Aldo Januário

Aldo Januário was born on August 31, 1978, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and grew up in Rio das Pedras, a neighborhood in the city's West Zone. At age eight, he took his first steps on the mats — beginning a lifelong relationship with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the very city where the modern sport took shape. Those early years forged the technical foundation and competitive instincts that would define everything to come.

At 16, Januário relocated to Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, where he launched his teaching career — remarkably, while still a purple belt. That early start as an instructor revealed both a maturity beyond his rank and a natural aptitude for coaching that would become his most enduring legacy. He earned his black belt within the Gracie Barra family under the lineage of Carlos Gracie Junior, grounding his development in one of the most decorated BJJ organizations in the world.

Establishing himself in Belo Horizonte, Aldo Januário became a pioneering figure for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a city not traditionally considered a BJJ hub. His reputation as an educator and competitor grew steadily — first within the Gracie Barra academy structure, and eventually along a more independent path with the founding of his own association, Caveirinha Jiu Jitsu Family.

A Global Platform Built from Hawaii

Around 2010, Januário established a base of operations in Hawaii — a move that proved transformative for the reach of his program. He has described Hawaii as combining the warmth and culture of Rio de Janeiro with the relaxed coastal atmosphere of Florianópolis, making it an ideal environment for the sport to thrive. From that base, he expanded his academy network globally, with former students and promoted black belts carrying the Caveirinha brand across multiple countries.

Coaching Philosophy: Technique, Mentorship, and the Whole Athlete

Januário's coaching philosophy integrates self-defense fundamentals and no-gi training alongside the traditional gi game — a combination he considers essential for producing well-rounded competitors, particularly those pursuing careers in MMA. His approach to mentorship extends well beyond technique. He has spoken openly about supporting students as human beings first, demonstrated when he guided Igor Araújo through the decision to step away from MMA to address family matters following his black belt promotion.

In shaping his coaching identity, Januário has cited Roberto Correa — known as Gordo — and Rafael Cordeiro as key inspirations, drawing from the technical innovations of one of BJJ's most influential figures and the high-performance training model of a world-class MMA coach. The result is a system that blends technical depth with the motivational intensity needed to develop elite competitors.

The most compelling measure of Aldo Januário's coaching legacy is the caliber of athletes he has produced. His most celebrated student, Rafael dos Anjos, captured the UFC Lightweight Championship in 2015, cementing Januário's reputation as a coach capable of developing fighters to the sport's highest level. Dos Anjos's championship run brought international recognition not only to the fighter but to the system and philosophy behind him.

A Roster That Speaks for Itself

Beyond dos Anjos, the depth of the Caveirinha Jiu Jitsu Family program is reflected in a roster of fighters and grapplers who have competed at the elite level. Paulo Costa emerged as one of MMA's most explosive middleweights under Januário's guidance, while Matheus Nicolau established himself as a capable competitor in the flyweight division. On the sport BJJ side, Philipe Della Monica, Rodrigo de Freitas, and Gustavo Saraiva have all represented the team at high levels of competition.

Igor Araújo, directly promoted to black belt by Januário, went on to compete professionally in MMA — a clear example of the team's pipeline from grappling into the fight scene. With black belts representing Caveirinha Jiu-Jitsu Family across multiple countries, Januário stands as one of the most productive developers of BJJ and MMA talent of his generation, a coach whose influence is measured not in trophies alone, but in the careers he has built.

Alongside his coaching achievements, Aldo Januário has maintained an active competitive career well into the Masters divisions — embodying the principle that a coach must lead by example. His competitive record spans decades, beginning with a gold medal at the Brazilian Team Nationals in 1998 at the brown and black belt level, an early signal of his potential at the elite tier of the sport.

A Sustained Record of Excellence

In the Masters divisions, Januário has performed at a consistently high level. He claimed silver medals at the Pan American Championship in both 2011 and 2012 in the Master division, before returning to the same event in 2014 to claim gold in the Master 2 category. In 2015, he added a gold medal at the American Nationals (Master 2) alongside a bronze at the World Masters in the same division — results that followed a silver at the World Masters in 2012.

Januário's signature position on the mat is Knee on Belly, a high-pressure, dominant control that reflects his aggressive, forward-moving competitive style. He views his own participation in Pan Ams and World Masters events not merely as personal ambition, but as a demonstration to his students that competitive drive and the willingness to test oneself against the best do not diminish with age.