Roberto Meneguetti Almeida

Report by Claudio Freschi, SFUK Italia, 25 March 2002

Alemida working the guard

I’ve met Roberto Meneguetti Almeida during a seminar organized in Milano by Sfuk member Dino Fuoco (a.k.a. Dino_F). Despite his massive look (180 cm and 96 kg) he’s a gentleman, with a great sense of humor and a good attitude.

Roberto is from Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, 34 years old, and he’s a legit black belt under Carlson Gracie. He lives in Rome Italia, where he teaches BJJ at Accademia di Arti marziali.

SFUK Italia: Roberto tell me something about your background

Roberto Alemeida : I’ve started training in Judo at the age of 4. Judo is my first love and I’ve competed a lot in it, but in Brazil it’s easy to meet BJJ students in various gym, so when I was 15 I began to study this style. It’s really common to see many top athletes in Judo training in BJJ and vice versa.

Sfuk Italia: Where did you train in Brazil?

Roberto Alemeida : well I was a top level competitor in Judo so I’ve trained in Jiu Jitsu in the week end at first, at the Carlson Gracie Academy. I’ve sparred with Sperry, Ismail and Bustamante among others. Then when I decided to take BJJ more seriously I trained with Amaury Bitetti and Carlson Gracie Junior at their Brazilian Fight Gym.

Sfuk Italia: So you have competed a lot in Judo and in BJJ ?

Roberto Alemeida : yes, in judo I won various events in Brazil but also in Europe, I’ve competed in the nationals, in the Pan American and also for the Olympic try out, where I took second place.

In BJJ I’ve competed in the Nationals and I won the Blue belt division, and I’ve done well also years later in the brown and in the purple belt division.

Sfuk Italia: Have you ever fought under Vale Tudo rules?

Roberto Alemeida : Only 3 times, because I really prefere the sport of BJJ and Judo. In Brazil you could fight Vale Tudo for two reasons, money or pride. I enjoy competing under BJJ rules, I found it very funny, it’s like for you playing football or basketball, I really love BJJ.

Sfuk Italia: Tell me something about your Vale tudo fights..

Roberto Alemeida : In Brazil most of the fights happen in the gym, I mean the real vale tudo fights, and is a question of honor of the school or simply because someone step in the gym challenging the instructor. I remember I was on the beach with my student and another school was training near us, we started to argue what style is the best, and suddendly a riot between students came off.

After that riot we decide to have a Vale Tudo fight in my gym, I mean real vale tudo, anything goes type of fight. I won that fight with the other instructor in 1 minute and 40 seconds.

A year late, another student of that instructor challenged me, he was extremely good and broke my nose with a good punch but after 7 minutes I beat him by mata leao (rear naked choke).

My third fight was another challenge match in which I beat a guy with a triangle choke.

But I really don’t like fighting in Vale Tudo, I prefere to fight under BJJ rules because is so much fun.

Roberto Almeida & Claudo Freschi

After that brief interview we started the seminar, and I’ve to tell you that is really a great teacher, he showed us basic moves and then advanced ones, with a good word for everyone, and great advices to improve our skills. I would like to thank Roberto Almeida and the promoter of the seminar Dino Fuoco for a great day of training.

Roberto Meneguetti Almeida is available for stage and seminars, contact him at :

meneguetti@hotmail.com