Like many people at this time of year, Carlos Vieira is hoping for a successful year ahead, though it’s unlikely the Brazilian born martial artist will top what he achieved in 2025.
Having lived in Australia with his wife and family for 17 years, the 48 year-old Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) black belt and owner and head coach at Cia Paulista Australia BJJ in Maidstone, was finally granted citizenship on Australia Day.
The freshly minted Aussie then returned to BJJ competition after a seven year absence by competing at the Asian Open in Japan.
“I took first place,” Vieira said nonchalantly of his success in the masters division which he followed up a month later month later with an even bigger win: the World Masters Championships in Las Vegas.
“It was a great experience because it was the only title I didn’t have until last year,” Vieira said of winning the Worlds, which along with earlier wins at the European, Pan-American and Brazilian championships, meant he’d won all of the so-called big four BJJ titles.
Returning home, Vieira then won at the Pan-Pacific Championships in Melbourne in September, before capping off the year by being awarded a prestigious sixth-degree black belt.
“Last year was the biggest year ever,” he said of 2025.
“It was a gold year.”
For 2026, Vieira is aiming to compete in every state in Australia and be the number one ranked masters BJJ practitioner in the country.
