Manuel Ribamar - BJJ Black Belt & Middleweight Champion

Manuel Ribamar is BJJ Black Belt under Rodrigo Pinheiro and Cicero Costha. He is one of the top middleweight competitors of his generation. He was trained by many BJJ coaches but it was Cicero Costha’ academy PSLPB that refined him into an excellent grappler. That is why he won titles at the World and South American championships.

Manuel Ribamar was born on 22 September, 1993 in Amazonas, the Brazilian state. His native Brazilian fighting spirit is evident in his fighting style.

Riba practiced numerous sports at a younger age, including football and judo. He was even interested in skating and capoeira, a form of martial arts that focuses on acrobatics, music and dance.

At the age of 10, Riba started BJJ with his brother Bosco Junior. His brother, being a Brown Belt, was skilled in BJJ. Bosco used to participate in sparring sessions in his own house with his friends. That is how Riba came to know about BJJ. For a short period of time, Riba watched his brother keenly. After acknowledging Riba’s enthusiasm toward BJJ, his brother gifted him a BJJ Gi.

Riba’s brother enrolled him in Itamar Coty’s academy. It was Riba’s first official BJJ class. He had some classes with Itamar Coty but then Orley Lobato became his coach. He promoted Riba to the Orange Belt.

Riba’s brother Bosco Junior left Lobato’s gym and opened his own gym with his old school teacher, Agenor Alvez. Bosco made a BJJ team but it did not last long due to the lack of fees.

The shutting down of Riba’s brother’s gym took Riba to train under Master Faustino Neto, aka Pina. He is one of the most accomplished and professional coaches in Manaus, Brazil.

Master Faustino Neto suggested to Riba a trip to Europe as he could have training sessions at Anderson Pereira’s gym, Icon Jiu-Jitsu. His BJJ techniques got more refined during his stay at Icon Jiu-Jitsu.

At Icon Jiu-Jitsu, Riba suffered from a knee injury. He immediately returned to Brazil for treatment. He did not have enough finances for the knee surgery so he stayed 15 months away from BJJ. He worked to get funds for his treatment. Though he stayed almost 1.5 years away from BJJ, he did not lose hope and returned to BJJ with the yearning to become an excellent grappler.

After his knee surgery, he decided to fully commit himself to the gentle art and resumed his rigorous BJJ training regime. He sold everything he had and moved to Sao Paulo and joined Cicero Costha’s Team, Projecto Social Lutando Pelo Bem (PSLPB).

There he trained with Miyao Brothers, Yago de Souza, Leandro Lo, and Wellington Alemao.

It is a lapel guard manual by Manuel Ribamar and one of the most effective techniques used by Riba. This lapel is the reason for Riba’s many victories in his excellent grappling career.

In 2016, Riba started representing New School Brotherhood academy which was founded by some of the prior PSLPB students.

Under Master Faustino Neto, Riba earned his Blue and Purple Belts.

After becoming a part of PSLPB, Riba won many prestigious title achievements. He was promoted to Brown Belt by Cicero Costha.

Riba received some funds in 2015 that allowed him to travel to the US. He competed in the Pan American Championship. He did not win the championship, mainly because of the gap in training because of his knee injury. Rodrigo Pinheiro believed in Riba so he helped him to remain in the US so that he could  properly train and compete at the coming World Championship.

Riba won the Mundial tournament and then he stayed in the US, with the intent to compete.

In the US, Master Rodrigo awarded him with his Black Belt, fully authorized by Cicero Costha.

Riba won first place at the IBJJF European Championship in 2020, as a Black Belt.

Ronaldo Junior is a BJJ Black Belt who represents Atos Jiu-Jitsu. He is famous for the use of foot sweeps. Riba tried to take Ronaldo down but did not succeed in it. Both the fighters attacked aggressively. Ronaldo gained one advantage point by pinning Riba to the ground. The single-leg attempt by Riba was excellent as it took Ronaldo to the ground. Riba won the match by gaining 2 advantage points.

Claudio Calasans earned 2 points at the start of the match by the sweep from the guard position. Later Manuel Ribamar gained 1 advantage point. In the last 30 seconds, Manuel Ribamar submitted Claudio Calasans by the Armbar submission. It seemed impossible for Ribamar to win but he defeated his opponent in only 30 seconds before the time out. It was a historic win for Ribamar.

Samuel Snow is a BJJ Black Belt. Manuel Ribamar secured points in the match but it was the submission of Ribamar, which gained him victory over Samuel Snow. Manuel Ribamar submitted Samuel Snow via Arm in Ezekiel choke in 5 minutes and 5 seconds.

• IBJJF World Champion No-Gi (2019)
• IBJJF Pan Champion (2022)
• 3 times IBJJF Austin Open Champion

Manuel de Oliveira x Randolph Welch - Austin Open 2016 - Black Belt Adult Male Middle -Final

Manuel Ribamar VS Henrique Nóbrega / Austin Open 2020

Manuel Ribamar vs Isaque Bahiense 2022 IBJJF FloGrappling Grand Prix

Manuel Ribamar vs Ronaldo Júnior 2022 IBJJF FloGrappling Grand Prix

Manuel de Oliveira x Samuel Snow - BLACK Adult Male - Middle - Austin International Open 2015

Photo credit: @manuribajj