In Manaus, Brazil there are two major sports that are played and that have brought the city great fame through the club and the world-class athletes it has produced. These are football and Jiu-Jitsu.

Football

Football is the national sports in Brazil. It is widely played throughout the country. You see it played everywhere you go. It’s played in schools, in sports clubs, and even on the streets. So naturally, it is also played in Manaus. The San Raimundo Sports Club which is called the Tufão da Colina or the Typhoon Hill is the premier club in the city of Manaus. It was established in November 18, 1918 and since then has become States Champion for seven times and has grabbed the North Cup three times. The club became known worldwide when they joined the Conmebol Cup.

The Vivaldão or Vivaldo Lima is Manaus’s biggest stadium which can hold up to 38,000 people. The stadium which was opened in 1970 is one of the cities that will host the FIFA World Cup in 2014.

Jiu-Jitsu

Manaus has produced several experts in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Among these are Alexandre Ribeiro, Bibiano Fernandes, Ronaldo Souza, Saulo Ribeiro, and Wallid Ismail. These mixed martial arts world champions, black belt holders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and world-class submission grapplers all hail from the city of Manaus. There is also one Manaus native that has seen prominence in the WEC World Featherweight Championship, a mixed martial arts competition. This is Jose Aldo, also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belter.