Alvaro Mansor

Full Name: Alvaro Mansor

Born: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Nationality: Brazilian

Team / Association: Soul Fighters / Kioto BJJ

Rank: 6th-Degree Black Belt

Coach: Grand Master Francisco Mansor

Biography
Alvaro Mansor is a highly accomplished 6th-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and an foundational figure in the administrative and competitive evolution of modern sport Jiu-Jitsu. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Alvaro’s path in the martial art was heavily guided by his family lineage; he is the nephew of Grand Master Francisco Mansor—one of the legendary few to receive a red belt directly from Gracie Jiu-Jitsu founder Helio Gracie.

Training at the historic Kioto Jiu-Jitsu Academy under his uncle’s strict and traditional tutelage, Alvaro developed into an exceptional tactician and a meticulous instructor. He spent decades serving as a pillar of the Kioto headquarters, eventually taking over as a head coach and guiding the progression of numerous elite colored belts. Beyond his work on the academy mats, Alvaro became an indispensable asset to the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), working closely behind the scenes for years as a head rules official and referee director to help standardize competition guidelines worldwide.

In 2008, seeking a fresh environment to cultivate a new generation of high-level athletes, Alvaro made the pivotal decision to leave the Kioto organization. He joined forces with his prominent former students—including ultra-heavyweight leader Bruno “Tank” Mendes and world champion Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes—as well as lifelong friends Leandro Escobar and Rafael Barbosa. Together, the five pioneers co-founded Soul Fighters Jiu-Jitsu. Leveraging Alvaro’s master-level oversight and strict curriculum layout, Soul Fighters quickly grew into a massive international powerhouse, producing world champions at every belt tier.

Influence & Leadership Style
Master Alvaro is highly revered for bringing an unmatched level of technical precision, organizational structure, and deeply rooted traditional etiquette to the modern, fast-paced sports teams he leads.

Key Areas of Expertise: Rules Regulation, Technical Offense, and Academy Management.

Elite Black Belts Produced / Co-Developed
Throughout his storied coaching career between Kioto and the formation of Soul Fighters, Alvaro has heavily influenced, trained, and graduated several icons of the sport:

Bruno “Tank” Mendes (Soul Fighters Co-Founder)

Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes (IBJJF Black Belt World Champion & ADCC Champion)

Erick Raposo