Grand Master Flavio Behring - 9th-Degree BJJ Red Belt

Flavio Behring is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu red belt, the highest possible rank in BJJ. He trained under two legendary BJJ athletes, Hélio Gracie, and João Alberto. He has spent the last seven and a half decades training and serving the BJJ community. 

Behring was not very athletic during his childhood. He suffered from health problems like asthma. To help him overcome his condition, Behring’s father tried to have him join physical activities. Behring’s father took him to Hélio’s house to learn BJJ. He started his BJJ training at the age of 10.       

Hélio Gracie was Behring’s first and last BJJ coach. His early training under Hélio Gracie helped him establish a strong BJJ foundation. Behring’s relationship with the Gracies became stronger over time. 

Because Behring became acquainted with the Gracies early in his BJJ journey, he was fortunate enough to grapple with big names like Carlson Gracie, Armando Wridt, and Hélio Vigio. 

Carlos Gracie Sr took Behring with him to another gym to check his abilities when he was 15 years old. In that gym, Behring had to compete with another athlete who was a Judo black belt of 20 years. Behring was nervous to stand in front of that guy. He was also taken down by that guy multiple times. But after a few takedowns, he strangled the neck of that guy and made him unconscious. 

In 1955, Behring’s coach, João Alberto Barreto, got into an accident and suffered a knee injury. Behring was asked to fill the position of coach at the Gracie Academy in Rio Branco.

At the age of 20, Behring continued coaching at YMCA. Later, when Barreto started his own BJJ gym in Copacabana, Behring came to assist him.

In 1970, Flavio opened an academy in Barra da Tijuca with one of Barreto’s former students. Ricardo Murgel.

In 1987, Flavio was invited to São Paulo after being offered a job. Feeling there was potential in São Paulo, he decided to open a BJJ academy alongside his son, Marcelo Behring called Behring Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Marcelo Behring was a black belt under Rickson Gracie. He was one of the best BJJ athletes in the world. Along with grappling, Marcelo Behring was also famous for surfing. Due to his fame in surfing, various surfers also joined his father’s academy for BJJ.

Flavio’s sons, Marcelo and Sylvio, both learned BJJ from their father. While both brothers were exceptional BJJ fighters, Marcelo became more famous. At the age of 14, he trained under and received his black belt from Rickson Gracie. Sadly, Marcelo became a drug addict and died in 1994.       

On September 5, 2006, Behring received his 9th-degree red belt from Barreto. Along with the belt, he also earned the title of Grand Master.

Flavio Behring is also the father of an 8th Degree coral belt in BJJ, Sylvio Behring. Sylvio Behring was promoted to coral belt by his father and his father’s coach João Alberto Barreto and Alvaro Barreto. All these are the Grand Masters. Sylvio Behring is honored to be champion at “First Challenge of Jiu Jitsu Superfight”. He also served at Federação de Jiu Jitsu Desportivo do Rio de Janeiro as vice president. He is also a training coach for various MMA fighters.

In 2017, Behring finished his 9th-degree red belt period. This is the highest rank in BJJ and nobody can be upgraded to 10th degree. The tenth-degree red belt is only specific for Gracies, the pioneers of BJJ. In 2017, on his 80th birthday and after spending 70 years dedicated to BJJ, Behring exchanged his red belt for a white belt. In 2015, Behring explained the reason for the belt change in an interview,

Photo Credit: @flavio_behring