The 2013 Brazilian national black belt champion and world medalist João Gabriel Rocha last year shared on his facebook profile what was going on his life. He wasn’t present at the 2014 Pans. He revealed that
he had a cancerous tumor removed:

“It’s been nearly two months that I can’t train. I began to fell severe pain after every session, but I didn’t give much attention. Only when it got really bad, I went to the doctor and had a bunch of tests done. When the results came in I couldn’t imagine what the doctor had to tell me. I had a tumor. At first, I though he was joking, I couldn’t believe it. You always think this kind of thing’s gonna happen to somebody else, not you. Anyway, I had a surgery and the tumor was completely removed and in a short time I will be back to doing what I like the most, which is to be on the mat training.
I want to say thanks for the support of all my friends and family and tell everybody not to give up on their dreams.”

Joao now having beaten the cancer has recently returned to training after cancer treatment, and he will have a superfight in the South American Open in 2014 in favor of the project “Jiu-Jitsu without Limits”, coordinated by athlete Allan Di Lucia.

The opponent of Joao Gabriel is still a secret guarded by SJJSAF – Sport Jiu-Jitsu Federation South American.

“We can only say that this will be one of the most exciting fights in the history of Jiu-Jitsu.” Says Cleiber Maia, president of SJJSAF. “In addition, part of the money raised with Tshirt sales will be donated to charity”” he adds.

Another world class black belt who also had a great return to competition after beating cancer was Lucio Lagarto.

We wih Joao the same success.

Check out this Joao Gabriel highlight: