Despite jiu-jitsu's grounding influence, Rodrigues became involved in criminal activity at 17, even as he continued training under João Fernandes. By his twentieth birthday, circumstances in Rio de Janeiro had grown untenable, forcing him to relocate to Campos dos Goytacazes — a city further inland in the state of Rio de Janeiro — where he would spend the next six years.
Finding Purpose Through Coaching
In Campos dos Goytacazes, Rodrigues trained at a local academy, and his skill level quickly drew the attention of the gym's owner, who invited him to coach. He initially declined, but as his involvement with the group deepened, he agreed to take on the role. What began as a small group of competitors grew rapidly in both numbers and reputation, drawing students from neighboring academies — and, with them, the scrutiny of rival coaches.
Knowing that Rodrigues was competing and coaching as an unregistered purple belt, those instructors called for an official inspection. The result was a requirement that Rodrigues sit for a formal instructor certification examination. The circumstances surrounding that test were among the most painful of his life: on the very day his mother was being buried, having taken her own life, Rodrigues could not return to Rio de Janeiro due to the situation he had left behind. He sat for the examination regardless. His performance was exceptional — so much so that the head of the evaluation committee, Irami Gomes Rocha, awarded Rodrigues his brown belt on the spot in recognition of his demonstrated mastery.
Incarceration, Release, and the Black Belt
Rodrigues joined Rocha's gym and continued training, though he had not yet fully broken from his criminal past. That path led to his arrest and a period of incarceration lasting twenty months. Upon his release, he returned to Rio de Janeiro and, in time, reconnected with Irami Gomes Rocha. The two trained together once more, and in 2004, Rocha awarded Rodrigues his black belt — a milestone that marked both the culmination of his jiu-jitsu journey and the beginning of his complete break from a life of crime. Within a year of receiving his black belt, Rodrigues had left that life entirely behind.