Leonardo Alcantara Vieira (born March 23, 1976) commonly known as Léo Vieira or Leozinho is a Brazilian submission grappler and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. He is the eldest of the Vieira brothers (

Ricardo Ricardo is the Spanish and Portuguese cognate of the name Richard. It derived from Proto-Germanic ''*rīks'' 'king, ruler' + ''*harduz'' 'hard, brave'. It may be a given name, or a surname. People Given name * Ricardo de Araújo Pereira (born ...

and Leandro), who lead and fight for

Checkmat Checkmat is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy and team started in 2008 by Leo Vieira, who leads Checkmat with his brothers Ricardo Vieira and Leandro Vieira. It is headquartered in Long Beach, California, USA. History The team was established in ...

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Leo Vieira began training Jiu-Jitsu under Romero 'Jacare' Cavalcanti at the age of 6. He has won numerous medals, such as the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships, Pan American Championships and the prestigious ADCC world championships. After being on break from Jiujitsu Gi competition, Vieira competed again on July 16, 2017, at the age of 41. He competed in Absolute Championship Berkut Jiu-Jitsu 6 in

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

and lost the fight via terra footlock. On September 25, 2017, Vieira competed in the ADCC against former

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

title contender,

Chael Sonnen Chael Sonnen (; born April 3, 1977) is an American submission grappling promoter, mixed martial arts (MMA) analyst, and retired mixed martial artist. Beginning his MMA career in 1997, Sonnen competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship ...

in the absolute division. Vieira lost the fight via referee's decision. Vieira returned after more time away from competition at BJJ Stars 7 on November 6, 2022, where he defeated Cleber Luciano 8-0 on points in a superfight. In 2022, Vieira was hired as the Vice President of Grappling for

ONE Championship ONE Championship, formerly ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) until January 2015, is a Multinational corporation, multinational combat sports Promoter (entertainment), promotion founded on 14 July 2011 by Chatri Sityodtong and Victor Cui. Origi ...

CheckMat Jiu-Jitsu Team

One of the most successful teams in contemporary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, CheckMat's worldwide headquarters is in

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, Brazil.

CheckMat Checkmat is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy and team started in 2008 by Leo Vieira, who leads Checkmat with his brothers Ricardo Vieira and Leandro Vieira. It is headquartered in Long Beach, California, USA. History The team was established in ...

was established in 2008 by Leo and his brothers. Since its creation,

has become one of the top teams in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Team

is the 2008 and 2009 NoGi World Champion Team. Team

also came in first for the Brazilian Nationals (Gi) 2010 and Brazilian Nationals (No-Gi) 2010.

Career Achievements and Style

Throughout his competitive career, Vieira became known for his dynamic and creative style of grappling, often using unconventional movement and transitions to outmaneuver opponents. His approach influenced a generation of grapplers, particularly during the early 2000s when he stood out in international competitions such as the ADCC. Vieira is a two-time ADCC world champion, winning gold in 2003 and 2005 in the 66–76 kg weight class. He also secured a silver medal in the absolute division in 2003. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Vieira was instrumental in popularizing the use of wrestling-style takedowns and innovative guard passing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions, making him one of the most technically respected athletes in the sport.

Coaching and Legacy

After stepping back from frequent competition, Vieira focused on developing new talent through CheckMat. Under his leadership, the team has produced several world champions including Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida, Lucas Leite, João Assis, and Michele Nicolini. Vieira's coaching philosophy emphasizes creativity, adaptability, and technical excellence, which has helped CheckMat maintain its status among the elite BJJ teams globally. In addition to his work with CheckMat, Vieira frequently teaches seminars internationally and is widely regarded as one of the most effective instructors in the sport.

Personal Life

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Vieira grew up in a family with a strong connection to martial arts. His brothers Ricardo and Leandro also became accomplished black belts and co-founders of

. Despite his competitive accomplishments, Vieira is known for maintaining a low public profile, focusing instead on his students and the growth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is married and a father, often citing family support as a major factor in his success on and off the mats.

Teaching Style and Philosophy

Vieira is widely respected not only for his competitive achievements but also for his pedagogical methods. His teaching emphasizes adaptability, movement efficiency, and a deep understanding of leverage and timing. He is known for tailoring his instruction to the unique attributes of each student rather than enforcing a rigid system. He has mentored numerous champions at various belt levels and remains actively involved in the curriculum development of CheckMat-affiliated academies worldwide.

Influence and Community Work

Beyond the competition mats, Vieira has contributed to the BJJ community by supporting social projects aimed at bringing martial arts to underserved youth in Brazil. He has collaborated with local initiatives that offer Jiu-Jitsu classes in favelas, promoting discipline and positive life choices through martial arts. In his role at ONE Championship, Vieira also advocates for the professionalization of grappling as a spectator sport, helping create opportunities for athletes to earn a living from competition.

Instructor lineage

Mitsuyo Maeda naturalized as Otávio Maeda (),Virgílio, p. 9 was a Japanese people, Japanese-born judo, ''judōka'' and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. He was known as Count Combat or ''Conde Koma'' in Spanish and Portuguese, a nickname he pi ...

→ Carlos Gracie, Sr. →

Helio Gracie Helio may refer to: * Helio AU-24 Stallion * Helio (wireless carrier), a defunct American wireless communications provider (2005–2010); originally a joint venture between SK Telecom and EarthLink, purchased by Virgin Mobile USA in 2008 * He ...

→

Rolls Gracie Rolls Gracie (; 1951–1982) was a Brazilian martial artist. He was a prominent member of the Gracie family known for their founding of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and considered by some the family's best ever fighter. He was teacher of Rickson Gracie, ...

→

Romero Cavalcanti Romero Cavalcanti (born October 22, 1952) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master and the founder of Alliance Jiu Jitsu. He is one of the six men who were promoted to black belt by Rolls Gracie prior to his fatal 1982 hang gliding accident.

→ Léo Vieira

References

External links

*https://web.archive.org/web/20120314191229/http://www.vieirabros.com/ Official Vieira Bros Web Site]
Bjjheroes.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vieira, Leonardo Living people Brazilian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Martial artists from Rio de Janeiro (city) 1976 births World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship medalists People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu