Gleidson Lanko Pereira, also known as ‘Mestre Pelezinho’ or simply ‘Pelé,’ has been a passionate martial artist for almost 40 years and has over 30 years of experience as a coach in Capoeira and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. With undeniable expertise in both disciplines, he skillfully combines techniques and movements that lead to extraordinary success. Pelé has traveled the world—from Brazil to Australia and Israel to Europe—and has not only broadened his own horizons but also gained international recognition.
For more than a decade, he has enriched the martial arts scene in Braunschweig and inspired numerous fighters in the region. His special presence on and off the mat creates a family-like atmosphere where everyone feels at ease. For many of his members, he is not only a coach but also a good friend who supports and motivates them on their journey.
Chagas Nascimento Matias comes from the northeast of Brazil, has lived in Germany since 2017, and has two young sons. He has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2012 and is now a black belt. “Jiu-Jitsu means physical health, mental balance, and strong self-confidence for me. It helps me be a better person in everyday life and gives me the assurance and patience to find solutions even in the trickiest situations.” Wherever Chagas travels in the world, he looks for friends on the mat and the best waves to surf. His role model, the 11-time surfing world champion Kelly Slater, rightly says, “put your kids into Jiu-Jitsu before any other sports.”
Nico has been passionately involved in martial arts since the age of 14. By training and combining various styles like Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Wing Tsun, and Muay Thai, he eventually arrived at Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and discovered his love for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Since 2014, he has been training under our Professor ‘Pelé’ and has now earned his black belt. As an active competitor, Nico regularly takes part in national and international tournaments. One of his greatest achievements is winning two European titles in the under-70kg weight class at NAGA 2018 in Amsterdam. “The studio is, for me, a place of learning and meditation where discipline, perseverance, and self-confidence are sharpened. These values apply both in competition and real life. As a teenager, martial arts often helped me make the right decisions.”
We are proud members of CHECKMAT, a renowned worldwide Jiu-Jitsu school founded in 2008 by the Vieira brothers. Based in California and with more than 200 studios across the globe, CHECKMAT is more than just a competition team—it’s an international family.
Our Head Coach for Europe, Ricardo Vieira, is a 9-time world champion in Jiu-Jitsu and an internationally respected expert at the highest level. We maintain close ties with our partner Rodrigo Fernandes and his “BJJ DOJO BERLIN” studio, coming together regularly for seminars.
As part of this global community, we promote the growth of Jiu-Jitsu worldwide. Whether competing or coaching, all of our members benefit from CHECKMAT’s first-class expertise and spirit.
We are part of the international CAPOEIRA MENINO BOM family, founded in 2000 by our Mestre Pelezinho together with Mestre Papalegua, Mestre Sonso, Mestre Caveirinha, and Mestre Marcinho Guayamun in Israel.