Alexandre dos Santos

Alexandre dos Santos — widely known by his nickname "Baiano" — was born on May 12, 1977, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His entry into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came through a pivotal friendship: his close companion Carlos "Portugues" Vieira's passion for the sport served as the catalyst for what would become a lifelong commitment to the martial art.

Dos Santos began his formal training under Neury Gomes in Vassouras, a city nestled in the mountainous interior of Rio de Janeiro state. That grounded environment shaped the foundational grappling principles that would define his technical identity. Under Gomes's instruction, he absorbed BJJ's core concepts with the diligence of a dedicated student, ultimately earning his blue belt — the first major milestone in his journey through the ranks.

Finding a Higher Level of Instruction

Armed with his blue belt and a clear appetite for elite training, Alexandre dos Santos moved to Gracie Leblon in the Leblon neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. There, he came under the guidance of Helio Soneca, a prominent figure in the Gracie lineage who had forged his own credentials at Gracie Club — later known as Barra Gracie — under the Machado Brothers, Ze Henrique Leão Teixeira, and Renzo Gracie.

Developing a Dual Training Identity

Training under Helio Soneca marked the most technically intensive phase of Alexandre's development. Soneca awarded him both his purple and brown belts, advancing him steadily through a rigorous curriculum. Rather than abandoning his roots, dos Santos maintained a dual training routine — splitting his time between Gracie Leblon and his original academy in Vassouras under Neury Gomes. This balance sharpened his technical repertoire while simultaneously establishing his identity as a coach, as he began assisting with classes in Vassouras alongside his continued competitive development under Soneca.

In 2003, Helio Soneca awarded Alexandre dos Santos his black belt, closing a formative chapter that had taken him from the hills of Vassouras to one of Rio de Janeiro's most respected training environments.

Dos Santos's path to the Southern Hemisphere traces back to the same friendship that first drew him to BJJ. In 2010, Carlos "Portugues" Vieira — his long-time friend and original training companion — extended an invitation for dos Santos to relocate to Australia and join the Cia Paulista Australia team. Once again, Vieira's influence proved decisive.

Dos Santos accepted the invitation and brought his Rio de Janeiro-forged black belt experience to the growing Australian BJJ community. Taking on a coaching role at Cia Paulista's Australian branch, he established himself as a technically grounded and consistent presence on the mat, contributing to the development of students across all levels. His transition into full-time coaching in Australia reflects a broader movement within the sport — Brazilian black belts carrying BJJ's technical traditions across continents and embedding them into local communities through dedicated instruction.

Immediate Impact Upon Arrival

Alexandre dos Santos competes in the lightweight division, classified as Peso Leve at 76kg/167lbs. His 2010 competitive performances established his credentials within the Australian and broader international BJJ landscape almost immediately upon his arrival. He claimed a bronze medal at the Pan Pacific Championship — one of the most prestigious regional tournaments in the Asia-Pacific — and followed that result with a third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Trials held in Sydney, also in 2010. Together, these results demonstrated the competitive credibility he carried with him from Brazil.

A Career Built on Both Sides of the World

Among his broader competitive honors, dos Santos holds a Bahia State Championship title and an Alfa Barra Championship — achievements that speak to a career built through personal performance as much as through coaching. His results across both Brazilian and Australian circuits reflect the sustained competitive drive of a practitioner who has remained active and ambitious at every stage of his BJJ journey.