Rafael Dos Anjos

Rafael dos Anjos Torres was born on June 21, 1996, in São João de Meriti and raised in Nilópolis, a city nestled in Rio de Janeiro's Baixada Fluminense region. Long before stepping onto the mats, he spent three years as an active capoeira practitioner, building an early foundation in movement, rhythm, and body awareness through the Afro-Brazilian martial art.

His transition to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was not driven by sporting ambition but by a medical recommendation. As Rafael entered his early tweens, he began gaining unexpected weight, prompting his family doctor to advise taking up a high-intensity sport. The connection came through his social circle — several close friends already trained at a local community project — and that bond led him to Projeto Sonhos.

Projeito Sonhos was a social initiative operating out of the renowned Beija Flor Samba School (GRES Beija-Flor) in Nilópolis, led by jiu-jitsu black belt Elan Santiago. Well regarded within the local community for the opportunities it created for young athletes, the project became the cornerstone of Rafael's development as both a competitor and a martial artist.

Building a Foundation in the Youth Ranks

Under the combined guidance of Elan Santiago and Rodrigo Akillis, Rafael climbed steadily through the junior and juvenile ranks at Projeto Sonhos, establishing himself as a standout talent in the youth competition scene. His development received a significant boost through the project's close relationship with Alliance and, specifically, Alexandre Paiva — widely known as Gigi — of the Alliance – Leblon Academy. The two camps organized inter-team training sessions once or twice per week, granting Rafael regular access to one of Rio de Janeiro's most celebrated instructors.

Navigating Adversity at 18

That momentum was interrupted when Rafael turned 18. The demands of adult life — full-time work at a shoe store combined with completing his high school degree — made a standard academy schedule impossible. Rather than abandon the sport, he trained with a close friend at an academy in Nova Iguaçú from 11:30 pm to 12:30 am on weekdays, the only window an otherwise fully committed day allowed.

It was Alexandre Paiva who noticed Rafael's absence from the regular Alliance–Beija Flor joint sessions and sought out the reason. Upon learning of the young athlete's circumstances, Paiva reached out directly and offered Rafael a full scholarship with boarding — a gesture that reflected his belief in the Nilópolis resident's long-term potential. Despite his parents' preference for a more conventional path, Rafael accepted the offer as a blue belt and committed wholeheartedly to competitive BJJ under the Alliance banner.

Blue Belt: Announcing Himself Internationally

With the resources and structure of Alliance behind him, Rafael dos Anjos built one of the more consistent colored-belt competition records of his generation, accumulating podium finishes across gi and no-gi formats in Brazil, Europe, South America, and the United States.

At blue belt, Rafael announced himself on the international stage by claiming gold at the 2015 IBJJF South American Championship, while earning silver at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals that same year in both gi and no-gi divisions. He returned to the Brazilian Nationals podium the following year at blue belt, reinforcing his standing as one of the division's most formidable athletes.

Purple Belt: A World-Class Statement

Moving into the purple belt ranks, Rafael's results reflected continued growth and competitive reach. He captured the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals No-Gi title in 2017, then delivered his most significant purple belt performance in 2018 — winning gold at the 2018 IBJJF European Open before reaching the final of the IBJJF World Championship, where he earned silver. That result placed him among the best purple belts in the world at the time.

Brown Belt: Coast-to-Coast Podium Performances

The brown belt years extended his geographical footprint. In 2019, Rafael traveled to the United States to compete at the IBJJF World No-Gi Championships — a trip that would ultimately reshape the course of his career. He also stood on the podium at the 2019 IBJJF European Open, adding a bronze to his record. In 2020, competing in the United States, he claimed gold at the IBJJF American Nationals in both gi and no-gi, and reached the finals of the Pan Championship in both formats — a remarkable level of performance sustained through the final months of his colored-belt career.

What began as a targeted trip to compete at the IBJJF World No-Gi Championships in 2019 evolved into a permanent relocation. Rafael extended his stay in the United States and joined Cobrinha BJJ in Los Angeles, an academy operating within the Alliance network. Training under Rubens Charles — the decorated competitor known as Cobrinha — at Alliance – Los Angeles, Rafael continued to refine his game through the final chapter of his brown belt journey.

On January 25, 2021, Rubens Charles promoted Rafael dos Anjos to black belt, formalizing a journey that had begun years earlier on the mats of Projeto Sonhos in Nilópolis. The promotion took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented Elan Santiago, Rodrigo Akillis, and Alexandre Paiva from attending in person. All three coaches — each formative in Rafael's development — participated in the ceremony via Zoom, bearing witness to a milestone that drew a direct line from a community project in Baixada Fluminense to a professional academy in Los Angeles.