Eduardo da Rocha

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1974, Eduardo da Conceição discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu early in life, and the sport became the defining force of his identity. He took his first steps on the mats as a child at Jorge Pereira's academy, training under Silvio Behring — an experience that instilled the technical foundations he would carry through a long and storied career. He later transitioned to train under Romero Cavalcanti, who became his black belt instructor and most enduring influence in the sport.

Jamelão's path to the top was never a privileged one. To fund his training, he worked maintenance and served as a caretaker at the gym — a reflection of the dedication and sacrifice that underpinned everything he achieved on the mat. That tenacity, forged in the unglamorous realities of early gym life in Rio de Janeiro, became as much a part of his identity as the nickname "Jamelão" itself — a name that followed him throughout his entire career.

Under Romero Cavalcanti's guidance, Jamelão developed into one of the most prominent competitors within the Alliance organization, becoming a reliable and decorated representative of the team at the highest levels of international competition. Competing primarily in the Peso Meio Pesado division (88kg/194lbs), he built a resume across the late 1990s and early 2000s that stands as a testament to consistent elite-level performance.

Building a Championship Resume

His breakthrough came in 1996, when he claimed the Brazilian National Championship title — a victory that announced him as a serious force in competitive BJJ. He returned to claim that same title again in 1999. Around those national championships, he assembled an impressive collection of international honors: a World Silver Medal in 1996, Pan American Silver Medals in 1996 and 2002, a World Bronze Medal in 2000, and a Pan American Bronze Medal in the 1996 absolute division. On the CBJJO circuit, he added World Cup Silver Medals in both 2002 and 2003.

Life Beyond Competition

A critical part of Jamelão's competitive career was made possible by a generous employer who funded his tournament travel during his years with Alliance. When that employer passed away, Jamelão relocated to Vitória, Espírito Santo, where he channeled his accumulated experience into opening his own academy — continuing to shape Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu beyond the competition mat. His longevity as a competitor remained remarkable; as late as 2010, he was still earning podium finishes, including a Submission Wrestling São João da Barra Silver Medal — a career arc spanning well over a decade at the elite level.

For all the medals and accolades, Eduardo "Jamelão" da Conceição is remembered as one of the most fiery and unpredictable personalities ever to compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His temperament became as much a part of his public identity as his technical ability, and several incidents throughout his career cemented that reputation permanently.

Walking Off the Mat

The most infamous moment came in 2001, when Jamelão walked off the mat during a match against Fernando Margarida — an incident that reverberated through the BJJ community and became one of the most-discussed episodes of his competitive life. Nearly a decade later, in 2010, history repeated itself when he once again left the mat during competition, demonstrating that the volatility which defined him in his prime had not softened with age or experience.

The Rivalry with Rafael 'Capoeira'

Perhaps the most dramatic expression of his temperament was the rivalry he developed with Rafael 'Capoeira' — a conflict that escalated far beyond the boundaries of competitive sport. The tension between the two men spilled into street confrontations before ultimately being settled in an MMA bout in December 2006. Jamelão won that fight by unanimous decision, bringing a definitive, if unconventional, conclusion to one of BJJ's more colorful interpersonal feuds.

These episodes are inseparable from any honest account of Jamelão's career. He stands as a figure simultaneously celebrated for genuine competitive excellence and remembered for a volatility that made him one of the sport's most distinctive personalities.

Jamelão's career unfolded against the backdrop of some of the most consequential organizational shifts in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and he stood at the center of several of them. In 2002, he was among the group of black belts who departed Alliance in a significant split that reshaped the competitive landscape of Brazilian BJJ. That departure did not immediately produce a new team — it marked the beginning of a transition period that would take two more years to formalize.

The Founding of Brasa and Checkmat

In 2004, Brasa was officially founded by the Vieira brothers and other fighters, including Jamelão — a distinction worth noting, as the 2002 Alliance split and the 2004 formal founding of Brasa are separate events divided by two years of transition. Under the Brasa banner, Jamelão was part of a team that grew into one of the most prominent and respected organizations in Brazilian and international BJJ during the mid-2000s.

Then, in 2008, another landmark formation took shape when Jamelão joined the Vieira brothers and other Brasa members to establish Checkmat — yet another historically significant team whose influence on the global BJJ community endures. Jamelão's presence across Alliance, Brasa, and Checkmat places him at the center of three of the most consequential chapters in the sport's organizational history, making his career not only a personal story of competitive achievement but also a thread woven through the broader tapestry of how modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu took shape.