Joanino's path into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu opened in 1990 through a pivotal encounter with black belt Wendell Alexander during his time competing in judo for the Brazilian Navy. Recognizing the potential Joanino carried into every exchange, Alexander invited him to train at the Melo Tênis Clube. The transition was immediate and decisive — his deep judo background translated so fluidly onto the BJJ mats that Alexander promoted him to blue belt within a single week.
Rather than easing into his new rank, Joanino entered a tournament in São Gonçalo and claimed gold across four matches, validating both his technical readiness and the competitive edge he had sharpened through years of judo. Even at blue belt, he began teaching jiu-jitsu to local children — an early signal of the coaching vocation that would come to define his legacy.
His belt progression reflected the convergence of his background and his commitment to the art. In December 1994, after just over four years of training, Wendell Alexander awarded Joanino his black belt, marking the formal beginning of a new chapter in his martial arts life.