BJJ Academies in Brazil.
Brazil is where BJJ was born and where the depth of the scene is unlike anywhere else on the planet. Carlos Gracie opened the first Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu in the Flamengo neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro in 1925, after his family's lineage traced back to Mitsuyo Maeda's teaching in Belém, Pará. A century later, the country still produces most of the world's black-belt champions and hosts the calendar's biggest domestic event: the IBJJF Brasileiro (Brazilian Nationals), founded in 1996 and held in São Paulo at Ginásio Poliesportivo José Corrêa, Barueri. The 2026 edition runs April 24 – May 3 and draws nearly 8,000 athletes over ten days.
The team map is dense. Alliance was founded in 1993 by Romero "Jacaré" Cavalcanti, Fabio Gurgel, and Alexandre "Gigi" Paiva — all Rolls Gracie black belts; Fabio Gurgel relocated to São Paulo in 1994 to expand the team's southern base. Checkmat was founded in 2008 by brothers Leo and Ricardo Vieira (with Leandro Vieira) after splitting from Brasa. Atos was founded in October 2008 by Ramon Lemos and André Galvão in Rio Claro, São Paulo, before HQ moved to San Diego in 2010. Cicero Costha's PSLPB social project in Ipiranga, São Paulo (R. Lino Coutinho, 426) produced Leandro Lo, the Miyao brothers, and Thalison Soares.
The CBJJ (Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu) is the national governing body; major state federations include FPJJ in São Paulo, FJJD-Rio and FERJJI in Rio de Janeiro, and FMJJ in Minas Gerais. Copa Pódio's invitation-only Grand Prix runs out of Rio.
Tournaments and seminars in Brazil.
Ginásio Poliesportivo José Correa · Barueri, São Paulo
O Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu Kids reúne competidores das categorias infantis e juvenis em Barueri, Brazil, sob as regras da IBJJF com kimono.
Ginásio Paulo Sarasate · Fortaleza, Ceará
This IBJJF International Open tournament runs in Fortaleza, Brazil, contested under IBJJF gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
Ginásio Paulo Sarasate · Fortaleza, Ceará
This IBJJF International Open No-Gi tournament runs in Fortaleza, Brazil, contested under IBJJF no-gi rules across all belts, weights, and age divisions.
Ginásio Paulo Sarasate · Fortaleza, Ceará
This IBJJF International Open Kids tournament brings youth competitors to Fortaleza, Brazil under IBJJF gi rules across all belts and age brackets.
Velódromo Olímpico do Rio de Janeiro · Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
O Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu Sem Kimono é o evento nacional de no-gi da IBJJF, realizado em Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.