The king of the half guard

biography

Known worldwide as Gordo, Roberto Correa de Lima has been teaching Jiu-Jitsu for over 30 years and has formed great champions in both Jiu-Jitsu and MMA.

Raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Gordo started training Jiu-Jitsu in 1986, at the age of 15, influenced by his close friend Ralph Gracie. A purple belt at 18 years old, he suffered a serious knee injury and had to readapt to training, therefore developing the famous half-guard position and becoming known as the "king of the half-guard". Nowadays this is one of the most used positions in both Jiu-Jitsu and MMA.

For over 100 years the half guard was the last bastion of hope before your guard was passed. The notion that it could be used as an offensive tool and an aggressive fighting strategy was laughed at - but Gordo changed that. The modern half guard we use today began to materialise, and Jiujitsu would never be the same again.

In 1993, he earned his black belt and followed to win a great amount of national and international titles. Roberto Correa or “Gordo”, is now a 6th degree blackbelt and one of the most significant figures in Jiujitsu history. Since his competitive prime Gordo has gone on to coach - with academies all over the world, and two years training the UAE national team, Gordo has been producing a stable of exceptional jiu jitsu athletes to continue his legacy. In 2024, after 30 years of Black Belt, Gordo earned his Coral belt from Renzo Gracie.