Fabrício Martins

Fabrício Martins grew up in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, in a household where martial arts were part of daily life. His older brothers served as his earliest guides, introducing him to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and igniting a passion that would shape everything that followed. In 1985, Martins stepped onto the mats at the renowned Osvaldo Alves Academy in Copacabana, beginning his formal training under Osvaldo Alves, one of the most respected and influential figures in the history of the art.

Training during a formative period in BJJ's evolution in Brazil, Martins absorbed the foundational principles of the art at one of its most prestigious institutions. The Osvaldo Alves Academy served as a proving ground for many of the sport's future leaders, and Martins distinguished himself as one of its most dedicated students. The technical standards set by Master Alves and the competitive atmosphere of the academy shaped both his identity as a practitioner and his broader vision for the art.

Fabrício Martins established himself as a top competitor on the Brazilian BJJ scene throughout the 1980s, competing in the Peso Pena weight division (70kg/154lbs). His rapid technical development under Osvaldo Alves earned him his black belt at the age of 20 — a milestone reflecting not only his skill but also the deep trust his master placed in him.

The relationship between Martins and Osvaldo Alves extended well beyond those early years, embodying a lineage of trust and technical mastery that has endured across decades. In 2009, Master Alves promoted Martins to the 6th degree black belt, recognizing his sustained contributions to the art. In 2013, Alves further honored that legacy by promoting Martins to the 7th degree coral belt, a distinction that places him among the most senior practitioners in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Armed with his black belt and the blessing of Osvaldo Alves, Fabrício Martins founded Equipe Fabricio with a clear mission: to spread Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu beyond the walls of a single academy. The team's origins were modest — classes began in his parents' house in Copacabana, rooted in the same neighborhood where his own journey had started. As the team grew, Equipe Fabricio relocated to Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, establishing itself as a recognized institution in the Brazilian BJJ landscape.

The academy's growth did not stop at Brazil's borders. Under Martins' leadership, Equipe Fabricio expanded into a globally recognized organization with affiliates spanning multiple continents, including Germany, Jordan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and South Korea. This international footprint stands as one of the most tangible expressions of the mission Martins carried forward from his early days at the Osvaldo Alves Academy.

Among all the tools in Fabrício Martins' technical arsenal, the Closed Guard holds a special place as both his favorite and signature position. This preference is deeply rooted in the traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu taught at Osvaldo Alves Academy, where controlling distance, maintaining position, and creating submission opportunities from the bottom were central tenets of the curriculum.

Martins' emphasis on the Closed Guard reflects a fundamentals-first philosophy that has defined his approach throughout his career. As the leader of Equipe Fabricio and the head of a network of academies across multiple countries, his technical convictions shape the curriculum and culture of the organization at every level. The closed guard serves as a direct thread connecting Martins' own formation under Osvaldo Alves to the next generation of practitioners training under the Equipe Fabricio banner worldwide — both a competitive tool and a teaching framework that carries the lineage forward.