The Tao Jiu Jitsu Academy community. A diverse group united by Jiu-Jitsu, where students of all ages and backgrounds train, grow, and support one another every day.

The rise of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the United Arab Emirates is one of the most remarkable developments in the global grappling scene. For Alexandre Altenburg Odebrecht, black belt and head coach of Tao Jiu Jitsu Academy, this evolution has been a lived experience. He has been teaching and building Team Tao in the UAE since 2014, witnessing the sport transform from a niche discipline into a nationwide movement.

“When we started, Jiu-Jitsu was practiced by a small group of people who shared the same passion,” Alexandre explains. “Today, it’s embraced by both locals and expatriates and has become part of the country’s sporting identity.”

A key driver behind this growth has been strong institutional support. The UAE government implemented Jiu-Jitsu into the national school curriculum, and the sport is now taught in more than 140 schools across the country. Combined with world-class events such as the Abu Dhabi World Pro and the rapid expansion of academies, Jiu-Jitsu has become more accessible than ever before.

“Beyond competition, Jiu-Jitsu has played a major role in developing discipline, confidence, and real social connection,” Alexandre says. “Being part of this journey—from the early days to seeing our students excel today—has been incredibly rewarding.”

Clear goals, individual paths

At Tao Jiu Jitsu Academy, success is not defined by a single outcome. The academy’s main goal is to guide and support each student according to their personal objectives.

“Some students want to compete at the highest level, others want to build a consistent training routine, improve their physical conditioning, or develop mental resilience,” Alexandre explains. “Our role is to challenge them while supporting them every step of the way.”

The academy is built around providing world-class instruction in a welcoming and inclusive environment. While technical development is essential, Tao places equal emphasis on confidence, discipline, and community.

“We’re not just a place to train,” he adds. “We’re a space where people push past their limits, build lasting friendships, and discover what they’re capable of—both on and off the mat.”

Every class is a learning environment. Beyond technique, we focus on understanding, discipline, and respect for each student’s individual path in Jiu-Jitsu.

Classes, structure, and location

Tao Jiu Jitsu Academy operates with a schedule designed to fit modern lifestyles. Classes run every day of the week, offering dedicated programs for women, children, and adults, alongside comprehensive general training sessions.

“No matter your experience level or availability, there’s always a class that fits your goals,” Alexandre says.

The academy is located in Arjan, near Dubai’s iconic Miracle Garden, providing easy access for students coming from different parts of the city.

A long-established competition team

Competition has been part of Tao’s identity since the very beginning. Team Tao was founded in 2014 and has since produced athletes who have achieved multiple world championship titles at UAEJJF events.

“Now that we have our own dedicated academy, our focus on competition has only grown stronger,” Alexandre explains. The team offers specialized training, personalized coaching, and a structured approach to athlete development.

Whether students are experienced competitors or stepping onto the competition mats for the first time, they receive guidance through every phase of the process—from technical preparation and strategy to mental conditioning and post-competition analysis.

Impact beyond physical performance

While physical transformation is often the most visible result of training, Alexandre believes the true impact of Jiu-Jitsu lies elsewhere.

“The most meaningful changes are mental and emotional,” he says. “I’ve seen students develop discipline, humility, and a genuine hunger for learning that carries into every area of their lives.”

He describes watching individuals who once struggled with consistency evolve into committed practitioners who show up with purpose and resilience. For competitive athletes, hard-earned victories validate years of effort. For others, improved confidence, emotional balance, and overall quality of life are equally significant achievements.

“Jiu-Jitsu meets people where they are,” Alexandre reflects. “And it helps them become a better version of themselves.”

A culture built on connection

Culture is a cornerstone of Tao Jiu Jitsu Academy. The environment is intentionally family-oriented, inclusive, and community-driven.

“We’re not just training partners—we’re a support system,” Alexandre says. Students regularly spend time together outside the academy, sharing meals, supporting one another through challenges, and celebrating achievements collectively.

Inclusivity is non-negotiable. Regardless of age, gender, background, or experience level, every student is welcomed with the same respect and openness. “Diversity strengthens our academy,” he emphasizes.

A unified and experienced coaching team

The Tao coaching staff consists of seven instructors, including Alexandre, each with more than a decade of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A defining characteristic of the team is their shared history—every coach has been part of the journey since the academy’s earliest days.

“This long-term partnership creates consistency in how we teach and how we support our students,” Alexandre explains. “No matter which coach you train with, you’re receiving the same philosophy, standards, and care.”

This cohesion allows Tao Jiu Jitsu Academy to combine personalized attention with a strong, unified identity—one that continues to shape the next generation of practitioners in the UAE.

Rafael Silveira tem a omoplata como ponto forte do seu jogo

A trajetória de Rafael Silveira Borges, um dos nomes mais promissores do Jiu-Jitsu atual, é daquelas que começam antes mesmo do atleta entender o próprio destino. Filho do faixa-preta Rodney Cozendey, Rafael iniciou no tatame ainda criança, como uma brincadeira guiada pelo pai, mas que rapidamente se transformaria em vocação. Hoje, aos 24 anos, ele é tricampeão mundial, cinco vezes campeão brasileiro e dono de uma das ascensões mais sólidas e coerentes do BJJ moderno.

Vindo de uma faixa-marrom praticamente invicta e graduado à faixa-preta por André Galvão, Rafael representa a nova geração de atletas que unem técnica refinada, mentalidade madura e profissionalismo extremo. Nesta entrevista exclusiva da GRACIEMAG, Rafael abre o coração e revisita sua jornada: as figuras que o formaram, as dores e superações, as lições da Atos HQ, a construção de seu estilo único — e a visão de futuro para sua carreira como faixa-preta.

Rafael cresceu sob influência direta do pai, que não apenas apresentou o Jiu-Jitsu como “escolheu essa vida para mim quando eu ainda era uma criança”, relembra. Rodney foi o primeiro incentivador e responsável por direcioná-lo ao caminho das competições desde cedo.
O passo seguinte foi decisivo: aos 14 anos, Rafael se mudou para São José dos Campos para integrar o programa dos irmãos Cláudio e Marco Calasans, vivendo integralmente do Jiu-Jitsu ainda adolescente. Rafael lembra de Calasans Jr. como “o divisor de águas da minha carreira”, alguém que moldou não só seu jogo, mas sua postura competitiva.

Ele admite: “Me inspirei, me espelhei e copiei ele em tudo… do jeito que lutava ao comportamento calmo porém agressivo nas lutas.”
Mas foi com André Galvão, líder da Atos e uma das maiores lendas do esporte, que Rafael deu o salto definitivo. Através de Calasans, Rafael foi convidado a treinar na Atos HQ, em San Diego, convivendo diariamente com campeões mundiais.

“O André me deu a oportunidade de vir para os EUA. Aprendi a ser mais profissional, conviver com ídolos, aprender com pessoas que eu via só na televisão. As pessoas que vi treinar mais na vida foram o André Galvão no camp do ADCC e o Calasans Jr. em 2015. Eles são lendas porque eram muito esforçados.” É desse trio — pai, Calasans e Galvão — que nasce o DNA competitivo e humano de Rafael.

Depois de contextualizar as raízes da sua mentalidade competitiva, Rafael entra no tema que muitos consideram o auge técnico antes da faixa-preta: sua fase marrom. Ele viveu ali o pior e o melhor ano da carreira. O momento mais difícil foi a perda de sua avó, um mês antes do Mundial. No evento, acabou desclassificado por uma decisão altamente controversa: “Fiquei devastado por tudo estar acontecendo ao mesmo tempo.”

Mas é justamente dessa dor que nasce sua sequência histórica:
1 ano invicto
ouro no Pan
ouro no Mundial
atuação dominante no circuito
e finalmente a faixa-preta entregue por André Galvão no tatame do Mundial 2023
A transição do luto ao auge técnico revela a resiliência que molda Rafael — e explica por que seu nome é tão esperado na elite da preta.

Rafoplata: a assinatura técnica e o lado criativo do seu jogo

Depois de falar do psicológico, Rafael entra no campo técnico — e poucos atletas têm hoje uma marca tão clara quanto a dele: a omoplata, apelidada pelos fãs de Rafoplata. Tudo começou em 2014, quando ele ganhou uma revista da GracieMag com Clark Gracie após o Pan.
A inspiração virou prática: no Europeu da IBJJF, já contra atletas de ponta como Jansen Gomes, Rafael usou a omoplata para conquistar seu primeiro double gold. Ele explica:
“Fui descobrindo novos métodos, criando novos caminhos e aperfeiçoando habilidades… virou minha marca registrada.”Hoje, a omoplata não é apenas uma posição — é parte da identidade técnica que diferencia Rafael no cenário internacional.

Pedro Dias in action on the IBJJF mats. Foto: @re.lightstudio

Today Pedro Dias lives in Chicago, in the United States, within a Jiu-Jitsu reality that is very different from when he started. Born and raised in the Santa Marta community, in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Pedro got into the sport like many other children in the same social reality, through a project.

The boy’s talent, even in his childhood, was recognized by Leão Teixeira, known as ‘Zé Beleza’, an exponent of Jiu-Jitsu and one of the pioneers of the Brazilian martial art as it is practiced today. In Gávea, Pedro learned much of what he knows today. For this reason, he remembers that time with gratitude.

“With the end of the Nova Geração project in partnership with the Gama Filho college, my father didn’t want me to stop Jiu-Jitsu. He had a friend who was a doorman at Leão Teixeira’s gym, in Gávea. I was invited to a training session and stayed there until I got my brown-belt from master Zé Beleza. I learned a lot, such as how to manage an academy, train and teach correctly.”.

Worlds runner-up in the purple-belt division and European champion in the brown-belt, Pedro Dias is currently a black-belt who is used to big competitive stages, an experience that required a lot of effort and dedication. Speaking to VF Comunica, the athlete said that, when looking back on his career, the obstacles he had to overcome to evolve were those that are commonplace for athletes who do not have the resources.

“The biggest challenges were the same as those faced by most athletes ten years ago. Having the minimum, the money for registration, getting sponsorship, not having the support to travel to fight, not having the money to pay for physical preparation and maintain a balanced diet. It was always a matter of fighting to win, already thinking about using the prize money to pay for the next trip.”.

Inspired by Fernando ‘Tererê’ and Marcelinho Garcia, Pedro Dias considers the silver medal he won at the Pyramid in California to be one of the most special moments of his career. That opportunity, his first time in the United States after complications with his visa, revealed that there are rewarding achievements that go beyond a title; you just need to know how to identify them.

“When I came in second place at the Worlds, as a purple belt, it was my first time in the United States and the trip was very complicated. I had some problems with my visa and was unable to participate in the Worlds last year. I worked during Carnival that year to have money to try again for the visa. I had seven fights and lost due to just one mistake. It was very memorable because of everything I had been through. The solidarity of my training partners was also very special to me. It wasn’t the medal itself, but the occasion. Because of everything that had happened before.”.

Before settling abroad, Pedro Dias needed to improve other areas of his life besides his development as an athlete. Accustomed to overcoming difficulties to achieve goals, Pedro went against the grain and found a way to develop while the rest of the world was paralyzed by the pandemic.

“As strange as it may seem, the biggest turning point was during Covid. I was in the United States, in Virginia, and I continued training because everything there wasn’t closed, it’s a country region, with its own laws. I ended up having more time to develop new skills. I improved my English, took business and administration courses, and enjoyed my time away from the mats.”.

For the 2025 season, Pedro is motivated to participate in major competitions as an athlete, with the mission of delivering good Jiu-Jitsu to win and capture the attention of the right people. Some time from now, he does not rule out the possibility of migrating to MMA and exploring new territories as a martial artist.

“Next year I want to compete in everything, I feel good and healthy. I have this commitment to myself, to show good Jiu-Jitsu. I want to reproduce what I do in the gym in competition. I intend to open my own academy too and, in the future, I think about getting into MMA.”.