What is the Coral Belt? The Weight of 31 Years

To understand the magnitude of this achievement, you must look at the timeline. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the black belt is not the end of the road; it is the beginning of a mastery phase that lasts a lifetime.

The Coral Belt (red and black) is awarded to a practitioner who has been an active black belt for 31 years.

This is not a belt you can win in a tournament. It cannot be rushed. It requires over three decades of dedication, teaching, training, and upholding the values of Jiu-Jitsu every single day. When you see Master Draculino wearing the red and black belt, you are looking at a “General” of our art—someone who has dedicated his entire adult life to the gentle art.

The Competitor: Defining the “Golden Era”

Before he was a Master, Draculino was a fierce competitor during the “Golden Era” of Jiu-Jitsu in the 1990s.

He was one of the first black belts formed by Master Carlos Gracie Jr. at the original Gracie Barra academy in Rio de Janeiro. Training alongside legends like the Machados and the Gracie family, Draculino was known for his technical brilliance. He didn’t just watch it; he revolutionized the sport. He is credited with developing positions like the Spider Guard, which is standard in modern Jiu-Jitsu.

His competitive resume includes titles at the Pan Americans, Brazilian Nationals, and multiple medals at the World Championships. He proved his techniques on the toughest mats in the world.

The Professor: A Maker of Champions

Great athletes do not always make great teachers. Master Draculino is the rare exception who excels at both.

After his competitive prime, he moved to Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and founded the first Gracie Barra school there (GB BH). Many doubted that a high-level school could thrive outside of Rio. Draculino proved them wrong.

GB BH became known as a “champion factory.” Draculino raised some of the most successful athletes in the history of the sport, including multiple-time World Champions like Romulo Barral, Samuel Braga, and Felipe “Preguiça” Pena. His ability to transfer knowledge and inspire students is legendary. He doesn’t just teach moves; he teaches a mindset of success.

The Entrepreneur: Building the Texas Legacy

In the late 2000s, Master Draculino took on a new challenge: bringing his expertise to the United States. He settled in Texas and began to rebuild.

Just as he did in Brazil, he didn’t just open a school; he built an empire. As the Regional Director for Gracie Barra Texas, he has overseen the growth of dozens of schools, including ours here in Pearland. He has established a standard of professionalism, curriculum, and organization that has made Texas one of the strongest Jiu-Jitsu regions in the world.

His entrepreneurial spirit ensures that BJJ is accessible, safe, and professional for everyone, from the toddler in our “Little Champions” program to the executive training at 6 AM.