Carlos Farias

Carlos Farias was born on October 7, 1974, in Brazil, and began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey in 1996 under Guilherme Santos. His early training built a technical foundation rooted in traditional BJJ principles, and his steady progression through the ranks reflected both his dedication to the art and his natural aptitude as a grappler.

Upon reaching the purple belt level, Farias made a pivotal decision to switch academies — a move that would prove instrumental in shaping his development. He relocated to train under Marcos Aurelio, known throughout the grappling community as "Maximus," a legendary figure from Fortaleza and a former student of Francisco Sá then affiliated with Brazilian Top Team (BTT). Training within this lineage immersed Farias in a demanding, high-level grappling environment that sharpened both his technical game and his competitive mindset. It was Maximus who awarded Farias his brown belt — a milestone that arrived just months before Farias made the life-changing decision to relocate to the United States in 2005.

When Carlos Farias arrived in the United States in 2005, establishing himself as a jiu-jitsu coach — the goal he had carried from Brazil — did not happen overnight. In his early years in America, he supported himself through work in the restaurant and flooring industries, building a new life while never abandoning the mats. His training continued in Atlanta, Georgia, where he connected with one of the most accomplished figures in the history of submission grappling: former ADCC champion Roberto Traven.

Training under Roberto Traven proved to be the defining chapter of Farias's development as a black belt practitioner. On September 1, 2007 — less than two years after arriving in the United States — Farias received his black belt from Traven, a testament to the quality of his preparation and the consistency of his dedication. Traven's mentorship provided Farias not only with elite technical instruction but also with a clear model of what a world-class competitor and ambassador of the sport could look like — a model Farias would go on to embody throughout his own coaching career.

With his black belt earned, Carlos Farias set his sights on his original ambition: building a career as a jiu-jitsu coach in the United States. His first formal coaching role came at Knuckleup in Douglasville, in the greater Atlanta area, where he began developing his identity as an instructor.

From Sparring Partner to Full-Time Coach

That chapter closed in 2008 when Farias was brought on as a sparring partner for MMA fighter Edwin Dewees, who was preparing for an Affliction FC bout against Rogerio Nogueira, known as "Minotouro." The experience placed Farias inside a high-performance professional combat sports environment, and the impression he made on Dewees's coaching staff at Lion's Den in Phoenix, Arizona, earned him an invitation to join the organization as a full-time BJJ coach. Farias accepted, relocating to Arizona and embedding himself within an established MMA training infrastructure.

Building a Loyal Team in Mesa

Farias spent several years at Lion's Den, refining his coaching craft and cultivating strong bonds with his students. When the gym closed in 2013, those relationships were put to the test — and held firm. Rather than leave their coach without a platform, Farias's students collectively pooled their resources to help him open his own academy in Mesa, Arizona. The result was a thriving program that stood as a direct reflection of the loyalty and trust he had built through years of dedicated instruction.

Carlos Farias competes as an ultra-heavyweight in the Peso Pesadíssimo division (100kg/221lbs) across both the IBJJF and UAEJJF tournament circuits. His sustained pursuit of adult division competition well into his 40s — an age range that falls within the Master 3 category under IBJJF rules — distinguishes him within his weight class and speaks to an exceptional level of physical commitment and competitive drive.

Pan American Championship Record

Farias's Pan American Championship results reflect both his consistency and his versatility across age divisions. He claimed gold at the Pan Americans in 2010 in the Master absolute division, again in 2011 in the Senior 1 division, and continued that success with titles in 2014 and 2015 in the Master 2 and Master 3 divisions respectively. He also earned bronze at the 2010 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship in the Master division and in the Master 2 absolute at the 2014 edition — adding depth to a Pan American record that spans nearly a decade.

UAEJJF and World Masters Results

On the UAEJJF circuit, Farias claimed the Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials USA title in both 2013 and 2016, underscoring his sustained relevance on the international submission grappling stage. His World Masters Championship appearances have also yielded podium finishes: silver medals in 2015 (Master 3 absolute) and 2016 (Master 3), alongside a bronze at the 2015 World Masters in the Master 3 division.

Domestic IBJJF Circuit

Farias has been a consistent force at domestic IBJJF events as well. He swept both the weight and absolute divisions at the 2015 Atlanta Summer Open, claimed gold at the 2015 Las Vegas Summer Open, and secured silver finishes at the 2015 American Nationals in both weight and absolute — reflecting regional dominance and national-level competitiveness in equal measure. His competitive career, built across multiple decades and platforms, runs as a defining thread alongside his identity as a coach and instructor.