Fernando Di Piero

Main Achievements

• Founder of Alliance Ecuador — Served as the historic foundational pioneer responsible for establishing world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu infrastructure and accelerating the growth of grappling across the nation.
• 2-Time IBJJF European Open Silver Medalist — Proven international elite status by capturing back-to-back podium placements (2005, 2010) on one of the most prestigious grand prix stages in Europe.
• CBJJ Brazilian National Bronze Medalist (2006) — Validated his elite black belt parameters on the highly contested domestic circuits of Brazil.
• Dominant Lower Belt Campaign — Commanded the brown belt division with a 1st Place victory at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2003), along with medals at the IBJJF World Championship (2002, 2003) and Pan American Championship (2003).
• Master Tier Generation Builder — Acted as the foundational “father figure” of Ecuadorian grappling, directly producing elite global talents such as Johnny Tama, Francisco “Sinistro” Iturralde, and UFC veteran Marlon “Chito” Vera.

Overview

Professor Fernando Di Piero, universally revered across the grappling community by his iconic moniker “Soluço,” is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, an elite international heavyweight competitor, and a highly influential vanguard within the prestigious Alliance Jiu-Jitsu organization. Despite his Brazilian roots and impressive competitive tenure under Master Fábio Gurgel, Soluço’s most profound historical impact lies in his role as the absolute pioneer of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Ecuador. Opening the very first Alliance franchise in the country, his transitional legacy as a championship competitor and the “father figure” of Ecuadorian combat sports securely positions him at the forefront of contemporary martial arts majesty.

Early Life & The Alliance Ascension

Fernando Di Piero initialized his martial arts path in Brazil, dedicating his early life to capturing the uncompromised leverage mechanics of the floor game. He began his formal training under Roberto Lage, who molded his early foundational defense and awarded him his blue and purple belts. It was during these formative years that he acquired his famous nickname, “Soluço” (Portuguese for “Hiccup”). A training partner jokingly remarked that his explosive kiai (shout) sounded more like a hiccup, and the lighthearted moniker permanently stuck throughout his legendary career.

Seeking to test his technical boundaries within one of the most talent-dense training rooms on Earth, Soluço transitioned his daily preparation to the world-renowned Alliance team under the meticulous tutelage of Master Fábio Gurgel. Under Gurgel’s rigorous curriculum, Soluço polished a devastatingly heavy pressure game and ultimately earned his brown and black belts. He proved to be a formidable terror in the heavyweight division, securing prestigious medals across the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, the IBJJF World Championships, and the European Open.

The Ecuadorian Vanguard & Master Pedagogy

While his competitive accolades firmly established his elite status, Professor Soluço’s ultimate calling was that of an international trailblazer. Recognizing a massive opportunity to expand the “Arte Suave,” he executed a historic relocation to Ecuador. Stepping into a completely untapped region, he became the very first Alliance instructor to establish a franchise in the country. By constructing a world-class training environment from the ground up, he single-handedly accelerated the technical evolution of grappling across the nation.

Tactically, Professor Soluço is highly celebrated for bringing top-tier, authentic Jiu-Jitsu to an emerging market. His instruction is deeply rooted in unyielding fundamentals, featuring a specialized fondness for incorporating crushing Judo throws and high-amplitude takedowns into modern BJJ. Today, he is widely recognized as the absolute patriarch of the Ecuadorian grappling scene. Through decades of relentless dedication on the mats, he has been directly responsible for producing and fostering the careers of the region’s absolute best combat sports athletes, including elite international competitors like Francisco “Sinistro” Iturralde, Johnny Tama (Ecuador’s very first IBJJF No-Gi World Champion), and highly ranked UFC veteran Marlon “Chito” Vera. Professor Fernando “Soluço” Di Piero stands securely enshrined as an eternal monument to regional pioneering, master-class instruction, and uncompromised martial arts dedication.