Julia Angelica's Public Account
On February 3, 2026, BJJ brown belt Julia Angelica publicly alleged a pattern of inappropriate behavior by Leandro Vieira spanning more than a decade. Angelica stated that she had known Vieira since childhood and regarded him as a second father figure — a dynamic she says made the alleged conduct particularly damaging and difficult to confront.
According to her account, the alleged conduct began when she was a minor competing at her first Pan American championship as a juvenile competitor. She alleges Vieira made unwanted advances on the first night of the trip, which she rejected, and that the behavior continued the following night. The years that followed, she describes, involved a coercive relationship that persisted into adulthood, eventually ending before she relocated to Southern California, having previously moved to Long Beach to continue her training. After later returning to the Bay Area and seeking support, Angelica says Vieira offered her training and teaching opportunities before removing her from his facility — citing that past circumstances were affecting his relationship. She described feeling "sick, confused, and broken all over again."
Prior Disclosure and Organizational Response
As part of her public disclosure, Angelica made available a detailed four-page email she says she sent to Checkmat leadership approximately two years prior — specifically before February 5, 2024 — outlining the alleged relationship beginning at her first Pan American tournament. The response she received was minimal: a brief acknowledgment thanking her for her feedback, and a separate message from Vieira stating he had not read the full email because he was traveling, inviting her to an in-person conversation to address what he characterized as misunderstandings. Angelica states that no meaningful organizational action followed.
She also claimed that three Checkmat black belts were made aware of the alleged conduct and remained on the team, though those individuals are not named in available reporting. Angelica additionally referenced an earlier incident from approximately 2021 involving a person identified only as "Alyssa," with no further details available in public reporting. She criticized Checkmat for acting only after her account became public, questioning why no action was taken following her email in early 2024 or when a civil legal proceeding began around early 2025. She also stated that Checkmat blocked her from accessing the team's Instagram account.
Checkmat's Governance Position
Checkmat's organizational response offered a different characterization of the timeline. The board stated that when allegations were first brought to the organization — at an unspecified date — it removed Vieira from any leadership role while permitting limited affiliation pending resolution of the civil proceeding. The board subsequently voted to suspend him from all Checkmat affiliation. Checkmat explicitly characterized the suspension as an administrative governance decision to uphold organizational standards, stating that it was not a finding of fact and not a response to public commentary. In his February 5, 2026 statement, Leo Vieira confirmed that Leandro remains suspended pending a judicial decision, referring to him by the honorific "Professor Leandro" — a customary title for BJJ black belts.
All allegations described above reflect Julia Angelica's account as publicly stated. Checkmat's statements and Angelica's account present differing characterizations of the organization's timeline and responsiveness, and no judicial finding has been reported as of the dates of available reporting.