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).