BJJ

Vinicius ‘’Draculino’’ Magalhães - Head Instructor Of Gracie Barra Texas

Vinicius ‘’Draculino’’ Magalhães - Head Instructor Of Gracie Barra Texas

1. Vinicius Magalháes’s Details

Vinicius Magalháes’s Details
Name  Vinicius Bittencourt Almeida Magalhães
Nickname  Draculino
Born   Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date of Birth  07/30/1971
Weight  146 lb
Weight Division Featherweight
Super Featherweight
Last Weigh-in 144.5 lbs
Height  5’7’’
Fighting Style  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Disclosed Career Earnings  $0
College  Federal University of Rio De Janeiro
Rank 6th Degree Black Belt
Head Coach  Carlos Gracie Junior
Last Fight  August 21, 2010, in SF
Favorite Technique N/A
Lineage   Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Carlos Gracie Junior >Vinicius Magalhães “Draculino”
Fighting out of Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Team Association  Gracie Barra Combat Team (BJJ)
Belo Horizonte Vale Tudo (MMA)
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2. Vinicius Magalháes’s Biography

Vinicius Magalháes was born on 30th July 1971, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a famous BJJ instructor who raised the game of many grapplers including Romulo Barral, Samuel Braga, Marcelo Azevedo, and many others, making his BJJ academy among the best in the sport. Magalháes taught his first class at his academy, Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, which was the first Gracie Barra academy outside of Rio de Janeiro. Later he moved to the United States and settled in Houston, Texas.

2.1. Early Life & Judo Training

Magalhaes spent his early life in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1978, at the age of seven, Magalhaes initiated his mixed martial arts career with Judo. He pursued judo until he achieved the orange belt rank and then left the sport.


Magalhaes grew up with Ryan Gracie, Ralph Gracie, and Renzo Gracie.

2.2. Introduction to Jiu-Jitsu

In 1984, Magalhaes was introduced to jiu-jitsu, when he used to enjoy surfing with friends  around the Quebra-Mar point in Rio de Janeiro. Some of his friends also practiced BJJ and introduced him to the combat sport. After taking a few jiu-jitsu classes, Magalhaes decided to pursue the martial art professionally.

2.3. First Coach

Magalhaes's first BJJ instructor was Totila Jordan “Pitoco”. He was Renzo Gracie’s best friend who later made the Infight Academy. Magalhaes stayed with teacher Pitoco for approximately 11 months.

2.4. Joined Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Club

Magalhaes joined the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Club after leaving Master Pitoco, due to his friend and neighbor Ralph Gracie. Jean Jacques Machado used to take classes in the club and was still a purple belt then. Later on, the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu club changed to Gracie Barra.

2.5. Promotion to Purple Belt

Magalhaes was promoted to the purple belt while training at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Club, under Jean Jacques Machado, who was still a brown belt at the time. When he received his purple belt, the head instructor, Carlos Gracie Junior succeeded the academy, and changed it to Gracie Barra, From there Magalhaes started training with Carlinhos Gracie.

2.6. Promotion to Black Belt

In 1995, Magalhaes was promoted to the black belt by Carlinhos Gracie. He competed at various IBJJF Championships and won medals as a black belt.

2.7. Gracie Barra Academy

In 1996, Magalhaes shifted to Belo Horizonte in the Minas Gerais state of Brazil, where he started the first Gracie Barra Academy outside Rio de Janeiro. After he laid the foundations of his academy there, Magalhaes moved to the U.S. to launch another Gracie-Barra academy in Texas. Grace Barra Academy has over 30 branches worldwide now.

2.8. MMA Competitor

In 2003, Magalhaes had tremendous success in the MMA circuit. Even though he had been inactive as a fighter for some years, he showed the fighter spirit in him. He defeated Kieber Gaudino by arm triangle technique in the first round. In 2005, he competed again with the Brazilian Top Team’s seasoned fighter, Fabio Mello, and was defeated by technical knockout TKO.

2.9. Law Degree

Magalhaes also has a degree in Law, he worked as a lawyer for some time and then understood that working as a lawyer was not what he wanted to do. So, he quit law and dedicated all his time to jiu-jitsu.

2.10. Competitive Accomplishments

Magalhaes competed in various BJJ tournaments and won many championships. Magalhaes is a four-time Pan American Champion, two-time Brazilian National Champion, two-time silver medalist in the World BJJ Championship, No-Gi International Master and Senior Champion, and Abu-Dhabi Contender.

2.11. Nickname

Magalhaes was nicknamed Draculino by his math teacher because of his stone-faced look as a child. Draculino means “Little Dracula.”

2.12. Coaching Career

Magalhaes has been teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for more than 18 years in his academy Gracie-Barra. He has coached several mixed martial artists and BJJ champions. Magalhaes is responsible for producing amazing talents, including Joaquim Ferreira, Romulo Barral, Alberto Crane, Marcelo Azevedo, Cristiano Titi, and Samuel Braga. He is one of the best coaches in the BJJ world and has promoted over 100 black belts throughout his academies.

2.13. Spider Guard Innovator

Magalhaes with his friend Renzo Gracie has innovated the Spider guard and is one of the first to apply it effectively in the fight. The spider guard is now modified to a mainstay guard in jiu-jitsu with many variations, sweeps, and submissions that come from it.

3. Vinicius Magalháes’s Historic Fights

3.1. Vinicius Magalháes vs Jason Gerrera

Vinicius Magalháes competed with Jason Gerrera at the IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Championship 2008 as a black belt in the master division. Magalhaes dominated the fight from the start. He trapped Gerrera into the leg lock position. But Gerrera escaped it after trying for some time. In the end, Magalhaes won the match by defeating Gerrera using his excellent toe-hold technique.


Year Event Opponent W/L Method Weight Class Stage
2008 IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Championship Jason Gerrera Win Toe Hold Featherweight F

3.2. Vinicius Magalháes vs. Royler Gracie

Magalhaes fought with Royler Gracie at the 2008 IBJJF World Championship Final in the black belt featherweight division. After a great struggle, Gracie won the match by an advantage point.


Year Event Opponent W/L Method Weight Class Stage
2008 IBJJF World Championship Royler Gracie Win Pts: 0x0 Adv Featherweight N/A

3.3. Vinicius Magalháes vs. Parrumpinha

Magalhaés faced Parrumpinha at the 1999 IBJJF Worlds Championship quarter-final in the featherweight division. Magalhaes scored the first two points by taking down Parrumpinha. Then again he scored two more points for sweeps. In the end, Magalhaés defeated Parrumpinha and made his way to the semi-final.


Year Event Opponent W/L Method Weight Class Stage
1999 IBJJF World Championship Parrumpinha Win Points Featherweight

N/A

4. Vinicius Magalháes’s Main Achievements

4.1. Vinicius Magalháes’s International Achievements

Year Event Belt Weight Division
1995 IBJJF Pan American Championship Black Belt Light Feather
1996 IBJJF Pan American Championship Black Belt Light Feather
1996 IBJJF Pan American Championship Black Belt Light Feather
1998 IBJJF Pan Championship Black Belt Featherweight
1998 World Silver Medallist Black Belt Light Feather
1999 ADCC World Championship Black Belt Light Feather
2002 IBJJF Pan American Championship Black Belt Light Feather
2003 Heat FC 2: Evolution Black Belt Light Feather
2008 IBJJF World Championship No-Gi Black Belt Light Feather
2008 IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi Black Belt Light Feather
2010 Strikeforce: Houston Black Belt Light Feather

4.2. Vinicius Magalháes’s Black Belt Achievements

Year Event Position Weight Division
1995 IBJJF Pan American Championship 1st Light Feather
1996 IBJJF Pan American Championship 1st Light Feather
1996 IBJJF Pan American Championship 1st Light Feather
1996 Brazilian National Champion 1st Light Feather
1998 IBJJF Pan Championship 1st Light Feather
1998 World Silver Medallist 1st Light Feather
1998 IBJJF World Championship 2nd Light Feather
1999 ADCC World Championship 1st Light Feather
1999 IBJJF World Championship 3rd Light Feather
2000 IBJJF Pan American Championship 3rd Light Feather
2002 IBJJF Pan American Championship 1st Light Feather
2003 Heat FC 2: Evolution 1st Light Feather
2008 IBJJF World Championship No-Gi 1st Light Feather
2008 IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi 1st Light Feather
2010 Strikeforce: Houston 1st Light Feather

5. Vinicius Magalháes’s Professional Record Breakdown

5.1. Vinicius Magalháes’s Win/Loss Record

18 Matches 14 Wins 4 Loss
By Points  5 1
By Advantages  3 1
By Submission  3 0
By Decision  2 1
By Penalties  0 0
Others 1 1

5.2. Submission Methods W/L

3 Matches 3 Wins 0 Loss
Toe Hold 1 0
North South 1 0
Choke  1 0

6. Vinicius Magalháes’s BJJ Fight History

Opponent W/L Event Weight Year
Yamazaki W IBJJF Pan American Championship 64 kg 1995
Alberto Santos W IBJJF Pan American Championship 64 kg 1996
N/A W Brazilian National Champion N/A 1996
Royler Gracie L IBJJF World Championship 65 kg 1996
Alexandre Cabolinha W IBJJF World Championship 66 kg 1996
Vinicius Aieta W IBJJF Pan Championship 70 kg 1998
Royler Gracie L IBJJF World Championship 69.9 kg 1998
N/A W World Silver Medallist N/A 1998
Royler Gracie W IBJJF World Championship 70 kg 1998
Ryan Diaz W ADCC World Championship 66 kg 1999
Marcos Barbosa W IBJJF World Championship 70 kg 1999
Alexandre de Freitas L ADCC World Championship 66 kg 1999
Hayato Sakurai L ADCC World Championship 120 kg 1999
Parrumpinha W IBJJF Worlds Championship 70 kg 1999
Edson Diniz W IBJJF Pan American Championship 70 kg 2000
Renato Tavares W IBJJF Pan American Championship 70 kg 2002
Johnny Ramirez W IBJJF World Championship No-Gi 65 kg 2008
Jason Gerrera W IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi 66 kg 2008

7. Vinicius Magalhaes MMA Professional Record Breakdown

7.1. Vinicius Magalhaes Win/Loss Record

3 Matches 2 Wins 1 Loss
By Knockout 0 1
By Submission 1 0
By Decision  1 0

7.2. Submission Methods

1 Match 1 Win 0 Loss
Arm Triangle Choke 1 0

8. Vinicius Magalhães MMA Fight History

Opponent Win/Loss Event Method Round Year Time
Kleber Gaudino W Heat FC 2: Evolution Submission ( arm-triangle choke) 1 2003 4:55
Fabio Mello L Storm Samurai 8 TKO (cut) 1 2005 N/A
Rocky Long W Strikeforce: Houston Unanimous Decision 3 2010 3:00

9. Top Fight Links

Draculino vs. Gracie - DraculinoBJJTraining.com

Draculino vs. Yamazaki - DraculinoBJJTraining.com

Royler Gracie vs Vinicius Draculino Magalhaes – Old School Jiu Jitsu Match (Mundials 1999)


Photo Credit: @draculinojj

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