Alan Moraes

Alan Moraes was born on April 16, 1977, in Brazil, and built the athletic foundation of his martial arts career through years of devoted judo training. Beginning at age 10 under coach Josemar at the M.A.B.E. school, Alan embarked on a six-year run during which he remained completely undefeated — a testament to both his natural ability and his competitive drive. Over that span, he captured the inter-tournament title five times, claimed the national intercollegiate championship, and won the Colégio Veiga de Almeida tournament twice, establishing himself as a dominant force at every level he entered.

Competing for the prestigious Flamengo club, Alan continued to sharpen his mat skills before his path shifted decisively in 1992. That year marked his first contact with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — initially approached as a means of strengthening his ground game and complementing the grappling fundamentals he had forged through judo. What began as cross-training would ultimately become the defining pursuit of his athletic life.

Alan Moraes entered BJJ through the Carlson Gracie system, with Marcelo Alonso serving as his first instructor. When Marcelo relocated to the United States shortly after Alan's training began, coaching responsibilities passed to instructor Marinho — a formative figure who would guide Alan through the foundational years of his BJJ development. Under Marinho, Alan began competing and recording his first victories on the BJJ circuit while simultaneously taking on early coaching duties assisting with the academy's kids' classes. Marinho oversaw his progression through every rank from white to purple belt.

The next phase of Alan's development came under Ari Galo, who assumed responsibility for his training and promoted him to brown belt. Recognizing Alan's growing maturity as both a competitor and an instructor, Ari Galo invited him to assist with the adult classes — a pivotal step that marked the true beginning of Alan's coaching career. At brown belt in 2002, Alan delivered a strong series of podium performances, taking gold at the Rio de Janeiro State Championship and bronze at the World Cup, signaling that he was ready for the sport's highest rank. In December 2002, Carlson Gracie Junior formally promoted Alan Moraes to black belt — a recognition of years of competition, instruction, and unwavering service to the Carlson Gracie team. Throughout his competitive career, Alan fought in the middleweight division, known in Brazil as Peso Médio (82kg/181lbs).

Alan Moraes' identity as a coach took shape well before his black belt promotion, rooted in the youth classes he assisted under Marinho and the adult instruction he took on at Ari Galo's invitation. Following his promotion in December 2002, Alan became one of the principal coaches at the Carlson Gracie Academy in Rio de Janeiro — a position he held for well over a decade and one that placed him at the heart of one of the most historically significant academies in the sport.

Alongside his coaching responsibilities, Alan built a parallel career as one of the main referees for the IBJJF — the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. His work as an IBJJF referee brought him to major tournaments around the world and reflected the depth of his understanding of competitive rules, technical standards, and the sport's tactical landscape. This dual role as coach and referee extended his influence far beyond any single academy, cementing his standing as a respected authority within the global BJJ community.

In 2016, after more than a decade of service within the Carlson Gracie Academy system, Alan Moraes chose to chart a new course. Alongside Samir Chantre, Osvaldo Queixinho, and Milton Bastos, he co-founded Ares BJJ — an affiliation that grew rapidly into one of the most prominent and competitive organizations in the sport. The founding brought together accomplished black belts whose combined competitive pedigree and coaching experience gave Ares BJJ an immediate presence on the world stage.

Within Ares BJJ, Alan continued the dual professional life he had cultivated throughout his career — developing high-level competitors as a coach while maintaining his role as an IBJJF referee, contributing to the integrity and structure of the sport's competitive framework.

Alan Moraes' competitive record reflects the same consistency and discipline that defined his judo career. In 2002, he took gold at the Rio de Janeiro State Championship in the brown belt division and added a bronze at the World Cup that same year, establishing himself as a reliable podium presence before receiving his black belt.

The momentum carried into his black belt years, culminating in one of his finest international performances at the 2008 European Open, where he claimed first place in the Absolute Master, Black Belt division — a title that demonstrated his capacity to compete effectively across the full range of body types and styles. That same year, he earned a bronze medal at the 2008 European Championship in the Master, Black Belt division, capping a strong showing on the international stage. Competing throughout his career in the Peso Médio category (82kg/181lbs), Alan Moraes proved himself a capable and determined competitor across every phase of his BJJ journey.