Walter Matos

Walter Mattos was born on January 16, 1961, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the south of Brazil. Shaped by personal adversity from an early age — including the loss of his mother to cancer during his pre-teen years — Walter was raised by his father, a general in the Brazilian Army. The discipline and structure of a military household provided a natural environment for a young man already drawn to martial arts.

Mattos began his physical training in Judo at the age of 6, transitioning to Jiu-Jitsu just three years later. Under his first BJJ coach, Tarcisio Moreno, he developed the technical foundation and philosophical grounding that would define his approach to the art throughout his career.

At 14, Walter Mattos made a pivotal move to Rio de Janeiro, joining the celebrated Carlson Gracie academy on Rua Figueiredo Magalhães. He arrived during one of the most remarkable periods in early BJJ history — an era in which both Carlson Gracie and Rolls Gracie shared the same training space. The convergence of two of the sport's most influential figures under one roof was an extraordinary rarity, and Mattos stood directly in the middle of it.

Receiving instruction from both coaches simultaneously, Mattos absorbed a comprehensive and complementary BJJ education that few practitioners of his generation were fortunate enough to access. This formative chapter placed him at the heart of a tradition that would go on to shape Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a whole.

While training at the Carlson Gracie academy as a purple belt, Mattos crossed paths with Sergio Penha, one of the most accomplished BJJ competitors of the 1980s. The two formed an immediate bond, united by their shared commitment to Jiu-Jitsu and a mutual passion for aviation — an interest that would later define Mattos' professional life outside the sport.

Following the passing of Rolls Gracie, Mattos redirected his training focus to Sergio Penha, deepening a partnership that had already proven meaningful. Penha, a disciple of Osvaldo Alves, guided Mattos through the final stages of his development and ultimately awarded him the rank of black belt. The promotion marked both the culmination of years of dedication and the beginning of Mattos' identity as a BJJ educator and leader.

Shortly after earning his black belt, Mattos accepted a professional opportunity that brought him home: a position as personal pilot for the Governor of Rio Grande do Sul. Relocating to Porto Alegre, the state capital, he balanced his aviation career with a determined effort to establish Jiu-Jitsu as a serious discipline in the region.

In 1992, he opened his first academy under the name Equipe Walter Mattos Jiu Jitsu, laying the groundwork for what would become one of southern Brazil's most important BJJ institutions. The following year, in 1993, Ze Mario Sperry — then a purple belt — arrived in Porto Alegre on the recommendation of Carlson Gracie, seeking out Mattos for training. Mattos recognized Sperry's competitive drive and potential, promoted him to brown belt, and brought him on as an assistant coach.

The growing significance of their partnership was soon reflected in the academy's identity. The team was renamed Equipe Walter Mattos/Zé Mario Sperry Jiu Jitsu before adopting, in 1994, the name by which it would become widely known: Sul Jiu Jitsu. Under that banner, Mattos and Sperry built a program that grew into one of the defining forces of BJJ in southern Brazil.

Walter Mattos' contributions to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu extend well beyond his academy. Sul Jiu Jitsu became a central pillar of BJJ development in Rio Grande do Sul, with the Mattos and Sperry alliance establishing Porto Alegre and the surrounding region as a respected presence within the national competitive landscape.

Mattos also took on a defining administrative role as president of the Federação Gaúcha de Jiu-Jitsu (FGJJ), the governing body responsible for organizing and promoting the sport across the state. In 2011, Porto Alegre city councilman Luciano Marcantônio formally recognized Mattos for his leadership of the federation and his broader contributions to Jiu-Jitsu's growth in the region.

His story stands apart for the rare combination of professional distinction and martial dedication — a life lived simultaneously as a pilot for a state governor and as a founding figure of one of southern Brazil's most respected BJJ academies. The dual identity of Walter "Waltinho" Mattos, aviator and Jiu-Jitsu pioneer, reflects a character forged by discipline, shaped by passion, and defined by an enduring commitment to the art.