João Roque
João Manuel Roque · Luanda, Angola
Born in Angola and raised in Rio, he won the light-featherweight world title in 1997 and became one of the leading black belt makers in Brasília.
- black belts promoted over his teaching career
- 150
Who is João Roque
João Roque was born in Luanda, Angola, in 1971 and moved to Rio de Janeiro at age four. Promoted to black belt by André Pederneiras in 1993, he won the light-featherweight division at the 1997 Worlds and describes himself as the first non-Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion.
The following year he returned to the Worlds podium with bronze at featherweight. He also built an MMA career with seven wins, two losses and four draws, including a loss to Jens Pulver at UFC 26 in 2000. In 1999 he competed at ADCC and lost to Royler Gracie.
Based in Brasília, he leads Clube Vizinhança in Águas Claras and has promoted more than 150 black belts. Among the students he guided to the top is Bernardo Pitel, a black belt world champion.
Losses
- 2000Jens PulverUFC 26
- 1999Royler GracieADCC
Major titles
1998
- IBJJF Worlds Featherweight Bronze
1997
- IBJJF Worlds Light-featherweight Gold
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