Vinicius ‘’Draculino’’ Magalhães - Head Instructor Of Gracie Barra Texas

Vinicius Magalháes was born on 30th July 1971, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a famous BJJ instructor who raised the game of many grapplers including Romulo Barral, Samuel Braga, Marcelo Azevedo, and many others, making his BJJ academy among the best in the sport. Magalháes taught his first class at his academy, Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, which was the first Gracie Barra academy outside of Rio de Janeiro. Later he moved to the United States and settled in Houston, Texas.

Magalhaes spent his early life in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1978, at the age of seven, Magalhaes initiated his mixed martial arts career with Judo. He pursued judo until he achieved the orange belt rank and then left the sport.

Magalhaes grew up with Ryan Gracie, Ralph Gracie, and Renzo Gracie.

In 1984, Magalhaes was introduced to jiu-jitsu, when he used to enjoy surfing with friends  around the Quebra-Mar point in Rio de Janeiro. Some of his friends also practiced BJJ and introduced him to the combat sport. After taking a few jiu-jitsu classes, Magalhaes decided to pursue the martial art professionally.

Magalhaes's first BJJ instructor was Totila Jordan “Pitoco”. He was Renzo Gracie’s best friend who later made the Infight Academy. Magalhaes stayed with teacher Pitoco for approximately 11 months.

Magalhaes joined the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Club after leaving Master Pitoco, due to his friend and neighbor Ralph Gracie. Jean Jacques Machado used to take classes in the club and was still a purple belt then. Later on, the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu club changed to Gracie Barra.

Magalhaes was promoted to the purple belt while training at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Club, under Jean Jacques Machado, who was still a brown belt at the time. When he received his purple belt, the head instructor, Carlos Gracie Junior succeeded the academy, and changed it to Gracie Barra, From there Magalhaes started training with Carlinhos Gracie.

In 1995, Magalhaes was promoted to the black belt by Carlinhos Gracie. He competed at various IBJJF Championships and won medals as a black belt.

In 1996, Magalhaes shifted to Belo Horizonte in the Minas Gerais state of Brazil, where he started the first Gracie Barra Academy outside Rio de Janeiro. After he laid the foundations of his academy there, Magalhaes moved to the U.S. to launch another Gracie-Barra academy in Texas. Grace Barra Academy has over 30 branches worldwide now.

In 2003, Magalhaes had tremendous success in the MMA circuit. Even though he had been inactive as a fighter for some years, he showed the fighter spirit in him. He defeated Kieber Gaudino by arm triangle technique in the first round. In 2005, he competed again with the Brazilian Top Team’s seasoned fighter, Fabio Mello, and was defeated by technical knockout TKO.

Magalhaes also has a degree in Law, he worked as a lawyer for some time and then understood that working as a lawyer was not what he wanted to do. So, he quit law and dedicated all his time to jiu-jitsu.

Magalhaes competed in various BJJ tournaments and won many championships. Magalhaes is a four-time Pan American Champion, two-time Brazilian National Champion, two-time silver medalist in the World BJJ Championship, No-Gi International Master and Senior Champion, and Abu-Dhabi Contender.

Magalhaes was nicknamed Draculino by his math teacher because of his stone-faced look as a child. Draculino means “Little Dracula.”

Magalhaes has been teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for more than 18 years in his academy Gracie-Barra. He has coached several mixed martial artists and BJJ champions. Magalhaes is responsible for producing amazing talents, including Joaquim Ferreira, Romulo Barral, Alberto Crane, Marcelo Azevedo, Cristiano Titi, and Samuel Braga. He is one of the best coaches in the BJJ world and has promoted over 100 black belts throughout his academies.

Magalhaes with his friend Renzo Gracie has innovated the Spider guard and is one of the first to apply it effectively in the fight. The spider guard is now modified to a mainstay guard in jiu-jitsu with many variations, sweeps, and submissions that come from it.

Vinicius Magalháes competed with Jason Gerrera at the IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Championship 2008 as a black belt in the master division. Magalhaes dominated the fight from the start. He trapped Gerrera into the leg lock position. But Gerrera escaped it after trying for some time. In the end, Magalhaes won the match by defeating Gerrera using his excellent toe-hold technique.

Magalhaes fought with Royler Gracie at the 2008 IBJJF World Championship Final in the black belt featherweight division. After a great struggle, Gracie won the match by an advantage point.

Magalhaés faced Parrumpinha at the 1999 IBJJF Worlds Championship quarter-final in the featherweight division. Magalhaes scored the first two points by taking down Parrumpinha. Then again he scored two more points for sweeps. In the end, Magalhaés defeated Parrumpinha and made his way to the semi-final.

Draculino vs. Gracie - DraculinoBJJTraining.com

Draculino vs. Yamazaki - DraculinoBJJTraining.com

Royler Gracie vs Vinicius Draculino Magalhaes – Old School Jiu Jitsu Match (Mundials 1999)

Photo Credit: @draculinojj