Raul Gomes

Raul Gomes Marcello was born on June 26, 1983, in Brasília, the capital city of Brazil located in the Distrito Federal. Growing up in the nation's capital, Raul cultivated a broad athletic curiosity from an early age, pursuing swimming, diving, and basketball before the martial arts world drew him in. During his tweens, he discovered capoeira — the Afro-Brazilian martial art that would lay a vital physical and cultural foundation for the combat sports path ahead.

The decisive turning point in Raul's journey came through family influence. His cousin, Hernani, developed into an accomplished jiu-jitsu competitor, and watching that journey up close inspired Raul to step onto the BJJ mat for the first time at the age of 18. He began his training under Carlos Henrique Garibaldi, widely known as 'Tim', before spending a formative period alongside coach 'Neguito'. These early experiences gave Raul the foundational grounding he needed before finding the instructor who would shape the rest of his career.

Raul Gomes' development accelerated when he joined Admilson Brites, the celebrated competitor and instructor known throughout the Brazilian BJJ community as 'Juquinha'. Under Juquinha's guidance, Raul climbed steadily through the belt ranks, refining the technical precision and competitive sharpness that would define him as one of the country's finest rooster-weights — competing in the Peso Galo division at 57.5 kg / 127 lbs.

Brown Belt Milestones

His performances on the Brazilian competition circuit during his brown belt years offered clear early evidence of elite potential. In 2010, Raul reached the final of the CBJJF Brasileiro Championship as a brown belt, finishing runner-up in a result that confirmed he was operating at the highest levels of domestic competition. He returned to that same stage a year later and claimed the title outright, winning the CBJJF Brasileiro Championship in 2011 and capping an exceptional run on the circuit.

In December 2011, Admilson Brites rewarded that consistency by promoting Raul Gomes to black belt — a milestone that marked both the culmination of one journey and the launch of another. Throughout this formative period, Raul competed under the banners of Gracie Humaitá and Ribeiro Jiu Jitsu.

Following his black belt promotion, Raul Gomes established himself as one of the most formidable rooster-weight competitors of his generation. His ability to perform at the highest level translated effectively onto the international stage, where he pursued success across both the open and masters divisions of major IBJJF and CBJJ events.

Building International Credentials (2013–2014)

In 2013, Raul earned a third-place finish at the IBJJF Masters World Championship in the Master 1 division, signaling his arrival as a serious international contender. His continental credentials followed in 2014 when he won the CBJJ South American Championship, adding the IBJJF São Paulo Open title that same year. The 2014 IBJJF Masters World Championship saw him reach the final, where he finished runner-up in the Master 1 division — a result that demonstrated precisely how close he was to the pinnacle of his weight class.

Peak Years and World Championship Gold (2015–2016)

The years 2015 and 2016 represented the apex of Raul's competitive career. He claimed the IBJJF São Paulo Open title again in 2015 and won the IBJJF International Masters & Seniors Championship that year in the Master 1 division. In 2016, he converted that momentum into his most prestigious achievement, winning the IBJJF Masters World Championship in the Master 1 rooster-weight division — the defining title of his black belt career. That same year, he also captured the IBJJF Rio Summer Open and the UAEJJF Brasília Pro, affirming the breadth of his dominance.

Sustained Excellence (2017)

Raul continued to perform at a high level through 2017, adding the IBJJF Rio Fall Open Championship to his record and earning a third-place finish at the ACBJJ World Championship, as well as a CBJJF Brasileiro Championship podium finish — a testament to the longevity and durability of his competitive career.

Even before receiving his black belt, Raul Gomes had begun laying the groundwork for a parallel career as a coach and instructor. While training and competing under Admilson Brites, Raul absorbed the methods and philosophy of a respected instructor at close range, learning the coaching trade from the inside out.

In 2010, Raul launched his own classes with just two students — a modest beginning that ran directly alongside his most successful years as a competitor. Building a program from scratch, even at that small scale, gave Raul practical coaching skills that grew in tandem with his athletic accomplishments. His trajectory — from a two-student class in 2010 to black belt promotion in December 2011, followed by a string of major international titles — reflects a model of athlete-coach development deeply embedded in Brazilian BJJ culture, where teaching and competing are viewed not as competing priorities, but as mutually reinforcing ones.