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About
| Full Name | André Luiz Leite Galvão |
| Nickname | “Deco” |
| Date of Birth | September 29, 1982 |
| Rank & Title | Black Belt & Atos Co-Founder |
| Weight Divisions | Peso Meio-Pesado (88.3 kg) / Peso Pesado (94.3 kg) / Absolute |
| Signature Style | Aggressive Guard Passing Systems |
| Team Affiliation | Atos Jiu-Jitsu |
Main Achievements
ADCC World Championships:
- 4x Reining ADCC Superfight Champion (2013 / 2015 / 2017 / 2019)
- 2x 1st Place — ADCC World Championship (2011 Weight & Absolute)
- 2nd Place — ADCC World Championship (2009 Absolute)
- 2x 3rd Place — ADCC World Championship (2007 Weight & Absolute)
IBJJF Black Belt Tournaments:
- 5x 1st Place — IBJJF World Champion (2005 / 2008 / 2014 / 2016 / 2017)
- 8x 1st Place — IBJJF Pan American Champion
- 3x 1st Place — IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2010 Weight & Absolute / 2011)
Colored Belt Historical Milestones:
- First athlete in history to win the IBJJF “Grand Slam” at purple belt in a single year
Overview
André Galvão is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most accomplished competitors to ever grace the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A multi-time IBJJF World Champion and legendary ADCC Superfight Champion, Galvão has also cemented his legacy as a premier mastermind coach, building Atos Jiu-Jitsu into one of the strongest team alliances in modern grappling history.
The Rise of a Prodigy
Galvão initiated his martial arts journey as a child through Judo, mentored early on by Calasans Camargo (father of fellow ADCC champion Claudio Calasans). Influenced by his brother, he transitioned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under his first coach, Luis Carlos “Careca” Dagmar. Recognizing Galvão’s exceptional natural talent, Dagmar selflessly advised the young prodigy to move to a more competitive environment, sending him to train with the legendary pound-for-pound king, Fernando Tererê.
Under Tererê’s guidance, Galvão’s skills evolved at a blistering pace. As a purple belt, he became the first athlete in BJJ history to win the coveted IBJJF “Grand Slam” (World Championship, Pan American Championship, and Brazilian Nationals) in the same year, remaining undefeated at that rank for nearly three years. He went on to receive his black belt from Master Dagmar in 2005.
Unprecedented Competitive Legacy
Galvão’s career is defined by an extraordinary collection of medals at the sport’s highest echelons, maintaining absolute dominance across both gi and no-gi formats:
ADCC Superfight King: Galvão holds a legendary status in the ADCC World Championships. After winning both his weight class and the prestigious Absolute (Open Class) division in 2011, he went on a historic run as the reigning ADCC Superfight Champion, successfully defending his crown across four consecutive editions (2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019) against the world’s most elite grapplers.
World Championship Dominance: He is a 5-time IBJJF Black Belt World Champion and an 8-time Pan American Champion.
Mixed Martial Arts: Seeking to test his skills in all arenas, Galvão successfully transitioned to professional MMA in 2008. He competed in major international promotions including DREAM in Japan and Strikeforce in the United States, retiring from the cage with a formidable 5-2-0 record to focus entirely on his academy.
Founding Atos and Coaching Legacy
In October 2008, Galvão partnered with his close friend Ramon Lemos to found a new Jiu-Jitsu team. Drawing from their strong evangelical backgrounds, they named the team Atos (meaning “Acts,” inspired by the biblical Book of Acts).
Galvão and his wife, Angelica Galvão, later relocated to California to establish the Atos Jiu-Jitsu Headquarters in San Diego. Under his strict, detail-oriented leadership, Atos HQ evolved into a global powerhouse, producing generations of world-class black belt champions—including Kade and Tye Ruotolo, Lucas Barbosa, and Lillian Marchand. Today, Galvão remains an active global ambassador for the sport, celebrated for his aggressive guard-passing systems and his profound impact on modern BJJ pedagogy.
Black Belts Promoted 32
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