Checkmat
{{short description|Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu association}}
{{Infobox martial art school
| logo = Checkmat BJJ logo.webp
| logocaption = 250
| logosize =
| image =
| imagecaption =
| imagesize = 200px
| name = Checkmat Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
| aka = Checkmat BJJ
| country = Brazil
| founder = Leo Vieira
Ricardo Vieira
Leandro Vieira
| head = Leo Vieira
| arts = Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
| ancestor_arts =
| descendant_arts =
| ancestor schools =
| descendant schools =
| notable pract =
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/leo-vieira-facts-and-bio|title=Leonardo "Leozinho" Vieira {{!}} BJJ Heroes|website=www.bjjheroes.com|access-date=2017-08-12}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/ricardo-ricardinho-vieira|title=Ricardo "Ricardinho" Vieira {{!}} BJJ Heroes|website=www.bjjheroes.com|access-date=2017-08-12}}
History
The team was established in 2008 following a break up between the Vieira Brothers and their previous team, Brasa Clube de Jiu Jitsu.
The name "Checkmat" is derived from the chess term "checkmate" and the word "mat", being the surface on which Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is usually practiced. The Vieira brothers saw similarities in the strategic and tactical nature of chess and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.{{cite web|title=Vieira Brothers|url=https://www.bjjheroes.com/tag/vieira-brothers}} Checkmat has a strong presence in the Rio de Janeiro favelas through Ricardo Vieira and his Projeto Cantagalo with fighters such as Jansen Gomes.
At the 2023 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Checkmat competitor Samuel Nagai won the Male -70 kg class.{{cite web |title=IBJJF World Championship 2023 Full Results And Review |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/ibjjf-world-championship-2023-full-results-and-review/ |website=JitsMagazine |access-date=5 June 2023}}
In 2023, Checkmat was ranked the #2 adult male team and #3 adult female team overall at the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.{{cite web|title=IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 Results |url=https://ibjjf.com/events/results |website=IBJJF |access-date=8 May 2025}} The team has been consistently ranked among the top-performing teams at major international tournaments including the IBJJF World, Pan, and European Championships.{{cite web|title=IBJJF Team Rankings 2022 |url=https://ibjjf.com/news/2023-world-jiu-jitsu-championship-recap|website=IBJJF |access-date=8 May 2025}}
In 2022, Leo Vieira was appointed as the first Grappling Coach for the UFC Performance Institute, reflecting the international recognition of Checkmat’s technical excellence.{{cite web|title=UFC Hires Leo Vieira as Grappling Coach for PI |url=https://www-bjjheroes-com.translate.goog/bjj-fighters/leo-vieira-facts-and-bio?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=pt&_x_tr_hl=pt&_x_tr_pto=sge#:~:text=Leo%20Vieira%20tamb%C3%A9m%20foi%20cofundador,Jo%C3%A3o%20Assis%20e%20muitos%20outros. |website=BJPenn.com |date=2022-06-27 |access-date=8 May 2025}}
Checkmat also has a notable affiliate program, with over 100 affiliated academies worldwide, including branches in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia.{{cite web|title=Checkmat BJJ: Global Affiliates |url=https://www.checkmatbjj.com/affiliates |website=Checkmat BJJ |access-date=8 May 2025}}
Notable members
A list of current and former members:
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{Brazilian jiu-jitsu academies}}