Equipe Kimura grew steadily from those grassroots beginnings, driven by Jair's creativity and meticulous attention to technical detail. His coaching instincts attracted a loyal following and produced early success in local tournaments across the northeast of Brazil. As the team's reputation developed, Jair recognized the need for affiliation with a larger organization to compete in sanctioned national events, leading Equipe Kimura to align with Kioto and gain access to the broader competitive circuit.
The partnership that would define Jair's legacy, however, took shape in 1997. As a brown belt, he traveled to Rio de Janeiro to train at Nova União under André Pederneiras, and quickly found that Nova União's training methodology aligned closely with his own vision for himself and his students. The decision was clear: Jair severed ties with Kioto and forged a lasting partnership with Pederneiras, bringing the Kimura academy into the Nova União family. The team thereafter operated under the Kimura/Nova União banner, merging Jair's northeastern base with one of Brazil's most respected BJJ organizations.