Jan Buatim

Jan Buatim's path to Brazilian jiu-jitsu was forged through years of athletic experimentation, personal struggle, and a chance encounter that changed everything. Introduced to martial arts at five years old, Buatim spent six years developing his judo skills, reaching the purple belt level before transitioning to taekwondo at twelve. Two years in, he stepped away from sports entirely — trading athletic discipline for a sedentary lifestyle built around video games and fast food. By fourteen, the consequences were impossible to ignore: Buatim approached 100kg (221lbs), a weight that pushed him to seek a meaningful change.

That change came when he joined a health club to lift weights. There, he crossed paths with Juliano Wandalen, a jiu-jitsu coach — widely known by his nickname "Ninja" — who trained at the same facility. Fit, well-regarded among the gym's members, and visibly disciplined, Wandalen left a strong impression on the younger Buatim. Inspired by him as a role model, Buatim enrolled in his jiu-jitsu class — a decision that would redefine the course of his life. Through consistent training, he shed 20kg (44lbs) and underwent a profound personal transformation, evolving from a withdrawn teenager into a more independent and outgoing individual. Travelling to competitions, bonding with training partners, and immersing himself in jiu-jitsu's broader social world opened doors that extended well beyond the mat.

Early Competition and Academic Detour

Buatim's competitive instincts surfaced early. At sixteen, he travelled alone to Niterói to compete at the CBJJO World Cup, earning a runner-up finish — a formative experience that revealed the full scope of what jiu-jitsu could offer in terms of travel, personal growth, and opportunity. Despite this promising start, his competitive journey was soon interrupted when he enrolled at UFSC in Florianópolis to study chemical engineering. The demands of academic life and limited access to high-level training in the area led him to step away from competition for roughly two years.

Return to Competition and International Experience

His return came through Pedro Mello, one of Santa Catarina's top coaches, under whose guidance Buatim re-engaged with competition and resumed his development as an athlete. During this period, he made his first international trips to California, training with Gui Mendes and Rafa Mendes at Art of Jiu-Jitsu. Those sessions broadened his technical perspective and sharpened his competitive edge. Shortly after his first Pan American Championship appearance in 2014, Pedro Mello awarded him the brown belt — recognition of the growth he had demonstrated both on and off the competition circuit.

Black Belt and the Move to São Paulo

In October 2015, Buatim made a decisive move to São Paulo to join the newly founded New School Brotherhood, where several of his training partners had already relocated. Under the leadership of Leandro Lo, he continued to grow as a competitor, benefiting from the elevated training environment Brazil's largest city offered. On July 1, 2016, Leandro Lo awarded Buatim his black belt — the culmination of a journey that had begun decades earlier on a judo mat.

Purple Belt Highlights

Across the purple, brown, and black belt divisions, Jan Buatim built a well-rounded competitive résumé at some of Brazil's most demanding regional and national events. At purple belt, he demonstrated both consistency and range, capturing titles at the Brazil Open, the Copa Blumenau, the São José Cup, and the Copa Stance, while also reaching the podium at the South Brazilian Championship across multiple divisions.

International Results (2013–2014)

His reach extended beyond Brazil's borders during the 2013–2014 period. He earned podium finishes at the San Francisco International Open — including a runner-up result in 2014 and a third-place finish in 2013 across weight and absolute divisions — along with a third-place result at the Houston International Open in 2013. Participation in the FIVE Grappling California events further underscored his willingness to test himself in diverse competitive environments.

Brown and Black Belt Results

At brown belt, Buatim added to his record with the Premium Cup title in 2016, gold at the Taboão da Serra Championship in both weight and absolute divisions, and a podium finish at the Brazil National Pro. His transition to black belt brought further results, including a third-place finish at the Floripa International Open Championship in 2016 and the Interstate MG/SP Championship title in both weight and absolute divisions. Competing primarily in the leve (76kg/168lbs) and médio (82kg/181lbs) weight classes, Buatim established himself as a credible and consistent presence on Brazil's national grappling circuit.

Buatim's decision to pursue jiu-jitsu as his primary focus came at the cost of a conventional professional path — a trade-off he made deliberately and with clear intent. Having graduated from UFSC with a degree in chemical engineering in June 2016, he entered the workforce and began a career in the industry. Yet even as he pursued engineering, jiu-jitsu remained central to his ambitions, and the pull of the sport ultimately proved stronger than the stability of a corporate position.

The move to São Paulo in October 2015 — which preceded his graduation — had already signalled where his priorities lay. Santa Catarina, while home, offered a comparatively limited environment for high-level BJJ training and competition. São Paulo represented the heart of the sport in Brazil, providing access to elite training partners, major tournaments, and a team in New School Brotherhood building real momentum under Leandro Lo. The fact that several of his closest training partners had already made the move reinforced the community-driven nature of the decision, illustrating how deeply the social bonds forged through jiu-jitsu shaped his career choices.

Buatim's trajectory — from obese teenager to chemical engineer to full-time jiu-jitsu athlete — reflects a tension familiar to many high-level competitors forced to choose between professional security and athletic ambition. His willingness to walk away from engineering in pursuit of excellence on the mat stands as one of the defining characteristics of his story as a martial artist.