As the only child of a widowed mother, I moved to Brasília, where I grew up without any other family members. Raised in the 80s and 90s in a middle-class condominium with many families, bullying and fights among children were common. However, I felt insecure compared to other kids since most had a father, brother, or even a cousin who could help them in case of trouble. In my case, I didn’t have that; I had a brave mother who often stepped out to defend me, but being a lady, she couldn’t make the other kids respect her. As a teenager, I decided to start training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) influenced by friends who, nowadays, many of them stand out on the world fighting scene: Rani Yahya in UFC, Renato Moicano in UFC, Adriano Moraes in One FC, among others.

From there, everything changed. That helpless boy without a father or family became a confident teenager who loved taking care of his health, worked out, practiced Jiu-Jitsu, and ate very well. Soon, I started getting stronger physically and mentally, and this was visible to everyone around me. With that, I gained the respect and admiration of the people around me. I know how much Jiu-Jitsu changed my life for the better, and I hope to contribute to others having the same experience. I’m sure that without it, I wouldn’t be capable of achieving everything I have today.

I am married, the father of two beautiful children, living the life I always dreamed of, in the place I always desired, and in the profession and lifestyle I always wanted to have. Undoubtedly, the decision to train BJJ helped me achieve all of this!