Alexandre de Jesus “Robinho”

Alexandre de Jesus "Robinho" was born on April 11, 1997, in Saúde, a small town in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. As a toddler, his family relocated to Caraguatatuba, a coastal municipality in São Paulo, where he spent his formative years and discovered his calling on the jiu-jitsu mats.

Growing up along the São Paulo coast, Alexandre developed a deep passion for football (soccer), which dominated much of his early childhood. When his parents grew concerned about his behavior at school, they channeled his energy into martial arts, seeking the discipline and structure that combat sports training could provide. The decision proved transformative. In 2012, at the age of 13, Alexandre walked into André Medeiros' jiu-jitsu academy for the first time — beginning a journey that would define the course of his life.

Under André Medeiros' guidance, Alexandre built a formidable technical foundation over years of dedicated training. By the time he reached purple belt, what had begun as a disciplinary outlet had evolved into a clear professional ambition. Recognizing his own potential and determined to compete at the highest level, Alexandre made the pivotal decision to pursue grappling as a career.

That ambition led him to the Calasans Camargo gym in São José dos Campos — an academy affiliated with André Medeiros' team and home to one of the most respected coaching staffs in the region. There, Alexandre came under the tutelage of Claudio Calasans and Álvaro Borges, two coaches whose expertise proved instrumental in his development. Together, they guided him through his brown belt phase and awarded him his black belt in September 2018. Through this affiliation, Alexandre became one of the principal representatives of the Calasans BJJ / Atos JJ coalition on the international grappling circuit.

Long before his black belt debut, Alexandre had already begun making his mark on the competitive landscape. His colored belt career served as a compelling preview of the international-level performer he was becoming, with consistent results across both domestic and global stages.

At purple belt, Alexandre announced himself as a genuine talent by claiming gold at the CBJJE Mundial Submission in 2016 and reaching the final of the CBJJE World Championship that same year. His performances at the IBJJF European Open further underscored his credentials, earning him silver medals in both 2017 and 2018 — first as a purple belt, then as a brown belt — demonstrating remarkable consistency at international level across two consecutive divisions. A bronze at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2017 added depth to his purple belt résumé, before he capped his colored belt career with gold at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2018 as a brown belt — a result that foreshadowed the immediate impact he would make upon receiving his black belt just months later.

Immediate Impact and South American Dominance

Alexandre wasted no time validating his potential at the sport's highest level. On his black belt debut in 2018, he captured the IBJJF South American Championship title in the Peso Médio division (82.30 kg / 181.5 lbs) — an extraordinary way to open a new chapter. He returned to defend that title successfully in 2019, establishing himself as the dominant force in South American competition within his weight class.

Building an International Portfolio

As his career progressed, Alexandre assembled an impressive international résumé across both gi and no-gi formats. In 2020, he earned bronze at the IBJJF European Open. The 2021 season brought podium finishes at the IBJJF World Championship No-Gi and the AJP Grand Slam Miami, affirming his versatility as a competitor. The 2022 season delivered additional milestones: a silver at the IBJJF European Open No-Gi and a decisive victory at the ADCC Brazilian Trials — a result that placed him firmly among Brazil's elite grapplers and secured his place on the sport's most prestigious submission-only stage.

World Championship Gold

After adding a bronze at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2023, Alexandre reached the pinnacle of IBJJF no-gi competition in 2024 by claiming the IBJJF World Championship No-Gi title — the most prestigious no-gi honor in IBJJF competition. That gold medal cemented his reputation as a world-class competitor and stands as the defining achievement of a career built on discipline, technical refinement, and the unwavering guidance of coaches Claudio Calasans and Álvaro Borges.