Gialysson Freitas

Gyalisson Freitas was born on August 14, 1992, in the Brazilian state of Piauí, a region nestled in the northeastern interior of Brazil. At the age of 7, he relocated with his family to Vila Isabel, one of Rio de Janeiro's most storied boroughs, rich in cultural identity. It was within this vibrant urban environment that the foundations of his character — and his eventual path toward martial arts — took shape.

Within the BJJ community, Freitas carries the nickname "Hiago." His name appears under two spellings across official records: "Gyalisson Freitas" in BJJ Heroes documentation, and "Gialysson Adão Silva Freitas" in IBJJF records — a common variation in Brazilian name documentation that surfaces across both sources without contradiction.

First Steps on the Mats

Freitas took his first steps on the mats at age 17, drawn to jiu-jitsu through the influence of a close friend. His debut training session took place on July 20, 2009, at the academy of José Luis Varella and Marcio Tubarão, affiliated with GF Team — a date that holds deep personal significance and marks the true beginning of his journey.

Building a Record Through the Ranks

Training within the GF Team system in Rio de Janeiro, Freitas developed steadily through the colored belt ranks, forging a competition record that reflected consistent technical growth. At purple belt, he earned podium finishes at multiple IBJJF events, including a third-place finish at the IBJJF Rio Open in 2014 and another third at the IBJJF Rio Fall Open in 2015. At the national level, he reached the podium at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals at both purple belt in 2013 and brown belt in 2016 — a testament to his sustained competitiveness across divisions and years. His brown belt campaign culminated with a gold medal at the IBJJF Rio Fall Open in 2017, one of his most significant pre-black belt achievements.

Black Belt Promotion and the Move to the United States

The bond between Freitas and his coach Luis Varella proved to be one of the defining relationships of his career. When Varella relocated to the United States, Freitas followed — a decision that speaks to both his loyalty and his ambition. In July 2018, Julio Cesar Pereira awarded Freitas his black belt, formalizing a milestone years in the making and opening the next chapter of his competitive life.

Early Black Belt Titles

Competing in the Peso Médio (middleweight) division at 82.30 kg / 181.5 lbs, Freitas made an immediate impression on the IBJJF circuit after his black belt promotion. In 2018, he claimed gold at the IBJJF Charlotte Open — a statement performance on the regional American circuit — and added a silver medal at the IBJJF Twin Cities Open, reaching the final in just his first months as a black belt.

Continued Growth in 2019

The momentum carried into 2019, when Freitas captured gold at the 2019 IBJJF Atlanta Spring Open, affirming his competitive consistency at the highest level. He reached the final at the IBJJF Cincinnati Open that same year and claimed silver in the absolute division at the IBJJF Kansas Open — results that highlighted the versatility and well-rounded game that would come to define his profile.

Double Podium Performance in 2021

By 2021, Freitas delivered his most complete competitive showing at the IBJJF Atlanta Open, reaching the silver-medal position in both the weight division and the absolute — a double podium that underscored his endurance, technical range, and adaptability against varied opposition. A silver at the IBJJF Charleston Open that same year further cemented his reputation as a reliable and dangerous competitor across the southeastern and midwestern United States regional circuit.

In October 2020, Freitas opened Arte Suave Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina, establishing his own platform for instruction and community development. The name — "Arte Suave," meaning "the gentle art" in Portuguese — serves as a direct invocation of BJJ's Brazilian identity and the tradition Freitas carries forward from his GF Team roots.

The founding of Arte Suave marks a meaningful evolution in his story: the student who once followed a coach from Rio de Janeiro to the United States had grown into a head instructor capable of building and leading his own program. The academy serves as both the base for his ongoing competitive activities and a hub for the Charlotte BJJ community, where Freitas transmits the technical and cultural values instilled in him through years of training in Rio and competition across two continents.