Also known as
Jacare · Jacaré
Description
Brazilian jiu-jitsu master and co-founder of the Alliance Jiu-Jitsu team.
Trained under Rolls Gracie, who awarded him his black belt in 1982, making
Cavalcanti the last black belt Rolls promoted before his death that year.
Founded the Jacare Jiu-Jitsu Academy, from which emerged champions including
Fabio Gurgel, Alexandre Paiva, the Vieira brothers and Rodrigo
"Comprido" Medeiros. Moved to the United States in 1995, first in
Miami and later Atlanta. An 8th-degree red-and-white coral belt, he mentored the
Vieira brothers, whose Checkmat team traces its lineage through him.
Teachers (3)
-
Rolls Gracie
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Confirmed
(1974–1982)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
expand_more
fact_check
BJJ Heroes and Elite Sports, two independent sources, both directly state
Cavalcanti received his black belt from Rolls Gracie in 1982, the last black
belt Rolls ever awarded; BJJ Heroes also covers the 1974 restart of training
with Rolls
“In 1982 Jacare Romero was awarded his Black Belt by the hands of Rolls Gracie,
being the last Black Belt ever awarded by the legendary martial arts figure, the
last of a very strict group of 5.”
— BJJ Heroes. Romero Jacare Cavalcanti (BJJ Heroes).
BJJ Heroeslink
history
info
“Under the intense and expert guidance and training of Rolls Gracie, Romero
Cavalcanti earned his Black Belt in 1982 from the legendary Rolls Gracie. Romero
was also the last BJJ fighter awarded a Black Belt by Rolls Gracie.”
— Master Romero Cavalcanti: The Last Black Belt of
Rolls Gracielink
history
info
-
Rickson Gracie
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Confirmed
(1982–1985)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
expand_more
fact_check
BJJ Heroes and BJJ Fanatics both record that after Rolls Gracie's death
Cavalcanti trained at Rickson Gracie's academy in Humaita for about three
years before opening his own academy in 1985
“As Romero witnessed the terminus of his academy, he chose to start training
with Rickson Gracie at his academy in the Humaita area of Rio de Janeiro.”
— BJJ Heroes. Romero Jacare Cavalcanti (BJJ Heroes).
BJJ Heroeslink
history
info
“então Romero viu a sua academia se desmembrar e decidiu mudar-se para academia
de Rickson Gracie, por onde passou cerca 3 anos, antes de abrir a sua própria
academia em 1985.”
— Romero Jacare Celebra 67 Anos - BJJ Fanatics BR
link
-
Hélio Gracie
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Possible
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
expand_more
fact_check
Wikipedia records Helio Gracie in Cavalcanti's instructor lineage, but the
cited passage only places Cavalcanti at the Gracie school in Copacabana where
Helio taught - it doesn't state the teacher relationship directly, only
implies it
alt_routeIndirect
“By the age of 16, Romero regularly attended jiu jitsu classes at the famous
Gracie School in Copacabana where he grew up, alongside Carlos Gracie, Jr.,
Crolin Gracie, Mario Claudio Tallarico, Fábio Santos, Mauricio Motta Gomes, the
Machados, and Rickson Gracie.”
Ranks (2)
-
receipt_longBlack belt
Confirmed
BJJ Ranking System (1982)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
expand_more
fact_check
BJJ Heroes and Elite Sports, two independent sources, both directly state
Cavalcanti was the last black belt awarded by Rolls Gracie in 1982
“In 1982 Jacare Romero was awarded his Black Belt by the hands of Rolls Gracie,
being the last Black Belt ever awarded by the legendary martial arts figure, the
last of a very strict group of 5.”
— BJJ Heroes. Romero Jacare Cavalcanti (BJJ Heroes).
BJJ Heroeslink
history
info
“Under the intense and expert guidance and training of Rolls Gracie, Romero
Cavalcanti earned his Black Belt in 1982 from the legendary Rolls Gracie. Romero
was also the last BJJ fighter awarded a Black Belt by Rolls Gracie.”
— Master Romero Cavalcanti: The Last Black Belt of
Rolls Gracielink
history
info
receipt_longRed-and-white belt, degree 8
Confirmed
BJJ Ranking System (2017-08-25)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources
expand_more
fact_check
Promoted on August 25, 2017 per Parity Martial Arts; Leandro Vieira's own
Facebook post of August 27, 2017 congratulates his master on receiving the belt.
An Evolution MMA post states it was awarded by Carlos Gracie Jr on behalf of the
IBJJF
visibilityFirst-hand
“Congratulations to my master Romero Jacare Cavalcanti on receiving his new belt
as a 8th degree black belt today. Forever grateful for introducing me and my
brothers to BJJ and teaching us how to respect this martial art with honor and
integrity.”
— Leandro Vieira. (2017). Leandro Vieira Facebook
post congratulating Romero Cavalcanti on his 8th degreelink
info
“On August 25th 2017 Master Mauricio Gomes, along with Masters Marcio
Stambowsky, Romero 'Jacare' Cavalcanti and Sergio Penha, were promoted
to 8th degree red and white belt.”
— Parity Martial Arts - 8th Degree Coral Belt
link
“Congratulations to Master Jacare for earning his 8th degree red and white belt
in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the IBJJF. It was awarded by Carlos Gracie Jr”
— Evolution MMA Chicago - Schaumburg (Facebook)
link
info
Students (1)
-
Leandro Vieira
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources
expand_more
fact_check
Leandro's own Facebook post calls Cavalcanti his master and credits him with
introducing him and his brothers to BJJ; the Lake Effect article records the
Vieira brothers training with Alliance founder Romero Cavalcanti
visibilityFirst-hand
“Congratulations to my master Romero Jacare Cavalcanti on receiving his new belt
as a 8th degree black belt today. Forever grateful for introducing me and my
brothers to BJJ and teaching us how to respect this martial art with honor and
integrity.”
— Leandro Vieira. (2017). Leandro Vieira Facebook
post congratulating Romero Cavalcanti on his 8th degreelink
info
“When the Vieira brothers began their Jiu Jitsu journey, they were a part of the
Jiu Jitsu affiliation Alliance.”
— Lake Effect Martial Arts. (2024). Why Checkmat Jiu
Jitsu? (Lake Effect Martial Arts)link
history
info
“From this amazing place, several of the best black belts the world had ever
seen were formed, competitors such as Fabio Gurgel, Roberto Traven, Jamelao, the
Vieira Brothers and many others.”
— BJJ Heroes. Romero Jacare Cavalcanti (BJJ Heroes).
BJJ Heroeslink
history
info
Honours (2)
-
receipt_longIBJJF Hall of Fame inductee
Confirmed
Title (2016)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
expand_more
fact_check
IBJJF's own Hall of Fame page lists him as an inductee; Graciemag's
report on the 2016 awards ceremony independently confirms the induction
("Masters Romero Cavalcanti and Carlos Gracie Jr, and Jiu-Jitsu legend
Rolls Gracie were inducted to the Hall of Fame")
“Masters Romero Cavalcanti and Carlos Gracie Jr, and Jiu-Jitsu legend Rolls
Gracie were inducted to the Hall of Fame”
— Graciemag - IBJJF Awards Ceremonylink
-
descriptionOn The Mat Instructor of the Year
Probable
Other (2009)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
expand_more
fact_check
BJJ Heroes explicitly records that Jacare was awarded the On The Mat Instructor
of the Year award in 2009
“Jacare was also awarded the "On The Mat" Instructor of the Year award
in 2009.”
— BJJ Heroes. Romero Jacare Cavalcanti (BJJ Heroes).
BJJ Heroeslink
history
info
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KZR1M7T51S10DM56FKM4N7P2
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Romero Cavalcanti. In Martialis: Martial
Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KZR1M7T51S10DM56FKM4N7P2 - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KZR1M7T51S10DM56FKM4N7P2, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Romero Cavalcanti}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage
Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KZR1M7T51S10DM56FKM4N7P2}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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