About Rafael

I come from a small city Ubatuba at the coast of Sao Paulo. I began Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training in 1997 and attained my black belt from Edmilson Alves in 2002. After that I had a lot of difficulty continuing to train. One day my friend asked me, “Why don’t you go to Sao Paulo Capital to train with Terere?” (the best Jiu Jitsu fighter at that time). I had work besides Jiu-Jitsu at the time, but I decided to go to Sao Paulo and train with Terere. His school was the best in Brazil. From then I began training with other big names in Jiu Jitsu like Rubens Charles “Cobrinha”, Andre Galvao, Fernando “Terere” Augusto, and other good fighters from that school

Then Terere’s school broke up, and everyone went a different way. Cobrinha went to train with Fabio Gurgel at Alliance. Andre Galvao went to Brasa, and I came back to Ubatuba. After a while, Cobrinha invited me to come to Greenville to coach the Alliance school. When he asked me, I just said, of course! I am so happy to come here. Everyone was so welcome to me, and I plan to stay here for a long time to watch the jiu jitsu program grow. I am head instructor at Alliance Greenville in South Carolina. I love to compete; and I enjoy both teaching and competing.

My most recent successes include: 2008 and 2009 Lutador Open Class winner, 2008 NAGA Gi and No Gi Winner in Georgia, 2009 Copa America Open Class Gi and No Gi Winner, and 2009 International Open in New York 3rd Place Middleweight and Open Class first place.

I will continue my personal improvement as part of the Alliance Team with instruction from Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti and as a part of Alliance Crossfit. I will represent and live all of the best qualities of a true Brazilian Jiu Jitsu warrior.