Ricardo Viera Jr.

Ricardo Vieira (born January 9, 1979, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), often known by his nicknames “Ricardinho” or “Rico,” is a highly celebrated 9-time World Champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Renowned for his ultra-technical, dynamic grappling style, Vieira is widely regarded as one of the greatest light-featherweight competitors in history and an equally legendary mastermind coach.A Prodigious RiseVieira began his Jiu-Jitsu journey at the exceptionally young age of 5, joining the kids’ class under the iconic master Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti. Showing natural elite talent from the start, Vieira swept through the junior leagues. He achieved the rare and prestigious feat of winning the IBJJF World Championships at every single belt level, from blue belt all the way through to black belt.He was promoted to black belt by Cavalcanti after securing consecutive podium finishes at the World Championships as a brown belt. In his very first year on the professional black belt circuit in 2001, Vieira cemented his elite status by defeating the division’s most feared competitor, Robson Moura, in the semifinals before capturing the World Championship title.Championship AchievementsCompeting primarily in the Light-Featherweight division (64 kg / 141 lbs), Vieira accumulated an extraordinary collection of medals at the sport’s highest levels:9-Time World Champion: His extensive championship resume includes 6 IBJJF World Championship titles (across colored and black belt divisions) and 3 CBJJO World Cup titles.Major Titles: He captured gold at the 2002 IBJJF Pan American Championships and later took 1st place at the 2011 Brazilian National No-Gi Championship in the Master’s division.Versatile Grappler: Known for his razor-sharp guard work, his professional submission victories feature a balanced mix of precision chokes, including triangles, gi-guillotines, and Ezekiel chokes.Co-Founding Checkmat and Social ImpactAs he began to transition away from full-time active competition, Vieira stepped into vital leadership and coaching roles. Alongside his brother, Leonardo “Leozinho” Vieira, he co-founded Checkmat Jiu-Jitsu, which grew into one of the most powerful, dominant, and widespread team alliances in the global grappling community.Beyond the elite competition mats, Vieira is highly revered for his deep commitment to charity and social work in Brazil. He took over a renowned social project in the Cantagalo Slums of Rio de Janeiro. The initiative utilizes Jiu-Jitsu as a tool for social reform, providing free top-tier training to impoverished children to keep them away from gun violence and drug crime, while actively teaching citizenship and life skills. Today, he remains a pillar of technical innovation and community leadership within the global BJJ landscape.