Raul Basílio

Raul Basílio was born on October 18, 1998, in São Paulo, Brazil — the starting point of a jiu-jitsu journey that would eventually encompass his entire family. In 2008, black belt Diogo Almeida launched a kids' jiu-jitsu program that proved to be a defining moment for the Basílio household. Raul and his sister Bianca Basílio joined as part of the very first group of students at what would grow into the Almeida Jiu-Jitsu Academy, forging a connection to the program that would shape their lives.

Their father, Gilvan Basílio, also stepped onto the mats, ultimately carving out his own identity as an accomplished competitor in the masters' division. What began as a shared family activity evolved into a multigenerational pursuit of excellence. As Diogo's program expanded, his brother Caio Almeida — a highly accomplished coach in his own right — became an integral part of Raul's technical and competitive development. Together, the Almeida brothers cultivated one of the most decorated family stories within their academy, guiding all three members of the Basílio family to the black belt.

Raul Basílio's competitive trajectory signaled early on that he was built for a professional career in jiu-jitsu. His juvenile career began yielding results as early as 2014, when he claimed silver at both the IBJJF Pan Championship and the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals. In 2015, he elevated his performance further — standing atop the podium at the IBJJF Pan Championship and earning silver at the IBJJF World Championship at the juvenile level, establishing himself as one of the top competitors in his age group on the international stage.

Those results accelerated his path toward full-time professionalism, with Basílio committing to a demanding training regimen from a very young age. The investment paid dividends across every belt division. At purple belt, he captured gold at the IBJJF Pan Championship in 2018 — one of the most prestigious titles available at that level. His transition to brown belt amplified his momentum further: in 2019, he swept both the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals and the IBJJF South American Championship, back-to-back titles that signaled his readiness for the sport's highest rank.

On August 7, 2020, Caio Almeida and Diogo Almeida promoted Raul to black belt, marking the culmination of over a decade of dedicated development within their academy. The promotion carried special significance for the Basílio family — Raul became the third member to reach the rank, following his sister Bianca Basílio, who received her black belt in 2016, and his father Gilvan, who earned his in 2019. The collective achievement of the Basílio family stands as a testament to the culture of commitment fostered at Almeida Jiu-Jitsu.