Moacir Mendes Jr.

Moacir Mendes Júnior (born January 23, 1981, in Porto Alegre, Brazil) is an extraordinary dual-sport martial artist who achieved elite international success in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Revered for bridging the gap between the two grappling arts, Mendes earned the honorary title of “Best Newaza (Groundwork) Athlete in Judo” in 2012 for his unmatched ability to submit opponents on the Judo circuit.

Battling Asthma to the Olympic Squad
Growing up in the neighboring town of Canoas, Mendes developed asthmatic bronchitis as an infant. To combat the condition, his pediatrician recommended he take up sports, leading a 4-year-old Moacir to step onto a Judo mat for the very first time.

Judo quickly transformed from a therapeutic hobby into an absolute obsession. Mendes possessed a natural knack for the sport’s high-speed dynamics. By the age of 17, his stellar performances earned him a coveted spot on the Brazilian National Judo Squad—a prestigious position he would proudly hold for the next 15 years.

Plugging the Holes: The Switch to BJJ
While Mendes was exceptionally proficient and dangerous while standing, he recognized a glaring weakness in his competitive Judo game: his newaza (ground grappling). In 2000, following the direct advice of his close friend and fellow Olympic judoka Flávio Canto, Mendes decided to dust off his white belt and cross-train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

He began his formal BJJ journey under the legendary José Mario Sperry at the famous Sul Jiu-Jitsu club, training there until he earned his blue belt. Seeking to push his guard game even further, he later transitioned to train under his close friend and multi-time IBJJF Black Belt World Champion, Mário Reis.

Mendes spent years tearing through the BJJ colored belt divisions, ultimately earning his black belt from Mário Reis in a historic fashion—promoted while standing directly on top of the podium at the 2008 CBJJE Jiu-Jitsu World Championship.

Championship Accolades
Mendes built a formidable competitive resume, seamlessly blending Olympic-level Judo throws with hyper-precise BJJ submissions, heavily favoring the armbar:

Judo Honors: IJF Junior World Champion (1999), 4-time CBJ Brazilian National Champion (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006), and a 3-time CBJ Troféu Brasil Champion.

Jiu-Jitsu Success: CBJJE World Champion (2008 brown, 2010 black), FGJJ Gaúcho State Champion (2010), and an IBJJF South American Championship Silver Medalist (2010).

Coaching Legacy and Virtual Innovation
As his competitive years wound down, Mendes became one of the most sought-after tactical advisors in the world for athletes looking to improve their transitions from standing to the ground. He was brought in as the official newaza head coach for the Brazilian National Judo Team ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

His pioneering work with high-end BJJ world champions like Nicholas Meregali and Monique Elias caught the attention of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu co-founder Rubens Charles “Cobrinha.” In 2017, Cobrinha hired Mendes to coach the stand-up game for his students at Alliance Los Angeles. Because Mendes still resided in Brazil, they engineered an innovative coaching method—setting up weekly interactive video calls to break down film and teach takedown mechanics across borders. Today, Mendes remains a vital bridge of knowledge between the global Judo and BJJ communities.