From Rehabilitation to Grappling Methodology
Drawing on his background in physical education, Humberto approached the Swiss Ball not simply as a rehabilitation tool but as a vehicle for functional training. He built a disciplined daily practice around it, targeting the specific physical deficits caused by his injury — core instability, compromised hip mobility, and the loss of functional strength that had accompanied the disc damage.
The results were gradual but undeniable. His lost muscle mass began to return, and his strength progressively recovered. More significantly, the exercises he developed during rehabilitation revealed a direct application to grappling performance. The emphasis on core strength and hip mobility translated seamlessly onto the mat, and Humberto began integrating the system into regular classes at his gym. Students responded strongly, with measurable improvements in their grappling ability becoming evident.
Convinced of the system's value — both as a rehabilitation protocol and as a grappling-specific conditioning methodology — Humberto formalized his work. In 2007, he patented the exercises under the name Contato Constante, meaning Constant Contact. The system established a structured method for improving grappling performance through targeted movements focused on core strength and hip mobility, earning recognition across the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and broader combat sports communities.