A Friendship That Opened a Door
The relationship between Matheus Menezes and Atos Jiu-Jitsu developed organically through his cross-training habits in Vitória. Among the local gyms he frequented was C.T. Esportivo Domo, where he forged a meaningful friendship with owner and head instructor Wilson Ulhôa — a bond that would prove pivotal to his career trajectory.
In 2018, C.T. Esportivo Domo changed its affiliation from CheckMat to Atos Jiu-Jitsu and shortly thereafter hosted a seminar led by André Galvão, the head instructor and driving force behind the Atos organization. Menezes attended and used the opportunity purposefully — introducing himself to Galvão directly and expressing his interest in visiting the team's headquarters in San Diego, California. Galvão welcomed the outreach, and Menezes made his first trip to San Diego that same year.
Building a Full-Time Commitment
What began as a single visit evolved into a recurring commitment. Menezes returned to Atos HQ with increasing frequency over the following two years, each trip deepening his connection to the team and its high-level training culture. In 2020, he made the decision to relocate to North America, fully embedding himself within the Atos program and training full-time alongside elite competitors.
That arc reached its landmark moment on June 5, 2023, when André Galvão promoted Matheus Menezes to black belt — a recognition of a career built through consistency, sacrifice, and competitive excellence, and a milestone rooted in a seminar introduction just five years prior.