Antonio Roberto Crivelari Jr

Antonio Roberto Crivelari Jr, widely known as Juninho, was born on June 7, 1984, in Jundiaí, São Paulo state, Brazil. His martial arts journey began at age seven when curiosity drew him to a neighborhood karate gym. The striking art held his attention only briefly — grappling exerted a far stronger pull, and he soon transitioned to judo, where his affinity for ground-based combat began to take shape.

The mid-1990s brought a seismic shift in combat sports with the explosion of no-holds-barred competition, the predecessor to modern mixed martial arts. Events such as the UFC and Vale Tudo Japan captivated audiences worldwide, and Juninho was no exception. Watching Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners dominate those events left a lasting impression, ultimately steering him away from judo and toward BJJ. In 1995, Crivelari walked through the doors of Nilson Liboni's academy — a black belt under Grand Master Wilson Mattos — and his jiu-jitsu life began in earnest.

From the earliest stages of his training, Crivelari's immersion in BJJ culture ran deep. Still a teenager, he was already assisting Nilson Liboni as a coach, demonstrating both a genuine passion for the art and a natural aptitude for teaching that would define much of his career.

One of the defining threads of Crivelari's development as a martial artist is the consistency of his mentorship. Every belt from white through black was awarded to him by Nilson Liboni, a continuity that speaks to the depth of their relationship and the stability of his training environment across nearly a decade.

His growth on the mats was matched by an early emergence as an instructor. Long before reaching black belt, Juninho had taken on a coaching role within Nilson Liboni's academy, and by the time he held a purple belt, he was leading his own group of students. That competitive fire was evident even at the colored belt level — in 2002, Crivelari captured the CBJJ Brazilian National Championship at purple belt, an early indicator of the results he would eventually achieve on the international stage.

In August 2004, years of dedication paid off when Nilson Liboni awarded Juninho his black belt. That same year, Crivelari channeled his new status into action by opening his first BJJ academy in Jundiaí, establishing himself not only as a competitor but as an educator in his home city.

The next pivotal chapter in Crivelari's career began through a personal connection. Robert Drysdale, a highly regarded grappler who grew up in Itu — a city neighboring Jundiaí — served as the bridge that introduced Juninho to Leonardo Vieira in 2005. As Crivelari began training regularly with the accomplished coach and athlete, a natural affiliation followed, and he joined Leonardo Vieira's academy, Brasa Clube de Jiu Jitsu.

In 2008, Brasa underwent a significant transformation, rebranding as Checkmat. Crivelari remained under the new banner, aligning himself with what would grow into one of the most decorated and globally recognized competition teams in the sport. The Checkmat affiliation connected him to a network of elite athletes and coaches, providing both the competitive environment and the institutional support that would underpin his later accomplishments on the international circuit.

The Comeback

For a period following his marriage, Crivelari stepped back from competitive action, redirecting his energy toward his growing family. That changed in October 2016, when a shift in his personal circumstances prompted Juninho to reassess his goals and commit fully to competition once more.

The comeback proved immediate and emphatic. Still in 2016, Crivelari claimed the IBJJF South American Championship in the Master 1 division, signaling that his years away from the podium had done nothing to diminish his abilities. Riding that momentum, he traveled to Europe and entered both the gi and no-gi categories of the IBJJF European Open, winning gold in both — a remarkable double that announced him as a formidable force on the Masters circuit.

Peak Years on the International Stage

The year 2017 brought further validation. Juninho added the IBJJF Rome Open and the IBJJF São Paulo BJJ Pro Championship — both in the Master 1 division — to his résumé, demonstrating consistency across different competitive formats and continents. The crowning achievement of that run came with the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship in the Master 1 division in 2017, the most prestigious title of his black belt career to that point. He also earned a silver medal at the IBJJF European Masters and placed second at the UAEJJF Grand Slam Los Angeles in both 2016 and 2017, further cementing his standing among the world's top Masters competitors.

Crivelari extended his success into 2018, winning the IBJJF Pans Championship in the Master 1 division and earning a third-place finish at the IBJJF World Masters. Having tested himself across South America, Europe, and the United States, Juninho Crivelari established himself as one of the most accomplished Masters competitors of his generation under the Checkmat banner.