Multiple-time champion João Miyao was one of the most talked-about names in the opening days of the European Championship, held in Lisbon, Portugal. After a two-year title drought at the event, the first of the IBJJF Grand Slam, Miyao reclaimed his place at the top and took gold in the master 1 roosterweight division. In his first match, João quickly showed he was there to win the title, went for the foot with his usual skill and locked in the submission. In his second match, the final against José Jeovan from Nova União, João won on points in a match that fired up the crowd at the Pavilhão Multiuso de Odivelas in Lisbon.
A ten-time Jiu-Jitsu world champion, João Miyao wasn’t at the event only as an athlete. The star, an ambassador for Ujitsu, an app for coaches and athletes with a range of management and development tools for the sport, did his Media Day at the tech brand’s booth and drew a line of fans waiting for a photo with their idol.
In an interview with The Mat Nation, João said he is sticking with his plan to stay competitively active throughout the 2026 season. For him, even as a thoroughly established athlete, it’s still important to compete in tournaments to sharpen what he does every day in the gym. Valuable advice for those taking their first steps in the sport.
“It’s very important to keep competing, testing yourself in Jiu-Jitsu, trying to perfect what you’ve been doing in the gym, but under pressure. That’s what tournaments are: testing your techniques under pressure. That’s what makes me want to compete at every tournament,” he said.
JOÃO’S GOAL IS TO KEEP THE TITLES COMING IN THE NEW SEASON
In 2025, João shone at the top with a run of titles at major IBJJF competitions. He won the Brazilian Nationals both in the gi and no-gi. At that year’s Europeans, João claimed the most valuable medal in No Gi. In Las Vegas, he added two more titles to his collection: champion at two IBJJF world championships, the Master Worlds and the No Gi Worlds. For 2026, João wants to keep up the high pace to extend his good results.
“I hope to keep competing. If God gives me health, I’ll keep competing at all the biggest IBJJF tournaments, and I also have a lot of seminars ahead this year. That’s it, trying to balance everything,” the multiple-time champion stressed.
Of Japanese descent, twin brothers João and Paulo Miyao were born in Paraná in 1991. When they discovered Jiu-Jitsu, the two, who had started in combat sports through Judo, decided to devote themselves fully to the Gentle Art and moved to São Paulo. In Cícero Costha’s social project, the duo became known for their boundless dedication to the sport, driven by the dream of an IBJJF world title. Light and fearless, João and Paulo had a guard game that posed a real threat to heavier opponents when they went head-to-head in the open class. The brothers were promoted to black belt together in 2013 by Cicero Costha.
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
