A Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt has publicly criticized Checkmat leadership for what she describes as years of institutional inaction following detailed allegations she brought directly to the organization’s attention.
Julia Angelica recently ended a decade of silence, sharing an account of what she characterizes as inappropriate conduct by Checkmat co-founder Leandro Alcantara Vieira that allegedly began when she was a minor competing at her first Pan American championship.
According to Angelica, Vieira was someone she had known since childhood and considered like a second father figure during a rough time in her life.
In correspondence Angelica shared publicly, which she says was sent to Checkmat leadership more than two years ago, she detailed how the relationship allegedly began inappropriately during that tournament trip.
According to the account, unwelcome advances continued the following night, beginning what she describes as a coercive relationship that persisted into adulthood.
The letter describes how the inappropriate relationship finally ended years into adulthood, before she relocated to Southern California to continue training. When she later returned to the Bay Area seeking support, Vieira reportedly offered her teaching and training opportunities before removing her from his facility, citing how past circumstances were affecting his current relationship.
“I remember feeling sick, confused, and broken all over again,” she stated.
“Upon being forced to depart from the only place and people I had come to regard as home and family, Leandro callously proclaimed that we were facing the repercussions of ‘our’ mistakes,” she wrote. “The stark reality that I confront today is that I continue to endure the ramifications of a situation over which I had no control, while he hypocritically and falsely shields himself behind moral superiority and religious conviction.”
Angelica also challenged the organization’s integrity directly in her letter.
“Despite the team’s claims of being founded upon virtuous morals and values, my personal experiences and interactions have revealed a stark misalignment with virtuous conduct,” the correspondence states. “I find it difficult to believe that as leaders, you remain unaware of the wrongdoings committed by your peers and athletes, unless they are publicly exposed or directly impact the team’s financial interests.”
According to Angelica, the response from Checkmat leadership proved minimal. She received a brief message thanking her for feedback, followed by another where Vieira reportedly admitted he had not read the entire email because he was traveling and extended an invitation for an in person conversation to clear any misunderstandings.
“Not much to clear after I already sent you a detailed 4 page letter. Nothing more came of this,” Angelica commented.
She went further, stating she had observed the organization handle other allegations with similar inaction.
“This makes THREE CHECKMAT BLACK BELTS that I know have been made aware of inappropriate conduct that STILL remain part of the team,” she wrote.
Vieira has coached some of mixed martial arts’ most prominent athletes during his tenure at American Kickboxing Academy, including Daniel Cormier, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. He also worked with Luke Rockhold and Cain Velasquez before later coaching Marlon Chito Vera.
Following the public allegations, Checkmat headquarters released a statement indicating the leadership board had reconvened to review a matter previously brought before the organization. According to the statement, when allegations were first made, the board removed Vieira from any leadership role while allowing limited affiliation pending resolution of an ongoing legal proceeding.
The statement announced the leadership board voted to suspend Vieira from all Checkmat affiliation until the matter is resolved, describing it as an administrative governance decision made to uphold organizational standards and responsibilities.
Leo Vieira, Leandro’s brother and fellow Checkmat co-founder, also released a statement confirming the suspension.
“Discipline is rarely easy. Many times it hurts, challenges emotions, and tests relationships. But I believe that the pain of acting with honesty and fairness is smaller than the cost of ignoring my values,” Leo Vieira wrote. “With respect to our history, our relationships, and the presumption of innocence, I want to share that my brother, Professor Leandro, remains suspended from team activities while awaiting the judicial decision of the ongoing case.”
Angelica responded forcefully to both statements on social media, questioning why action was taken only after her account became public.
“I was going to leave this alone after saying what I needed but sincerely, I’m tired. If you don’t like what I have to say, block me. Because until I feel liberated, I’m going to call it like it is,” she wrote.
“Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching, no one would know, and there’s no immediate reward or recognition.”
“Moral code and discipline only seem to exist for this team when everyone is watching.”
“The email wasn’t enough to warrant moral code and discipline 2.5 years ago? No, because you thought no one else would read it but you. And the legal process wasn’t enough to warrant moral code and discipline when it started 1 year ago? No, because no one was paying attention.”
“You only act with discipline and moral code when everyone is watching. So now everyone is watching, and I’m probably not the only one still waiting.”
Angelica also revealed Checkmat has blocked her from accessing their instagram.
Full statement from Angelica:
“I was going to leave this alone after saying what I needed but sincerely, I’m tired. If you don’t like what I have to say, block me. Because until I feel liberated, I’m going to call it like it is.
Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching, no one would know, and there’s no immediate reward or recognition.
Moral code and discipline only seem to exist for this team when everyone is watching.
The email wasn’t enough to warrant moral code and discipline 2.5 years ago? No — because you thought no one else would read it but you.
And the legal process wasn’t enough to warrant moral code and discipline when it started 1 year ago? No — because no one was paying attention.
Or should we go back 5 years ago?? Because I still haven’t forgotten about Alyssa. And I don’t believe you have either.
You only act with discipline and moral code when everyone is watching. So now everyone is watching — and I’m probably not the only one still waiting.”
Full Statment from Leo Vieira:
“Discipline is rarely easy. Many times it hurts, challenges emotions, and tests relationships. But I believe that the pain of acting with honesty and fairness is smaller than the cost of ignoring my values.”
“With respect to our history, our relationships, and the presumption of innocence, I want to share that my brother, Professor Leandro, remains suspended from team activities while awaiting the judicial decision of the ongoing case.”
“I will continue moving forward with a strong team, united and committed to principles, responsibility, and integrity — on and off the mats.”
“Values are not just words. They are decisions, especially when those decisions are difficult.”
Full Statement from Checkmat:
“Checkmat is governed by a collective leadership structure, and matters of this nature are addressed through established internal processes. The leadership board has reconvened to review a matter previously brought before the organization involving a former member of the leadership board.”
“When allegations were first made, the board removed the individual from any leadership role while allowing limited affiliation pending resolution of an ongoing civil proceeding, which remains unresolved.”
“As part of the board’s ongoing responsibility to reassess unresolved matters that affect organizational standards, the leadership board has voted to suspend the individual from all Checkmat affiliation until the civil action is resolved. This is an administrative governance decision made to uphold organizational standards and responsibilities. It is not a finding of fact and not a response to public commentary.”
“Checkmat remains committed to maintaining a safe, professional, and respectful training environment across all affiliated academies. No further public comment will be made while the matter is pending.”
