Rodrigo Feijão

Rodrigo Feijão, born Rodrigo Antônio, found his way onto the mats at age nine through an unlikely arrangement: his school had partnered with a local martial arts academy, waiving tuition fees for enrolled students and opening the door to training without financial barrier. That opportunity brought him face to face with Aílson Brites — known widely as Jucão — who became his earliest and most formative mentor in the art. Under Jucão's guidance, Feijão progressed from white to blue belt, building the technical foundation that would define his later success.

When Jucão relocated, Emerson Souza, a direct student of Brites, stepped in to continue Feijão's development and awarded him the purple belt — ensuring seamless progression without disruption. At 17, Feijão began traveling to Rio de Janeiro for school and seized the chance to train at Nova União, one of Brazil's most storied academies. Under André Pederneiras, he earned his brown and black belts, with the black belt awarded in 1999. His enduring nickname, "Feijão" — Portuguese for "Bean" — was given by his first coach, who likened the young Rodrigo to a cartoon character of the same name, a moniker that has followed him throughout his entire career.

Rise Through the Ranks

Rodrigo Feijão stood as one of the central pillars of Nova União's celebrated lightweight division during the late 1990s and early 2000s — a period widely regarded as a golden era for the team's Peso Leve (76kg/168lbs) competitors. His elite potential surfaced before he even reached the black belt: in 1998, he claimed the World Championship title at brown belt, a result that signaled his readiness to compete among the sport's highest ranks.

International Dominance

Following his black belt promotion in 1999, Feijão sustained his momentum on the international stage without interruption. He earned third place at the World Championship in 1999 and 2000 at brown belt, and again in 2001 at black belt — demonstrating consistent podium presence across multiple divisions. His most commanding stretch came through the World Cup, where he captured gold in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, four consecutive titles that cemented his standing as one of Brazil's foremost lightweight competitors of that era. On the national stage, he claimed the Brazilian National Championship in 2001 and the Brazilian Teams Championship alongside his Nova União teammates in both 2000 and 2001.

Master Division Excellence

Feijão's competitive edge proved enduring well beyond his open division peak. Returning to the mats in the Master divisions, he claimed Abu Dhabi World Pro gold in 2014 in the Master category, then added World Masters titles in both 2014 and 2015 at the Master 2 level. A South Brazilian Championship title in 2015 further underscored that his drive to compete — and win — never faded.

Settling in Maringá

Feijão's coaching journey began with a single visit. In 2000, he traveled to Maringá, a city in the state of Paraná, to conduct a seminar — and was so drawn to the place that he chose to settle there and build his own academy. What started as a personal connection to the city grew into one of the most productive coaching ventures in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, with Clube Feijão Jiu Jitsu becoming a significant talent pipeline for Nova União.

Developing World-Class Black Belts

Over the years, Feijão cultivated a roster of high-level black belts who went on to make their own marks in the sport. Among his most notable students are Alex Sodré, Anderson Muniz, and Daniel Garcia Dias — each a testament to the quality and consistency of instruction at his academy. Through their achievements, Feijão established himself as one of the most respected grappling coaches in Brazil, proving that a dedicated instructor operating outside the traditional BJJ hubs of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo can build a regional scene capable of producing world-class competitors. His academy stands as a model for how deep technical knowledge, paired with a genuine commitment to athlete development, can elevate an entire local BJJ community.