Romulo Barral (born May 3, 1982) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor and coach. He is a black belt under Vinicius "Draculino" Magalhães and competes for Gracie Barra, where he has won numerous championships. Romulo Barral is widely regarded as one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters in the medium-heavyweight division. He has maintained his black belt status with consistent medals at the world’s premier BJJ tournaments. In August 2011, Barral established his own Gracie Barra academy in Northridge,

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

establishing himself as a prominent coach. He is a 5-time IBJJF World Champion in the black belt division (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014), a 3-time silver medalist in the open weight division, a World No-Gi Champion (2007), and the 2013 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Champion.

Early life

Romulo Barral was born in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in his teens under Vinicius "Draculino" Magalhães in

Belo Horizonte Belo Horizonte is the List of largest cities in Brazil, sixth-largest city in Brazil, with a population of around 2.3 million, and the third largest metropolitan area, containing a population of 6 million. It is the List of cities in Sout ...

. His early exposure to BJJ came through the Gracie Barra network, where he developed a technical and aggressive style, particularly known for his proficiency in the spider guard and triangle submissions. Barral progressed rapidly through the belt ranks, earning his black belt in 2004 from Draculino, and quickly established himself as a formidable competitor in the meio pesado division.

Competitive career

Barral’s competitive career is marked by his dominance in the IBJJF World Championships, where he secured black belt titles in the medium-heavyweight division in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2014. His 2007 campaign was particularly notable, as he also won the World No-Gi Championship in the same year, showcasing his versatility in both gi and no-gi formats. In the open weight (absolute) division, Barral earned silver medals at the IBJJF Worlds in 2007, 2009, and 2012, often facing larger opponents with his technical prowess. His crowning achievement came in 2013, when he won the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in the 88 kg division, defeating notable grapplers with his signature guard game. Barral is also recognized for his consistency in other major tournaments, including multiple medals at the IBJJF Pan-American Championships and Brazilian Nationals (CBJJ). His competitive style, characterized by a strong spider guard and submission-oriented approach, has made him a standout figure in BJJ.

Coaching career

In August 2011, Barral opened Gracie Barra Northridge in California, where he has trained a new generation of BJJ practitioners. His academy has become a hub for competitive athletes, producing several IBJJF and regional champions. Barral’s coaching philosophy emphasizes technical precision and mental resilience, drawing from his own competitive experience. He has mentored notable fighters, including students who have medaled at the IBJJF World Championships and other major tournaments. His move to the United States also allowed him to expand Gracie Barra’s presence internationally, contributing to the organization’s global reputation.

Mixed martial arts record

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Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

References

Bjj Heroes: Romulo Barral

Romulo Barral career on MARanking
* http://www.radioautofm.com.br/home/?pg=noticia&id=1658 {{DEFAULTSORT:Barral, Romulo Brazilian male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Brazilian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Living people 1983 births World No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship medalists People from Diamantina 21st-century Brazilian sportsmen