Vinicius Bittencourt Almeida Magalhaes, better known in Jiu-Jitsu scene as "Draculino", was born in Rio de Janeiro on the 30th of july, year 1971. In his childhood, passed on the Barra da Tijuca district, south side of Rio, he spent the time in going to school and surfing. Suddenly, his neighbours and friends Renzo, Ralph, Ryan Gracie and Totila Jordan took him to the Gracie Barra Academy to take classes. By the time (1987), the school was run by Carlos Gracie Júnior and the Machado Brothers. The competition began early, in the juvenile blue belt division, and soon the good results began to happen.

Untill the purple belt, Draculino took classes from Jean Jacques Machado, and time by time, from Carlos Gracie Júnior. After Jean Jacques has gone to the U.S., Carlos turned to be his "Full Time" master, teaching him knowledge and techniques that were essential to the victories conquered during his career.

His experience as a instructor began in Gracie Barra Academy where supervised by Carlos, he taught basic techniques to beginners. Then, with his teammate Roberto Correa, o "Gordo", began to teach at Marina Barra Club, in Rio, for a group of 60 students. Draculino also worked as an assistant instructor at Gracie Ipanema Academy,run by Renzo Gracie ,untill the year of 1995.

In March of 1995, he received the black belt and later, in June the Lawyer Certificate from U.F.R.J. and O. A .B. In October, he started to teach at one of the first Gracie Barra's Schools outside Rio ,The Gracie Barra- Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais.

Belo Horizonte was the chosen city because of: First; It is the city of his wife Monica, and her hole family gave him a lot of support. Second ; the market potential of the city. Third; It is the 3rd biggest city of Brazil and the 2nd in life quality. It is better to work and raise his children Jade and Igor.

Nowadays, Gracie Barra BH/Draculino Team is one of the main power houses of the sport. The “squad” conquered the prestigious overall title of the 2003´s and 2004 National by teams championships, being considered one of the best schools in the world by the fighting media.

Fighting Curriculum

Black Belt

Brown Belt

Purple Belt

Blue Belt