João Menezes

João Pedro Menezes was born on July 22, 2003, in Taboão da Serra, São Paulo, Brazil, and grew up in the Jardim Rosana neighborhood. His path to jiu-jitsu began in 2016 when a friend involved in a local social project persuaded the then 12-year-old to give the martial art a try. With no prior background in competitive sports, the invitation was a genuine leap into the unknown — yet his connection to BJJ proved immediate and lasting.

Through the social project, Menezes came under the guidance of coach Josyclay Gomes, whose instruction shaped the foundations of his game during those formative years. Competition followed naturally. His first IBJJF appearance came as an orange belt at the 2017 IBJJF Kids South American Championship, where he earned a second-place finish — a result that, rather than discouraging him, crystallized his ambition to pursue jiu-jitsu as a professional career.

Building a Foundation at Dream Art

The early stages of Menezes's competitive journey were constrained by limited financial resources, making consistent tournament participation and international travel difficult. A pivotal shift came when he joined Dream Art, a professional training squad with a strong track record of developing elite competitors. The structured, competition-focused environment gave Menezes the tools and opportunities his talent demanded, including access to the international stage for the first time.

Menezes arrived at Dream Art as a blue belt and earned his purple belt promotion under coach Isaque Bahiense. During his blue belt years, he claimed a significant domestic title at the 2022 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, establishing himself as a legitimate prospect within his age group and division.

Fratres, Brown Belt, and Pan Championship Gold

From late 2023 through mid-2024, Menezes competed under team Fratres, where he received his brown belt promotion. Competing at that level, he delivered one of the defining performances of his colored belt career — claiming the gi middleweight title at the 2024 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship and adding the no-gi Pan title at brown belt as well. Those back-to-back Pan honors confirmed his standing among the most capable competitors in his division.

Return to Dream Art and Black Belt Promotion

Menezes returned to Dream Art in the second half of 2024, and in December of that year received his black belt — completing a journey that had begun on the mats of a neighborhood social project in Taboão da Serra. Known within the Brazilian BJJ community by the nickname "Mano Brown," Menezes carries both his roots and his competitive record into the black belt era.

Verified Titles

Among his confirmed major championship wins as a colored belt, Menezes claimed gi middleweight gold at the 2024 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship at brown belt, along with the no-gi Pan title at the same level. His 2022 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals gold at blue belt further anchors his record. At the juvenile level, he reached the podium with a second-place finish at the 2018 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals.

Correcting the Record

Accuracy in documenting an athlete's career matters — both for the integrity of the historical record and for fair representation of all competitors involved. Two results misattributed to Menezes require direct correction.

First, Menezes competed at the 2024 IBJJF World Championship at brown belt but did not win the title; Jackson Nagai claimed the brown belt middleweight gold at that event. Second, the 2023 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship gi purple belt middleweight title was won by Rafael Borges of Dream Art — not by Menezes. His legitimate accomplishments stand on their own terms and require no embellishment.