André Seabra

André Seabra holds the rank of 5th-degree black belt (Faixa Preta 5º grau) in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — a distinction earned through decades of sustained commitment to the art at its highest levels. Affiliated with Nova União, one of Brazil's most storied BJJ organizations, Seabra has built a career that spans both the instructional and advocacy dimensions of the sport. Within the broader Nova União network across South America, he stands as a senior figure whose influence extends well beyond the competitive arena. His trajectory as a practitioner and teacher has been shaped not only by technical mastery but by a defining philosophy: that Jiu-Jitsu is a vehicle for profound social change.

In 1996, André Seabra founded "Fazendo a Diferença no Jiu-Jitsu" — translated as "Making a Difference in Jiu-Jitsu" — establishing one of the longest-running inclusive BJJ initiatives in South America. Built around adapted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training for individuals with special needs, the program has been operational for approximately 28 to 30 years as of 2024. Seabra's volunteer work with special needs populations spans the same period, representing a rare and sustained commitment to service that has defined the arc of his entire career in the martial arts.

The philosophy underpinning "Fazendo a Diferença" holds that Jiu-Jitsu is a transformative tool accessible to practitioners of all abilities. Across nearly three decades, this belief has guided the program's growth and shaped its identity. Through its longevity and reach, the initiative has become a model for socially conscious martial arts programming in Brazil — proof that elite-level expertise and grassroots community service are not mutually exclusive in the world of Jiu-Jitsu.

André Seabra serves as Vice President of the Sport Jiu-Jitsu South American Federation (SJJSAF), placing him among the senior leadership of the continental federation. Alongside this organizational authority, he holds the portfolio of Director of Adapted Special Fights and Para-Jiu-Jitsu within SJJSAF — a role that directly aligns his institutional duties with the lifelong advocacy work he has pursued since 1996.

This dual mandate reflects both the breadth of his contributions to BJJ governance and the depth of his commitment to inclusive competition. Through SJJSAF, Seabra has worked to formalize and expand Para-Jiu-Jitsu as a recognized competitive discipline across South America, elevating adaptive grappling to the continental federation level and building structural pathways for athletes and practitioners who might otherwise lack access to organized competition.

André Seabra stands as one of the foremost advocates for Para-Jiu-Jitsu and adaptive martial arts within the Brazilian and South American BJJ communities. His career represents a rare integration of two parallel tracks: high-level black belt credentials developed over decades within the Nova União system, and sustained, long-term social service delivered through the vehicle of Jiu-Jitsu. Few figures in the sport have maintained both dimensions at such depth and for such an extended period.

Bridging Grassroots and Governance

Seabra's work connects community-level programming through "Fazendo a Diferença no Jiu-Jitsu" with formal federation governance at SJJSAF, giving him influence across every layer of the adaptive grappling ecosystem. Over the course of his career, he has developed methodologies for teaching BJJ to practitioners with physical, cognitive, and developmental differences — contributing a body of instructional knowledge that has shaped how inclusive Jiu-Jitsu is taught throughout the region.

Voice for Inclusive Jiu-Jitsu

Seabra's ideas and experiences have reached broader audiences through BJJ media, including appearances on platforms such as PODFAIXA, where he has spoken on inclusive training philosophy and the wider social impact of the art. Across every facet of his work, Seabra's career stands as a testament to the potential of Jiu-Jitsu to serve communities far beyond the competitive stage.