Also known as

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

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  BJJ Heroes states Cavalcanti restarted his BJJ training with Rolls Gracie after returning to Rio in late 1974 and received his black belt from Rolls in 1982, the last black belt Rolls ever awarded

  (1974-1982)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  BJJ Heroes states Cavalcanti restarted his BJJ training with Rolls Gracie after returning to Rio in late 1974 and received his black belt from Rolls in 1982, the last black belt Rolls ever awarded

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 Heroeslinkinfo
• 
  Rickson Gracie

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  (1982-1985)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 Heroeslinkinfo

  "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

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 2

  Probable

  Wikipedia records Helio Gracie in Cavalcanti's instructor lineage (Carlos Gracie Sr > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero), and Cavalcanti trained at the Gracie school in Copacabana where Helio taught, alongside Carlos Gracie Jr, Rickson Gracie and others

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Wikipedia records Helio Gracie in Cavalcanti's instructor lineage (Carlos Gracie Sr > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero), and Cavalcanti trained at the Gracie school in Copacabana where Helio taught, alongside Carlos Gracie Jr, Rickson Gracie and others

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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."

  — Romero Cavalcanti - Wikipedialink

Ranks (2)

• linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu

  receipt_longBlack belt 3

  Confirmed

  BJJ Heroes explicitly records Cavalcanti as the last black belt awarded by Rolls Gracie in 1982, a claim corroborated by multiple lineage sources

  BJJ Ranking System (1982)

  granted by Rolls Gracie

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  BJJ Heroes explicitly records Cavalcanti as the last black belt awarded by Rolls Gracie in 1982, a claim corroborated by multiple lineage sources

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 Heroeslinkinfo

  receipt_longRed-and-white belt, degree 8 3

  Confirmed

  Promoted to 8th degree red-and-white coral belt on August 25, 2017 alongside Marcio Stambowsky, Mauricio Gomes and Sergio Penha per the Mauricio Gomes legacy page and Flograppling; 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

  BJJ Ranking System (2017-08-25)

  granted by Carlos Gracie Jr., International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  Promoted to 8th degree red-and-white coral belt on August 25, 2017 alongside Marcio Stambowsky, Mauricio Gomes and Sergio Penha per the Mauricio Gomes legacy page and Flograppling; 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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 degreelinkinfo

  "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."

  — Mauricio Gomes - Promotion to 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

Students (1)

• 
  Leandro Vieira

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  Leandro's own Facebook post (August 27, 2017) 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, and BJJ Heroes lists the Vieira Brothers among the black belts formed at the Jacare Jiu-Jitsu Academy

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  Leandro's own Facebook post (August 27, 2017) 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, and BJJ Heroes lists the Vieira Brothers among the black belts formed at the Jacare Jiu-Jitsu Academy

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 degreelinkinfo

  "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)linkinfo

  "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 Heroeslinkinfo

Honors (2)

• receipt_longIBJJF Hall of Fame inductee 2

  Probable

  Inducted into the IBJJF Hall of Fame in the coach category in 2016 per grokipedia and Flograppling reporting on the IBJJF awards ceremony; not covered by the BJJ Heroes biography

  Title (2016)

  granted by International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Inducted into the IBJJF Hall of Fame in the coach category in 2016 per grokipedia and Flograppling reporting on the IBJJF awards ceremony; not covered by the BJJ Heroes biography

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  IBJJF Hall of Famelink

  Graciemag - IBJJF Awards Ceremonylink
• descriptionOn The Mat Instructor of the Year 3

  Confirmed

  BJJ Heroes explicitly records that Jacare was awarded the On The Mat Instructor of the Year award in 2009

  Other (2009)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  BJJ Heroes explicitly records that Jacare was awarded the On The Mat Instructor of the Year award in 2009

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Jacare was also awarded the 'On The Mat' Instructor of the Year award in 2009."

  — BJJ Heroes. Romero Jacare Cavalcanti (BJJ Heroes). BJJ Heroeslinkinfo

Sources