Andre Luiz Candido da Silva

André Luiz Candido da Silva, widely known in the grappling world by his nickname “Marola,” was born on March 2, 1973, in the northern area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Growing up in the traditional Bairro do Méier and its surrounding neighborhoods, martial arts were introduced to him at a very young age. His father, a dedicated enthusiast of the sport and a blue belt under the legendary Carlson Gracie, introduced André to jiu-jitsu when he was just five years old.

His initial training was overseen by Walter Nogueira, who coached him through his formative childhood years until he turned 14. At that point, prominent instructor Wendell Alexander took over the leadership of the academy. Alexander would go on to shape André’s entire foundational path, grading him through every belt rank and ultimately promoting him to black belt in December 1996.

André’s coaching journey actually began well before his promotion to black belt; he started assisting his instructors and leading classes as a purple belt as early as 1990. This extensive coaching background proved vital for his future.

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nova União had become a powerhouse team, capturing two world team titles by 2002. However, as the team’s top black belts—such as Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro and Thales Leite—gradually shifted their focus entirely toward professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), the academy’s presence on the jiu-jitsu circuit began to dwindle. Recognizing the need to preserve the team’s grappling heritage, André requested to step up and lead the competitive team. In 2008, team founders Dedé Pederneiras and Wendell Alexander officially placed Marola in charge of the headquarters’ jiu-jitsu program in Rio de Janeiro. Alongside fellow coach Fábio Andrade, Marola successfully engineered a massive competitive resurgence for the team throughout the 2010s.

Main Achievements
1st Place CBJJ Brazilian National Team Championship (2013)

2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian National Team Championship (1996 / 1997 / 1998 / 2012)

3rd Place CBJJO World Cup (2003)

3rd Place CBJJ Brazilian National Championship (1996 brown belt – weight & absolute)

Grappling Profile & Quick Stats
Nickname: “Marola” is a Portuguese slang term for a calm ocean wave. André earned the nickname from his childhood friends because he loved going to the beach to surf but would routinely stay away from the heavy, dangerous breaks.

Weight Division: Pesadíssimo (Over 100 kg / 221 lbs)

Favorite Position/Technique: Guard Passing

Team / Association: Nova União