Armando Wridt

Armando Wriedt is one of the 7 people to have received a red belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from the hands of the late Helio Gracie. One of the pioneers of the sport, he fought Jiu Jitsu and in the old Vale-Tudo rules (what later became MMA).

Armando Wriedt met Helio Gracie when he was 21 years old; he was in the military service and played Basketball for his regiment. Helio and he had a friend in common and Armando started visiting the Gracie Farm regularly picking up Jiu Jitsu training with the Gracie brotherhood.

Finishing his obligatory Military Service time, he turned to the Gracies for shelter and ended up living in the Gracie Academy for 8 years. During this time, Armando fought for the academy on 3 occasions at Vale-Tudo (no-holds-barred) events in Rio de Janeiro, although fighting was not in his nature. Armando is a true fan of “Mahatma” Gandhi, as he does not believe in violence; to please his masters, however, he fought and finished all three fights with a quick submission.

After spending 8 years living and breathing the Gracie way, Armando left the academy (with Helio’s consent) and started teaching to personal body guards at the ESNI (Escola de Serviço Nacional de Informação). Today he is retired and lives off the land in his own farm in the outskirts of Brasília, capital of Brazil. Armando Wriedt is one of the very restricted group of people to have received the Red Belt off the hands of Gracie Jiu Jitsu Founder Helio Gracie.