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Joe Moreira

Born Jose Carlos Moreira on July 3rd, 1961. By age five, Moreira started fighting Judo. His first title for the Gama Filho University team was won by age six. Around that time he began his jiu-jitsu career under the tutelage of Mauricio LaCerda. At age nine, he began training in jiu-jitsu at the school of the legendary Carlson and Rolls Gracie, where he was taught mainly by Reyson Gracie and Pinduka. Across the street there was another studio owned and operated by Reylson Gracie, nephew and student of the master, Helio Gracie. A chance visit to the studio resulted in Moreira spending the next 15 years under the tutelage of Reylson, who took a liking to the young fighter's style and groomed him to become an instructor. By 1986, Moreira was a black belt in both judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.After four months of training with the Japanese Olympic team and completing a course with more than 1,000 black belt students, Moreira became vice champ in an international tournament: the Judo World Cup. After this he produced his first tournament in Rio called the Atlantico Sul Cup. Nine Atlantico Sul Cup events were held between 1986 and 1994. On February 16th, 1996, Moreira fought the six-foot-eight-inch, 360-pound Paul Varelans in the UFC 8 and lost by a narrow decision. Today, Moreira lives in southern California. The seventh-dan black belt teaches seminars around the globe and conducts private lessons.