Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhães has achieved one of BJJ’s most prestigious milestones: promotion to coral belt.
The honor recognizes more than three decades spent at black belt – an incredible 31-year run at a rank that itself takes most practitioners a decade or longer to reach.
Magalhães’ martial arts journey began with Judo at just 7 years old, earning his orange belt before discovering Jiu-Jitsu in the 1980s.
After his first year of training he joined the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Club – the academy now known worldwide as Gracie Barra – where he trained under Jean Jacques Machado, who was a purple belt at the time.
Machado awarded him his purple belt before Carlos Gracie Jr. promoted Magalhães to both brown and black belt.
After receiving his black belt in 1995, Draculino moved to Belo Horizonte and opened the very first Gracie Barra academy outside of Rio de Janeiro, a landmark moment in the team’s global expansion.
He competed at the highest levels of the sport throughout the 1990s, including appearances at major tournaments and at ADCC 1999, while also going 2–1 as a professional MMA fighter.
But Magalhães is most celebrated today for his work on the sidelines.
He has promoted more than 100 black belts and played a pivotal role in developing elite champions such as Romulo Barral, Alberto Crane, and Samuel Braga.
His influence can be felt in schools all over the world as one of the primary architects behind Gracie Barra’s modern success.
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