Alex Paz built a methodical and consistent competitive record across multiple belt divisions throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. His early career was shaped by appearances at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, where he accumulated medals across the blue and purple belt divisions, establishing himself as one of the more reliable tournament performers of his generation in Brazil.
At purple belt, Paz reached the podium at the IBJJF World Championship in 2000, demonstrating that his game translated effectively to the sport's most prestigious stage. That performance foreshadowed what would come the following year. At the 2001 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, competing at brown belt, Paz delivered a landmark double gold performance — capturing victory in both his weight category and the absolute division. The achievement reflected the technical and physical completeness of his game, and it served as the direct catalyst for his promotion to black belt by Bustamante and Libório.
His competitive trajectory across this period revealed a practitioner who combined athletic pedigree, elite training infrastructure, and a methodical technical approach — qualities that would later define his work as both a coach and an administrator.