Joao Gabriel - BJJ Black Belt Won Battle Against Cancer

João Gabriel Rocha is a 4th degree BJJ black belt under Cícero Costha. He is a double gold medalist at the IBJJF American National. He is also a four-time IBJJF World and Pan American champion, as well as an ADCC silver medalist. Rocha’s aggressive and vibrant style makes him a top contender in the grappling combat sport.

João Gabriel Rocha was born on 11th July 1991 in Jacarepaguá, but he moved to Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, where he took his first steps as a toddler in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

When Jao was 3 years old his family took him to a toddler’s summer camp in Rio de Janeiro where João Gabriel saw Jiu-Jitsu practices. Here, he got the equitable guidance of Alvaro Mansur, who was the camp instructor. So we can say that João Gabriel's passion for BJJ was sparked under the roof of a toddler summer camp and that credit goes to Professor Alvaro Mansur's mentorship.

As he grew up, João Gabriel's parents noticed his interest in BJJ and decided to enroll him in the grappling academy where he could train and practice regularly. Under the guidance of experienced coaches at Marcos Carvalho’s academy, João Gabriel earned all his junior belts with distinction in the competitive journey of BJJ. All these achievements level up the morale of Joao Gabriel Rocha and set him on a path that directed him to one of the most competitive champions of today.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became a passion of Joao Gabriel after attending the Jiu-Jitsu academy, and he never stopped practicing the sport. He dedicated not only his spare time but also his work hours to polishing his technical skills in BJJ.

As he progressed in his training and achievements, he decided to attend the Jiu-Jitsu classes at Soul Fighter academy. Joao Gabriel's coaching was handed over to Leandro Escobar and Rafael Barbosa, who was and still is considered among the founders and dedicated grapplers of Soul Fighter.

Joao Gabriel made Jiu-Jitsu a passion from his childhood and after joining the soul fighter academy, he decided to adopt BJJ as a profession. He also got the advantage of his family's support which helped him in his overall journey. João Gabriel Rocha made the decision to leave his university studies midway to fully dedicate himself to Jiu-Jitsu.

The choice to adopt Jiu-Jitsu for a lifetime paid off when João Gabriel reaped the benefits of his dedication with consecutive wins at the world championship. This hard work and support from his family helped pave the way for João Gabriel's success in the sport of BJJ.

At the beginning of 2013, after his consecutive victories in the world championships, Joao was promoted to brown belt by his coaches Rafael Barbosa and Leandro Escobar. After receiving a brown belt, João Gabriel was selected to compete in the prestigious Copa Podio, a professional BJJ event that starred talented grapplers in the heavyweight division. João Gabriel proved himself to be a top competitor by winning two of his five fights in Copa Podio tournaments.

As a result of his outstanding performance at the Copa Podio, João Gabriel was awarded his Black Belt on 13th January 2013. This achievement marked a significant milestone in Joao Gabriel's BJJ journey, solidifying his status as a leading competitor in the grappling world.

Currently in 2023 Jao Gabriel is competing as a 4th degree Black Belt fighter.

Joao Gabriel Rocha had a phenomenal start to his black belt career, making a strong impression in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world by earning a runner-up spot at the prestigious ADCC competition, as well as a Gold medal at the Brazilian Nationals and Silver medal at World Championship. Little did he know, the greatest challenge of his life was just around the corner.

In early 2014, Rocha was hit in the groin area during training, and his pain persisted for some time. Although he felt severe pain after every training session, he didn’t pay more attention to it.

After medical diagnosis, the devastating news was revealed that he had a tumor (Testicular Cancer) and would need to undergo chemotherapy and surgery for recovery. The once fierce fighter, who always stood tall in the center ring on the mat with hands held high in victory, now found himself facing a brutal opponent, cancer. Doctors told him that he had an aggressive tumor that spread from the abdomen to the lungs.

Joao Rocha gathered all his willpower to again stand up on the mat. This diagnosis was a crushing blow for him, but Rocha refused to be defeated. He steeled himself for the grueling battle ahead, knowing that the fight for his life would be the toughest of all.

Although this process is not easy for anyone who undergoes chemo sessions five times a week. During this painful but necessary treatment, the vein disappears, and loss of hair and immunity, leaves one feeling weak and vulnerable. But Rocha fought on, determined to overcome the pain and the side effects of the treatment. He knew that the road to recovery would be long and difficult, but he was willing to put in the work to reclaim his life.

The grueling treatment of cancer lasted five months, during which he was unable to train Jiu-Jitsu and that was more devastating for a passionate grappler.

However, in the last of October, Joao Rocha announced that he won his battle against life-threatening cancer. This was a turning step in Joao Rocha’s struggling life that made him more humble and dedicated toward his life goals.

Through strong willpower and determination, Rocha emerged in the list of victorious. He had overcome cancer that had threatened to take him down, and he was ready to return to the mat. He emerged victorious, ready to take on any challenge that could come his way.

Despite the setback, Rocha approached his treatment with a positive attitude and determination. However, returning to training after intense treatment proved to be a very difficult feat. Joao Rocha struggled while doing BJJ training to again secure his leading position but lost at Pan American Championship.

This defeat never put down his fortitude. Joao Gabriel continued his struggle and secured the runner-up spot at the World Championship.

After that, Rocha never gave up and continued competing, showcasing his impressive performances at major tournaments such as ADCC and world championships. On returning to the mat, in a rematch Joao defeated Buchecha who had been a formidable opponent. 

It was an emotional moment when Rocha finally defeated Marcus Almeida at BJJ Stars and solidified his name as an elite grappler in the BJJ world.

After receiving a list of accolades and medals, the decorated BJJ black belt champion and cancer survivor has taken the helm as head coach at Alliance Dallas. His wealth of knowledge and experience in the sport, coupled with his invincible spirit, makes him the perfect leader to guide and inspire the next generation of grapplers at his renowned academy.

Alliance Dallas under the superior headship of Joao Gabriel always stapled in producing the more proficient and successful BJJ athletes in the world. Get ready to elevate your game and reach new heights under the guidance of experienced grappler, Joao Gabriel Rocha by signing in his class at Alliance Dallas. 

The IBJJF American Nationals, held last weekend of August 2020 at the NYTEX Sports Centre in Texas, brought together some of the best U.S.-based fighters in a welcome return to the competition circuit. Among the standout performances was João Gabriel Rocha, who appeared victorious with a double gold medal win.

Rocha's double gold win at the IBJJF American Nationals is a testament to his abilities as a fighter and his dedication to the sport. It's no easy feat to come out on top in a competition filled with some of the top fighters in the U.S. But Rocha proved that he is a force to be reckoned with.

In the black belt division, Rocha continues his streak of triumphant victories by first defeating Guilherme Cordiviola of GFTeam in the ultra-heavy final. He then went on to beat Gabriel "Todd" Almeida of Checkmat. It was a truly remarkable performance that showcased Rocha's high-level grappling skill, strength, and determination for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Joao Gabriel Rocha's life is a testament to the power of the sublime mortal spirit of BJJ and the determination to overcome any obstacle. As a grappler, there are several valuable lessons that can be learned from his struggles and victories.

Joao Gabriel Rocha's story is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit. His journey, both on and off the mat is a testament to consistency in training. By training regularly, grapplers can improve their technique, knowledge, strength, and confidence. This principle is essential for making progress and achieving one's goals; not only in combat sports but also in every field of life.

Another important lesson is to learn from losses. By analyzing their losses and identifying areas for improvement, grapplers can become more resilient and come back with more power and strength. This mindset will surely help the BJJ practitioners to not be discouraged by their losses but to learn from them.

The semi-final of the IBJJF Pan American Championship was held between the eminent warrior, Joao Gabriel, and the sport's top brown belt, Erberth Santos.

This was a sensational match between the two world champions who showed their distinguished grappling skills on the mat. The fight started with the stupendous half-guard attempt of Erberth Santos. Erberth secured 2 points by controlling his opponent. Joao Gabriel passed the half-guard and showcased his defensive skills. This guard pass turned the match in favor of Joao Gabriel. 

Joao Gabriel controlled his opponent through his powerful mount guard which made him unable to move and escape. Joao Gabriel won the match by a staggering 8 points.

Kitner Moura, who has a phenomenal MMA record, takes down Joao Gabriel at the start of the match. He tried to control Joao Rocha in close guard but Joao nullified the possibility with a quick escape. This was the peak moment of the match that turned the result in the favor of Joao Rocha.

Joao Rocha kept his dominant position by immense grip strength on the Kitner Moura’s torso. This strong grip helped him to submit his opponent through shoulder lock.

The final match of UAEJJF was held between Yahia Al Hammadi And Joao Gabriel Rocha. Both grapplers presented phenomenal performances on the mat.

The match started with the brilliant takedown of Joao Gabriel that pushed his opponent onto the mat. Joao Rocha controlled his opponent through the back mount and secured 2 points. After that Joao tried a neck crank to submit his opponent but Yahia Al Hammadi successfully escaped from Joao Gabriel's grip. The match became more interesting after Yahia Al Hammadi's fantastic sweep.

In the end, Joao Gabriel submitted Yahia Al Hammadi with a cross-collar choke and won the title of UAEJJF champion of 2019.

João Gabriel Rocha vs Gustavo Dias / Pan Championship 2017

João Gabriel Rocha VS Vinicius "Trator" Ferreira / Heavy Weight GP 2019

Joao Gabriel vs Leandro Lo | IBJJF 2017 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship

João Gabriel Rocha vs Ricardo Evangelista / Pan Championship 2018

Joao Rocha x Felipe Pena - IBJJF Pro League GP 2016 - Quarter Final

João Gabriel Rocha VS Patrick Gaudio / Heavy Weight GP 2019

Photo Credit: @jgrocha