Tainan Dalpra

Tainan Dalpra was born and raised in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, where his introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came through his father, Deivid Soares. Without a dedicated kids program at his initial gym, Dalpra trained alongside adults from the outset — an unconventional beginning that forged the competitive toughness defining his later career. As his ambitions grew, he transitioned to a gym affiliated with Carlos Dourado's AS Team, where his development as a tournament competitor accelerated within a more structured, competition-driven environment.

Dalpra's trajectory shifted decisively in 2014 when he traveled to Long Beach, California, to compete in the IBJJF Pan Kids Championship. Competing as an orange belt, he claimed gold — announcing himself as a serious international prospect. The trip also brought him to Art Of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ) in Costa Mesa, a visit that would prove pivotal to the entire arc of his career.

Following his introduction to Art Of Jiu-Jitsu during the 2014 Pan Kids trip, Dalpra made a decisive commitment: at just 14 years old, he relocated from Florianópolis to Costa Mesa, California, to train full-time at AOJ. His family's unwavering support made the move possible and underscored the collective investment behind his pursuit of elite-level jiu-jitsu.

At AOJ, Dalpra became one of the first members of the Believe and Achieve program — an initiative designed by Gui Mendes and Rafa Mendes to cultivate elite young competitors within the AOJ system. The program delivered structured, high-level instruction alongside a demanding competitive culture that pushed Dalpra to grow rapidly. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted competitive jiu-jitsu in 2020, Dalpra continued training privately with AOJ competitors and under the direct guidance of Gui Mendes, ensuring his development remained uninterrupted while the broader competitive landscape stalled.

Throughout his competitive career, Tainan Dalpra built a reputation for a relentless, high-pressure style capable of overwhelming opponents across multiple belt levels. His ascent through the IBJJF competitive landscape was both consistent and dominant: at blue belt, he captured IBJJF World Championship gold in the juvenile and adult divisions — including absolute titles — and replicated that success at the Pan American Championship across both categories. He further demonstrated his versatility by winning the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship at the blue juvenile level, proving his effectiveness extended well beyond the gi.

Purple and Brown Belt Dominance

Advancing through purple and brown belt, Dalpra continued to impose himself at the top of each division. His Pan American Championship gold at purple belt in 2019 and European Championship gold at brown belt that same year reinforced his standing as one of the most decorated competitors of his generation. Each title marked another deliberate chapter in a career oriented toward a singular objective — winning an IBJJF black belt world title. It is a goal Dalpra has pursued since childhood, and one that has guided every phase of his development within the Art Of Jiu-Jitsu system.