Fernando Augosto

Fernando Augusto da Silva, universally known by his iconic nickname “Tererê,” is a legendary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt representing Alliance and the co-founder of the historic TT Team. Widely regarded as the most charismatic and electric competitor to ever step onto a mat, Tererê was considered the pound-for-pound best grappler in the world during the early 2000s and revolutionized modern Jiu-Jitsu with his dynamic passing style.

Early Life and the Cantagalo Project
Born on November 15, 1980, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Augusto was raised in extreme poverty within the Morro do Cantagalo, one of the city’s most notorious favelas (slums). To escape the surrounding drug trafficking and street violence, he began training Jiu-Jitsu under an instructor named Master “Lelo.” He trained with Lelo until earning his green belt, at which point the coach had to stop teaching due to financial hardship.

After a brief hiatus, Augusto was invited by Otavio Couto to train at the famous Academia Strike, where he came under the tutelage of Alexandre Paiva and Roberto Traven. Blessed with extraordinary natural athleticism, Tererê went on a historic tear through the colored belt divisions, winning every major tournament in the world. He famously favored top-position passing because he suffered from mild claustrophobia, meaning he would explosively and creatively spin out of any bottom position to avoid being pinned.

Black Belt Stardom and Team Splits
In 2000, at just 20 years old, Tererê reached the black belt adult middleweight final of the IBJJF World Championship. Facing the heavy favorite, Nino Schembri, Tererê used brilliant throwing tactics to win his first World Title as a black belt, celebrating on the mats with Elvis Presley dance impersonations (mocking Schembri’s nickname, “Elvis”).

In 2002, Tererê was part of the elite group of black belts who broke away from Alliance leader Fabio Gurgel over a dispute regarding whether to prioritize the prestigious World Championship or the financially lucrative CBJJO World Cup. The split led to the creation of Master Team, which later evolved when Tererê and Eduardo Telles broke away to form the legendary TT Team. As a coach, Tererê’s innovative movement style heavily influenced and shaped the games of future legends, including André Galvão, Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, Michael Langhi, and Lucas Lepri.

Hardships and Historic Return
At the peak of his athletic prime in 2004, Tererê’s world fell apart. Following a highly publicized legal incident in the United States where he was arrested on a flight, he fell into a severe, deep depression. This catalyzed a heavy drug addiction that resulted in crack cocaine dependence, causing him to completely abandon the sport and spend years living on the streets.

During his prolonged absence, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. With the collective financial and emotional support of his family and the global BJJ community, Tererê was placed into rehabilitation clinics. He spent time recovering and teaching in the United Kingdom before permanently returning to the mats. In September 2012, he made a triumphant and highly emotional return to competitive Jiu-Jitsu, winning a black belt tournament in Mexico, and later taking a silver medal at the 2013 European Open. He continues to run his social project in Cantagalo, helping steer favela youth away from crime just as the sport did for him.

Main Achievements
Tererê’s competitive resume is defined by his willingness to fight at his natural weight or jump multiple weight classes to face much larger opponents:

1st Place: IBJJF World Champion (2000, 2003 Middleweight)

1st Place: CBJJO World Cup Champion (2002, 2003)

1st Place: CBJJ Brazilian National Champion (2001 Absolute, 2003)

1st Place: IBJJF Pan American Champion (2004)

2nd Place: IBJJF World Championship (2001 Middleweight, 2004 Super-Heavyweight)

2nd Place: IBJJF European Open (2013)

Practitioner Profile
Nickname Origin: “Tererê” is a traditional South American herbal tea. He earned the nickname as a blue belt because he loved obsessively singing a popular Brazilian song that featured the word “Tererê” in the chorus.

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82.30 kg / 181.5 lbs), though he regularly jumped up to Ultra-Heavy and Absolute divisions.

Key Innovations: Mainstream pioneer of the Toreando (Bullfighter) pass and the early foundations of the Leg Drag.

Team Associations: Alliance / TT Team