Nathalie Ribeiro
Address
Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Phone
About Us
Nathalie “Tata” Ribeiro was born on November 6, 1992, in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
During her childhood Nathalie was submerged in sports culture, having in both parents two avid sportspeople, as well as jiu-jitsu practitioners (Ribeiro’s father being a black belt and mother a blue belt at the time). Tata practiced and competed in gymnastics, swimming and trampolining, before also adding BJJ to her weekly activities at the age of 8.
Coach Valdemar was Nathalie’s very first instructor. He ran a small class at Ribeiro’s building block in Jacarepagua (RJ). Tata’s tuition as a young athlete was dependent on where her parents were located, and her path had a few different coaches who participated in her reaching the blue belt rank in 2009.
Shortly after reaching her blue belt, Ribeiro had a baby. Dealing with the responsibilities of parenthood, Tata removed herself from the mats for 3 years. Upon her return to BJJ, Nathalie chose to tie a white belt around her waist and start from scratch with Master Sylvio Behring, the man who would promote Ribeiro to blue and purple belt.
In 2015 Tata Ribeiro traveled to the United States to compete in the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Pan and World Championships. While in the US Nathalie was approached by João Silva and Aloísio Silva, who offered her an athletic scholarship. The proposal was accepted by Ribeiro, later being promoted to brown belt by João.
It was also while in the Northern Hemisphere that Nathalie befriended Lucas Leite of Checkmat La Habra. Ribeiro was offered a job as an instructor at the academy and started training also under the acclaimed instructor. It was Leite who promoted Nathalie to black belt on March 12, 2018.
