The Jiu Jitsu International Red Belt Council

The JJI Red Belt Council currently consists of 4 9th Degree Jiu Jitsu Grandmasters.

Invitation to join the Council is extended to any 9th Degree Grandmaster that graduated before Grandmaster Helio Gracie's passage.

The current Council, in alphabetical order:

Grandmaster Alvaro Barreto

Alvaro Barreto has his academy in the famed "Corpo Quatro Academy" in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.

Alvaro shares the mats with Sylvio Behring (also in the same building is Sergio "Bolao" one of Carlson Gracie's top students). Younger brother of João Alberto Barreto, who was a close associate and top student of Carlos and Helio Gracie.

He is a very technical instructor with a wealth of knowledge to pass on. At 10 years of age, began training Jiu-Jitsu with Carlos & Helio Gracie. At 17 years of age, he was an instructor at "Academia Gracie", the original Gracie Academy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When he was 20 years old, he left "Academia Gracie" to be head instructor at his brother, Joao Alberto Barreto's Academy in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.

Joao Alberto lived and trained with Helio Gracie for 12 years, fought in numerous Vale-Tudo competitions defending the "Gracie" name. At 24 years of age, Mestre Alvaro Barreto opened his first academy, "Academia Alvaro Barreto", now known as "Corpo Quatro" located in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.

Many instructors have taught at Corpo Quatro, including: Pedro Sauer, Sylvio Behring, Sergio Souza "Bolao", and many others. In 1967, Alvaro Barreto, Helio Gracie, Joao Alberto, and Helcio Leal Binda formed the 1st Jiu-Jitsu Federation in Brazil and established the belt ranking progression.

Alvaro Barreto holds a Master's Degree in Physical Education from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), where he is also a professor. He has been a black belt for over 40 years, making him a walking encyclopedia of the art.

Grandmaster Flavio Behring

The Behring Family is a reflection of Jiu-Jitsu's own history, beginning in 1947 when FLAVIO BEHRING began his apprenticeship in the "soft art" at the prodigious hands of Helio Gracie. In these 54 years of Jiu-Jitsu, Flavio has found in the technical teachings of the Gracie Family the necessary stricture to become a good practitioner, a high level competitor in Jiu-Jitsu's tradition, and a professor prepared to instruct, orient and educate generations of practitioners and fighters.

During his childhood Flavio was frail and constantly battling asthma attacks, wich would keep him distant from any sport activity due to the constant lack of breath. Flavio's father enrolls him in Helio Gracie's Academy hoping this activity would help him physically and provide emotional balance as well.

Fifty-four years ago Flavio dresses his first kimono and battles his own sickness before battling any flesh blood opponent. In 1951, Flavio 14 years of age, is chosen by the patriarch of the Gracie Family, Carlos Gracie, to respond to the challenge by a japanese fighter named Shimura, covered by the local papers, to fight Jiu-Jitsu at any place and any time. The Gracies place Cr$ 5.000 on Flavio and Shimura never shows up.

As a dedicated student, Flavio becomes a monitor in the Gracie Academy and assists Professor João Alberto Barreto. Flavio takes over for several months as Professor while Joao Alberto recovers from knee surgery. As an adult, Flavio works in Marketing yet continues his career as Professor of Jiu-Jitsu and enrolls his children in the Great Master João Alberto Barreto's Academy, at the early age of 3 years.

With João Alberto (on a pioneering effort) Flavio travels to the USA in 1963 performing several technical demonstrations, including the FBI, the Naval Academy at Anapolis, Universities and Academies. Accepting to confront any fighter utilizing any technique, to test Jiu-Jitsu's efficiency. Audiences are astounded at the supremacy of Jiu-Jitsu over other fighting techniques.

For several years, starting in 1964, FLAVIO BEHRING works at broadening Jiu-Jitsu horizons by becoming intimate with Judo, even competing in Rio de Janeiro to the astonishment of Jiu-Jitsu and Judo members alike. A few years later, two promising fighters began to make their mark on Jiu-Jitsu, based on the technical foundation and profound knowledge of this art form.

At 14 years of age Marcelo and Sylvio Behring begin specific training, under their father's watchful eye, to develop into strong fighters and professors. Behring Jiu-Jitsu is an institution focused on the education, preparation, and character development of its students and is a result of Master FLAVIO BEHRING's and his longstanding dedication to the Jiu-Jitsu art form and sins the constant effort to the Jiu-Jitsu technique.

Grandmaster Francisco Mansor

Grand Master Francisco Mansor has dedicated 46 years of his life to the practice, study and teaching of Jiu-Jitsu. He is the founder and owner of "Academia Kioto de Jiu-Jitsu," one of the most traditional and successful Jiu-Jitsu schools in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

He is very proud to be one of the six men outside of the Gracie family to be granted a professor's diploma by Grand Master Helio Gracie. For the past 36 years he has developed, through the experience acquired in teaching over 20,000 students (approximately 60% of which children and teens), a unique method of teaching Jiu-Jitsu for those with special needs due to physical impairment, or any other physical challenge.

As active member of the team that idealized and founded both the Rio de Janeiro State Jiu-Jitsu Federation and the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Confederation, he has held many offices in both institutions. He is currently serving as the president of the Masters Council and Ethics Committee, and as the Vice-President of the Technical Department of the Rio de Janeiro State Jiu-Jitsu Federation. He is also a member of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts' legal regulamentation team.

A graduate from Estacio de Sa University (Law School), he is a career law-enforcement professional (Policia Civil, RJ). During his 35 years in the force he has been assigned to various specialized units and duties, including a term as instructor of self-defense and street tactics in the Rio de Janeiro Police Academy, while concurrently holding the position of Martial Arts Professor of the Brazilian Army Physical Education School.

Grand Master Mansor has also made his contribution within the Academic Arena. He has given innumerous speeches and seminars in schools and universities on many topics including: "Martial Arts vs. Social Violence" (Castelo Branco University), "Jiu-Jitsu? A practical introduction" for High School students (Garden State Academy).

Grand Master Mansor has recently been inducted in the World Karate Union Hall of Fame (Golden Lifetime Achievement), and he is very grateful to those who have esteemed him worthy of such a great honor. In the United States, Grand Master Mansor can be contacted at his Long Island school and is available for private instruction, seminars, speeches, or any other activity that can promote the healthy practice of martial arts and a healthy lifestyle.

Grandmaster Joao Alberto Barreto

João Alberto Barreto was a close associate and top student of Carlos and Helio Gracie. He became one of the early instructors at the original Gracie Academy.

He has since become an authority on sports psychology and has even published a couple books on the subject. He is the older brother of Grandmaster Alvaro Barreto, and the original instructor of Flavio Behring, whom he promoted to 9th Degree Red Belt in 2006.

On the picture, you see GM Flavio Behring on the left and GM Joao Alberto Barreto on the right.

For more info, visit the USA Jiu Jitsu website.