (Zé is short for José, while Radiola refers to an old radio-gramophone—a childhood nickname given because an improperly healed arm injury left his arm bent at an angle resembling a gramophone’s tonearm).

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Junior > José Olimpio

Team / Association: ZR Team (formerly Gracie Barra Pernambuco)

Rank: Black Belt under Carlos Gracie Junior

Biography
Born and raised in Jaboatão dos Guararapes, near Recife (the capital of Pernambuco, Brazil), José Olímpio—universally known as “Zé Radiola”—is celebrated as one of the most successful and influential Jiu-Jitsu professors in the history of the sport.

Long before he ever stepped onto a Jiu-Jitsu mat, Radiola’s first love was the ocean. Growing up near the beach, he became a phenomenal surfer, transitioning into a professional surfing career as a teenager and ranking among the top 16 surfers in all of Brazil. His extensive travels for surfing competitions eventually led him to discover Capoeira, a martial art in which he deeply immersed himself, eventually earning the highly respected rank of Contra-Mestre.

It was during a trip to São Paulo that Radiola was first introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. By the time he returned home to Pernambuco in 1996, he was a blue belt. Recognizing a massive lack of high-level grappling academies in his region, he decided to build a gym on a piece of land owned by his father, naming it the “Free Style” academy. To ensure his students received top-tier instruction, he brought in the more experienced Charles dos Anjos to act as the senior head coach.

A major catalyst for the academy came when Radiola met Master Carlos Gracie Junior at a tournament and invited him to Pernambuco to host a seminar. The workshop was a massive success, prompting Radiola to make frequent, grueling trips to Rio de Janeiro to learn directly from “Carlinhos.” Consequently, the academy officially rebranded as Gracie Barra Pernambuco. When Charles dos Anjos eventually relocated to the United States, Radiola took full control of the mats as a purple belt.

Radiola’s legendary status was forged through his fierce dedication to his students. He became famous for working tirelessly to secure sponsorships for his athletes so they could travel and compete globally. His selflessness paid off exponentially, turning the Pernambuco academy into the most dominant grappling powerhouse in northeastern Brazil. Under his direct care, he produced a lineage of world-class icons, including:

Braulio Estima

Victor Estima

Otavio Sousa

In 2016, following internal managerial disputes with Gracie Barra corporate leadership, Radiola made the monumental decision to leave the organization. He subsequently founded his own international association, ZR Team, which continues to thrive as a major force on the global competitive circuit.