A Single Team, an Unbroken Path
Thiago dos Santos began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey under the Brasil 021 banner and, in a distinction that grows increasingly rare in the modern era, never trained under any other affiliation. Every belt he earned — from white to black — was awarded by master André Terencio, known within the community as "Negão." That unbroken lineage of instruction gave dos Santos a technically and philosophically cohesive foundation in the art, shaped by a single system and a single teacher.
The journey culminated in April 2010, when Terencio awarded him the black belt — the fulfillment of the promise Thiago had made to himself and to the memory of his brother Bocão nearly a decade earlier.
Competitive Record
Throughout his career, dos Santos built a meaningful competitive record in the Peso Pesado division (94kg/207lbs). He captured the Brazilian Beginners Championship in 2001 before claiming the Niterói State Championship in the open weight category in 2002 — the same year he won the Búzios Arena Cup. His competitive ambitions also carried him to international stages, where he earned a bronze medal at the New York Open in 2010.
Teaching and Legacy
Following the receipt of his black belt, dos Santos transitioned into a prominent teaching role, becoming one of the main instructors at Brasil 021. In that capacity, he passes on not only the technical knowledge accumulated under Terencio, but also the values of perseverance and loyalty that defined his own path through the art — a path traced back to a promise made in grief and fulfilled through decades of dedication.