Valmyr Neto

Valmyr "Mamulengo" Neto was born on December 17, 1983, in Belém do Pará — a city woven into the origins of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as the port where Japanese judoka Mitsuyo Maeda arrived in 1914 and began teaching. Though the art was ultimately forged in Rio de Janeiro through the Gracie family, Belém's historical connection to the sport lends a fitting backdrop to a practitioner of Neto's caliber.

Neto's introduction to martial arts began with a brief stint in Judo, but it was the early UFC events — watched alongside his father — that set his path. The performances of Royce Gracie, who dismantled larger, physically imposing opponents through technique and leverage, left a decisive impression. Without hesitation, Neto sought out a BJJ academy, setting in motion a journey that would carry him from the streets of Belém to the heart of England's growing grappling scene.

Neto began his formal BJJ training in 1998 under Marcus Norat, a decorated competitor who claimed the world championship title in 2002. Under Norat's instruction, he earned his yellow and blue belts, building the technical foundation that would anchor his entire competitive career.

His development then continued under Walter Broca, one of the most prestigious instructors in the Pará state BJJ community. Broca guided Neto through every subsequent belt milestone, awarding him his black belt in October 2006. This dual-instructor trajectory — beginning under a world champion and completing the journey under a highly regarded regional coach — reflects the deliberate, structured approach to development that has defined Neto's path both as a competitor and, later, as an educator.

Building a Competitive Foundation in Brazil

Neto's competitive record spans two continents and traces a clear upward arc from his earliest contests to his most prominent victories. In the years immediately following his black belt, he made his presence felt at the Pará State Championship — earning silver in 2006 before returning in 2007 to take gold, along with a bronze in the open weight division. That open weight result signaled an ambition to test himself beyond the comfort of his natural category, a quality that would come to define his competitive identity.

Establishing a Reputation in England

His 2009 Bristol Open silver medal carries particular significance: Neto entered one full weight division above his natural Peso Pena class (70kg / 154lbs), a calculated risk that demonstrated both his physical conditioning and competitive confidence. That boldness carried into 2010, when he claimed the Seni title at the Gracie Invitational — one of the most prominent grappling events held in the United Kingdom.

2011 proved to be his most dominant year on the circuit. Neto captured the British Open title, added a Bournemouth Open superfight victory, and claimed the Rolling Thunder championship — a concentrated run of results that firmly established him among the leading black belts competing in England. A third-place finish at the World Pro Cup Trials that same year confirmed that his performances held up against international qualifying-level competition.

Arriving in England and Finding a Home in Kent

Neto's transition to life in England began in 2008 when close friend Rodrigo Cabral extended an invitation to visit. What started without a defined long-term plan quickly evolved when Neto received an opportunity to instruct at an academy in Swanley, Kent. Recognizing the potential of a professional teaching career, he embraced the role fully and began laying the groundwork for his coaching identity in the region.

Establishing the DFC Academy in Gravesend

Through connections formed at the Swanley academy, Neto was introduced to a gym owner named Dhell, who was launching the DFC academy in Gravesend, Kent. Dhell invited Neto to serve as head coach — a challenge Neto accepted — and the partnership marked the beginning of a significant chapter in his career. Operating under the Checkmat/VN Team banner, Neto brought an international competitive pedigree and a genuine investment in developing the local grappling community.

His presence in the Kent region has been instrumental in raising both the standard and the profile of BJJ in the area. Neto's work in Gravesend reflects a broader pattern of Brazilian black belts driving the growth of the art across Europe, and his sustained commitment to coaching has helped position England as one of the continent's most thriving grappling nations.