03/05/2026
I want to congratulate my teacher, Anibal Braga, on his promotion to 9th Degree Red Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
It is a rare and historic achievement that reflects a lifetime dedicated to the art, to teaching, and to the growth of countless students around the world.
There have been many posts celebrating his promotion, so I would like to share a more personal side of the story.
I started training under Anibal around 1992. My first teacher, Pedro Carvalho, moved to the United States and Anibal took over his gym in Gávea, in the south zone of Rio.
Very few students stuck around during the transition, but even though I was only a teenage yellow belt at the time, I felt that Anibal took a personal interest in my progression.
We spent a lot of time training together, and I had the chance to observe a few things. First, this guy had a real passion for Jiu-Jitsu. Second, he had a true curiosity and thirst for knowledge, never claiming to have the final answer to any technical question. Third, and most importantly, he was completely unselfish in sharing his knowledge. I decided then that he would be my teacher.
As the years went by, my skill level slowly increased. Many instructors would have isolated their top student and aggressively protected him from other schools potentially poaching him.
Anibal did none of that. Instead, he personally took me to visit countless gyms, always introducing me to the instructors and making sure I faced as many challenges as possible. I am pretty sure he had some fun with the process, since I found myself in some tough spots here and there 😆
I even ended up joining and competing for a bigger gym, always with his blessing and support. I eventually went to medical school and decided to transition to MMA. After graduating, I moved to the US and started my own gym. Jiu-Jitsu has been my livelihood ever since.
I am blessed. Several male figures have positively influenced my life throughout the years. However, only one was the steward of my exposure to the most impactful element in my life: Jiu-Jitsu.
For that, I am forever indebted and grateful. Mestre, you deserve this recognition and much more. Congratulations and thank you!
